Home Chef vs HelloFresh 2023
If you’re eager to test Home Chef and HelloFresh meals but you’re not sure which service to start with, you’re in the right place. Our team tried both for this detailed Home Chef vs HelloFresh comparison. Both services are great choices if you are looking for a diversified array of meals that can suit the needs of families. HelloFresh focuses on easy-to-follow recipes and enables you to quickly put food on the table. Home Chef follows strict standards when it comes to choosing their fresh and sustainable ingredients. Read this Home Chef vs HelloFresh analysis to understand which service is better for your diet.

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 HelloFresh from our experts
HelloFresh is one of the most extensive meal-kit delivery services in the US. The company ensures the delivery of fresh ingredients along with easy-to-follow recipe cards. This meal subscription company supports responsible, fresh, and organic ingredient sourcing for the optimal health of the customers. Their exceptional variety of dishes with specialist menus for vegetarians and pescetarians comes with their excellent customer service.
Offered Meals Plans & Pricing
Plan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$10 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 people 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$12.49 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 people and 3 servings 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 people and 4 servings 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
2 people and 5 servings 2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 2 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$8.99 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 3 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.49 /meal $8.99 ShippingPlan name
2 ServingsCost Per Serving
$6.99 /meal $10 ShippingPlan name
4 people and 4 servings 4 ServingsCost Per Serving
$7.49 /meal $8.99 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 ShippingHelloFresh offers 6 meal plans: Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Family Friendly, Calorie Smart, Pescatarian, and Quick and Easy. The names clearly indicate what type of recipes you can find in each plan. You can customize your plan size by choosing between 2 and 4 people and 2 to 5 recipes per week. For 2 people and 2 recipes per week, you need to pay $12.49 per serving. If you order 3 or 4 recipes per week for more people, you only pay $7.49 per meal.
Home Chef only offers two meal plans: Home Chef and the Fresh and Easy plan. The first contains fresh, pre-portioned ingredients, and meals that are easy to prepare. The second plan might be the best choice for busy people as it contains tasty low or no prep meals. Even if there aren’t any custom plans for vegans, vegetarians, or other diets, there are several labels you can select when you make your order to customize your plans: calorie-conscious, carb-conscious, shellfish, pork, poultry, tree nuts, beef, fish, mushrooms, peanuts. The prices start at $6.99 per serving. However, most meals that cost this little are salads. For a main course dish, the average price is $9.99 per serving. You can order for 2,4, or 6 people and choose between 2 to 6 meals per week.
It’s a tie. Both services offer similar pricing, if you order for more people, Hello Fresh is more affordable. If you order for two, Home Chef is a better option.
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
Plant-based protein
Gourmet Meals
Vegetarian
Plant Based
Low Carb
Low Calorie
Quality of ingredients
Quality of ingredients
HelloFresh offers a variety of more than 25 meals per week. The menu is constantly changing. For those who eat a regular diet, the Wellness and Family Friendly plans offer balanced and nutritious meals. The recipes in the calorie smart menu have around 650 calories. Most recipes are easy to prepare and require around 30 minutes. Each meal is accompanied by detailed instructions and nutritional information. This company gets its ingredients from a trustworthy network of farmers. The fruits and vegetables are freshly picked. They use some organic ingredients but not many.
Home Chef’s detailed step-by-step recipes easily walk you through the preparation process. Some meals can be prepared in less than 15 minutes, others require around 45 minutes. There is a wide array of recipes for vegetarians, carnivores, or people who want to lose weight. Home Chef uses natural, fresh, and safe ingredients that are obtained following the highest quality standards. They partner with local farms to ensure the meat they use is safe and hormone-free. They also include organic ingredients whenever possible.
Both services offer high-quality ingredients and detailed instructions. However, in this HelloFresh vs Home Chef battle, we choose Home Chef because you can prepare the meals faster.
Packaging & Ordering Process
Packaging
Packaging
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Plastic
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Foil / Cotton Liners
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Ice Packs
-
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
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Fast Delivery
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In-App ordering
HelloFresh offers a simple and straightforward order process once you create an account. You can skip or cancel meals at any time before 23:59 PST, five days before the next scheduled delivery. The company focuses on eco-friendly packaging. They even have a dedicated section on their website where you can learn how to recycle each element. The kit bag and separators are 100% approved for curbside recycling.
Home Chef sends you by email a weekly menu with the 20+ meal options available for the next 7 days. You need to select your meals by Friday at noon CST that week, or you can simply choose the meals Home Chef recommends. The Customize It feature allows you to upgrade, swap, or double up your protein sources. It’s easy to skip an order, just make sure you do this by Friday, 12:00, the week before your scheduled delivery. Once you place an order, you get an online tracking link that allows you to check where your delivery is. The company uses some recyclable materials in its packaging. All the boxes and dividers are made of partially recycled cardboard and all the plastic containers are curbside recyclable. There is comprehensive information on their website on how to recycle the packaging.
Both services are easy to use and flexible, however, we choose HelloFresh as it seems to focus more on recycling compared to Home Chef, which uses many plastic containers.
Customer Support & Shipping
Customer Support
Customer Support
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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
-
$10 or free shipping when you spend $40 or more
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The US except for Hawaii and Alaska, and Canada.
-
$6.99
You can reach out to HelloFresh by phone or live chat. After you’ve signed up and you place an order, based on your zip code, you’ll get a list of delivery date options you can choose from. You can later change the delivery day. Hello Fresh meals typically arrive between 8 AM and 8 PM. You’ll get by email the order tracking information. The company delivers across the US, except for Hawaii and Alaska. Shipping costs $9.99.
You can contact Home Chef by email, phone, or live chat. However, except for the live chat option, the rest of the contact methods are difficult to find on the website. The company delivers to 98% of the United States. The shipping fee depends on the size of the order. For orders over $49.99, the fee is $7.99. For orders under $49.99, it is $13.99.
Both companies offer excellent customer support and deliver in most states. We choose HelloFresh this time for its standard shipping fee.
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
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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
Black Bean & Poblano Burritos with Monterey Jack, Pico de Gallo Cilantro Lime Rice & Guacamole
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Master the art of building the perfect burrito with this recipe. First, assemble your fillings—here, you’ve got fluffy cilantro lime rice, hearty spiced black beans and poblano, and Monterey Jack cheese. Next, get your salsas and condiments ready: smoky red pepper crema, refreshing pico de gallo, and guacamole. Now for the best part: stuffing the tortillas with just as much of each component as your heart desires, so you get a burrito that’s perfectly customized. Roll it all up, then dig into burrito bliss. Now THAT’S a wrap!

In Your Box
- 1⁄2 Jasmine Rice
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 Poblano Pepper
- 1 Roma Tomato
- 1⁄4 ounce Cilantro
- 1 Lime
- 13 2⁄5 Black Beans
- 1 Veggie Stock Concentrate
- 1 Southwest Spice Blend
- 2 Flour Tortillas (ContainsWheat)
- 1⁄4 Monterey Jack Cheese (ContainsMilk)
- 4 Smoky Red Pepper Crema (ContainsMilk, Soy)
- 4 Guacamole
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 890 kcal Calories
- 28 g Fat
- 10 g Saturated Fat
- 128 g Carbohydrate
- 11 g Sugar
- 14 g Dietary Fiber
- 22 g Protein
- 30 mg Cholesterol
- 1640 mg Sodium
Black Bean & Poblano Burritos with Monterey Jack, Pico de Gallo Cilantro Lime Rice & Guacamole
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Prep & Cook Time: 35-40 min
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Difficulty Level:
Expert
More Meals
More Meals
Huli Huli Chicken Rice Bowl with charred pineapple
- Prep & Cook Time 30-40 min
-
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 dishPork & Pepper Enchiladas with Pico de Gallo & Lime Crema
- Prep & Cook Time 35-40 min
-
Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
Saucy, smothered, hearty, and delicious: This enchilada bake has everything you could possibly want. You’ll start by wrapping tortillas around a filling of spiced ground pork and sautéed bell pepper, then coating the bundles with a healthy glug of zesty tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Mexican cheese. Bake until piping hot and bubbly, then top with lime crema and pico de gallo and dig into all that deliciousness.

In Your Box
- 1 Roma Tomato
- 2 Scallions
- 1 Lime
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 4 Sour Cream (ContainsMilk)
- 10 Ground Pork
- 1 Tex-Mex Paste
- 1 Southwest Spice Blend
- 6 Flour Tortillas (ContainsWheat)
- 1⁄2 Mexican Cheese Blend (ContainsMilk)
- 1 1⁄2 Tomato Paste
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 950 kcal Calories
- 56g Fat
- 22g Saturated Fat
- 74g Carbohydrate
- 12g Sugar
- 4g Dietary Fiber
- 39g Protein
- 140mg Cholesterol
- 2060mg Sodium
Pork & Pepper Enchiladas with Pico de Gallo & Lime Crema
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 dishSan Antonio Beef Bowls with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips Fresh Salsa & Lime Crema
- Prep & Cook Time 25-30 min
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Difficulty Level
-
Spice Level
Meal Overview
The beauty of a bowl-style dinner is the DIY element. This meal begins with a zesty rice and richly-spiced ground beef, then gets jazzed up with homemade salsa, Monterey Jack cheese, lime crema, and blue corn tortilla chips. When ready to build your bowl, feel free to go wild as you assemble everything. Crema on bottom! Rice on top! Crush up your tortilla chips for a crunchy garnish, or serve along the side for scooping—follow your heart, chef!!

In Your Box
- 1 Roma Tomato
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 lime
- 1 jalapeño
- 1 garlic
- 1⁄4 jasmine rice
- 10 Ground Beef
- 1 Southwest Spice Blend
- 1 1⁄2 Tomato Paste
- 1 Beef Stock Concentrate
- 2 Sour Cream (ContainsMilk)
- 1⁄4 Monterey Jack Cheese (ContainsMilk)
- 1 1⁄2 Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
- Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- 930 kcal Calories
- 54g Fat
- 22g Saturated Fat
- 76g Carbohydrate
- 9g Sugar
- 5g Dietary Fiber
- 35g Protein
- 150mg Cholesterol
- 860mg Sodium
San Antonio Beef Bowls with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips Fresh Salsa & Lime Crema
Read more about the dishHelloFresh offers a vast array of tasty and healthy recipes, some of our team’s favorites are included in the table above. The preparation time varies between 25 to 40 minutes. Many meals are easy to prepare, but some require a bit of skill and patience. Each recipe contains detailed preparation instructions and nutritional information
Home Chef offers detailed and easy-to-follow recipes. Their meals are inspired by a variety of cuisines including Asian, Italian, Greek. Some of the tastiest meals our foodies have tried are listed above. While some recipes require around 45 minutes of preparation, others can be completed in 15 minutes.
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!
