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Home Chef Review

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Meal Delivery Company Reviews

Home Chef Review 3.5 Star Rating

Home Chef

3.5 Star Rating
  • Meal kit service
  • Prices start at $6.99/serving
  • $9.99 shipping
  • Boxes for 2, 4, or 6 people
  • Most recipes can be customized
  • Can add on items like desserts, bagged salads, and more
  • Discounts available for students and "heroes"
  • "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
  • In business since 2013

Home Chef got its start in 2013 to bring people together for a home-cooked meal without the trip to the grocery store. This meal kit service delivers over 10 million meals each year.

Take the quiz to get a recommendation

Not sure how Home Chef might fit into your routines and preferences? Try taking the quiz on the main page. It'll ask you four questions, like "Do you enjoy cooking?" and "What's your go-to weeknight dinner?" Home Chef will tell you your kitchen style - ours was "Convenient Chef" - and make a suitable recommendation between their two meal plans: Home Chef and Fresh and Easy. Of course, you can just jump in and start creating your account, and you'll always be able to select any recipe from the menu.

Check out the menus and the grocery store extras

You can explore six weeks of Home Chef Menus right on the site without having to start the subscription process. Use the filters to show options that take less than 30 minutes to prepare or that are calorie- or carb-conscious. As you scroll through the menu, you'll notice at the bottom that Home Chef also has a supermarket-like feature where you can add a bagged salad, breakfast croissants, smoothies or even cold brew coffee to your order.

Expand your options with customizations

You'll also notice that most of the recipes on the menu have "Customize It" options. For example:

  • The Creamy Pesto Chicken Flautas can be made with shrimp, steak strips, Italian pork sausage links, or opt for the antibiotic-free chicken breasts instead of the regular ones.
  • The Salmon Bearnaise could be modified to use mahi-mahi filets or NY strip steak.

You get the idea. These customizations really expand your menu options with Home Chef. As you set up your meal delivery subscription, you'll also have the option to indicate any foods you'd like to avoid. Those include pork, beef, poultry, fish, shellfish, mushrooms, tree nuts, and peanuts.

2, 4, or 6 servings per recipe

We're also happy to see that Home Chef has a 6-person serving size option. Most meal delivery companies only let you choose between two or four people, making this a great choice for bigger families. You can also get anywhere from 2-6 recipes per week. It's pretty impressive that for a box with a total of 36 servings (six people, six recipes), the total cost was just under $360 plus $9.99 shipping.

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Discounts for students and "heroes"

If you're a student or a "hero" (doctor, nurse, teacher, first responder, hospital employee), don't miss the links at the bottom of the site that correspond to you. You'll need to verify your identity with ID.me on the payment page of your Home Chef account, and then your discount will be displayed. At the time of this review, it was 50% off the first box (up to $60) and 10% off all future orders.

Abundant delivery times

In our area, the available delivery days were Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It was nice to see that we could get our first box in less than a week - for example, placing our first order on Saturday, we could get it delivered as early as the following Thursday. It also let us schedule our first shipment for more than a month out: that's a super option if you know you've got a busy time coming up and you want to take care of that week's meals in advance.

Flawless rating from the BBB

Home Chef is one of very few meal delivery companies that receives both an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Although there were just under 70 complaints filed there in the last three years, that rating means that Home Chef is doing a good job in responding every time.

Customer experience can be inconsistent

Subscribers don't always agree with that assessment, however. Approved refunds are often still missing after two weeks, and some customers have repeated issues with the meals: incorrect ingredients, wrong instructions, and spoilage after just a few days instead of staying usable for at least five days as promised.

Still a good option for meal kits

We still give Home Chef a 3.5-star rating, because we appreciate the lower-than-average pricing and customization options on meals, plus we don't want to completely overlook the 2,000+ five-star reviews they've received over the years. We suggest keeping a close eye on your deliveries and being proactive with contacting customer service if there's an issue in order to make the most out of your Home Chef subscription.

Which Meal Delivery Company is the Best?

Isn't it amazing how many ways we have to make our lives easier, from Instacart grocery deliveries to DoorDash dinners from our favorite restaurants? Meal delivery services fall in the middle of that spectrum: you save the time and hassle of planning a menu and buying the ingredients, while not spending tons of money on weekly (or nightly) take-out meals and the corresponding gratuities. These services include heat-and-eat meals that arrive either fresh or frozen, as well as kits that come with all the ingredients necessary to make a gourmet-style meal right at home.

You may have noticed that meal delivery recipe choices are abundant. From classic, hearty favorites like chicken parm and burgers to exotic dishes from around the world, there's something for everyone. Vegan? No problem. Following a special diet for health or medical reasons, like keto or diabetic-friendly? You've got possibilities!

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Meal Delivery Company FAQ

With meal delivery, it is most common to have lunches and dinners delivered to your door. However, some companies give you the full spread of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day of the week! Different companies specialize in specific diets whether it be plant-based, gluten-free, vegetarian, or just an overall balanced diet. Some are reheat-and-eat, while others come with all the ingredients and instructions needed to create your meal from scratch.
The idea of a meal delivery service is to have a variety of meals pre-planned for the week that arrive together. Most companies have a minimum order requirement, so you'll need to at least get around 4 meals per week. You can skip weeks or plan weeks in advance, whatever works best in your schedule! Buying one meal at a time here and there isn't the point of a meal delivery service; however, you could order just a few meals and space them out during the week so that you don't use them all consecutively.
On average, you'll find that meal delivery services range from about $7 to $12 per serving. Depending on how many members are in your family and how many meals you select each week, you can calculate your total cost. You can expect to pay about $20 per week for the delivery of the meals on top of that. Overall, meal delivery is a great deal when you consider skipping a trip to the grocery store and having flavorful, healthy meals ready for you every day!
Having meals delivered to your home is one of the best ways to stick to a healthy diet! If you're trying to cut out sugar, gluten, fats, dairy, or any other type of food, you can choose the meal delivery service that will make it easy for you to have nutritious food on-hand for all your meals. If you are wanting to try a plant-based diet, but you aren't sure where to start, meal delivery companies do all the work for you. It also helps you avoid grabbing unnecessary junk foods off the shelf when you're browsing at the grocery store!
There are many reasons meal delivery is a fantastic option for individuals and families. Having your food planned ahead of time saves you the stress of having to figure out what to eat all day. It also helps you avoid going out to eat as often because you have a ready-to-go meal as soon as you're hungry. Having a variety of new meals is a great way to get introduced to new recipes and foods, and to make sure you are getting the nutrients your body needs from a well-balanced diet.
You get to choose what you want in your meal delivery from a variety of options each week. Companies know that not everyone likes the same foods and some families have kids (or adults!) who are picky eaters, so each week you'll get to see new menu items and select the ones you want to try. Sometimes you'll be able to choose these a few weeks in advance, so you won't have to go through the menus too frequently.
All of the meals you receive come in a nicely-packaged box that keeps food fresh, even if it is left outside for a few hours. You'll find dry ice containers and vacuum-sealed food and/or ingredients to preserve the meals while they are in transit. Most companies let you track your deliveries, so you know right when your food will arrive.
Yes! If you're headed out of town for a week or two and don't want your meals delivered, you can do that. If you're wanting to stop altogether or readjust your delivery schedule, it's no problem at all. Make sure you read the policies and details for subscription adjustments when you sign up with a meal delivery service.
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Continued from above...

Many of these services are subscription-based: you choose the types of meals you prefer (or pick specific entrees), how many servings in each one, and how many meals you'd like in a week, and your deliveries will come like clockwork unless you pause your membership, skip a shipment, or cancel altogether. If that's not your preference, there are some meal delivery companies that let you place your orders whenever you like, with no ongoing commitment.

With almost every meal delivery service, you'll get big discounts on your first order (and sometimes several ones thereafter) - you could pay less than $2 per meal at the start. Just be aware that the regular pricing is higher, typically ranging from $6 to $20 per serving; you'll pay more for premium options with higher-quality proteins and ingredients (maybe for a special occasion?).

It's easy to get overwhelmed as you try to figure out which service to pick. Want some help? Here are a few factors to guide your decision:

  • Preferred Meal Type. Do you want a meal kit or something that comes prepared and ready to heat (or reheat, if it is delivered frozen)? If you'd like a mixture of both, a few meal delivery services give you that flexibility.
  • Menu Options. What types of recipes can you choose from? Does the variety fit what you and your household will actually eat? Will the menu accommodate your dietary needs, food sensitivities, or other preferences?
  • Flexibility. How easy is it to start and stop your deliveries? Can you customize your meals by swapping one protein for another, changing the side dish, or adding extras like smoothies or coffee? What if you want just one or two meals one week and six the next?
  • Value. What will you get for what you spend? Is it worth the money compared to how you usually shop and eat? What discounts are available, to make your first try more affordable?
  • Reputation. Meal delivery companies are popping up all the time. What do other customers say about their experience? Have the deliveries arrived in good condition? And if not, how has the service handled the problem?

To help you simplify your life with regular meal deliveries, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular services available today. We're confident that this will make it a breeze to choose the one that's right for you. Bon appetit!

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  • Sunbasket
  • Top Chef Meals
  • EveryPlate
  • Dinnerly
  • Gobble
  • Fresh N Lean
  • Home Chef
  • Hello Fresh
  • Freshly
  • Magic Kitchen
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  • Factor
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  • Blue Apron
  • Diet To Go
  • Bistro MD
  • Green Chef
Sunbasket vs Top Chef Meals Sunbasket vs EveryPlate Sunbasket vs Dinnerly Sunbasket vs Gobble Sunbasket vs Fresh N Lean Sunbasket vs Home Chef Sunbasket vs Hello Fresh Sunbasket vs Freshly Sunbasket vs Magic Kitchen Sunbasket vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Sunbasket vs Factor Sunbasket vs Personal Chef To Go Sunbasket vs Blue Apron Sunbasket vs Diet To Go Sunbasket vs Bistro MD Sunbasket vs Green Chef Top Chef Meals vs EveryPlate Top Chef Meals vs Dinnerly Top Chef Meals vs Gobble Top Chef Meals vs Fresh N Lean Top Chef Meals vs Home Chef Top Chef Meals vs Hello Fresh Top Chef Meals vs Freshly Top Chef Meals vs Magic Kitchen Top Chef Meals vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Top Chef Meals vs Factor Top Chef Meals vs Personal Chef To Go Top Chef Meals vs Blue Apron Top Chef Meals vs Diet To Go Top Chef Meals vs Bistro MD Top Chef Meals vs Green Chef EveryPlate vs Dinnerly EveryPlate vs Gobble EveryPlate vs Fresh N Lean EveryPlate vs Home Chef EveryPlate vs Hello Fresh EveryPlate vs Freshly EveryPlate vs Magic Kitchen EveryPlate vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon EveryPlate vs Factor EveryPlate vs Personal Chef To Go EveryPlate vs Blue Apron EveryPlate vs Diet To Go EveryPlate vs Bistro MD EveryPlate vs Green Chef Dinnerly vs Gobble Dinnerly vs Fresh N Lean Dinnerly vs Home Chef Dinnerly vs Hello Fresh Dinnerly vs Freshly Dinnerly vs Magic Kitchen Dinnerly vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Dinnerly vs Factor Dinnerly vs Personal Chef To Go Dinnerly vs Blue Apron Dinnerly vs Diet To Go Dinnerly vs Bistro MD Dinnerly vs Green Chef Gobble vs Fresh N Lean Gobble vs Home Chef Gobble vs Hello Fresh Gobble vs Freshly Gobble vs Magic Kitchen Gobble vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Gobble vs Factor Gobble vs Personal Chef To Go Gobble vs Blue Apron Gobble vs Diet To Go Gobble vs Bistro MD Gobble vs Green Chef Fresh N Lean vs Home Chef Fresh N Lean vs Hello Fresh Fresh N Lean vs Freshly Fresh N Lean vs Magic Kitchen Fresh N Lean vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Fresh N Lean vs Factor Fresh N Lean vs Personal Chef To Go Fresh N Lean vs Blue Apron Fresh N Lean vs Diet To Go Fresh N Lean vs Bistro MD Fresh N Lean vs Green Chef Home Chef vs Hello Fresh Home Chef vs Freshly Home Chef vs Magic Kitchen Home Chef vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Home Chef vs Factor Home Chef vs Personal Chef To Go Home Chef vs Blue Apron Home Chef vs Diet To Go Home Chef vs Bistro MD Home Chef vs Green Chef Hello Fresh vs Freshly Hello Fresh vs Magic Kitchen Hello Fresh vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Hello Fresh vs Factor Hello Fresh vs Personal Chef To Go Hello Fresh vs Blue Apron Hello Fresh vs Diet To Go Hello Fresh vs Bistro MD Hello Fresh vs Green Chef Freshly vs Magic Kitchen Freshly vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Freshly vs Factor Freshly vs Personal Chef To Go Freshly vs Blue Apron Freshly vs Diet To Go Freshly vs Bistro MD Freshly vs Green Chef Magic Kitchen vs Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Magic Kitchen vs Factor Magic Kitchen vs Personal Chef To Go Magic Kitchen vs Blue Apron Magic Kitchen vs Diet To Go Magic Kitchen vs Bistro MD Magic Kitchen vs Green Chef Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Factor Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Personal Chef To Go Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Blue Apron Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Diet To Go Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Bistro MD Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon vs Green Chef Factor vs Personal Chef To Go Factor vs Blue Apron Factor vs Diet To Go Factor vs Bistro MD Factor vs Green Chef Personal Chef To Go vs Blue Apron Personal Chef To Go vs Diet To Go Personal Chef To Go vs Bistro MD Personal Chef To Go vs Green Chef Blue Apron vs Diet To Go Blue Apron vs Bistro MD Blue Apron vs Green Chef Diet To Go vs Bistro MD Diet To Go vs Green Chef Bistro MD vs Green Chef
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