Home Chef vs Blue Apron 2023
If you are looking for a reliable meal kit delivery service, get ready to find an abundance of possible solutions. To make your job easier, we decided to compare two of the best options on the market: Home Chef vs Blue Apron. There are many similarities between these two services. They both deliver nationwide, offer flexible subscriptions, different plans, and recyclable packaging. However, there are also different features that make each one unique. For example, Blue Apron stands out through its well-balanced sophisticated recipes and guest chefs. Home Chef offers the possibility to customize your protein source and also provides ready-to-serve meals. But how can you decide which one is better for you? This honest comparison will help you choose a meal delivery service that’s right for your lifestyle, budget, and dietary needs.

A few words about Home Chef from our experts
Home Chef is a well-reputed subscription-based meal kit delivery service. Why? Because they provide pre-portioned meals with easy-to-understand recipe cards for the simplified cooking experience. Their weekly rotating menus contain more than 20 recipes for the customers. Home Chef provides several meal options that require minimal preparation or are oven-ready. You can expect affordable prices, too, starting from $6.99 per serving.

A few words about Blue Apron from our experts
Blue Apron is a US-based prepared meal delivery service that provides healthy meals sourced from local farmers. This popular subscription serves 2-5 people with their solo/couple and family plans. Their meal options include vegetarian, meat, and weight-watchers-approved recipes. Enjoy fresh, sustainable restaurant-like meals that are GMO-free. You can expect affordable prices, which can go as low as $7.49 per serving.
Offered Meals Plans & Pricing
Plan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$10 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
Standard 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal $7.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 people and 3 servings 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
- Vegetarian 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
- Vegetarian 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$9.99 /meal $7.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 2 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 3 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.99 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 3 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.49 /meal Free ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingWhen it comes to food quantity, Home Chef is the clear winner this time. The price is also better if you choose this company. You can order as much as you want and have enough leftovers to eat during the rest of the week. Home Chef is also a viable option for those planning to feed their families healthy meals. It’s not a secret that people want meal options that are good for them but they also want food that tastes great. In this regard, you are the only only one who can decide which one of the two options is the best. People’s tastes are different and this can make or break a deal, regardless of the tips we give you.
Meal Types & Cook Time
Meal Variety
Meal Variety
Prep & Cook Time
Prep & Cook Time
Dietary Preferences
Dietary Preferences
Soy free
Vegetarian
Low Carb
Low Calorie
Healthy Eating
Wellness
Weight Watchers
Vegetarian
Balance
Almond Free
Quality of ingredients
Quality of ingredients
Home Chef offers over 21 different meal options to choose from each week and many of them only take about five minutes to prep without any cooking. For example, their salads. This company allows you to customize every meal so you can enjoy some variety, in case you are getting bored of eating the same meals. Blue Apron offers only 11 meal options per menu but they are fully customizable too. Unfortunately, those customizations are only available for the protein portion of the selected meals. Blue Apron focuses on using non-GMO ingredients. Both companies offer various meals from different kinds of cuisines, including Italian, Mexican, and Asian. Blue Apron has GMO-free options too if that’s important for you. Home Chef wins this one again because of how easy it is to customize every meal you order and because of their larger number of available meal options.
Packaging & Ordering Process
Packaging
Packaging
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Plastic
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Foil / Cotton Liners
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Ice Packs
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100% Recyclable Package
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Sustainable Forestry Initiative
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Plastic
-
Foil / Cotton Liners
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Ice Packs
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100% Recyclable Package
-
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Ordering Process
Ordering Process
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Fast Delivery
-
In-App ordering
-
Fast Delivery
-
In-App ordering
Even though the food is the main focus here, the delivery box in which you get it is also important. Being healthy is one thing, but you also want to make sure that your order has as little impact on the environment as possible. Because of this, Blue Apron is the winner.
As for the ordering process, Home Chef lets you set your meal preferences and the number of meals you want to receive each week. You can also tell them how many people you are feeding with each meal. Then you can select which meals you would like to receive, each of them at a different price. Blue Apron also gives you the option of setting the number of meals and dinners each week. However, instead of paying different prices for different meals, you only pay for the standard price plan. Blue Apron is the winner here.
Customer Support & Shipping
Customer Support
Customer Support
-
Email
-
Telephone
-
Live chat
-
In-App
-
Email
-
Telephone
-
Live chat
-
In-App
Shipping
Shipping
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98% of the US - not Alaska or Hawaii. Also has blackout areas in parts of Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, California, Oregon, and Washington
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$10 or free shipping when you spend $40 or more
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48 US states - not available in Alaska or Hawaii
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$7.99 or free with some subscriptions
Whenever you have an issue, you want it to be taken care of immediately. That’s where the customer service options of these companies come in. Both Home Chef and Blue Apron provide client support through phone or by email, making it easy for you to get help. However, the Home Chef customer service also allows you to submit requests online so you can save time and do something else while waiting for a solution to your problem. Both websites provide a FAQ section that you can look through to see if your questions have already been answered. As for shipping, both services are available in all 48 states. If you want to enjoy the Blue Apron wine delivery, you should know that only certain states qualify for it. In this case, both companies win because they provide similar shipping and customer support services.
Sample Meals
Most Ordered Meal
Most Ordered Meal
Basil Pesto Salmon with grape tomatoes and goat cheese orzo
- Prep & Cook Time 25-35 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
It looks like a shiny new car, but it’s nothing but rust inside. It looks like a perfectly good apple, but it’s actually full of worms. But this surprise is a good one: orzo looks like slightly large rice, but it’s actually a form of small pasta. A small pasta that becomes tangy and creamy when mixed with butter, Parmesan, and goat cheese, and pairs like a dream with the flaky salmon.

In Your Box
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1⁄2 Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Savory Seasoning
- 4 Orzo Pasta
- 1 Basil Pesto
- 1 Goat Cheese
- 12 Salmon Fillets
- 3⁄5 Butter
- 4 Grape Tomatoes
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 815 Calories
- 54g Carbohydrates
- 45g Fat
- 49 Protein
- 1403 mg Sodium
Basil Pesto Salmon with grape tomatoes and goat cheese orzo
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Prep & Cook Time: 25-35 min
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Difficulty Level:
Moderate
Crispy Skin Trout Fillets with Creamy Chowder-Style Potatoes & Pancetta
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
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
Crispy Skin Trout Fillets with Creamy Chowder-Style Potatoes & Pancetta
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Prep & Cook Time: 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level:
Easy
More Meals
More Meals
Huli Huli Chicken Rice Bowl with charred pineapple
- Prep & Cook Time 30-40 min
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Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Huli Huli is a cooking method that involves roasting chicken on a spit and serving with a teriyaki-like sauce. In your box with this meal, we’ve got succulent chicken, delicious teriyaki, and sweet pineapple to recreate the huli huli experience.

In Your Box
- 2 Green Onions
- 3⁄4 Jasmine Rice
- 1 Lime
- 4 Slaw Mix
- 21⁄25 Mayonnaise
- 13 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 4 Pineapple Rings
- 2 Teriyaki Glaze
- 1⁄4 Red Pepper Flakes
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 780 Calories
- 93g Carbohydrates
- 24g Fat
- 46g Protein
- 1401mg Sodium
Huli Huli Chicken Rice Bowl with charred pineapple
Read more about the dishShawarma-Spiced Vegetable and Couscous Bowls with Arugula & Roasted Lemon Yogurt
- Prep & Cook Time 25-30 min
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Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
For these hearty bowls, herby salsa verde-dressed couscous is mixed with sweet raisins and peppery arugula, then topped with a duo of shawarma-roasted carrots and kohlrabi—a versatile vegetable with a mild flavor and texture similar to cabbage. We’re bringing it all together with a drizzle of bright lemon yogurt and the rich yolk from soft-boiled eggs.

In Your Box
- 2 Pasture-Raised Eggs
- 1⁄2 Yellow Couscous
- 1 Kohlrabi
- 2 Arugula
- 6 Carrots
- 1 Lemon
- 1 1⁄2 Golden Raisins
- 2 Roasted Sunflower Seeds
- 1⁄2 Salsa Verde
- 1⁄2 Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
- 1 Shawarma Spice Blend (Ground
- Coriander, Cumin Seeds, Garlic Powder
- Smoked Sweet Paprika & Ground Turmeric
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 600 Calories
- 28g Fat
- 26g Protein
- 70g Carbs
Shawarma-Spiced Vegetable and Couscous Bowls with Arugula & Roasted Lemon Yogurt
Read more about the dishTex-Mex-Style Pork-Stuffed Peppers with enchilada sauce and Oaxacan cheese
- Prep & Cook Time 40-50 min
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Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Now let’s make your stuffed pepper experience to a more exciting meals. No time like the present to expand your packed pepper preferences. These poblanos are stuffed with seasoned pork and corn and topped with cheese and cilantro. Delicious and easy-to-make, you’ll be calling yourself a stuffed pepper connoisseur after cleaning your plate.

In Your Box
- 3 Poblano Peppers
- 1⁄4 Cilantro
- 1 Red Onion
- 10 Ground Pork
- 2 Chile and Cumin Rub
- 3 Shredded Oaxacan Cheese
- 4 Red Enchilada Sauce
- 3 Corn Kernels
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 570 Calories
- 33g Carbohydrates
- 32g Fat
- 40g Protein
- 1565mg Sodium
Tex-Mex-Style Pork-Stuffed Peppers with enchilada sauce and Oaxacan cheese
Read more about the dishTeriyaki Tilapia with Vegetables and Garlic-Ginger Rice
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level
-
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
Teriyaki Tilapia with Vegetables and Garlic-Ginger Rice
Read more about the dishWhen it comes to watching what you eat, especially for a restrictive diet, you will do a lot better going with Home Chef. They have more diversity when it comes to picking out meals to suit your health needs. However, despite the quality of Blue Apron’s ingredients, Home Chef makes it much easier to put your meals together and still have them taste great and therefore takes the cake once more on this one. Home Chef uses only organic products from reputable food sources. They focus on “farm to table” and “sea to table” to ensure that the freshest ingredients possible are brought to your table. Blue Apron is also “farm to table” and uses organic ingredients. They pride themselves on using non-GMO ingredients and antibiotics- and hormones-free meat. There’s no dispute here, as Blue Apron offers more when it comes to fresh and healthy ingredients. That is probably why their meals come with a heavier price tag and it’s important to know these details before deciding solely based on price.
Overall Winner: Home Chef !
Home Chef is the overall winner as the most subscribed meal kit delivery company. This well-reputed company ensures simplified meal options to customers at reasonable prices while ensuring high-quality meal ingredients and easy recipes. With 2-10 recipes every week, their weekly rotating menu comes with a full customizability option. They offer affordable meal prices with an average price of around $6.99 per serving. Home Chef caters to allergen-free meal plans for customers with food allergies. Get fresh ingredients! Choose your protein source! Enjoy healthy eating!
