Prepared meal services ranked for convenience and diet needs

Prepared meal delivery services are being pitched as a faster alternative to cooking from scratch, with ready-to-heat dishes that require little work at dinner time. NBC Select’s 2026 recommendations point readers toward services that cover common needs, including plant-based eating, gluten-free meals, family orders and diet-focused plans.

According to NBC Select, prepared meal services differ from meal kits because the food arrives already made rather than as separate ingredients customers must cook. The publication said its picks were based on testing by its editors, input from chefs and nutrition professionals, and details provided by the companies.

NBC Select also disclosed that it independently chooses what to cover and may earn a commission when readers buy through its links.

Top prepared meal picks

NBC Select named Factor its best overall prepared meal delivery service. The service starts at $10 to $12 per serving with free shipping, according to NBC Select, and offers four to 18 meals a week.

Lisa Young, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, recommended Factor to NBC Select because it serves multiple eating styles, including keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, plant-based and high-protein diets. NBC Select said Factor’s menu includes more than 100 rotating prepared meals designed by dietitians, and that the meals can be ready in less than 10 minutes.

For variety, NBC Select chose CookUnity, which it said starts at $11 per meal with free shipping and offers four to 16 meals each week. NBC Select reported that customers can choose from a weekly rotating menu or let the service make selections based on preferences such as protein choices and dietary limits, including vegetarian, vegan, low-carb and gluten-free options.

Zoe Malin, an NBC Select reporter, said CookUnity offered many gluten-free and pescatarian choices, though some meals required removing cold components before heating. Ariane Resnick, a special diet chef and certified nutritionist, told NBC Select she valued the service’s detailed ingredient lists and allergy alerts.

Diet-specific services

NBC Select selected Purple Carrot as its top vegan option. The service offers plant-based prepared meals and meal kits, with prepared meals starting at $13 per serving and six to 10 prepared meals available each week, according to NBC Select.

Resnick told NBC Select that Purple Carrot can help people eat more plant-based foods without requiring them to become vegan. NBC Select said the company offers several gluten-free choices, though customers cannot choose a delivery date.

For people with more specific dietary programs, NBC Select highlighted BistroMD as its pick for most dietary restrictions. The service offers more than 150 chef-prepared meals and plans labeled signature, gluten-free, heart healthy, diabetic and menopause, according to NBC Select.

Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian and chief executive of NY Nutrition Group, recommended BistroMD to NBC Select for its health-conscious programs. NBC Select said BistroMD starts at $7 per meal for the seven-day plan and $8 per meal for the five-day plan, with a $20 shipping charge.

Other categories

• NBC Select named Sunbasket its best gluten-free prepared meal service, with pricing listed at $88.91 after a new-member discount in the guide.
• Home Chef was named best for families, with NBC Select listing $39.96 after a new-member discount.
• Blue Apron was picked as best for people who want both prepared meals and meal kits, with NBC Select listing $31.96 after a new-member discount.

The guide frames prepared meal delivery as a time-saving option for people who want dinner with less planning and cleanup. The trade-offs vary by service, according to NBC Select, including menu size, delivery flexibility, shipping costs and how much reheating work each meal requires.

This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.