Sun Basket vs Hello Fresh: Best Meal Kit Delivery Services

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Sun Basket vs Hello Fresh. Which is better? Here I cover the best meal kit delivery services including Home Chef, Blue Apron, Plated, Marley Spoon, and more; so that you can make the perfect choice for your family.

What is a Meal Kit Delivery Service?

Meal kit delivery services have been extremely popular the past few years. So popular, that there are numerous companies that do the exact same thing. 🙂

A meal kit delivery service is exactly what is sounds like. A company that delivers a meal, in the form of a kit, to your door.

However, these aren’t gross frozen meals. These are carefully packed meals, made from whole and fresh ingredients.

Think restaurant quality meals, designed by chefs, and cooked by YOU!

Why Use a Meal Kit Delivery Service?

Let’s face it, we all get busy from time to time. Late hours at the office, or simply a busy parenting schedule, often leaves little time for grocery shopping or cooking. That’s where a meal kit delivery service comes in.

Simply hop online, search the meals of the week, make your selections, and place your order. You’ll receive a large box, the following week, with all the ingredients you need to make a healthy and delicious meal.

Which Company Offers the Best Meal Kit Delivery Services?

This post covers Sun Basket vs Hello Fresh. Two of the more popular meal kit delivery companies.

I also cover several other companies including Home Chef, Blue Apron, Plated, and Martha and Marley Spoon; plus a special bonus company.

In addition, I share several coupon codes so that you can try these meal kit delivery services for yourself.

Sun Basket Review

Sun Basket believes that food should taste good and do good.

First of all, they are a certified organic handler. Secondly, they strive to source organic produce 100% of the time. Finally, their meat is antibiotic and hormone free, and their eggs are organic. They also only use wild-caught seafood that is recommended as Best Choice or Good Alternative by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® Program.

To top it all off, their packaging is recyclable and compostable.

If organic is important to you, Sun Basket is one of the only companies that offers organic meals.

Sun Basket Sample Menu

Sun Basket meals vary from week to week. Following are some menu examples:

• Chicken adobo vermicelli bowls
• Spicy sole with Greek vinaigrette and chickpeas
• Falafel burgers with yogurt, cucumber, and charred shishito peppers
• Ginger-sesame chicken with sugar snap peas and red rice
• Simple steak salad with sweet potato and green chermoula
• White bean panzanella salad with mozzarella and fried eggs
• Poached salmon salad with tahini goddess dressing
• Orange-glazed pork and bok choy slaw over cauliflower “rice”
• Spinach salad with chicken, roasted almonds, and honey-mustard vinaigrette

Sun Basket Pros

• One of the only organic meal kit delivery options.
• The website is easy to use and navigate.
• Meals clearly identify common allergens, and cover a variety of food choices like paleo and gluten free.
• You can select a meal plan based on your diet and food preferences.
• Choose between 2, 3, and 4 recipe plans.
• You can select a menu for 2 or 4 people.
• Recipes are easy to follow.
• Dishes are on the adventurous side, and are super tasty.
• There are several 20 minute meal options.
• You can cancel or pause your membership at any time.

Sun Basket Cons

• Adventurous meals might be too adventurous for some tastes.
• Some kids (especially picky eaters) might not like the choices.
• There is a shipping fee (currently $6.99).
• You have to call customer service to cancel.

Hello Fresh Review

Hello Fresh is all about easy home cooking. Whip up tasty meals with simple recipes and pre-measured ingredients every week. They offer a Veggie Plan, Classic Plan, and Family Plan.

Ingredients are not organic. However, they are high quality, and always arrive fresh. Most of their packaging is recyclable.

Hello Fresh Sample Menu

• Presto Pesto Panko Chicken
• Pineapple Poblano Beef Tacos
• Veggie Loaded Orzo and Sausage
• Rib-Eye Steaks Over Truffled Mashed Potatoes
• Pork Cutlets with Dill
• Lemon Rosemary Chicken Cutlets
• Teriyaki Chicken Stirfry
• Harissa Sweet Potato Pita Pockets
• Grilled Siracha Glazed Salmon

Hello Fresh Pros

• The website is easy to use and navigate.
• Meals clearly identify common allergens.
• Three meal plan types offers more variety.
• You can choose between 2, 3, and 4 recipe plans.
• You can select a menu for 2 or 4 people.
• Recipes are easy to follow.
• Meals are more kid friendly.
• Shipping is free with a 4 person plan.
• You can cancel or pause your membership at any time.
• You do not have to call customer service to cancel.

Hello Fresh Cons

• Ingredients are not organic.
• If you are a super adventurous eater, the meals might be too simple for you.

Sun Basket vs Hello Fresh Costs

Sun Basket Costs

• 2 recipes are $12.99 per serving.
• 3 recipes are $11.99 per serving.
• 4 recipes are $10.99 per serving.
• Plus $6.99 for shipping.

Hello Fresh Costs

• Veggie Plan is $9.99 per serving.
• Classic Plan is $9.99 per serving.
• Family Plan is $8.74 per serving.
• Plus $7.99 for shipping on 2 person plans.
• Shipping is free on 4 person plans.

As you can see from above, using a meal kit delivery service is not necessarily more economical than shopping and cooking at home. However, it is healthier and cheaper than eating out. It is also a great way to try new recipes and ingredients, without having to purchase fancy sauces or spices at the store.

Plus I offer discount codes, so that you can try one (or both) of these meal kit delivery services for a reduced rate. See below for more details.

Sun Basket is a bit more expensive, simply because their ingredients are organic. If that’s important to you, then Sun Basket is probably a great choice for you.

While not organic, the food from Hello Fresh tastes just as good. If you don’t care whether your food is organic, and you like easy/simple/tasty meals, then Hello Fresh is probably the right choice for you.

I’ve personally tried and liked the food from both companies. While organic IS important to me, I found the Hello Fresh meals more successful with my two boys.

Other Meal Kit Delivery Services

Home Chef Review

Home Chef’s motto is home cooking made simple. They offer a variety of meals each week, including vegetarian options. You can fill out a taste profile to include your preferences, and narrow down meal choices based on your diet.

Home Chef sources ingredients locally, when possible, and chooses partners with sustainability practices they believe in. The insulation that keeps your box cool, during shipping, is recyclable.

Home Chef menu items are delicious, but not so unique that your kids won’t try them.

Home Chef Sample Menu

• Scallop and Mushroom Risotto
• Steak and Garlic Chive Butter
• Cuban Steak Burrito
• Korean Fried Chicken
• Ranch Crusted Pork Chop
• Apple and Goat Cheese Flat Bread
• Mexican Street Corn Salad

Home Chef Costs

• Standard Plan is $19.90 for 2 servings, and $39.80 for 4 servings.
• Delivery is free for orders over $45. Shipping is $10 for orders less than $45.

Blue Apron Review

Blue Apron’s goal is to deliver meal kits that all chefs of all levels can cook. They pride themselves on delivering fresh ingredients, and even offer a freshness guarantee. If you are not happy with your order, contact Blue Apron within 7 days and they’ll make it right.

Blue Apron only selects partners with high standards for animal welfare. They are committed to treating animals well and feeding them a diet that doesn’t include any animal by-products, antibiotics, or hormones.

Menu items are tasty and unique. You’ll find a bit more adventure, and variety in choices. This may or may not work for some families.

Blue Apron Sample Menu

• Orange Beef and Bok Choy
• Cajun Spiced Fish
• Udon Noodles and Soft Boiled Eggs
• Indian Style Crispy Cauliflower
• Gnocchi in Creamy Tomato Sauce
• Beef Over Curry Spiced Rice
• Za’atar Roasted Chicken

Blue Apron Costs

• The 2 Person Plan starts at $9.99 (per serving) a week, plus $7.99 for shipping. (Shipping is free with 3 recipes per week.)
• The Family Plan starts at $8.99 (per serving) a week, and shipping is free.
• There is a two recipe per week minimum.

Plated Review

Plated believes in real, delicious cooking, without all the extra work.

Their pork and poultry is raised without antibiotics, and their ground beef is raised with no added hormones. Fish is sustainably caught, and they source organic produce when possible.

Plated’s weekly menu consists of 20 dinner options to choose from, and they offer a variety of plans to fit your family’s schedule and size.

Plated Sample Menu

• Pumpkin and White Cheddar Grilled Cheese
• Dijon Apple Chicken Thighs
• Blue Cheese Burgers
• Thai Green Chicken Curry
• Greek Lamb Kofta
• Piri Piri Shrimp
• Sesame Beef Bowls

Plated Costs

• Two servings per night start at $11.95 per serving. (Two nights per week minimum.)
• Three and four servings per night start at $9.95 per serving. (Two nights per week minimum.)
• Shipping is free for plans over $60.

Martha & Marley Spoon Review

If you are a fan of Martha Stewart, then you might like Martha & Marley Spoon. They offer 10 new recipes every week, including customer favorites, healthy eats, and kid-friendly recipes. They also offer vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Marley Spoon works directly with the finest purveyors to deliver ingredients like grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, American-caught shrimp, artisanal cheeses, and more to your door.

Marley Spoon Sample Menu

• Ginger Soy Marinated Steak
• Spiced Chicken Gyros
• Cheesy Ravioli
• Breaded Italian Pork Chops
• Crispy Coconut Shrimp
• Creamy Alfredo Pizza
• Gluten-Free Veggie Grain Bowl

Marley Spoon Costs

• Two person plans start at $12.00 per serving. (Two nights per week minimum.)
• Three to four person plans start at $9.50 per serving. (Two nights per week minimum.)
• Shipping is free.

Butcher Box Review

Butcher Box is my special bonus company. I’ve been a member for over a year and I love them.

Butcher Box offers healthy high quality meat that is hormone and antibiotic free. They deliver 100% grass-fed beef, free range organic chicken and heritage breed pork directly to your door.

If you don’t want a meal kit delivered to your door, but prefer great meat to cook with; Butcher Box is the way to go.

Choose from their curated mixes of high quality beef, chicken, or pork – or customize your own box. They offer a variety of plans and shipment options. Each box comes carefully packed with dry ice and the meat arrives frozen.

While the per pound costs are higher than meat you might find at your local grocery store; keep in mind that you are receiving a higher quality product that is healthier for you and your family.

There are also monthly specials and a referral program.

Butcher Box Meat Choices

• Bacon
• Ground Pork
• Breakfast Sausage
• Chick Wings
• Drumsticks
• Bone in and Boneless Chicken Thighs
• Boneless Chicken Breasts
• Whole Chicken
• Ground Beef
• Burgers
• Beef Stew Meat
• Top Sirloin Steak
• Rib Eye Steak
• Flank Steak
• Boneless Pork Chops
• Whole Pork Tenderloin
• Baby Back Ribs
• And More

Butcher Box Costs

• Mixed Box (24 meals) $129.
• Mixed Box (48 meals) $238.
• Classic Custom Box (you choose your meat, 9-14 pounds) $149.
• Big Custom Box (you choose your meat, 18-26 pounds) $270.
• Other plans available: beef and pork, beef and chicken, all beef.
• Shipping in free.

Meal Kit Delivery Service Promo Codes

Want to try one of these meal kit delivery services at a discount? Try the following coupon codes. I’ll update them as new ones become available, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.

Click on HelloFresh to get $30 off of your first order.

Click on Sun Basket Winter Sale to get $45 off – Take $35 & $10 off your first and second box. (Limited time only.)

If the Winter Sale has passed, click on Sun Basket to get $35 off of any plan.

Get $30 off your first order by clicking on Home Chef.

Get $60 Off Your First 2 Boxes! Click on Blue Apron. (Save $30 Week 1 – Save $30 Week 2)

Click on Butcher Box for FREE ground beef and $30 off your first box.

Best Meal Kit Delivery Services Conclusion

I hope you’ve found this Sun Basket vs Hello Fresh post and all of the reviews helpful. Meal kit delivery services are great to try if you are short on time or if you are in a meal planning rut. I don’t get meals delivered on a weekly basis, however I do order from time to time when I want to shake things up or if I have a particularly busy week coming up.

I find that having a recipe, and all the ingredients on hand, makes cooking quicker and easier. Plus it’s much more healthy than take out. Most of the meals can be made in 30 minutes. Fancier meals may take up to 45 minutes.

Do you have a favorite meal kit delivery service? Or would you like me to review a different company? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Like this post? You may want to check out my beginner’s guide to keto to get great low carb recipes and more.