Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services of 2026: RD Approved

These services have improved far beyond basic TV dinners, with options tailored to different diets, budgets, and family sizes. If you are feeding picky kids, trying to eat more plants, or simply want to eat healthier but avoid takeout, the best prepared meal delivery services are designed to save time while still helping you eat well. We worked with a certified nutrition coach to test and select the best prepared meal delivery services of 2026.

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Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services of 2026

• Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Overall: Factor
• Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss: Fuel Meals
• Best Plant-Based Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Home Chef
• Best Gluten-Free Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Tempo
• Best Budget Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Forkful
• Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Families: CookUnity

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Comparison Table

Meal Delivery Service	Diet Types Available	Average Prep Time	Serving Size Options
Factor	Fiber-filled, high-protein, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12
Fuel Meals	Weight loss, muscle gain, and more	3 minutes	7, 10, 14, 20
Home Chef	Gluten-smart, keto-friendly, and more	3 minutes	2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Tempo	<500 calories, <25 net carbs, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12
Forkful	Gluten-free, GLP-1, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
CookUnity	Vegan, GLP-1, and more	3 minutes	4, 6, 8, 12, 16

Factor
Diet Types Available	Fiber-filled, high-protein, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	6, 8, 10, 12
Fuel Meals
Diet Types Available	Weight loss, muscle gain, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	7, 10, 14, 20
Home Chef
Diet Types Available	Gluten-smart, keto-friendly, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Tempo
Diet Types Available	<500 calories, <25 net carbs, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	6, 8, 10, 12
Forkful
Diet Types Available	Gluten-free, GLP-1, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
CookUnity
Diet Types Available	Vegan, GLP-1, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Serving Size Options	4, 6, 8, 12, 16

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Overall: Factor

Our Thoughts on Factor

Factor is our pick for the best prepared meal delivery service because it combines heat-and-eat convenience with nutritionist-backed, chef-developed menus. With a large and growing menu, strong coverage of high-protein, keto, and plant-based options, and reliably fresh ingredients, it works for busy weeknights, fitness goals, or just avoiding takeout without extra effort.

Taylor tested Factor, rating his ordering experience as a 4 out of 5. While the website was easy to navigate, you aren’t able to look at any of the meal options before adding payment information, which is a bit of a roadblock. However, he loved that it was easy to cancel or skip upcoming boxes.  

He rated his feelings of fullness and satisfaction after eating a Factor meal as a 3 out of 5. As an athlete, he felt that the portion size was on the smaller side. Our other Factor tester, Luke, echoed the same sentiment.  “I liked the taste and easy prep but didn’t feel very full after eating just one of the meals,” he said. That said, both Luke and Taylor are active adults weighing more than 200 pounds. For a smaller individual or someone looking to cut calories, these may work perfectly fine—especially as a lunch option.

Taylor rated Factor a 4 out of 5 for taste, mentioning they were pretty flavorful for a frozen, prepared meal. “The meals were well-seasoned, and they weren’t soupy or watery like I’ve experienced with some other meal delivery options,” he said. Our tester liked that some of the meals had a sauce or butter added, which helped to enhance the flavor, noting: “Sometimes you need a little extra seasoning or sauce to make a meal really tasty, and Factor did a good job of that.”

Overall, both testers were satisfied with their experience and loved the microwaveable convenience. “I spend a lot of my days in meetings, making it hard to cook anything,” Luke said. “This is an easy thing to toss into the microwave between calls, and I like that I’m eating something nutritious, rather than going for a snack or ordering takeout.” 

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss: Fuel Meals

Our Thoughts on Fuel Meals

Fuel Meals is our pick for the best prepared meal delivery service for weight loss because it is built around macro accuracy and high protein, which makes sticking to a calorie deficit far more manageable. Its dedicated weight loss plan uses portion-controlled, lower-calorie meals that still deliver substantial protein, so you feel fuller on fewer calories while knowing exactly what you are eating at every meal.

Lisa tested Fuel Meals, rating her ordering experience a 3 out of 5. “The website was fairly easy to use. It did take some poking around at first to figure out how to order one-off meals and what sort of subscription options were available. I would say it took me 15 to 20 minutes to figure out how to order,” she said.

Our tester enjoyed the meals but wasn’t overly impressed, giving the flavor a 3 out of 5, too. “The meals were fine. For someone who doesn’t have time to meal prep, plan, or cook, but still wants protein-packed meals, these are a good solution,” she said. 

When it comes to portion size, these may be a little on the smaller side for some. According to Lisa, these would be an ideal lunch to bring to the office, as all you need is a microwave to heat them up. They’re also protein dense, which means they’re likely to keep you feeling full for a good period of time. 

“I tested the best sellers selection, so that I could try meals that people ordered most often, and I can see why these types of dishes (lots of pasta) were popular,” Lisa explained. She said these meals tasted similar to Factor meals that she’s tried in the past, but noted that Fuel Meals were more filling, likely because of Fuel’s focus on high protein. 

After trying a few different meals on different days, Lisa rated her level of satisfaction after eating a Fuel Meal as a 4 out of 5. “I thought the meals were relatively flavorful,” Lisa said. “I don’t know that I’d want to eat them every day, but they’d be a great option to have on hand a few times a week for lunch or dinner if I was pressed for time.

Best Plant-Based Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Home Chef

Our Thoughts on Home Chef

Home Chef is our pick for the best plant-based prepared meal delivery because it makes it easy to build a mostly meatless routine for some family members, while keeping meat-focused meals available for other folks in the family. Its weekly menu consistently includes multiple vegetarian and plant-forward dishes, and the “Customize It” feature lets you swap meat for tofu or other plant-based proteins so the same recipe can work for both omnivores and vegetarians.

Kayla tested Home Chef, rating it a 5 out of 5 for her general ordering experience. You can change your delivery frequency easily, including options like bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly. She also liked that you can customize your meals and swap out protein options and ingredients. Plus, “it’s super easy to skip deliveries via the website,” she added. “The user experience is great.”

She loved the taste of the meals she tested, rating the flavor an overall 5 out of 5. Kayla even tried a vegetarian-friendly meal, the Truffle Cream Tortellini, and was highly impressed. She shared this meal with a second tester, Gwen, who was similarly pleased with it. “I love truffle and I’m impressed with how high quality this tasted,” Gwen said.

When it comes to portion size, Kayla rated it a 4 out of 5: “The portion could be bigger for two people. I think it’s perfect for one person to have some leftovers, but I don’t think two people would be satisfied and feel full, even though it is meant for two people.” Overall, she loved the many options to choose from week to week. Kayla also liked that there are menus available weeks in advance, so you can plan ahead.

Best Gluten-Free Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Tempo

Our Thoughts on Tempo

Tempo is our pick for the best gluten-free prepared meal delivery service because it solves one of the biggest pain points for gluten-free eaters: finding truly convenient meals that are still nutritionally thoughtful. Its chef-crafted, dietitian-approved dishes arrive fresh and fully prepared. The website has gluten-free friendly and wheat-free filters, so you can quickly build a menu that fits your needs without decoding labels or cooking separate meals.

I got to test Tempo hands-on and rated the ordering experience as a 5 out of 5. I found the website easy to use. There’s also an app available, which I didn’t utilize— but I’ve ordered from other meal delivery brands in the past, and having an app for meal delivery makes it so much easier and seamless when ordering, making changes, delaying orders, and more.

One of the meals I tried was the “Marry Me Salmon,” earned a 3 out of 5 for taste. The salmon tasted good but the texture left something to be desired. The broccoli was tasty and seasoned well with garlic and parsley.

I also tried Tempo’s chimichurri filet with potatoes and cauliflower, which I rated 5 out of 5. The steak with chimichurri sauce was delicious, and the cauliflower and potatoes were enjoyable as well.

Overall, I felt the portion sizes of the meals was just right. Our second Tempo tester, Gwen, agreed. “The portions were a great size,” she said. “I felt full after eating the meal but not overly stuffed.”

Best Budget Prepared Meal Delivery Service: Forkful

Our Thoughts on Forkful

Forkful is our pick for the best budget prepared meal delivery service because it has pricing that drops under $9.00 a serving on larger plans, fresh-not-frozen meals, and ingredient standards that include better oils and quality proteins, it offers a clear step up from typical microwave dinners while still being accessible for most budgets.

Kate tested Forkful, rating her general ordering experience as a 3 out of 5. She didn’t like that before seeing the meal selections, you have to create an account and put in your payment information. Many other meal delivery services are this same way, and we understand the frustration. She did like that there are lots of different dietary options to choose from when ordering, such as a GLP-1, paleo, plant-based, high-protein, low-carb, and more.

Our tester rated the taste and flavor of the meals she tried as a 4 out of 5. “The meatballs were really good! The cauliflower wasn’t as good, but the quality was strong,” Kate said. “This was very impressive for a microwaved and pre-prepped meal. This is a strong contender for someone who is always on the go but wants good quality food.”

When it comes to feeling satisfied and full, Kate rated Forkful a 4 out of 5. “These are good lunch portions,” she said. “If I was someone looking to bulk up, it probably wasn’t enough food.” The meal she tried was under 400 calories, which is lower for a meal. She suggested adding a protein shake or another meal replacement to help you feel more full.

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Families: CookUnity

Our Thoughts on CookUnity

CookUnity is our pick for the best prepared meal delivery service for families because it brings together restaurant-level cooking with the flexibility to feed a wide range of tastes and diets under one subscription. Parents can choose from chef-made entrées while also adding kid-focused meals and more familiar comfort foods, all of which arrive fully cooked and ready to heat in just a few minutes on a busy night.

Andy tested CookUnity, rating his initial ordering experience as a 5 out of 5. “I used CookUnity for months this summer while we were remodelling our kitchen. I have a husband and four-year-old daughter. I often needed to swap meals based on my daughter’s preferences or a meal my husband didn’t like,” he said. Andy noted that swapping meals was no problem, and he would often put a reminder on his calendar for weekday mornings to review the coming meals so he could pick the best ones before they sold out. He also shared that it was easy to skip a week while they went away on vacation.

On taste, Andy rated it a 4 out of 5 overall. His family liked most of the meals from CookUnity, but said that some proteins were better than others: “The steak, for example, was never good. But the poultry and vegetable dishes were usually tasty,” he said. “My favorites were the Peruvian chicken with aji verde, my daughter liked the burritos and pulled pork, and my husband liked the salads.”

Andy felt the portion sizes were appropriate, noting that the portion sizes were usually good. “Plus, the meals often had good fiber and vegetables to keep you feeling fuller than empty calories,” he said. He rated the freshness of the ingredients as a 4 out of 5: “The meals tasted fresh and the vegetables were almost always crispy and yummy–everything tasted like it had been made recently,” Andy said.

How We Tested and Selected the Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services

We focused on fully prepared dishes that arrive ready to microwave, with an emphasis on flavor, nutrition, value, and how smoothly each service fits into a typical weeknight routine.

Plans & Customization

For prepared services, plan flexibility matters most in how many meals you can order per week, how easily you can skip or cancel, and whether you can mix breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the same box. 

Our top picks offer multiple plan sizes, straightforward apps or websites for managing deliveries, and simple tools to filter for dietary needs like high-protein, low-calorie, or plant-based without adding prep work.

Taste

Taste testing focused on whether meals still felt like “real food” after reheating, not just like frozen dinners. Services that made vegetables appealing, proteins juicy, and sauces flavorful scored the highest.

Meal Variety 

We selected prepared meal services that offer enough weekly variety to avoid menu fatigue, with rotating options across different proteins, cuisines, and calorie levels. Services that repeated the same core dishes too often or leaned heavily on similar bowls and pastas were ranked lower than those with broader, more dynamic menus.

Ordering Process

Ease of ordering was judged on how intuitive it felt to sign up, pick meals, and manage future deliveries. Clear cut-off times, transparent pricing at checkout, and user-friendly mobile apps or websites were also key factors in which services made our list.

Ingredient Quality

Ingredient quality was assessed by looking at the types of proteins, use of whole grains and vegetables, and how “clean” the nutrition lists are. Services that highlighted better sourcing (like antibiotic-free meats or organic produce where possible) and kept additives to a minimum were favored.

How to Find the Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for You

Choosing the right prepared meal service starts with knowing how you like to eat and how much time you actually have to heat up the meal. For most folks, the priority is simple: quick, reliable meals that go straight from fridge to microwave or oven and still support your health and budget goals.

Dietary Variety and Meal Options

Look for services that provide filters for high-protein, low-calorie, plant-based, or family-friendly meals so you can build a full week of microwave- or oven-ready options without overthinking each dish. 

If you have allergies or strict needs like gluten-free or low-FODMAP, choose companies that clearly label meals and specialize in the diet you need, rather than trying to piece together safe options from a more general menu.

Ingredient Quality

Even with prepared meals, prioritize services that emphasize whole ingredients, lean proteins, and vegetables over ultra-processed fillers. Check nutrition labels for excessive sodium and saturated fat, and favor brands that mention responsible sourcing or dietitian involvement in menu development.

Cost

For families, cost per serving can quickly add up, so look for tiered pricing that lowers the price as you add more meals per week. Choosing a single service that works for multiple household members, rather than separate subscriptions, is often the most cost-effective way to keep convenient meals on hand.

Prep Process

Busy professionals benefit most from meals that require nothing more than peeling back film and reheating, ideally in under five minutes. If you routinely work late or juggle hectic evenings, prioritize services that are 100% prepared instead of semi-prepared kits, so dinner is truly grab-and-heat.

Benefits of Prepared Meal Delivery Services

Prepared meal delivery services are designed to take the work out of weeknight eating, bringing fully cooked meals straight to your fridge so all you have to do is reheat. Here are a few benefits:

• Saves time and reduces stress by cutting out meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking, so you always have something ready to heat and eat on busy days and nights. 
• Supports healthier eating habits with pre-portioned, nutritionally balanced meals that often use higher-quality ingredients than last-minute fast food or takeout. 
• Helps reduce food waste and overspending because you only receive what you’ll actually eat, with fewer impulse buys and less produce going bad in the fridge. 
• Adds variety and inspiration to your routine by offering rotating menus and different cuisines, making it easier to avoid “meal ruts” while still keeping things convenient.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best prepared meal delivery service?

The best prepared meal delivery service is one that works for your health and wellness goals, while offering menu items that you enjoy, including plenty of variety. After rigorous testing, we chose Factor as our favorite prepared service, as it offers plenty of variety, ready-to-eat meals, and a multitude of plan options.

What is the best prepared meal delivery service for families?

We chose CookUnity as our favorite for families. Our CookUnity tester’s family loved this service and was especially impressed with the ingredient quality. The service also offers multiple portion options per box, depending on how many mouths you need to feed.

How long does it take to make a prepared meal delivery service?

The beauty of prepared meals is that they only take a few minutes to make. Most of these services have an average prep time of only three minutes in the microwave.