The 5 Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery Services of 2024
Updated: Feb. 21, 2024
We tested over 15 services to find the best plant-based meal delivery options—whether you're an exclusive vegan eater or trying it for the first time. Read on for our top picks.
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In 2024, we’re no strangers to meal delivery services. The appeal is simple: ingredients shipped straight to your door without having to wonder, “What’s for dinner tonight?” Say no more. Since growing in popularity, meal delivery for specialized diets has also cropped up—hello, gluten-free plans and diabetic meal delivery.
Another specialized meal delivery option gaining popularity is plant-based meal delivery. While plant-powered meals have become popular among vegan or vegetarian eaters, anyone can benefit from this style of eating. Plus, it’s better for the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and requiring less water.
So, what exactly is a plant-based diet? “A plant-based diet typically focuses on whole, plant foods—vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds—with minimal processing,” says Senior Shopping Editor and registered dietitian, Nancy Snyder. “This diet differs from ‘vegan’ in that a person following a plant-based diet may still consume minimal amounts of meat, eggs or dairy, while a vegan diet eliminates all animal products.” Plain and simple: anyone who’s trying to consume more plants can benefit from a plant-based meal service. They eliminate the need to grocery shop and plan nutritious meals.
With an overwhelming amount of options for where to order groceries online, it’s difficult to know which plant-based options are best for your lifestyle. We tested over 15 services to determine the best plant-based meal delivery options based on ordering experience, overall quality, meal variety and price. Read on for our top picks.
Best Overall
Purple Carrot
Topping our list of best plant-based meal delivery services, Purple Carrot is 100% vegan and plant-based. They stand out for ease of ordering, strong meal variety and fresh ingredients. While some services specialize in one category, like “prep and cook it yourself” kits or heat-and-eat style meals, Purple Carrot offers it all. Looking to channel your inner chef? Go for the meal kit option. What about those nights when you’re craving something easy yet packed with flavor? Purple Carrot’s prepared meals and frozen meals are ideal.
Plus, there’s a kit option for home cooks who desire less prep time. Bonus: the “plantry” section makes it a breeze to stock up on vegan pantry goods. As if it could get better, Purple Carrot meals are clinically proven to lower LDL cholesterol and may lower the risk of developing diabetes.
I first tested this service in October 2022 when I was trying plant-based eating for the first time. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount of ingredients I had to cut out of my diet to maintain a plant-based plate. When I tried Purple Carrot, I was blown away by the flavor and ease of cooking. Who knew all it took was a juicy portobello burger meal kit to convert me to this eating style? In all seriousness, Purple Carrot is the top service that gives me the confidence to maintain a plant-based diet that tastes amazing and makes my body feel good, too.
Pros
- 100% vegan and plant-based meals
- Meals are packed with flavor and fresh ingredients
- Ordering is easy and convenient—no need to filter for vegan-exclusive meals
- Strong recipe variety spanning meal kits, ready-to-eat dishes and frozen options
Cons
- If you have a nut allergy, pay extra attention to dishes with plant-based dairy substitutes as they typically contain tree nuts
Best Ready-to-Eat
Splendid Spoon
Traditional meal kit services (looking at you, HelloFresh) have been taking the food world by storm for years now. And in 2024, ready-to-eat meal delivery is just as hot. For when you don’t want to devote more than 20 minutes in the kitchen every night, ready-to-eat style services are a total game changer. Luckily for plant-based or vegan eaters, this style of meal delivery is also possible thanks to Splendid Spoon.
This service specializes in smoothies, soups, noodles and bowl-style dishes—just heat and eat! They also make it easy peasy to filter for high fiber or high protein picks, as well as low carb or low sugar options. From my tests, I appreciate the convenience and pleasant ordering experience. The menu is bountiful yet simple thanks to their focus on soups, noodles and bowls. For the bowl-style meals, I found my taste buds craving a little more pizazz. The meals are certainly delicious, but I added some kimchi or a fun sauce to meals for a little more flavor. Bonus: the smoothies make it a breeze to pack in extra nutrients midday.
Pros
- Ready-to-eat plant-based meal delivery
- Keeps fresh in the fridge or freezer
- Menu isn’t overwhelming
- Easy to filter for special considerations like high fiber or low sugar
Cons
- The meals are tasty, but I wish they packed a little more pizazz
Best for Foodies
Cook Unity
A plant-based diet doesn’t mean you should sacrifice flavor and excitement to stick with your goals. Crafted by the award-winning chefs you watch on TV, Cook Unity is a chef-to-you delivery service offering ready-to-eat meals packed with exceptional flavor—just heat and eat. It’s like eating out at a gourmet restaurant every night, minus the expensive bill. This service isn’t exclusively plant-based, but our testing experience left us more than satisfied with the array of yummy options for vegetarian, vegan and plant-powered dishes.
We tested a handful of vegan and vegetarian meals from Cook Unity, including standout picks like wild mushroom bibimbap, a mission-style veggie burrito and peanut soba noodles with tofu. While some ready-to-eat meals take upwards of 20 minutes to heat, I was impressed with Cook Unity’s sharp 7-10 minute oven heat time. Simply remove the packaging, plop the container on a baking sheet and wait for your restaurant-quality meal to finish. It’s that easy—and oh so tasty!
Pros
- Meals crafted by notable chefs
- Ready-to-eat meals—just heat and eat!
- Strong meal variety
- Easy to filter for diet needs
Cons
- Not an exclusive plant-based meal service, but it’s easy to filter for vegetarian or vegan meals
Best for Home Cooks
Hungryroot
Craving the joy of cooking plant-based meals, but with significantly less prep involved? Hungryroot is the best of both worlds. The Hungryroot journey starts by completing an in-depth questionnaire. While some services ask three to four questions to get to know your lifestyle, I appreciate Hungryroot’s thorough quiz, asking detailed questions like flavors you’re craving, what you want to avoid, how you cook your meals (like in an air fryer or stovetop) and types of snacks you desire. That brings me to the next point: the snacks. With every order, your pantry is stocked with healthier alternatives of popular staples like chips, sweets and ready-to-eat fruit. Out of all the meal services I’ve tested (and there’s been a lot) Hungryroot is the most customizable.
As for their plant-based meal deliveries? After filtering for no dairy, meat or seafood, the options are somewhat slim but still doable. Tofu stir fry and a black bean burger with potatoes and lemony hummus are a few of my plant-based Hungryroot favorites. The real kicker? Meals take less than 30 minutes to prep. Anytime a recipe requires veggies, Hungryroot sends you the pre-chopped ingredients—no slicing or dicing necessary (this is why it takes so little time to make a meal!). I can’t stop recommending the service to anyone trying to limit their meat and dairy consumption without having to spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen.
Pros
- Less meal prep required
- Super customizable
- Easy to filter for what you want to avoid
- Pantry staples offered with each order
Cons
- Not an exclusive vegan or plant-based meal delivery service
Best for Families
Mosaic Foods
Looking for a solution the whole family can enjoy? Say hello to high protein, meatless meals with Mosaic Foods. From veggie bowls to casseroles, pizzas, soups and oat bowls, it’s hard to get tired of Mosaic’s menu. Meals are cooked fresh and shipped frozen, making it a breeze to keep in the freezer when you need something quick and nutritious.
We recommend this service to busy families looking to put more options on their plates. The family meals (aka casseroles) feed a crowd, while the veggie bowls, pizzas and soups feed one person. Mosaic makes it easy to stock up on plant-based meals—no meal prep or in-person grocery shopping is required.
In our testing, we were impressed with the overall taste and quality of ingredients offered with each meal. The family meals lean more comfort food based (veggie pot pie, anyone?), while the veggie bowls are ideal for quick lunches. And if you’re craving a midday pizza, their personal pans are made with cauliflower crust and packed with plants, so you can feel good about sneaking in some extra veggies while feeding your cravings. We could go on and on, but we’ll leave it at this: Mosaic Foods is a standout option for putting plants at the center of each plate (they taste amazing, too) while keeping them in the freezer for weeks. No more worrying about gobbling up the meal kit the same week it’s delivered—you’ve got time to devour!
Pros
- Frozen meals are ready to heat and eat
- Exclusive plant-based meal delivery
- Strong variety of meals
- Smart options for families
Cons
- This service is 100% plant-based, but not entirely vegan, so you’ll have to pay attention to the ingredients to find exclusive vegan options
What to Look For When Subscribing to a Vegan Meal Service
Before you dive into plant-based meal delivery, keep the following in mind. While popular services may advertise plant-based recipes, our testing shows that the meal variety is extremely limited unless the service is exclusively plant-based or vegan. After filtering for the things we didn’t want (aka most animal products), we were left with three to four options for the entire week, meaning you don’t get a fair choice to pick and choose the plant-based meals you desire. We found that the services with 100% plant-based or vegan options offer the best meal variety and ordering experience.
Additionally, Nancy recommends researching each service’s menu to ensure they’re offering minimally processed, whole-plant meals. “While you can find a certified plant-based macaroni and cheese at the grocery store (which is great if you’re in the mood for a vegan alternative to this tasty comfort food), this would not fit most people’s idea of a whole plant-based meal, nor would it be an efficient way for packing in more nutritious fruits and vegetables,” says Nancy. “If you have underlying conditions or health concerns, be sure to consult with your doctor before ordering. For example, someone who has high blood pressure or is at risk for cardiovascular disease would want to look for a low-sodium, plant-based meal service.”
Why You Should Trust Us
Since 2017, I’ve written and edited content for various print and digital outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, Reader’s Digest, Family Handyman, The Everygirl and Stylecaster. As Product Reviews Editor, I exclusively test and research meal kit services, cleaning products, organizing gear, and “internet made me buy it” home finds to help readers level up their lives.
How We Found the Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery Services
We’re firm believers that putting plants at the center of your plate shouldn’t be boring—and neither should your options with meal delivery. We relied on firsthand testing to determine the best plant-based and vegan meal delivery services. After testing over 15 services, the top picks were selected based on ease of ordering, ingredients, price and overall quality and experience. We closely evaluated prep time, cook time, ingredient freshness and special tools required to master your meal (interestingly, a lot of the best plant-based meal services are ready-to-eat options).
Originally Published: January 16, 2024
