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.

    Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services 2021
    Written By: Kazi

    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.

    4.00
    Great
    Read Review

    Starting price

    $11 / per serving
    • 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 Healthy
    • Paleo Paleo
    • Athletes & Fitness Athletes & Fitness
    • Keto Keto
    • Plant Based Plant Based
    • Dairy Free Dairy Free
    Check Our Top 5 Gourmet Prepared Meal

    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.

    4.50
    Excellent
    Read Review

    Starting price

    $7.49 / per serving
    • 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 Wellness
    • Weight Watchers Weight Watchers
    • Vegetarian Vegetarian
    Check Our Top 5 Gourmet Meal Kit

    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

    Written By: Kazi

    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.

    Good for… Busy people that want to get healthy meals into their diets.
    Not good for… Vegans. Vegan and vegetarian options are currently limited at the moment, but Factor 75 is always updating its menu so it’s worth occasionally checking in.
    Avg. Meal Price $12.50
    Prep & Cook Time Two - five minutes
    Shipping Cost Free
    Shipping Regions Continental US only
    Sample Meals
    • Pork tenderloin with a cabbage casserole
    • Salmon with roasted mango salsa taco bowl
    • Black pepper chicken with potato leek hash

    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.

    Read Factor75 Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Gourmet meals
    Not good for… Those on a budget. You might want to use Home Bistro as an occasional treat given the high price tag. Although weekly meal options are available too.
    Avg. Meal Price $23 per meal
    Prep & Cook Time Just a few minutes
    Shipping Cost Free shipping
    Shipping Regions Continental US only
    Sample Meals
    • Chianti braised short ribs with Lebanese rice and honey roasted carrots
    • Fire-grilled chicken breast with sweet and spicy veggies
    • Mediterranean tapenade salmon with herbs de Provence risotto and ratatoullie

    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.

    Read Home bistro Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Convenience
    Not good for… Filling meals. Freshly strikes a balance between gourmet dishes and healthy eating which means some meals can be quite low in calories and not too filling. 
    Avg. Meal Price $8.99 for most meals
    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
    • Thai lemongrass chicken bowl
    • Miso-glazed beef
    • A range of Italian pasta dishes

    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.

    Read Freshly Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Vegans and vegetarians
    Not good for… Picky eaters. Some of the platform’s innovative meals might just be a little too interesting for some tastes and won’t suit picky eaters.
    Avg. Meal Price Around $7.99 per meal
    Prep & Cook Time 3 to 10 minutes
    Shipping Cost Free shipping
    Shipping Regions Continental US only
    Sample Meals
    • Tomato and bell pepper gazpacho
    • Artichoke and spinach flatbreads
    • Butternut squash and kale shakshuka

    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.

    Read Daily Harvest Full Review

    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.

    Good for…

    Dieters looking for flexibility

    Not good for… Complex dishes. While meals are certainly tasty and have gourmet qualities to them, Veestro keeps dishes relatively simple with just a few core ingredients.
    Avg. Meal Price $10.80
    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
    • Hearty veg bowl
    • Creamy spinach Bombay
    • Miso Udon

    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.

    Read Veestro Full Review

    Best Gourmet Meal Kit Delivery Services

    Written By: Kazi

    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.

    Good for…

    Omnivores and vegeterians

    Not good for… Single-use plastic. Blue Apron has more single-use plastic than other brands and can’t quite match the environmental credentials of some of its competitors.
    Avg. Meal Price $9.99
    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
    • Spiced steaks and honey butter
    • Chile and orange-glazed chicken
    • Pork chops and balsamic pear compote

    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.

    Read Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services 2021 Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Vegans and vegetarians
    Not good for… Carnivores. There’s not an animal product in sight at Purple Carrot so meat-lovers will want to choose another platform on our list.
    Avg. Meal Price $11.99
    Prep & Cook Time 10 - 30 minutes
    Shipping Cost Free
    Shipping Regions Continental US only
    Sample Meals
    • Crispy black bean tacos with mango avocado salsa
    • Pesto white bean melts with lemon arugula
    • Crispy sumac brown rice bowls with pistachios and cashew cheese

    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. 

    Read Purple Carrot Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Time-savers
    Not good for… Price. Gobble is pricier than most other meal kits, but you’re paying for added convenience and top-notch ingredients.
    Avg. Meal Price $13.99
    Prep & Cook Time 15 minutes
    Shipping Cost Free shipping
    Shipping Regions All 50 states
    Sample Meals
    • Palak Paneer with Edamame & Garam Masala Basmati Rice
    • Southwestern Cauliflower Crunch Salad with Avocado & Jalapeno Ranch

    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.

    Read Gobble Full Review

    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.

    Good for…

    People looking for customization options

    Not good for… Restricted diets. While the platform has a few veggie options, other specialist diets like keto, paleo, and allergen-free options aren’t available.
    Avg. Meal Price $6.99
    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
    • Tuscan farro ribollita
    • Chicken taco stuffed peppers
    • Sweet chili steak lettuce wraps

    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.

    Read Home Chef Full Review

    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.

    Good for… Novice chefs
    Not good for… Shipping cost. Each delivery will cost you an $8.99 shipping charge which can quickly add up if you use the service a lot.
    Avg. Meal Price $8.99
    Prep & Cook Time 30 - 40 minutes
    Shipping Cost $8.99
    Shipping Regions All 50 states
    Sample Meals
    • Grilled lemon garlic steak
    • Grass-fed beef tacos
    • Broken dumpling chicken and ginger stir fry

    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?

    Read Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Full Review

    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.

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