story and photos by KALEA MARTIN
If you lead a busy life, getting dinner on the table can be a real struggle. Between grocery runs, defrosting meat, and carving out time to actually prep and cook, making a home-cooked meal is rarely as quick or effortless as it sounds. However, meal kit subscription services like HelloFresh can make dinnertime more convenient by delivering fresh, pre-measured ingredients straight to your doorstep. All you have to do is follow the recipe for your meal and you’ll have dinner ready without the hassle of preparing everything.
Even though I cook dinner from scratch most of the time, there are some days that it just isn’t feasible. Since I’m not a huge fan of takeout, I usually throw together whatever I can find in my fridge. But after too many nights of having girl dinner, I decided it was time to try HelloFresh. Just the thought of not having to figure out what to cook or shop for was enough to convince me to subscribe, and after a month of testing it out, it’s easy to see why HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal kit options. If you’re also looking to simplify dinnertime, ahead are a few things you should know about HelloFresh before subscribing.
Jump Ahead
- How We Tested (Read More↓)
- Key Specs (Read More↓)
- Pros & Cons (Read More↓)
- Hello Fresh Menu (Read More↓)
- Delivery and Packaging (Read More↓)
- Are HelloFresh Meals Hard to Prepare? (Read More↓)
- Ingredients, Quality, and Flavor (Read More↓)
- How Much Does HelloFresh Cost? (Read More↓)
- Who Is HelloFresh Good For? (Read More↓)
- HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron (Read More↓)
- Final Verdict (Read More↓)
Meet the Expert
- Name: Kalea Martin
- Cooking skill level: Primarily self-taught with some professional experience
- Lifestyle: I rarely eat out and only cook for one other person besides myself. When I cook, I use whatever ingredients are on sale and hardly ever follow recipes.
- Testing took: 12 hours
- Experience with meal kits: I briefly had a HomeChef meal kit subscription.
- Why I’m a tester: There’s at least one day a week where I’m too busy to cook a well-balanced dinner.
How I Tested HelloFresh
I tested HelloFresh for an entire month, and over this period I received one meal kit at the beginning of each week. Based on the plan I signed up for, this allowed me to make three HelloFresh recipes per week, or a total of 12 meals with two servings each.
Since I already cook the majority of my meals at home, my main goal with HelloFresh was to see how much time I could save using the provided meal kits for dinner. I purposely saved the meal kits for busy weeknights, and made sure to follow every recipe to a T. While testing the service, I focused most on how long each meal took to prepare and how much effort was required compared to my usual weeknight cooking routine. I also took into account portion size and the quality of the food to help determine if it was worth the cost.
Ultimately HelloFresh did simplify dinnertime and the food was good, but whether you would benefit from a subscription or not depends on your current lifestyle and cooking habits. I personally did not end up renewing my subscription after four weeks of using the service, but I can definitely see the appeal for those who are looking to try new meals or cut down on dinnertime prep.
Overall rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
HelloFresh Key Specs
- Base price: $8.99/serving
- Nationwide availability: 50 states
- No. of meals per box: 2–6
- Premade meals? Yes
- Food arrives: Fresh
- Dietary customization options: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, and Fit & Wholesome
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ingredients are consistently fresh and well-packaged to preserve their quality
- HelloFresh releases new meal options every week, so you won’t see repeats.
- Recipe instructions are easy for beginners to follow
- Allows you to substitute, add, or remove sides and proteins for every meal
Cons
- Can be more expensive than buying groceries
- Doesn’t cater to food allergies, gluten-free, or keto diets
How HelloFresh Works
Subscribing to HelloFresh is incredibly simple. I clicked the “Get Started” button on the homepage and completed a short questionnaire, sharing my dietary preferences and selecting how many meals I wanted each week and for how many people. After entering these details, I picked which meals I wanted for my first five shipments.
HelloFresh narrowed my options based on my dietary preferences into Meat & Veggies, Fit & Wholesome, Quick and Easy, and Vegetarian. But I could easily browse other categories, customize sides and proteins, and even add desserts or extra meals. I wasn’t limited to the suggested selections, so I could explore different types of dishes if I wanted.
I chose all of my meals right away, but I could have waited for HelloFresh’s weekly email reminder. The service lets you edit your selections until 11:59 p.m., five days before your scheduled shipment. If you don’t pick your meals, HelloFresh automatically selects them for you. You can also change your delivery day or cancel an upcoming kit at any time through your account settings on the website or app.
HelloFresh Menu
HelloFresh offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though the majority of the meals fall under the dinner category. Every single week, HelloFresh introduces 40 new offerings, including 14 vegetarian-friendly meals as well as two dairy-free vegan ones. The menu never repeats, and it features a variety of cuisines, from Peruvian to Mediterranean.
Given that there are so many different options to choose from, I was surprised that there wasn’t any way to filter them. Instead you have to click and scroll through individual categories such as “Bestsellers,” “Pizza and Pasta,” and “Seasonal Faves.” Fortunately, there are helpful labels on each meal indicating, for example, if a meal is spicy, low in carbs, or has a prep time of under five minutes. Without looking too hard you can also spot which meals are vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and dairy-free, but HelloFresh does not cater to gluten-free, nut-free, keto, or paleo diets.
Delivery and Packaging
All of my HelloFresh shipments arrived safely and on time, and I even received tracking updates throughout their journey. In my zip code, HelloFresh delivers Monday through Friday, and in certain areas, weekend deliveries are also an option. However, in some locations, HelloFresh is only able to deliver on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. No matter your location, HelloFresh delivers within an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. window (all of my shipments arrived in the morning).
Getting perishable food in the mail might seem risky, but HelloFresh keeps its meal kits cold with two large ice packs and insulated padding to protect ingredients during transit. Everything was packed so well that I didn’t have to rush home to refrigerate my food if I was out for a few hours. You don’t need to sign for delivery or be at home, but HelloFresh still recommends refrigerating ingredients as soon as possible and cooking them within two to five days. To ensure maximum freshness—and to prevent theft—it’s best not to let your HelloFresh package sit out longer than necessary.
With the exception of the meat products, HelloFresh sorted all ingredients into paper bags labeled by meal. Each item was individually packaged in plastic and clearly labeled. Most of the packaging is easily recyclable, except for the insulation, which uses non-recyclable plastic. During the summer, HelloFresh uses packaging made from recyclable kraft paper, jute, and cotton, though these items must be taken to a recycling center. The plastic from the ice packs is also recyclable, but only after you empty its contents.
Are HelloFresh Meals Hard to Prepare?
HelloFresh meals take anywhere from five minutes to an hour to make, but even recipes with longer cook times are still beginner-friendly. The recipes focus on basic cooking techniques like mashing potatoes and boiling pasta, and HelloFresh modifies more challenging dishes to make them approachable for beginners.
The Crispy Kickin’ Cayenne Chicken Cutlets, for example, called for only battering the top side of the chicken, and baking it in the oven instead of frying it in a pan. This eliminated common mishaps that normally accompany chicken cutlet recipes, such as the breading sliding off when you try to flip it, or the chicken ending up undercooked in the center and overcooked on the outside.
The listed cooking times proved accurate for every recipe, and in most cases, meals took less time to prepare than my usual dinners because most ingredients arrived pre-portioned. The only time I had to do any sort of measuring was when the instructions specified to reserve half of something for garnishing, or if the recipe called for a spicy ingredient “to taste.”
The meat products also came already cut and trimmed, so I never had to filet any fish or debone any chicken. Meals from the Quick and Easy category stayed true to their name, but other recipes from different categories were equally uncomplicated. I never found myself confused by the instructions, nor did I spend any longer than an hour in the kitchen.
Ingredients, Quality, and Flavor
HelloFresh sources all of its ingredients from sustainable, USDA-compliant suppliers and ships them from nine distribution centers located in New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Illinois. Even though I don’t live in one of HelloFresh’s distribution states, the food arrived as fresh as if I had picked it up at a local grocery store. The meat products were clearly labeled as domestically sourced, and most were hormone- and antibiotic-free. None of the produce was organic, but it was always in prime condition, without any bruising or deformities.
I could really taste the ingredients in each meal, as the seasoning and spice levels in the recipes added plenty of flavor. A few recipes called for pantry staples like salt and pepper, but nothing beyond that. Every dish delivered on taste, which makes sense given that HelloFresh develops and tests its recipes with experienced chefs.
All the meals were filling, even the ones I had picked from the Fit & Wholesome category. I especially enjoyed the Crispy Chickpea Tabbouleh Bowl, which layered bold flavors and satisfying textures—from creamy feta dressing to toasted chickpeas and crisp cucumber. Even though this was a vegetarian meal, I hardly noticed the absence of meat.
Overall, the meals didn’t completely wow me, since I could have easily found similar “easy weeknight recipes” on Pinterest or TikTok and cooked them without a meal kit. While this was the case, I did enjoy every single meal I ordered, and not once did I feel anything I ate was truly unpleasant. However, if you do so happen to eat something that could use a little tweaking, HelloFresh lets you rate and give feedback about the meals after you make them, allowing the service to further tailor your recommendations for your next shipment.
How Much Does HelloFresh Cost?
The total cost you end up paying for a HelloFresh subscription varies by which plan you select. Two-person plans range from $9.79 to $12.49 per serving, while four-person plans cost between $8.99 and $9.79 per serving. Generally, the more meals per week you include your plan, the less you’ll pay per serving. I went with three meals for two people per week, which ended up costing $9.99 per serving.
Since I was a first-time subscriber, I also received a $30 discount as well as free shipping on my first delivery instead of the standard $10.99, but this discount does change. For example, at one point during my testing period, HelloFresh ran a different first-time subscriber promotion for free breakfast with every order.
The price of my first shipment ended up being reasonable because of the discount, but for the ones thereafter, I wasn’t too keen on paying over $70 per week for only three dinners. I usually spend around $50 per week on groceries for two people, and even when I go over budget, I still end up with extra ingredients for future meals—more than what a single HelloFresh shipment provides. While the subscription is convenient and I have zero complaints about the food, the higher price is a big tradeoff for me.
HelloFresh price vs. competitors
| HelloFresh | Blue Apron | EveryPlate | Home Chef | Green Chef |
| $8.99-$12.49 per serving | $7.99-$12.49 per serving | $7.49-$4.99 per serving | $9.99-$11.99 per serving | $4.80-$13.49 per serving |
Who Is HelloFresh Good For?
Busy people who want to make dinnertime more convenient without resorting to takeout will benefit from most meal kit subscriptions, but when it comes to HelloFresh specifically, I found that it’s best for those who really care about cooking with premium ingredients such as sustainably sourced seafood, domestically raised meat, and seasonal produce.
Quality aside, I also feel that this service would be great for those who don’t want to waste food or ingredients. As someone who sometimes buys too many groceries, I often struggle with trying to make sure I use everything before it goes bad. That said, I really appreciated that HelloFresh portions every ingredient accurately, ensuring nothing goes to waste in a meal kit.
Based on how beginner-friendly the recipes were, HelloFresh is also really great for people who have basic cooking skills. I always knew exactly what to do while cooking, and the clear instructions made it easy to end up with meals that looked and tasted just like the recipes promised. Moreover, I also really liked getting to try out different cuisines, which I’m certain will help those who are in a dinnertime slump and want a little variety. However, the only people who may not find this service to be convenient are those who have severe food allergies or gluten sensitivities, as HelloFresh only accommodates some dietary restrictions.
HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron
If you’re looking for a meal kit where the food isn’t only fresh but also high quality, you can’t go wrong with either HelloFresh or Blue Apron. Both services prioritize sustainably sourced ingredients as well as antibiotic and hormone-free meats. If you need to substitute certain ingredients based on dietary restrictions though, you can easily do so with either service as well. The main difference between HelloFresh and Blue Apron mostly comes down to pricing.
HelloFresh’s cheapest option is $8.99 per serving, while Blue Apron’s is $7.99, and on top of that Blue Apron has a more generous welcome offer. With Blue Apron, you receive a $110 discount across your first five meals, along with free shipping on your first order. Generally, you’ll save a bit more with Blue Apron, at least during your first month of subscribing.
HelloFresh and Blue Apron’s menus are nearly identical in terms of variety. Both services organize meals into similar categories, such as Family Friendly and Fit & Easy, and feature dishes from a variety of cuisines. Of the two, Blue Apron’s menu is bigger, featuring about 70 meals to choose from every week compared to HelloFresh’s 40 plus. HelloFresh however has a plan for pescatarians, while Blue Apron does not. HelloFresh also lets you order up to six meals per week, but Blue Apron’s biggest plan only offers a maximum of five.
If you’re feeding picky eaters or juggling different food preferences, Blue Apron could work better because it provides more meals to choose from each week. However, if pescatarian options are a priority, HelloFresh will likely serve you best. HelloFresh is also the clear winner if you’re looking for a meal kit that gives you six meals a week, but otherwise there are only a few minor differences between the two services.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that a HelloFresh subscription is convenient to have, but it’s not necessarily for everybody. I’ll admit the food was tasty and the meal kits did save me time in the kitchen, but I ultimately felt it wasn’t worth the price. Every HelloFresh box claims, “This cost you 28% less than at your local grocery store,” but I have a hard time buying that unless you’re constantly tossing groceries and shopping exclusively at pricey stores. Even though the meal kits included enough ingredients for a decent sized serving, it was still noticeably less than you’d get for the same price at a regular grocery store.
HelloFresh Cookbook (from $34)
That said, the food quality is excellent, so you’re unlikely to be disappointed with HelloFresh. Everything from the meat to the vegetables is always at peak freshness, sometimes on par with what you’d get at a farmer’s market. The same rule applies to the included spice mixes which help create flavorful, well-balanced meals.
While I do have some slight gripes with HelloFresh’s price, I would still recommend the subscription if meal planning is a major source of stress for you, or if you want to introduce more variety to what you eat. However, if the main appeal is having ingredients delivered to your door each week, you’ll likely get a better deal with a grocery delivery app.
Our Testing Methodology
Overall, HelloFresh earns a 4.4 out of 5 stars based on how the service performed in the following categories:
| Factors | What It Means | Ranking (1-5) |
| Taste | Meals have a balanced and delicious flavor and consistency. | 5 |
| Ease of preparation | The service provides easy-to-follow instructions for preparing and cooking the meal. | 5 |
| Ingredient quality | Ingredients are high quality and fresh. They are in good shape when they arrive. | 5 |
| Meal variety | The service offers a variety of meals, cuisines, and flavors to avoid meal repeats and provide users with new dishes to explore. | 5 |
| Cost | The price is reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you receive. | 2 |
| Dietary customization | There are options for users to note dietary restrictions and preferences. Choosing these options is easy to do, and there are plenty of meal/food options for these preferences. | 3 |
| Health | Meals provide balanced nutrients. | 5 |
| Availability | The service is available to consumers in a variety of locations. | 5 |
| Portion size | Portion sizes are reasonable and filling. | 4 |
| Subscription flexibility | The subscription/plan offers reasonable customization. You’re able to adjust or cancel your order within a reasonable time frame. | 5 |
| Shipping | The meals arrived on time. The packaging kept things fresh and in good condition. You’re able to provide delivery instructions if needed. | 5 |
| Customer service | How quickly customer service responds to queries, the level of detail they provide, and how helpful the team is overall. | 4 |
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