Best meat delivery services: NBC Selected names its 2026 picks
NBC Selected chose Butcherbox, Omaha Steaks and Lobsterboys among its top meat delivery services after editor testing.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
NBC Selected has released its 2026 guide to the best meat delivery services, naming Butcherbox its best overall pick after editor testing. The roundup matters for shoppers looking to buy beef, pork, chicken or seafood online instead of relying on a local grocery store before cookouts, meal prep or larger gatherings.
NBC Selected said it independently decides what to cover and may earn a commission when readers buy through its links. The outlet said its editors tested and reviewed the services and also consulted Coco Pierrel, a certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow, and Dr. Susan Kais, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist and IBD specialist at UC Health.
What are the best meat delivery services in 2026?
NBC Selected’s top three picks were Butcherbox for best overall, Omaha Steaks for best selection and Lobsterboys for best seafood. The guide also included Porter Road among the reviewed services.
A meat delivery service sells meat or seafood online and ships it to a customer’s home, often frozen or chilled. NBC Selected said these services can save shopping time and may offer cuts or proteins that are not available at a nearby supermarket.
Butcherbox, NBC Selected’s overall winner, sells beef, pork, chicken and seafood through a subscription model. According to the brand, customers can choose medium, large or extra-large boxes, with prices from $179 to $319 per box, and set the delivery frequency based on their cooking needs.
NBC Selected said Butcherbox offers more than 80 core and specialty cuts. The service ships free in the United States except Alaska and Hawaii, according to the roundup. NBC Selected’s tester said the order arrived in insulated packaging with dry ice that stayed cold for hours, and singled out the sockeye salmon as thick, firm and bright pink.
Omaha Steaks was named best for selection. NBC Selected said the company sells beef and pork and also offers sides and desserts, including frozen scalloped potatoes, caramel apple tartlets and chocolate lava cake in the shipment tested by the outlet.
According to NBC Selected, Omaha Steaks ships across the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Shipping is free on orders over $129 and costs $24.99 otherwise, with added fees for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the roundup said.
Porter Road offers beef, pork, chicken, lamb and seafood, according to NBC Selected. The brand says it sources meat from U.S. farmers and hand-cuts each piece at its Kentucky facility. NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi bought the Butcher’s Choice and Grilling Heroes boxes and said the meat was among the freshest she had tried.
Lobsterboys was NBC Selected’s seafood pick. The company sells lobster and ships within the United States, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico, with destination-based delivery costs, according to the roundup. NBC Selected said prices range from $18.77 for a single chick lobster to $127.12 for a jumbo lobster.
Alabi said the Lobsterboys order arrived live and included enough lobster for second and third servings. NBC Selected said the brand provides tracking and preparation instructions and recommends keeping the lobsters in the box in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, rather than placing them in water.
How did NBC Selected judge the services?
NBC Selected said it considered the types of meat offered, pricing and purchase model, and packaging and shipping. The outlet said it looked at whether services sold à la carte products, curated boxes or subscriptions, and whether packaging kept products cold or frozen.
Pierrel told NBC Selected that shoppers should look for meat raised without antibiotics or added hormones and pay attention to third-party verification. She also said terms such as “premium,” “natural” and “butcher’s cut” do not have legal definitions, while labels such as grass-fed, pasture-raised and USDA Organic carry more specific meaning.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.