10 Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services, According to Extensive Taste Tests

Purple Carrot immediately impressed me with their globally-inspired recipes that make plant-based eating feel inventive and exciting – you won't get bored of vegan meals with this service. They have a way of reimagining classic dishes with flavorful (and vegan) twists that made me really look forward to preparing their meals. Most importantly, it's currently the only 100% dedicated vegan meal kit that ships nationwide.

Some of the recipes felt a bit intensive in terms of preparation and cook times, but wow where they delicious. The handy booklet is something I saved and was able to utilize to recreate the dishes again, and I love that many of the recipes introduced me to flavors and food combinations that I had never tried before. One user shared that this service was "healthier and contained less sodium and fat" than other services they tried. Another tester said, "The meals were so delicious and fast and easy to make."

As a dietitian, I like that in addition to everything already being plant-based, you can filter recipes to choose high-protein options, meals under 600 calories, nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free offerings. You'll also have the option to add additional plant-based grocery items like vegan cream cheese and crackers.

Looking for Purple Carrot without any prep? Their line of prepared meals was quite tasty and substantial, and also available in grocery stores if you want to pick them up in person. That being said, the meals are surprisingly pricey for not including any meat or other big-ticket grocery items. And although most of the packaging is recyclable, there are many small plastic jars and containers which is a challenge with meal delivery services in general.

The hearty plant-powered meals from Mosaic Foods are a true standout, including everything from veggie bowls to pizzas and soups. A good portion of the meals are completely vegan, and everything is ready to heat and eat.

I especially like this service for plant-forward family meals, including the veggie pot pie family meal and the broccoli crust four-cheese pizza. Another bonus – you can now get Splendid Spoon smoothies via Mosaic. Everything is already prepared, delivered frozen and simply requires heating. While some may prefer fresh meals, the bonus on frozen is that they will keep in the freezer for a while if you don't get to eating them right away.

You can filter by different dietary preferences and restrictions on their website, including vegan, wheat-free, nut-free, soy-free, high protein and under 450 calories. The generous portion sizes stood out to me, and as a mom I like that the family meals are packed with hidden veggies. One tester commented that the meals "made eating plant based so easy! The variety and flavors were amazing. Fast food the healthy way." Another tester said, "Finally, healthy plant-based meals that my kids can also enjoy!" That being said, the service has a limited delivery area so double check this before ordering.

Think of Green Chef as Hello Fresh's organic cousin. All of the meals are ready to eat in 45 minutes or less (they provide the ingredients, you cook the meal) and the USDA-certified organic company offers a variety of vegan menu options every week on its Plant-Based plan. I like that you can select other plans on top of the Plant-Based option, including Gluten-Free and Keto. Green Chef is one of my favorite meal delivery services in general thanks to its premium foods and tasty recipes, and it continues to score high marks with our testers for its flavorful and creative chef-crafted meals.

One thing that really stood out to me when testing Green Chef is how neatly organized the items are packaged. Everything is pre-portioned and although the plant-based menu isn't exclusively vegan, there are several vegan and vegetarian meals each week to choose from. My favorite vegan dishes included the harissa apricot chickpea salad, curry-spiced sweet potato wraps and black bean and mushroom enchiladas.

Testers said they loved the portion sizes, sharing that the meals filled them up and had great flavor. One tester said, "The quality of the food was exceptional. I was very satisfied with the freshness and taste of the meals. Just yummy!" On the downside, some testers noted that the instructions could be a bit complex and required many pans and bowls, but that the pictures on the recipe cards were very helpful.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Green Chef

Fully prepared meals? Check. Exclusively vegan? Check. Organic ingredients? Check. Veestro hits a lot of the marks when it comes to convenient, nutritious plant-based meals (plus many gluten-free and soy-free options). Recently, the service went from frozen meals to fresh offerings. All meals are free from meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey, and lower sodium options are available.

Our testers loved that the meals are quick and easy, requiring minimal prep time, and the portion sizes are generous. One tester said, “I would recommend this service to anyone looking for delicious pre-made plant-based meals.”

Favorite meals included the vegan baked ziti, fajita power bowl and kung pao cauliflower. The switch to fresh meals instead of frozen was a welcome change, but if you don't plan to get to the meals within a few days, you can always store them in the freezer. One thing to note is that the meals are costly and that, unlike other services, the price does not go down if you order more.

Although the brand previously shipped nationwide, the shift to fresh meals has required them to limit their shipping zone — be sure to check their website to see if the brand delivers to your zip code.

I first got hooked on Splendid Spoon thanks to their wholesome smoothies (Cacao Almond is still my favorite). They made for the perfect quick start to busy mornings, and then I started to try their broader menu of fully plant-based soups, noodle bowls and dishes. As a dietitian, I appreciate that in addition to being totally vegan and extremely nutrient-dense, all of the meals are free of artificial sweeteners and gluten.

The menu is pretty substantial, and you can filter for additional dietary needs like higher fiber, higher protein, lower calorie, lower carb, lower fat, lower sodium and lower sugar. Since everything is prepared, you can select seven, 14 or 21 meals per delivery. Testers loved that this service provided healthy meals that were ready to heat and eat. One tester commented that the smoothies and soups contained ingredients they "really enjoyed" and would have never tried otherwise. Another said, "It was nice to feel that I could open the fridge and not feel overwhelmed."

Although the food arrives frozen, testers noted you can still taste the freshness of each item. But the meals are definitely on the lighter side, and some are rather small yet contain two servings, but the meals are nutritious and flavorful. Favorite vegan offerings included the kimchi fried quinoa, "meatball" marinara noodles and the cacao almond smoothie.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Splendid Spoon

The plant-based smoothies from Daily Harvest are a welcome start to the day – convenient and nutrient-dense, they come in a cup that you can re-use after blending the ingredients together. But the brand has expanded their offerings over the years and boasts an impressive menu of harvest bowls, soups, flatbreads, pastas and more. They recently launched their POPS, a line of organic frozen pops made from real fruits and veggies, that were a hit with both kid and adult testers.

Not only is everything fully vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, but the brand also prioritizes organic ingredients and sustainable packaging materials. The newer pastas were a huge hit, and even the bites and flatbreads were quite tasty. Keep in mind that all of the items are frozen, and since you need to hit a $50 minimum for your order, you'll need to make ample space in the freezer. But that didn't compromise on taste or quality.

"Even though it's frozen, the food still tastes really fresh," one person said. "I love the flatbreads for lunch, and I sprinkle a little cheese on top to make it heartier." That being said, some of the serving sizes are a bit small and less substantial than other brands.

Sakara puts a bougie, wellness-inspired twist on classic plant-based dishes with their organic meal delivery service. They used to offer more variety, but now have just two specialized programs to choose from – the Signature Nutrition Program, which features nutritionally designed breakfasts, lunches and/or dinners for two to five days a week, and the Level II Detox, which is designed as a deeper reset after trying the signature program and includes curated meals, teas and more over the course of five days.

A tester favorite, Sakara's meals had inventive ingredients and made healthier eating anything but boring. Compared to other meal delivery services, you can tell the ingredients in the Sakara meals are extremely high-quality. Plus, testers and I both found the meals filling and flavorful. “I loved being introduced to new and interesting ingredients that I had never heard of,” said one tester. Another tester commented, "The delivery was well organized, and the meals were fresh, flavorful and satisfying." Everything is vegan and the meals offer great variety so you won't get bored, though the service is pricey.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Sakara Life

Think of Hungryroot as a master meal planner – the service will come up with a list of groceries based on your dietary preferences and then pair everything with recipes for the week and ship all the items directly to you. I like that you can have the service just handle dinners or opt for lunches and breakfasts too. Hungryroot truly saves you a trip to the grocery store and keeps the fridge stocked with ingredients for meals and more.

As a dietitian, I like that all items are free from partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and artificial preservatives. They have a large selection of vegan and vegetarian ingredients and goods, as well as other preferences. You can give feedback on your groceries and recipes so the service can get smarter and improve suggestions each week. I found the meals very easy to prepare and the portion sizes generous, and testers agreed.

One tester said, "It was so fresh, the variety was amazing and everything was so quick to put together. Loved that everything came precut and prepackaged." Another tester commented, "The quality of the ingredients was amazing, the variety was excellent, I loved everything in the shipment and the recipes are easy to follow."

Favorite vegan meals included the dairy-free tzatziki eggplant veggie ball rice bowl, black bean and avocado stuffed sweet potato and the plant-based chicken and guac bowl. One caveat: We found the cost to be a bit high compared to standard groceries.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Hungryroot

Looking for flexitarian meals? This ready-to-eat (or heat) prepared meal delivery service features ultra-nutritious, veggie-forward meals. Everything is plant-based, but I like that they offer the option to add on meat protein if desired. The menu rotates weekly and features different breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.

One caveat is the limited delivery range, which includes across the greater West Coast and major metropolitan areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic (but the brand is growing). They can also ship across California and to parts of Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. If you are in the delivery area, you're in luck – I was wowed by how fresh and wholesome the meals were, as well as the balanced macronutrient ratios and substantial amounts of fiber and protein to help keep you full.

A dedicated vegan plan makes meal planning easy, and popular menu items include the chunky monkey smoothie, Thistle pad thai, Southwestern black bean salad, chili verde soup and grilled corn and poblano chile salad. One tester said: "I loved that everything was already gluten-free and dairy-free, and the meals tasted really fresh. The vegetables were very good quality."

Created by chefs and nutritionists, these vegan and gluten-free meals come fully prepared and simply need a quick reheating. The menu is limited compared to other services (and changes weekly), but what the brand lacks in quantity of meals they make up for in quality. I like that they use extra-virgin, cold-pressed, organic olive oil in most dishes or a toasted sesame oil in some Asian-inspired dishes. The brand sources USDA-certified organic ingredients and the meals typically range from 300 - 650 calories per dish.

One thing that stood out to me with this service was that they focus on creative nutrient-dense plant-based ingredients. I also like how thoughtfully crafted the meals are from a nutrition perspective – in the plantballs for instance, the brand uses organic flaxseeds and chia seeds as the binder instead of breadcrumbs or flour. Another key highlight is that the brand is mindful of sodium – there is only about 200 - 500 mg of sodium per serving. "The selection is limited, but the meals I received were full of flavor and I felt good after eating them," a tester said. Favorite menu options include selections such as mac and "cheese" with steamed broccoli, Indian roasted vegetable curry, Amalfi lentil bolognese pasta and cashew "parm."