While meal kits can make dinnertime easier, saving on trips to the grocery store and chopping ingredients, they still require time and effort. Enter frozen meal delivery, for when juggling work, childcare, or life in general, puts too much on your plate and makes even the most basic recipes seem too time-consuming and insurmountable.
What are the benefits of ordering from a frozen meal delivery service?
The frozen meals you can get delivered aren’t the drab, frost-bitten trays you may picture when you think of this meal option. An exciting crop of companies are serving up delicious, often chef-designed dishes that arrive over cool packs or dry ice, reheat in minutes, and solve the problem of what’s for dinner—quickly. There’s zero prep work, followed by an exceedingly simple post-dinner cleanup. And you don’t have to worry about meals spoiling and going to waste right away, so stock up as much as your freezer will allow.
Finally, many of these companies selling healthy frozen meals ship their entrées in recyclable packaging and have myriad options for most any dietary restrictions or tastes. From vegan to diabetic diet friendly dishes and more, your preferences and needs can, indeed, be met by a service that conveniently ships your meals straight to your door. A meal kit subscription also makes an excellent gift for the new mom or dad in your life so they spend less time worrying about dinner and more time spending it with their newborn.
Read on for everything you need to know about the best frozen meal delivery services out there. Click ship and dig in!
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1. Splendid Spoon
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Why it’s worth it: Splendid Spoon is a versatile food delivery service that offers smoothies, juices, and other ready-to-eat items as well as a variety of meals (including soups and noodle- and grain-based bowls) that’ll stay good in the freezer for up to two months. Driven by a dedication to wellness and plant-based eating, the brand’s offerings are completely dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
Cost: Smoothies cost $10 each; soups and grain bowls cost $12 each; noodles and dishes cost $13 each. You can order between seven and 28 meals for every box.
Availability: Nationwide, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
Customer review: “This food is really good. We’ve tried a few other frozen meal subscriptions and those really tasted like ‘freezer food.’ But these meals from Splendid Spoon are actually all really delicious. I love that they are pretty healthy too, and of course plant-based.” —Annie
2. Freshly
Why it’s worth it: Freshly’s popular meal delivery service actually doesn’t ship frozen, but chilled to the point that you could easily pop a few in the freezer to prolong their life. You can order from a menu of simple, comforting options such as breaded homestyle chicken with mac and cheese, cauliflower shell beef Bolognese, or white bean turkey chili, and there are plenty of gluten-free and vegan dishes. Choose between four and 12 meals per week.
Cost: Meals start at $10 per serving, and plans range from four to 12 meals per week.
Availability: Nationwide, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Customer review: “I’ve tried six premade meal services and Freshly is the best by a margin. The meals are large, filling, and delicious, they’re priced well, and the service is impeccable. A+” —Chris
3. Mosaic
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Why it’s worth it: Reviewers positively glow about Mosaic meals, which are made with fresh vegetables and whole grains and shipped in packaging that’s either recyclable or made with recycled fibers. Put simply, this service’s goal is to make eating nutritious, plant-based meals easier and less expensive. Choose from family meals like an enchilada verde bake or a Thai peanut curry, individual bowls like veggie-packed pastas and stir-fries, or breakfasts like organic steel-cut oat bowls. Plan options are flexible and are easy to skip or cancel. Bonus: For every box sold, the company works with nonprofit City Harvest to rescue two pounds of food to distribute to New Yorkers.
Cost: Breakfasts start at $6; lunches and dinners start at $10.
Availability: New York; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Boston; and the surrounding areas.
Customer review: “These are good, healthy meals full of flavor. My wife works from home and I go to the office. We both enjoy Mosaic for lunch three to five times a week. Great service!” —Phyllis
4. Schwan’s
Why it’s worth it: Widely regarded as one of the original frozen foods brands, Schwan’s meets customers where they are. Looking for comforting prepared meals like pot pie, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and a range of Italian pasta dishes? There’s all that and more. Would you rather order meal components, snacks, and ingredients á la carte? Have at it—from appetizers like potato skins and egg rolls to breakfast sausages and berries, you can mix and match your order to your heart’s (or, more appropriately, your stomach’s) content.
Cost: Meals start at $6.
Availability: Nationwide, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
Customer review: “The items are always excellent quality. Love the ease of preparation! Friendly delivery person! Will buy more soon.” —Donna
5. Ipsa
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Why it’s worth it: For gourmet meals made with high-quality ingredients that, quite frankly, rival what you can order for takeout, check out Ipsa. Those who live in NYC and surrounding areas can enjoy meals, sides, snacks, and baked goods crafted by the brand’s in-house team of cooks using locally sourced produce, meat, dairy products, and pantry items. While its delivery range is much narrower than other services on our list, Ipsa’s menu of frozen goodies is nevertheless worth mentioning for its attention to detail and culinary craft.
Cost: Meals start at $7 per serving.
Availability: New York City, NY; Long Island, NY; Westchester, NY; Fairfield, NJ.
Customer review: “While I love to cook, it’s such a relief to know that my freezer is always stocked with nutritious and hearty meals for my family.” —Jonathan
6. Top Chef Meals
Why it’s worth it: From low-carb keto meals to dishes designed with dietary needs like gluten and sodium avoidance in mind, there’s a huge range of options available at Top Chef Meals, making it a great frozen meal delivery service for a variety of eaters. As you browse the brand’s vast menu and customize your order, you can rest assured that Top Chef’s meals are free of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Cost: Breakfasts start at $8 per serving; dinners start at $9 per serving.
Availability: Nationwide, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
Customer review: “I love all the meals. I am so glad you have single portions because they are the right size and are very flavorful. The selection of different meals is wonderful and I like being able to customize.” —Justine
7. Williams-Sonoma
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Why it’s worth it: Yup, the kitchenware company you know and love also sells ready-made meals! There are all kinds of packages, from five days of vegetarian entrées that include coconut curry and cheesy polenta, to a frittata trio, to a set of baked pasta dishes, all of which feed two to eight people. The company offers three-month subscriptions, or you can stock up on a handful of delicious semi-homemade meals for nights when making dinner from scratch just feels impossible. Pro tip: If you’re looking for an easy way to show a friend some love when they’re too busy to cook, you can make it happen with a few clicks.
Cost: Packages start at $50.
Availability: Nationwide.
Customer review: “Yummy. Each is savory and unique in flavor. I was at first skeptical but these are great quality. Have ordered twice!” —Mprstl
8. MealPro
Why it’s worth it: A great option for those who prefer to dictate exactly what goes on their plate, MealPro lets you choose a protein and two sides (typically a starch and a veggie) before they custom make, pack, and ship your meal to you. Or choose one of their pre-crafted meals, like chicken teriyaki or steak fajitas that are made fresh daily, flash-frozen, vacuum-sealed, and take about five minutes to reheat. (You can even customize the pre-crafted meals to, say, have twice the protein.) Customers can subscribe or just place a one-time order.
Cost: Meals start at $10 each.
Availability: Nationwide.
Customer review: “They are tasty, healthy meals! Taste fresh. Great option if you’re trying to be healthy and don’t want to meal prep all the time.” —Naw
9. Magic Kitchen
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Why it’s worth it: The beauty of Magic Kitchen—a service that delivers frozen premade meals to your door—is in its flexibility (there’s no obligatory subscription or contract) and its multitude of options. Shop for chef-prepared dishes by dietary interest, from diabetic-friendly to low-sodium to gluten-free to meals nutritionally balanced specifically for seniors. There are about 250 breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options. Not sure what you’ll like? Book a call and talk through which meals and delivery options work best for you.
Cost: Meals start at $11 each.
Availability: Nationwide.
Customer review: “So happy to have so many categories to choose from! Thank you for helping me eat healthy with my crazy busy schedule.” —Cynthia
10. The Good Kitchen
Why it’s worth it: With around two dozen lunch and dinner options available each week, the Good Kitchen offers plenty of variety alongside the convenience. You can filter to find meals based on your eating habits or even specifically for options made with ingredients like garlic or mushrooms! The meals arrive frozen in vacuum-sealed bags and can last up to six months in the freezer but take only minutes to heat up in the microwave.
Cost: Meals start at $12 each.
Availability: The Good Kitchen ships everywhere in the contiguous U.S. (and can ship to some places in Alaska and Hawaii with a call to customer service and an added shipping fee).
Customer review: “It’s so easy to pop the meals right into the freezer, and have a quick, tasty, healthy meal ready in under five minutes.” —Michelle
11. Paleo on the Go
Why it’s worth it: Lest you think these kinds of frozen meal delivery services aren’t wide-ranging enough for many people with health conditions, know that services like Paleo on the Go may offer the breadth you need. All of their dishes are made to be friendly to the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP) that may be helpful for people with conditions like ulcerative colitis. Beyond meals like chicken with dumplings and lasagna, the service also offers a wide range of sweet options, including carob chunk cookies and pumpkin pie.
Cost: Meals start at $17 each for eight items per week. One-time boxes are also available with an eight-item minimum.
Availability: Nationwide.
Customer review: “The food is excellent (including the baked items) and shipped immaculately. It isn’t cheap but it couldn’t be more convenient. The customer service is great too.” —Mary
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