According to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD, “The best meal delivery services can be game-changing tools for improved nutrition and wellness.” For those that prefer to actually cook their weekly menu as opposed to re-heating a microwave-safe platter, Home Chef can be an excellent platform thanks to its robust assortment of tasty dishes, approachable cost per serving, and large portions that make for satiating suppers each evening.
In our opinion, Home Chef is one of the best meal subscription kits on the market. The price is comparable to your average home-cooked meal, and we appreciate the level of customization offered when it comes to catering to specific dietary needs. (1) That said, the service may be less ideal for strict diets, and there is always the chance of receiving less-than-stellar produce. In this Home Chef review, we’ll utilize our supplement testing methodology to rate and examine this popular subscription service, scoring the platform in key categories similar to our experiences with over 45 other meal delivery services. Ready to see what Home Chef offers? Let’s get into our findings.
Home Chef can be an excellent meal delivery service for large households thanks to its offered meal kits and prepared dishes with enough weekly servings to feed a family of six. Plus, the robust menu rotates weekly to help you stave off any flavor fatigue.
Medical disclaimer: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
Main Takeaways
- The Home Chef menu works on a rotating basis each week, which can be helpful when trying to prevent flavor fatigue over extended periods.
- According to our tester, the serving sizes are well-portioned, leaving you full and satiated with no excessive leftovers.
- While Home Chef doesn’t cater specifically to different types of diets, you can customize select meals prior to shipping for alternative ingredients or plant-based protein sources.
Home Chef Specs
| Price Per Serving | Starting at $9.99 |
| Meal Kit Type | Meal kit, prepared meals |
| Meal Options Per Week | Up to 44 meals, up to 24 extras |
| Servings Per Week | Up to 16 |
| Available Meal Preferences | Express, Oven-Ready, Fast & Fresh, Meal Kits, Culinary Collections, Extras |
| Delivery Range | Contiguous United States |
| Some Meals We’ve Tried | Acapulco-style Steak Quesadillas with Cheddar-Jack Cheese, Lemon and Herb Chicken with Pesto Butter and Ratatouille, Korean-style Fried Chicken with Cheesy Corn |
As one of the best healthy meal delivery services available today, Home Chef offers an assortment of meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients as well as snacks, sides, microwave-ready, and oven-ready meals. This variety across the rotating menu can be excellent for ensuring you’re well-fed regardless of your daily schedule or meal preferences.
Speaking specifically to the meal kits, our tester notes that cooking times generally hover between 25 and 30 minutes. “The recipe cards are easy to follow, too, and you can filter your menu based on your skill set,” they add. We also appreciate the detailed instructions for families, as studies report that cooking together can generate positive changes to dietary quality, health outcomes, and family dynamics. (2)
In terms of the menu, Home Chef meal kits do offer fresh ingredients across the rotating selection. There are menu options, too, for popular diets including pescatarian and vegetarian. That said, our tester does note that specific dietary restrictions call for some extra attention to detail. “The allergens, for example, aren’t listed directly on each specific meal selection, so you’ll need to comb through the nutrition facts if you’re looking to avoid certain ingredients,” they state. “However, I do appreciate that Home Chef allows for some substitutions — you can swap, say, a top plant source of protein for a chicken breast if you’re looking to stick to a plant-based diet.”
Each Home Chef delivery features substantial packaging and dry ice packs to help preserve your ingredients during transport. Delivery dates are chosen based on your preferred cadence, and orders can contain up to 16 servings weekly. While this can be enough food for a single athlete or couple, it may be too small of an order for larger households. Thankfully, though, our tester states the portions are hearty and filling. “My partner and I rarely have leftovers, but each meal is satisfying enough that we aren’t left peckish just hours after dinner,” they state.
Prices for Home Chef servings begin at roughly $9.99 per dish. This is more expensive than the average home-cooked meal ($4.23 per serving), but the convenience factor can still be appealing — no trips to the grocery store or altered menus to account for out-of-stock ingredients. (1) The brand offers lower rates for larger orders, so it can be beneficial to stock up on pre-portioned kits and prepared meals if you want a lower serving price. Additionally, the brand does routinely offer promotions for first-time subscribers, which can include free meals, discounted rates for your first box, and more.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Home Chef
While meal delivery services can certainly be convenient food sources, Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD notes, “Not every subscription is worth its weight for every athlete out there.” Below, we’ve outlined some groups we feel could prosper with a Home Chef meal kit delivery service subscription, as well as a few camps that may fare better with a different option.
Recommended for:
- People that prefer pre-portioned meal kits over a menu solely of prepared dishes
- Athletes looking for high-quality ingredients across a range of cuisines
- Cooks of varying skill levels — Home Chef recipes can be filtered based on your culinary expertise and comfort levels
Not Recommended for:
- Individuals with strict dietary preferences
- Larger families in need of more than 16 servings weekly
- Budget-minded athletes looking for a meal kit subscription under $10 per serving
Our Experience Using Home Chef
The BarBend team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts. Over the years, we’ve dined on and examined some of the best vegan meal delivery services, budget meal kits, and heat-and-serve options available today (over 45 and counting). For this Home Chef review, we looked at the popular meal subscription through the lens of our supplement testing methodology, rating the service on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) in categories such as ingredient quality, meal variety, ease of preparation, and (of course) taste. Our tester — who has subscribed to Home Chef for multiple years — was also kind enough to provide notes on their extended experience with the platform in terms of shipping, packaging, and customer service. Below are some of our top findings.
Available Meal Plans
When looking at the weekly Home Chef menu, there are a few filters to choose from — Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Vegetarian, and Under 30 Minutes. Additionally, the brand does have icons for each meal illustrating other present qualities such as gluten-free, fiber-rich, low-calorie, and more.
“I rate the available meal plans at 4 out of 5, too, since many of the pre-portioned meal kits can be customized to suit specific diets,” notes our tester. “With some meat dishes, I can even customize it with an ‘Impossible Burger.’”
While this personalization can be ideal for certain diets — particularly for athletes following a vegan diet — we do note that Home Chef doesn’t specifically cater to strict nutrition plans. Those with known sensitivities will still need to read through nutrition facts and make appropriate order changes if they want a meal designed for their exact preferences, which may be less convenient than other meal kit offerings.
Taste
According to our tester, “Home Chef has been the most consistent meal delivery service when it comes to flavor. Every package is filled with tasty dishes that leave both my husband and I satisfied.”
While a majority of our experiences with this subscription involves the brand’s pre-portioned meal kits, our tester rates the taste at 5 out of 5 given the appeal of the heat-and-serve dishes, as well. “It may be a blend of prep ease and flavor, but treating ourselves with these easy, 15-minute meals has become a nice tradition of ours,” they state.
Ease of Preparation
When it comes to crafting fresh meals throughout the week, the headache of complicated prep work can make the experience all too undesirable. However, our tester notes that Home Chef meal kits are quick to whip up and the brand does a good job of balancing recipes across different skill sets. “I’ve yet to be overwhelmed by a dish, and I feel the instructions are detailed enough that even the most novice of cooks could be successful,” they add.
We do rate the ease of preparation at 2 out of 5, though, since there can be a good bit of clean-up after meals have been devoured. “Depending on the chosen meal, you can expect to clean multiple kitchen utensils and cookware items,” notes our tester. “This can sometimes be a daunting task, especially if you eat later in the evening.”
Portion Sizes
Even the best meal kit thriving in categories like taste, ingredient quality, and cost per serving can be overshadowed by undersized portions. “A balanced diet should consist of the most nutrient-dense foods including a mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats,” states Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD. (3) Thankfully, our tester reports that Home Chef dishes are anything but underwhelming.
“Each meal is large enough to satisfy my appetite,” they state in reference to their 5-out-of-5 portions rating. “We rarely have leftovers but don’t view this as a negative. Rather, it’s almost a testament to the perfect portioning exhibited across each meal.”
Of course, while individual servings seem to be adequate enough for one or two individuals, larger families may feel underserved with this particular meal subscription service. After all, max-sized orders can contain just 16 servings weekly, which may not be enough to feed a growing household. Consider your home’s needs and how many times you’d like to use your meal delivery service each week — a potential solution could be to cook pre-portioned kits every other night while relying on grocery shopping for the remainder of the calendar.
Price Per Serving
With costs per serving beginning at roughly $9.99, Home Chef does serve as an example of the best budget meal delivery services, according to our testing methodology. That said, it is on the cusp, making it less ideal for those in need of a more wallet-friendly platform. We conservatively rate the value at 3 out of 5 and recommend thinking through your normal expenses before signing up. Remember, too, that the average home-cooked meal costs roughly $4.23, so if your current finances aren’t able to afford higher totals, it may be best to abstain from meal kit subscriptions for the time being. (1)
What to Consider Before Subscribing to Home Chef
As with any nutrition-based purchase — whether perusing the best protein powders, deciding between two pre-workout supplements, or choosing your first order from a meal subscription service — there are some factors that can influence where your money should go for optimal results. Below are a few considerations we recommend pondering over before signing up for a meal kit delivery service such as Home Chef.
- Meal Variety: Consuming a range of different fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains can be a great way to ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals each day. (3) Accordingly, you cannot support this notion if you’re constantly dining on the same three meals. When choosing a meal delivery service, be sure your menu has enough options to help prevent flavor fatigue while optimizing your nutrient intake.
- Taste: Flavor can be subjective, but your meal delivery service should be able to cater to your taste buds week in and week out. Be sure to browse the available menu when making your decision and look for a subscription with a handful of appealing dishes. If you’re looking to support a specific diet such as paleo, low-carb, or plant-based, be sure your weekly menu can accommodate, as well.
- Preparation Needs: Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD states, “Meal subscription services can be a fun way to grow your skill set in the kitchen.” That said, some athletes may feel more comfortable with heat-and-serve options that don’t require equipment beyond a functioning microwave or oven. If your comfort levels with cooking don’t stretch beyond your best shaker bottle, it may be best to seek out a prepared meals service as opposed to a pre-portioned meal kit.
- Delivery Range: Before selecting your preferred delivery day, it can be wise to ensure your service of choice actually delivers to your area. Most subscriptions offer deliveries to the contiguous United States, but some do have more restrictive areas of service. Read through your meal kit’s site to ensure your ingredients and dishes can comfortably make their way to your kitchen.
Home Chef Vs. Competitors
If you hadn’t noticed yet, Home Chef is not the lone meal delivery service on the market. There are a multitude of worthwhile platforms offering up high-protein, nutritious dishes alongside diet-specific meals, vegetarian options, pantry-ready snacks, and more. Below, we’ve charted two comparable platforms we feel stack up well to the Home Chef menu — HelloFresh and Factor.
| Home Chef | HelloFresh | Factor | |
| Price Per Serving | Starting at $9.99 | Starting at $9.99 | Starting at $10.99 |
| Meal Kit Type | Meal kit, prepared meals | Meal kit | Prepared meals |
| Meal Options Per Week | Up to 44 meals, up to 24 extras | Over 100 menu and market items | Rotating menu of 50 entrées and over 70 add-ons |
| Servings Per Week | Up to 16 | Up to 36 | Up to 18 |
| Available Meal Preferences | Express, Oven-Ready, Fast & Fresh, Meal Kits, Culinary Collections, Extras | Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 Minutes, Pescatarian | Calorie-Smart, Keto, Carb-Conscious, Fiber-Filled, Chef’s Choice, Protein Plus, GLP-1 Balance, Flexitarian |
| Delivery Range | Contiguous United States | Contiguous United States | Contiguous United States |
| Some Meals We’ve Tried | Acapulco-style Steak Quesadillas with Cheddar-Jack Cheese, Lemon and Herb Chicken with Pesto Butter and Ratatouille, Korean-style Fried Chicken with Cheesy Corn | Sweet ‘N’ Smoky Chicken Cutlets with Cherry Ancho BBQ Sauce, Green Beans & Pineapple Rice, Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Lemony Potato and Zucchini Hash, Sun-dried Tomato Spaghetti | Filet with Carrots, Tomato Basil Chicken Risotto, Spicy Poblano Beef Bowl, Blueberry Pancakes |
With meal kits starting at roughly the same $9.99 price point, HelloFresh is an easy comparison to Home Chef. We appreciate this platform for its larger order quantities, making it a high-quality service for larger families (and larger appetites). However, our testers have noted more ingredient freshness issues with HelloFresh, and the menu still has its limitations when it comes to catering to specific diets.
For those interested in prepared meals — whether as a result of time constraints or cooking comfort levels — Factor can be a great option. We’ve found the simple heat-and-serve dishes to be satiating and hearty, although the “main and two sides” layout of each dish can become repetitive over time. Plus, Home Chef is slightly cheaper at $9.99 per serving, but you are paying for extra convenience with Factor considering the clean-up is virtually non-existent.
Places to Buy Home Chef
Home Chef subscriptions are available directly through the brand’s retail website. Home Chef also has an accompanying app service, available on iOS and Android, for easier account management and delivery tracking.
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
According to our tester, managing your Home Chef account is simple through the online site and accompanying app. That said, we rate the shipping and delivery protocols at a modest 3.5 out of 5 given some noticed issues regarding order consistency. “While we’ve only ever received one late package, we have had multiple instances where ordered meals weren’t within our dedicated box,” notes our tester. “Thankfully, though, Home Chef was quick to resolve such problems with a free meal voucher or discounted order total in the future.”
Home Chef currently boasts a 3.8-out-of-5 rating on Google based on roughly 180 customer responses. “The food is very tasteful; the instructions are clear,” notes one positive customer response. “Well written with the variety of cook times for people on the go, or dinners you want to bake in the oven.”
To reach the service with any inquiries, you can utilize the Home Chef Live Chat feature online or call 872-225-2433. The brand also has a ‘Contact Us’ form for less-than-urgent requests.
Our Final Verdict on Home Chef
With an impressive menu that rotates weekly for new tastes and selections, Home Chef can be a high-quality meal delivery service for a handful of needs and wants. Servings are affordable at less than $10 each, and the menu boasts both meal kits and prepared dishes — perfect for those on the go or athletes less than confident in their cooking skills. Yes, there can be some freshness issues from time to time (along with some incorrect ingredients), but the overall experience, in our experience, can be a benefit to those wanting a revamped nutrition plan each week.
Bottom line — when searching for a meal delivery service, it’s important to keep your budget and dietary preferences in mind. Your delivered meals shouldn’t leave you underserved in terms of ingredient quality, nor should they leave overstretched across your food finances. Choose a service with a robust enough menu that appeals to your preparation preferences and say goodbye to your dull takeout tendencies. With a service such as Home Chef, the phrase, “We have food at home,” can be a positive remark rather than a negative one.
Home Chef Review FAQs
How much does Home Chef cost per meal?
Home Chef servings can start at $9.99 with smaller orders costing more. New subscribers can, however, receive discounted rates and other perks with their first order.
What is the downside of Home Chef?
While determining “downsides” to any meal delivery service can be subjective, we feel that potential drawbacks to this platform are a lack of specific filters for strict dietary preferences. Additionally, the cost per serving, while budget-minded when compared to other meal kit subscriptions, is higher than the average cost of a traditional home-cooked meal ($4.23). (1)
Where does Home Chef deliver?
Home Chef’s delivery range covers the contiguous United States.
References
- Maggiolo, N. S. (2024, May 20). The cost of eating out vs eating in by State. The Cost of Eating Out vs Eating In by State. https://www.topnutritioncoaching.com/blog/cost-of-eating-out-vs-eating-in
- Chen, Y.-C., Lee, C.-S., Chiang, M.-C., Tsui, P.-L., Lan, B.-K., & Chen, Y.-J. (2025). Nourishing holistic well-being: The role of Family Dynamics and family cooking. Healthcare, 13(4), 414. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11855907/
- Vadiveloo, M., Parkeh, N., & Mattei, J. (2014). Greater healthful food variety as measured by the US Healthy Food Diversity Index is associated with lower odds of metabolic syndrome and its components in US adults. The Journal of Nutrition, 145(3), 564–571. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4336534/
