Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services 2021
Historically, if you wanted to cook gourmet meals at home you’d need years of experience honing your craft. These days, however, even novices can rustle up restaurant-quality dishes using a meal delivery service. Our experts have searched high and low for the best and have compiled a list of the top platforms below.

Whether you’re looking for an occasional gourmet treat or simply want a higher standard of meal each dinnertime, meal delivery services can help. With fresh ingredients, detailed cooking instructions, and plenty of flavor and nutrition, mealtimes can be a real treat. Plus, these types of services really add a touch of convenience to the kitchen. Read on to discover a range of prepared meal options as well as the best meal kits the industry has to offer.
Overall Best Gourmet Prepared Meal
Prepared meal services feature dishes that are ready to heat and eat upon arrival. The dishes are chilled or frozen, and will last in the fridge for around one week.
Overall Best Gourmet Meal Kit
A meal kit is a box of fresh ingredients that you’ll prepare yourself at home. Each meal kit comes with a detailed set of cooking instructions and is designed for both rookie and experienced chefs alike.
Overall Best Gourmet Prepared Meal
Prepared meal services feature dishes that are ready to heat and eat upon arrival. The dishes are chilled or frozen, and will last in the fridge for around one week.
Starting price
- 100% organic and GMO-free
- Meals ready in under two minutes
- Free shipping across the US
- Multiple diet options like keto, paleo, and high-protein as well as low-carb
- Excellent meal variety
Healthy
Paleo
Athletes & Fitness
Keto
Plant Based
Dairy Free
Popular Factor 75 Meals
Sweet Potato Satay with Coconut Rice
- Prep & Cook Time 0 min
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Difficulty Level
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Spice Level
Meal Overview
Sweet potato dreams are made of this! A traditional peanut satay sauce is made with a peanut butter base with additions of lime juice, sambal chili sauce, ginger and garlic. This creamy sauce is plated over roasted sweet potatoes tossed with kaffir lime and cilantro. A base of coconut basmati rice contains shredded coconut and cilantro mixed in, forming a perfect bed for the vegetables and sauce. To tie in the peanut flavor, we add spicy gochugaru-toasted peanuts on top. Miso-roasted green beans are made from fresh green beans combined with sesame, red miso and roasted garlic and served on the side.

In Your Box
- Sweet Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Water
- Brown Basmati Rice
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Unswettened Creamy Peanut Butter
- Roasted Peanuts
- Unswettened Coconut Milk
- Toasted Sesame Oil
- Olive Oil
- Agave Nectar
- Cilantro
- Red Miso Paste
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 740 Calories
- 38g Fat
- 770mg Sodium
- 87g Carbohydrate
- 18g Protein
Peruvian Shrimp Bowl the perfect keto pescatarian dish
- Prep & Cook Time 0 min
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Difficulty Level
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Spice Level
Meal Overview
Our Peruvian Shrimp Bowl, the perfect keto pescatarian dish! This keto-friendly meal is made with oven roasted shrimp served over a bed of roasted red pepper cauliflower “grits”. This brings color and dimension to the dish, while cream and parmesan cheese give the grits their creamy texture. On the side, diced broccoli is roasted and topped with a scoop of chili garlic butter. A cup of aji verde comes along with the dish, which is a spicy Peruvian green herb sauce made from garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lime and aji amarillo chili powder. We make a creamy version of aji verde by combining it with avocado mayo!

In Your Box
- Wild Caught
- Shrimp
- Broccoli
- Organic Cauliflower
- Olive Oil
- Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- Heavy Cream
- Onions
- Cream Cheese
- Unsalted Butter
- Cilantro, Roasted Red Peppers
- Parmesan Cheese
- Garlic
- Cotija Cheese
- Aji Amarillo Chili Powder
- Jalapeños
- Lime Juice
- Sea Salt
- Green Onions
- White Paper
- Cumin
- Granulated Garlic
- Dehydrated Garlic
- Black Pepper
- Gochagaru Pepper Flakes
- Guajillo Chile Powder
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 560 Calories
- 48g Fat
- 270mg Cholesterol
- 820mg Sodium
- 14g Carbohydrate
- 24g Protein
Overall Best Gourmet Meal Kit
A meal kit is a box of fresh ingredients that you’ll prepare yourself at home. Each meal kit comes with a detailed set of cooking instructions and is designed for both rookie and experienced chefs alike.
Starting price
- 12 meal options every week
- Moderate prep - 30 - 45 minutes
- Carb-conscious, diabetes-friendly, and vegetarian meals
- Free shopping if you get at least three meals for two people
- Wine subscription service
Wellness
Weight Watchers
Vegetarian
Popular Blue Apron Meals
Crispy Skin Trout Fillets with Creamy Chowder-Style Potatoes & Pancetta
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level
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Spice Level
Meal Overview
Inspired by one of our favorite seasonal ingredients and go-to comfort foods—corn chowder—this dish features smoky-spiced trout served over a rich base of corn, potatoes, and pancetta tossed with cream, whole grain dijon, and savory broth.

In Your Box
- 2 Skin-On Steelhead Trout Fillets
- 3 Diced Pancetta
- 2 ears Of Corn
- 3⁄4 Golden Potatoes
- 1 Poblano Pepper
- 1 Lemon
- 2 stalks Celery
- 1 bunch Chives
- 1⁄4 Cream
- 17⁄50 Chicken Bone Broth
- 17⁄50 Crispy Onions
- 1⁄2 Sweety Drop Peppers
- 1⁄4 Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
- 1 Smoky Spice Blend Smoked Paprika
- Sweet Paprika, Ground Yellow Mustard
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 1190 Calories
- 68g Fat
- 68g Protein
- 76g Carbs
Teriyaki Tilapia with Vegetables and Garlic-Ginger Rice
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level
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Spice Level
Meal Overview
For our take on the Japanese favorite, we’re combining soy glaze and mirin (or sweet rice wine) to spoon over tilapia as it sears in the pan, resulting in the irresistibly savory-sweet flavor for which the sauce is prized. We’re serving it alongside aromatic rice and stir-fried bok choy and carrots, then giving it all a little kick of heat with a garnish of furikake.

In Your Box
- 2 Tilapia Fillets
- 1⁄2 Long Grain White Rice
- 6 Carrots
- 10 Baby Bok Choy
- 2 Garlic
- 1 Ginger
- 2 Soy Glaze
- 1 Sesame Oil
- 1 Rice Vinegar
- 1 Mirin (Salted Cooking Wine)
- 1 Furikake
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 540 Calories
- 9g Fat
- 38g Protein
- 73g Carbs
The Factors We Use to Rank Top Gourmet Meal Service Providers
Average meal price– Of course you might expect to pay a little more for a gourmet service, be we’ve done our best to find a range of platforms to suit different budgets. We feel that everyone deserves to enjoy some high-quality cooking from time to time
Prep and cook time – Rustling up a gourmet classic doesn’t mean you need to spend hours in the kitchen. All of the providers on our list either provide instant prepared meals or are meal kits that can be ready in around 40 minutes
Meal variety and types – The gourmet experience is all about trying new tastes, cuisines, and culinary masterpieces the world over. We’ve gone out of our way to find the platforms that offer the most diverse meal choices in the industry
Weekly meal options– You might not want to cover every mealtime each week, as this can get a little expensive, so we’ve pulled together meal delivery services that offer a lot of flexibility to choose the meals you want and let you skip, cancel, or amend your order
How Do Gourmet Prepared Meals and Meal Kits Work?
Prepared meals– When you choose this option you’re getting the most convenient service possible. Here, the meal delivery service acts as both chef and waiter and each meal is precooked before being hand-delivered to your door. Microwave meals have come a long way in recent years and there are now multiple services that offer a gourmet taste
Meal kits– With meal kits, you get to become a gourmet chef yourself. Each week you’ll receive a shipment of fresh ingredients and a number of recipe cards from your chosen plan. Everything has been premeasured and portioned for you so you can’t make any mistakes. Then, you’ll cook your gourmet meals from scratch
Best Gourmet Prepared Meal Delivery Services for 2021
1. Factor 75
Alongside an excellent range of gourmet dishes, Factor 75 offers nutritional coaching for those that are trying to lead healthy lifestyles too. Meals are never boring and cover a range of different diets and cuisines, like keto, paleo, Mediterranean, and a variety of Asian options.
Avg. Meal Price | $12.50 |
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Prep & Cook Time | Two - five minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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Every meal has been designed by a dietician to ensure you get only the finest nutrition. What’s more, dishes are cooked by chefs before being shipped out.
The Bottom Line
Factor 75 offers an excellent all-around service. From the convenience of its instant meals to its flavor-packed dishes, it’s difficult to put a foot wrong.
2. Home Bistro
Home Bistro offers the ultimate prepared meal gourmet experience. Many of its meals have been designed by award-winning chef Cat Cora, and each choice is truly up to restaurant-quality standards.
Avg. Meal Price | $23 per meal |
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Prep & Cook Time | Just a few minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free shipping |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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The platform doesn’t just offer a gourmet experience, you can also find vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, body-shred, and Mediterranean options too.
The Bottom Line
While it might cost you a little more for your meals here we feel the extremely high quality is definitely worth the price. You don’t have to commit to a regular subscription so could try out some individual meals every now and again.
3. Freshly
Freshly offers up to 12 gourmet meals each week, meaning you can cover most of your lunches and dinners if you’d like. The price isn’t going to break the bank either and there are plenty of innovative and exciting options on the rotating menu.
Avg. Meal Price | $8.99 for most meals |
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Prep & Cook Time | No Prep, ready in 3 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Dependent on your region |
Shipping Regions | 48 US states - not available in Alaska or Hawaii |
Sample Meals |
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Freshly goes that extra mile in the customer service department and you’ll find text, phone, and 24/7 live chat options available.
The Bottom Line
Freshly offers a great range of healthy, nutrient-packed, gourmet options to try from a rotating menu of around 30 weekly dishes. Mix and match to your heart’s content to pick out your favorites.
4. Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest currently has around 65 dishes on its menu. Its primary focus is on organic, nourishing, and clean fruit and veg, but it’s able to combine these simple ingredients into some pretty tasty gourmet options.
Avg. Meal Price | Around $7.99 per meal |
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Prep & Cook Time | 3 to 10 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free shipping |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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Freshly proudly states that every meal is gluten-free, has no dairy, no fillers, or any artificial ingredients of any kind.
The Bottom Line
With exotic twists on flatbreads, harvest bowls, ice creams, and coffees, Freshly offers a gourmet experience you can enjoy for every meal of the day.
5. Veestro
Veestro is the first 100% plant-based service on our list and is proof that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy high-quality gourmet meals too.
Dieters looking for flexibility
Avg. Meal Price | $10.80 |
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Prep & Cook Time | Two to five minutes |
Shipping Cost | Subscriptions are free, a la carte orders cost $10 |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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Veestro offers a fully a la carte service, meaning you can choose as many meals as you’d like, or you could opt for its targeted weight loss plan.
The Bottom Line
We’d highly recommend Veestro for any vegans that are looking to try a meal delivery service, or for those that just want to try the diet and see what it’s all about.
Best Gourmet Meal Kit Delivery Services
1. Blue Apron
Blue Apron has been the king of the gourmet meal pile for a number of years now, and its effective social media marketing campaigns mean that it now has a strong presence in the industry.
Omnivores and vegeterians
Avg. Meal Price | $9.99 |
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Prep & Cook Time | 20 - 50 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free shipping for those ordering more than three meals per week |
Shipping Regions | All 50 states |
Sample Meals |
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You can enhance your gourmet meal by signing up to Blue Apron’s wine club. Each bottle has been hand-picked to match the dishes available that month and really helps add to that restaurant ambiance.
The Bottom Line
Blue Apron offers a good balance between gourmet and comfort food and offers enough options each week to keep even the pickiest of eaters happy.
2. Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is an all-purpose, all plant-based platform that provides breakfast, lunch, dinner, and groceries. The dinners are particularly impressive and have a real gourmet quality to them.
Avg. Meal Price | $11.99 |
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Prep & Cook Time | 10 - 30 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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In the aptly named ‘plantry’ section of the website you’ll find some interesting vegan treats such as vegan cheese, marshmallows, and chocolates.
The Bottom Line
Vegans are incredibly well catered for here and the extensive menu means you’ll be able to eat healthy, high-quality meals each day of the week.
3. Gobble
Gobble makes our list as the fastest meal kit on the market. Not only does it offer rich, home-cooked gourmet classics, but each can be prepped and ready from scratch in just 15 minutes.
Avg. Meal Price | $13.99 |
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Prep & Cook Time | 15 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Free shipping |
Shipping Regions | All 50 states |
Sample Meals |
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New meals hit the menu each week and we’ve been consistently impressed with the sheer quality of meals you can rustle up. Recent favorites have included seared sirloin steak calabrese and pan-seared barramundi with red wine cherry sauce. Both of which would be at home on any restaurant menu.
The Bottom Line
Although you’ll be paying more for your meals here, we really can’t fault Gobble for the sheer variety it’s able to offer. New joiners can find some pretty significant discounts too.
4. Home Chef
Home Chef offers the most customizable gourmet experience on our list. Easily swap between different menus, double up on protein, upgrade dishes, and choose vegetarian and carb-conscious options if you’d like.
People looking for customization options
Avg. Meal Price | $6.99 |
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Prep & Cook Time | 10 - 40 minutes |
Shipping Cost | Varies by state, but free for orders of more than $45 |
Shipping Regions | Continental US only |
Sample Meals |
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The super flexible plans at Home Chef can accommodate couples all the way through to large families of six.
The Bottom Line
Get the whole family enjoying a gourmet experience when you sign up for Home Chef. The meals might sound complex, but they’re actually pretty simple to make and anyone can get involved.
5. Marley Spoon
With the backing of home-cooking legend Martha Stewart, it’s no surprise that Marley Spoon offers up a whole host of gourmet treats. With roughly 30 menu items plus extras to pick from every week, a wide range of tastes is covered.
Avg. Meal Price | $8.99 |
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Prep & Cook Time | 30 - 40 minutes |
Shipping Cost | $8.99 |
Shipping Regions | All 50 states |
Sample Meals |
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Marley Spoon doesn’t just excel at main meals, you can find lots of gourmet desserts too like a giant iced oatmeal cookie, a chocolate ganache s’mores cake, and lemon ricotta crepes.
The Bottom Line
ch meal is designed to be prepped in just six easy steps, making the gourmet meals here incredibly accessible. Plus meals are reasonably priced, customer service is attentive, and dishes are packed with nutrition. What’s not to like?
How to Choose the Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Service
Taste and variety -An obvious first consideration. You’ll be paying a little extra for gourmet meals so should expect some pretty tasty options. You can get a good idea of meal types from browsing menus but the proof is literally in the pudding and you won’t know until you try a few. Make use of cheap introductory offers to find your personal favorites
Price -Some customers like to pay a little extra to have gourmet meals every night of the week, while others might be put off by the expense. We’d suggest trying some services as the occasional treat to see how you like them and then you can commit long-term if it’s within your budget
Platform reputation and customer service -We’d always recommend trying a service that has good reviews and a strong reputation. All of the providers on our list are well-known for good customer service and you shouldn’t have any issues
Delivery options -You’ll want to sign up for a service that allows flexibility with deliveries. You’re not always going to be home and need to be certain your meals will stay fresh
Summary
Becoming a self-taught gourmet chef has never been easier with access to so many meal kits these days, and for those that don’t feel like cooking you’ve got more than enough choice in the prepared meal industry too. You’ll hardly notice the difference between your home-cooked concoctions and their restaurant equivalents.
Plus, the price of kits is always coming down and the added convenience of pre-portioned ingredients and home delivery makes these services all the more enticing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I Need a Lot of Cooking Skills to Make Gourmet Meals?
No. All of the services on our list are either prepared meals or can be prepared in just a few easy steps. Even beginner chefs are welcome.
Can Gourmet Eating Be Healthy?
Of course. Many platforms these days source organic ingredients and make sure to pack each meal with all the nutrition you need.
Are Gourmet Meal Services Expensive?
Not necessarily. You can find a huge range of prices these days to suit just about any budget.