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Following a more restrictive diet like low-carb or keto used to mean hours spent in the kitchen carefully preparing your own meals since there were no other options. But nowadays, low-carb meal delivery services make things really easy. These companies not only offer macro-balanced meals, they prioritize quality ingredients and focus on sustainability so you can feel good all-around.
We’ve tested over 40 of the best meal delivery services and spoke with registered dietitian, Perry Nix, RD, to narrow it down to the 12 best low-carb meal delivery services. Whether you’re looking for pre-made meals or meal kits that send out pre-portioned ingredients for you to prepare yourself, there’s something here for you.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
12 Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery in 2024
- Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery Overall: Trifecta
- Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery for Variety: Hungryroot
- Best Microwave Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Fuel Meals
- Best Low-Carb Meal Kits: Home Chef
- Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery for Athletes: ICON Meals
- Best Gluten-Free Low-Carb Meal Delivery: BistroMD
- Best Keto Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Factor 75
- Best High-Protein, Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Territory
- Best Organic Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Green Chef
- Best Premade Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Muscle Meals 2 Go
- Best Paleo Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Paleo On The Go
- Best Frozen Low-Carb Meal Delivery: ModifyHealth
Best Overall Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Trifecta
Good for: Those who want foundational meals with rooms for snacks and extra protein
Best Overall
Trifecta
Product Highlights
- Meal plans or bulk meal options available
- All food is pre-made and arrives fresh (but you can freeze it)
- Six different menu plans, including clean, Whole30, paleo, keto, high-protein vegan, and high-protein vegetarian
- Meals are delivered weekly, but you can cancel anytime
- High-quality ingredients, with a focus on organic, locally sourced, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Several types of meal plans available
- Can also choose a bulk meal prep option
- Can get breakfasts as well as entrees
- The company prioritizes high-quality ingredients
- Some customization available
Cons
- Expensive, but ingredients are high-quality
- Limited personalization available
Bottom Line
Trifecta combines convenience with healthy eating. While all meals are pre-cooked and pre-portioned, the ingredients are high-quality and preservative-free.
Trifecta meal delivery has a keto and paleo menu for its weekly meals, and is a perfect choice for anyone looking for low-calorie, high-protein prepared meals for weight loss or to fuel their training.
“Trifecta offers high-protein, macro-balanced meals, made for those looking to improve strength and build muscle,” registered dietitian Perry Nix says in our Trifecta meal delivery review.
RELATED: High-Protein Foods for Muscle Building
Be warned, though: If you’re really active, like GGR head of content Kate Meier, the portions still might not be big enough for you. She says, “I felt like the meals were a little on the small side. I was always hungry afterward.”
The low-carb meal plan, which the company calls a keto meal plan, includes low-carb veggies and lean-proteins like grass-fed meats and sustainably caught seafood. The ingredient quality scored a solid 4 out of 5. “The ingredients are really fresh and really healthy options,” Kate says. “You can freeze them for up to 3 months or you have to eat within 5 days. They are vacuum packed, which I really like.”
RELATED: Best Meal Delivery for Weight Loss
And the company makes macro-tracking really easy, too. Both Kate and GGR tester Sarah Price both tried Trifecta, and say that the nutritional information is right on the label of each meal, so you don’t have to go searching for it. This makes calculating macros less of a hassle, and is ideal for those who have stricter dietary requirements.
You can choose your own meals, or opt for “chef’s choice” where you’ll get a variety of meals chosen by the chef. Kate and Sarah tried this option and say the meals are all different, so you’ll get a lot of variety, but the downside is that you can’t opt out of meals you don’t like. Overall, the taste received a 4 out of 5. “Some of the meals were good, some I took one bite and threw away,” Sarah says in our Trifecta Meal Delivery review.
There’s also a meal prep option. With this, you’ll select individual proteins, vegetables, and carbohydrates (if you want some), and you’ll get pre-cooked bulk items that you can use to put your own meals together.
You have to get a minimum of seven meals per week, but you can do a combination of breakfast and entrees, or just breakfasts or entrees only. You can also exclude some ingredients, like beef, pork, shellfish, or tree nuts, when signing up.
Price per serving | Starts at $14.80 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | 7-21 |
Delivery area | Contiguous United States |
Examples of meals we tried | Bacon and cheddar chopped steak, chicken and broccoli casserole, teriyaki chicken |
Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery for Variety: Hungryroot
Good for: Those who don’t want prepared meals, but don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking
Best for Variety
Hungryroot
Product Highlights
- Grocery delivery meets meal kit
- Meal delivery service that sends you ingredients based on recipes you like
- Many recipes only take 10 minutes to prepare
- Starts at $70 per box
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Simple and quick
- Caters to many styles of eating
- Can add on groceries to your order
Cons
- You do have to cook
- Have to meet plan minimum each week (though you can adjust your minimum on a weekly basis)
Bottom Line
Hungryroot offers a unique take on meal delivery, in that you find a recipe you like, and the company will send you all of the ingredients to make it. There are many options for types of food to choose from, and you can even order extra groceries that you might need as well. You do have to cook though, so if that's not interesting to you, this won't be the right plan.
Hungryroot does things differently than other meal delivery services. While there is a “meal kit” component, you also get access to a full-service online grocery store. That means you can choose specific recipes to make, but also add groceries, like extra meats, produce, and/or pantry items to your order as needed.
There are hundreds of recipes to choose from, much more than other meal delivery services, and you can easily filter by low-carb options to narrow things down. And many of Hungryroot’s recipes come together in minutes, so it’s also good for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
“Hungryroot is for those who don’t want a microwave-ready meal but also don’t have lots of time to spend prepping and cooking. Many of their ingredients, such as pasta sauce, are pre-made so you spend less time in the kitchen without sacrificing on texture and taste,” Perry Nix, RD, says.
GGR head of content Kate Meier agrees that you don’t have to sacrifice taste, saying, “So far, everything is so good.” She loved the fact that she spent minimal time prepping and cleaning, and that most recipes could be made in one skillet or pan without chopping anything. She rated the ease of preparation a 4 out of 5.
RELATED: Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery
Kate says all ingredients are high-quality and arrive fresh, too. Meat and dairy is humanely raised, and there’s a lot of organic produce and grains. There are some conventional items thrown into the mix, but Hungryroot has everything clearly labeled so you know what you’re getting. Their ingredient quality scored a 4.5 out of 5.
Price per serving | Averages around $10 per meal; minimum weekly spend of $65 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit |
Meals per week | 3 to 8 |
Delivery area | Nationwide |
Examples of meals we tried | Chicken burrito bowl |
Best Microwave Meal Delivery: Fuel Meals
Good for: Those who are really limited on time
Best Microwave Meal
Fuel Meals
Product Highlights
- Meal prep meal delivery service
- Can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered
- Meals start at $13.91
- Weekly or bi-weekly delivery
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
- Meals are fresh
Cons
- No customizations of the meals available
- Calories may be too low for some
- Expensive
Bottom Line
Fuel Meals offers two dedicated meals plans—muscle gain and weight loss—catered to both men and women. You can choose to have all daily meals delivered, or stick to just lunch and dinner, on a weekly or bi-weekly delivery cadence. One downside is that there's no customization of the meals.
Fuel Meals is a heat-and-eat meal service that has 20 low-carb options to choose from, and because it’s an a la carte service you’re in complete control of what shows up in your box. As a microwaveable meal service, it earns an automatic 5 out of 5 when it comes to ease of preparation.
Registered dietitian Perry Nix likes the service because the meals have a low to moderate amount of calories, and also has a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat. “This balance supports muscle growth and provides enough energy to help you power through your workout,” she says in our Fuel Meals review.
Nix, however, points out that many of the meals are comprised of typical bodybuilding/fitness foods, which might be alright for some trainees. “If you’re an adventurous eater that likes a lot of variety, this might not be the best option for you,” Nix adds.
RELATED: Best Prepared Meal Delivery
You can either add meals to your cart manually or setup a meal plan to get 8, 14, 21, or 28 meals delivered to your door. The simple ordering process earned a 5 out of 5, and our packages arrived in perfect condition so we’re giving shipping another perfect score.
Regarding taste, certified personal trainers Nicole Davis and Kate Meier rated it a 4 out of 5. “They taste is all totally fine, completely edible, could order and eat again; I just wanted something more,” Kate says. “I found myself adding adding vegetables to the meal, or adding a sauce or a spice to get more out of it.”
Nicole seconded that sentiment. “With the bison burger for instance, the sauce was really good but the actual patty itself was under-seasoned,” she says. “Also in general I really liked the meat portion but the sides were lackluster—typically just sweet potatoes or potatoes with not much to them.”
The portion sizes also received a 4 out of 5, with most meals being around 400-600 calories. Kate said she was frequently hungry after eating them, though Nicole felt satiated.
Price per serving | Starts at around $12 per meal |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | Up to 20 |
Delivery area | Nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii |
Examples of meals we tried | Crispy Buffalo Chicken, Bison Burger, Chicken Quesadilla, Homestyle Meatloaf, General Tso’s Meatballs, and Chimichurri Steak |
Best Low-Carb Meal Kits: Home Chef
Good for: Those wanting to learn how to build balanced meals and acquire new cooking skills
Best Meal Kits
Home Chef
Product Highlights
- Can choose from meal kits, pre-made meals, or grill-ready ingredients
- Recipes can accommodate two, four or six people, and you can get up to six meals per week
- No specific meal plans, but you can narrow down your choices
- Menu changes weekly, with up to 30 meals to choose from
- Requires a subscription, but you can cancel or skip a week anytime
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Menu changes weekly to prevent food boredom
- Options for meal kits or pre-made meals
- Can skip a week if you don’t need a delivery
- Can accommodate larger groups and families (many meal delivery services cap out at four servings per recipe)
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Doesn’t accommodate a lot of dietary restrictions
- Options can be limited if you’re on a specific diet
- Requires a subscription (that you can skip or cancel, but you have to remember)
Bottom Line
Home Chef is a meal delivery service that gives you options between meal kits, heat-and-eat meals, and grill-ready selections. It does require a subscription, but you can cancel any time or skip a week if you don’t want a shipment.
While Home Chef doesn’t have a dedicated low-carb meal plan, there are typically more than a dozen “carb-conscious” meals to choose from each week. You can filter by low-carb meals, and choose other dietary preferences, like calorie-conscious and/or vegetarian.
Registered dietitian Perry Nix says of the service, “Home Chef is known for delivering the typical meal kit that includes a recipe and most ingredients. What makes Home Chef unique is that they also offer express meals that can be prepared quickly, one-pot family meals, oven-ready entrees, and ready-made microwave meals. The diverse options are great for those who like to cook but could also benefit from a healthy pre-cooked meal on busy days.”
After choosing your preferences, you’ll get a targeted weekly menu that includes standard meal kits, which take about 30-45 minutes to prepare, and express options that take just 10-15 minutes for busier nights. The service earned a 2 out of 5 since there are a lot of pots, pans, and other cooking equipment needed to get dinner ready but this is targeted toward home cooks, so we don’t think many people will mind.
GGR product tester Emily Chidester says she’s tried quite a few different meal kit delivery services, and Home Chef is by far the best. She rated the taste a 5 out of 5 in our Home Chef review.
“My husband and I love these meals, frequently getting more than the three we typically order because they are so easy to make and are delicious. They send you the recipes so we’ve definitely made some of the meals on our own without the meal kits, too, because we love them so much,” she says.
While there’s not a ton of customization options, you can swap out many of the meat options when you add them to your cart. For example, you can opt for beef instead of chicken, or swap a burger for a vegan option.
Most recipes can serve two, four, or six, and you can choose up to six recipes per week. But there are also “family” meals that feed four to 16 people. Boxes will ship weekly, unless you go into your account and skip a delivery.
While Emily has had some issues with the wrong meal kits or proteins being shipped, she has no other real complaints and has been a dedicated customer since September 2022. And she says that customer service always makes it right by crediting the full price of the meal that was shipped incorrectly.
Price per serving | Averages about $12 per meal |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit |
Meals per week | 2, 4, 5, or 6 |
Delivery area | Nationwide |
Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery for Athletes: ICON Meals
Good for: Active folks who need to more closely track their macros
Best for Athletes
ICON Meals
Product Highlights
- Fresh, ready-to-eat meal delivery
- Vacuum-sealed for freshness
- Build custom meals or chose from menu
- One-time purchases and subscription plans available
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fresh, vacuum-sealed meals
- 35 signature meals always available
- Stays fresh up to 5 days (or freeze up to 6 months)
- 15% off for military personnel and first responders
Cons
- Limited vegetarian options
- No vegan options
Bottom Line
When you use ICON Meals, you’ll not only be able to choose from a one-time purchase or a subscription, you’ll also have the ability to customize meals or select meals from the main menu. There are 35 signature dishes that you can choose from anytime or browse the rotating weekly menu. Meals start at $12 and the minimum order needs to be at least 8 meals. Subscription meal delivery boxes come with either 12 or 24 meals and meal delivery frequency can be set anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.
Athletes typically have higher macronutrient needs, and some of the common feedback from some of these meal delivery services is that portion sizes were on the smaller side. However, ICON Meals makes options for more active folks. “These meals were pretty sizable,” says certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Anthony O’Reilly. “A lot of them filled me up, and I’m taller than 6 foot.”
As registered dietitian Perry Nix points out, you can also create customized meals by selecting a protein and two sides (with plenty of low-carb options available). “This is ideal for anyone trying to hit specific macros each day because you are in control of everything that’s on your plate,” Nix says.
Once you select your meal type, the low-carb option falls under keto, you can select how many meals you want. ICON is one of the few meal services that allows one-time ordering, though placing it on a subscription saves you a little money.
Anthony rated ICON Meals’ taste a 4 out of 5. “They were pretty typical of prepared meals in that there wasn’t a ton of flavor in some of the dishes, but it wasn’t offensive either,” he says. “There were a lot of meals I enjoyed.”
Since you just have to reheat them in the microwave, it’s great for athletes who are running from the office to the gym/training ground with little to no time to cook an entire meal. It gets a 5 out of 5 on ease of preparation.
If you’re a Tom Brady-type and are picky about what type of ingredients you eat, this might not be the one for you. “ICON Meals doesn’t offer information on ingredient sourcing, which could deter those who prefer to consume ingredients they know are ethically and sustainably sourced,” Nix points out. We gave the ingredient quality a 4 out of 5.
Price per serving | Starts at $11.46 per meal |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | 12-24 |
Delivery area | Contiguous United States |
Examples of meals we tried | Titan breakfast burrito, Cajun seafood pasta, chicken bacon alfredo, veggie fried rice, lemon cheesecake bite |
Best Gluten-Free Low-Carb Meal Delivery: BistroMD
Good for: Anyone who needs multiple gluten-free meals every week
Best Gluten-Free
BistroMD
Product Highlights
- Doctor-designed meal plans
- May help improve metabolism and aid with weight loss
- Weekly frozen meal deliveries
- Variety of meal plans including vegan, keto, and diabetic
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Program is based on science behind metabolism correction
- Options to skip a week
- Packed in oven-safe, BPA-free trays
- Support from registered dietitians
Cons
- Programs don’t allow you to order less than 10 meals
- Expensive subscription
- Shipping is not free
Bottom Line
BistroMD was designed by a doctor to help folks struggling with weight loss. BistroMD addresses insulin-resistance and aids a healthy metabolism with lean protein and high-fiber foods to keep you full in addition to low glycemic carbohydrates to stabilize blood sugars. You’ll find a meal plan that works within your dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegan, or keto.
BistroMD makes heat-and-eat meals that cater to a variety of health conditions and dietary restrictions, such as their gluten-free menu made in kitchens that are USDA certified and inspected and tests their ingredients for the amount of gluten to ensure it’s below 20 parts per million (PPM), the maximum level allowed for most people with celiac conditions.
Dietitian Perry Nix appreciates how the service crafts its meals. “These meal plans focus on fueling your metabolism, stabilizing your blood sugar, and keeping you full and satisfied, so you can burn more calories and utilize energy efficiently,” she says.
RELATED: Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery
Everything arrives fresh and ready to heat, so you just have to pop the meals in the microwave or the oven and you’re good to go (5 out of 5 on ease of preparation). According to certified personal trainer Lauren Strong, the ordering process is pretty easy too.
“You’ll need to pick a program (aka gluten-free), and then a plan (the amount of meals per week),” she explains. “Once you make these selections, you can start to choose individual meals.”
There’s the Full Program, which has breakfast, lunch, and dinner with 7 or 5 days of meals, or Lunches & Dinners only for 7 or 5 days of meals. The variety earned a 5 out of 5. “I thought there were tons of options,” Lauren says. “Lots of homestyle meals in addition to very healthy looking options and everything in between.”
The taste, Lauren says, was “pretty darn good,” though some flaws brought its score down to a 4 out of 5. “Sloppy Joe was my least favorite because the cabbage slaw did not unfreeze very well and seemed flavorless,” she explains. “I dethawed this meal instead of putting it right into the microwave and the cabbage was just meh.”
Price per serving | $10.99 to $14.99 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | 10-21 meals |
Delivery area | Nationwide |
Examples of meals we tried | Sloppy Joe with Cabbage Slaw, Turkey Breast with Cranberry Apple Chutney, Merlot Meatballs with Grits, Chicken Florentine Cannelloni, Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Asian Salad, Hickory Smoked BBQ Beef with Yukon Gold Potatoes |
Best Keto Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Factor 75
Good for: Anyone who wants straightforward, simple meals
Best Keto
Factor75
Product Highlights
- Heat-and-eat meals that are delivered weekly
- Five menu plans, including calorie-controlled and keto
- Can mix and match from different menu plans for more variety
- New menus drop weekly
- Can order up to 18 meals per week
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Not restricted to one specific diet plan
- Meals arrive fresh and ready to heat
- Offers options for different dietary preferences
- Can cancel or skip a delivery anytime
Cons
- No options for customization
- No personalized plans for weight loss
Bottom Line
Factor75 is a heat-and-eat delivery service that works well for those on specialized diets. Boxes are delivered weekly, and you can mix and match from different menu plans to maximize your menu variety.
While there are plenty of low-carb meal delivery services, there aren’t a ton that actually qualify as keto. If you need lower-net carb options, Factor has a keto plan with meals that average around 15 grams of net carbs or less.
These are fully prepared meals that you can just pop in the microwave or reheat in the oven, and GGR senior writer and certified sports nutrition coach Amanda Capritto says that they taste above-average (and the steaks were especially good).
Although you probably won’t be blown away by them, the convenience is a huge factor. Not only do you not have to cook, you don’t have to worry about prepping macro-balanced meals—that part is already done for you.
You can choose from six to 18 meals per week, and there are “quite a lot of meals to choose from,” according to Amanda. The menu changes at least partially each week, but the meals all have a similar format: a protein and a side of veggies and/or grains.
While the flavor profiles are different, this can get redundant for those looking for a lot of variety. But if you like to keep things simple, this can work really well for you. And the portion sizes are generous, too.
“This is the only meal service I tried that had ample portions!” says Amanda. “These meals can fill up a triathlete in the middle of a tough training block, so they can fill up just about anyone.”
That being said, even though the meals are low-carb, they can be quite high in calories (some around 750-800), so this is something to keep in mind depending on your health goals.
Learn more about this meal delivery service with our Factor Meals review.
Price per serving | Starts at $10.99 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit |
Meals per week | 6-18 |
Delivery area | Nationwide |
Examples of meals we tried | Chicken Alfredo pasta, blueberry pancakes, spicy poblano beef bowl |
Best High-Protein Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Territory
Good for: People who don’t want to be locked into a specific meal plan
Best High-Protein
Territory Foods
Product Highlights
- Individually packaged frozen meals
- Suits low-carb and keto lifestyles
- Reheat in the microwave or oven
- Gluten-free
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fresh meals
- Suits a variety dietary needs
- One-time delivery options
- Nutrition information for all meals
Cons
- Not available in all zip codes
- 5-day window to consume food
Bottom Line
Territory Foods suits low-carb and keto lifestyles without the needs for prep, cook, or clean up. You can get fresh (not frozen) prepared meals delivered directly to your door for less than $20 per meal.
Not all low-carb meals are high in protein, but many of Territory’s options have 30 to 45 grams per serving. Much of this protein comes from humanely raised and responsibly sourced meats and fish—beef is grass-fed or grass-finished, pork is never sourced from CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), and seafood is either wild-caught or sustainably raised.
Plus, dietician Perry Nix says, “Every meal is loaded with colorful vegetables that provide a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These are high-protein meals that can help you build muscle and burn more calories throughout the day.”
Instead of signing up for a specific meal plan, you can access all weekly meals and pick and choose whichever ones you want—up to 12 meals per week. You can filter by the low-carb meals, all of which have around 25 grams of carbs or fewer per serving, or keto-friendly. Note, however, that the keto-friendly meals are kind of high in carbs, with around 20 grams per serving, so they might not actually fit into your keto lifestyle.
All meals are created by local chefs, and you can see exactly who makes them when you build your box. Because these chefs have the final say on ingredients, there are some variations on ingredient quality, but you’ll often get organic and/or locally sourced ingredients. GGR editor, nutrition coach, and certified personal trainer Nicole Davis says Territory has the best packing and shipment of any of the services she tried, too.
“They layered the meals, two each, between layers of ice packs for three rows total. The meal containers fit inside in the box perfectly so there wasn’t any crazy movement. They even have a food spoilage tool inside the box that tells you if the food has been compromised (aka not cold enough) and is unsafe to eat,” she says.
The downside here is the price. The meals average around $17 per serving, which is definitely on the higher end of a meal delivery service. The ingredients are high-quality and meals are locally made, though, so if that’s important to you, it may be worth it.
Price per serving | Starts at $13.95 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | 6-12 |
Delivery area | Nationwide, but more limited zip codes |
Examples of meals we tried | Beef Short Ribs with Molasses Glazed Carrots and Cauli Rice, Gnocchi Ratatouille with Balsamic Chicken, Coconut Mango Griddle with Pineapple Compote and Breakfast Sausage, Beef Burger with Yassa Onion Jam, North-African-Style Chickpea with Apricot Glazed Carriots and Minted Quinoa, and Roasted Chicken with Gremolata and Butternut Mash |
Best Organic Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Green Chef
Good for: Anyone who doesn’t mind paying a little more for organic ingredients
Best Organic
Green Chef
Product Highlights
- Certified organic meal kit delivery service
- Meal kits can feed two, four, or six people
- New menus drop weekly; you can choose from 32 meals each week
- Add-ons, like prepared breakfasts and salads, available for an extra charge
- Delivers almost everywhere in the continental U.S.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers several specialized diet plans
- Can mix and match meal plans
- New meals drop weekly
- Most ingredients are organic and high-quality
Cons
- On the expensive side (but ingredients are organic)
- Shipping fee
Bottom Line
If you want high-quality and/or organic ingredients, Green Chef is a good option that can feed two to six people per recipe. There are several specialized diets to choose from, and you can mix and match from weekly menus to suit your needs.
If you want to prioritize organic ingredients, Green Chef is your best bet. This is one of the only USDA-certified organic meal delivery companies, and it’s reasonably priced, especially considering the quality of ingredients.
The company has a dedicated “keto” plan, but it’s really more of a low-carb option. Each meal has less than 20 grams of net carbs per serving, but exact macronutrient amounts will vary based on which meals you pick.
According to dietician Perry Nix, Green Chef’s paleo and keto meal plans are also certified gluten-free. This means they’re safe for people with celiac disease and anyone with gluten sensitivities. There are also Mediterranean, high-protein, plant-based, and dedicated gluten-free diet plans, if you want to browse other options for some low-carb recipes.
This is your standard meal kit service, so you’ll get a box of mostly prepared ingredients plus recipe cards that tell you step-by-step how to make the meals. Nicole Davis, GGR senior editor and certified nutrition coach, tried this service and says they average about 30 minutes to prep and cook, but do often require multiple pieces of cooking equipment—all of which are clearly listed out on the recipe card.
The one gripe Nicole has with the service is the portion size. It was on the small side, and while you can add on breakfast items or additional cooked meats for some extra protein, this will increase the cost of your entrees. “Overall, I liked the taste of these, but the portion size was just not great, and thus the cost didn’t really make sense to me,” she says.
You can choose from three serving sizes—two, four or six—and three or four meals per week, so you can just order more and make your portions bigger if you have higher calorie needs.
Check out our full Green Chef review to learn more.
Price per serving | Starts at $12.99 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal Kit |
Meals per week | 3 to 4 |
Delivery area | Does not deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Louisiana. |
Examples of meals we tried | Monterey Jack-smothered chicken |
Best Premade Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Muscle Meals 2 Go
Good for: Those who don’t need a lot of variety
Best Premade
Muscle Meals 2 Go
Product Highlights
- High-protein meal delivery service
- Fresh, ready-to-eat meals
- Standard and extra protein meal options
- Meals stay fresh for 8 days after delivery
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One-time purchase option
- Weekly or biweekly subscription
- Gluten-free, low-carb, keto, and extra protein meal options
- Breakfast and entree options available
Cons
- Shipping is not included
- Expensive per meal cost (price break when you order more meals)
Bottom Line
Bodybuilders and gym rats take notice: Muscle Meals 2 Go offers fresh, high-protein, ready-to-eat meals delivered right to your door. You’ll have the option to choose from a weight loss, muscle maintenance, or muscle gain meal plan with a macronutrient profile to support each goal. Choose from a one-time delivery or a recurring weekly (or biweekly) subscription plan.
If it wasn’t obvious by the name, Muscle Meals 2 Go is another pre-made low-carb meal delivery service that’s targeted toward athletes. Don’t let the name fool you though. Yes, there are plans for building muscle (these have extra protein), plus maintenance and lean meal plans that have different macro ratios.
There’s also a newly launched low-carb meal plan that has full entrees as well as add-ons like protein bites, protein pudding, and frittatas. Because the low-carb plan is so new, there’s not a ton of variety on there yet—there are about a dozen meals and eight “extras” to choose from—but the company is constantly growing and adding more as they can.
RELATED: Best Protein Cookies
Certified personal trainer and GGR staff writer Lauren Strong says these are all “above-average, bodybuilding, meal-prep style dishes” meaning they’re very focused on basic ingredients that help you hit your macros without a lot of fuss. She says she doesn’t mind these types of meals, but you may want to have your favorite sauce nearby to liven them up a little bit if you get bored easily.
They all come prepared and ready-to-heat, and you have to get a minimum of 10 meals for your box to ship. You can get as many as 24, though, which is the most at one time out of any of the services we tried.
All in all, Muscle Meals 2 Go is very focused on function rather than fuss—it’s an easy way to hit your macro and energy requirements but may not be the best for those looking for a ton of variety.
Price per serving | Starts at $13.95 per meal |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
Meals per week | 10, 18, or 24 |
Delivery area | Contiguous United States |
Examples of meals we tried | Chicken fajita bowl, turkey meatballs, pork fried rice |
Best Paleo Low-Carb Meal Delivery: Paleo On The Go
Good for: Those who want paleo-style meals or need more digestive support
Best Paleo
Paleo on the Go
Product Highlights
- 100% Paleo and AIP-friendly
- Plans include 8, 12, or 16 items
- Can subscribe or buy one time
- Easy to follow instructions
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide variety of options
- Seasonal meals available
- Meals are ready after a few minutes in the microwave
Cons
- No smartphone app to manage subscription
- No free shipping
Bottom Line
Paleo on the Go is a meal service for people who would like to follow the paleo diet. They offer a wide range of foods, including bundle packages and seasonal items. The price range varies based on the items you choose to order.
Paleo On The Go is focused on paleo and autoimmune protocol (AIP) style meals, but there are naturally a lot of low-carb options in the mix. It does take a little digging to find them though—there’s no low-carb filter, but you can view the nutrition facts online to see carbohydrate info. Many of the meals have as few as 10 grams of carbs per serving.
While the menu doesn’t change constantly, there are new and seasonal items that are often added to the mix, so there’s typically plenty of variety and fresh items to keep things interesting. And aside from the impressive selection of menu options, GGR editor and tester Frieda Johnson really enjoyed the meals.
“They were easily as good as the meals I made from scratch when I was following the paleo diet. And the baked goods were impressive! A bit of a mealy texture, but that’s hard to avoid with paleo baked goods. Overall, I was impressed with the quality for frozen paleo food,” she says.
It’s worth noting that she reheated most of her meals in the oven (the company actually recommends this) and she thinks it made all the difference; it takes longer but it’s worth it.
In line with the paleo ethos, the company also makes an effort to use sustainable and ethical ingredients and are very transparent about it. They also avoid preservatives and added ingredients as much as possible.
While this is a subscription service, it works a little differently than others. You don’t pay a set price each week. Instead you choose eight to 16 meals, which are priced differently, and you’ll get a total cost based on which meals you choose. This can make it harder to budget for your weekly delivery, but also gives you some flexibility to choose meals based on their prices.
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Price per serving | Starts at $17.50 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit |
Meals per week | 8, 12 or 16 |
Delivery area | Nationwide |
Examples of meals we tried | Lemon blueberry muffins, Cuban empanadas, and loaded baked sweet potato soup, bang bang shrimp tacos with pineapple plantain pilaf |
Best Frozen Low-Carb Meal Delivery: ModifyHealth
Good for: Anyone who doesn’t want a subscription meal delivery service
Best Frozen
ModifyHealth
Product Highlights
- Fresh, ready-to-eat meal delivery service
- Nutrient dense, high-fiber, whole-food ingredients
- Caters to variety of health concerns including low-FODMAP diets
- Vacuum-sealed meals stay fresh 7-10 days after delivery
- Processing facility is 100% gluten-free
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Non-GMO ingredients
- BPA-free meal trays
- Macronutrient and nutrition label included with each meal
- Gluten-free
Cons
- Wide range of caloric intake per meal (250-700 calories)
- Many breakfast options are low in protein
Bottom Line
If you adhere to a low-FODMAP diet, have diabetes, or a gluten allergy ModifyHealth could be the meal delivery service you’ve been waiting for. ModifyHealth processes all meals in a gluten-free facility and commits to using non-GMO ingredients. Your subscription gains you access to a weekly delivery of fresh, vacuum-sealed meals that are ready to reheat and enjoy. Plans start as little as 6 meals per week with the option to skip a week or pause your subscription.
Many of the prepared meal delivery companies that made our list deliver fresh entrees, but there is some benefit to getting frozen meals—the biggest being that they last longer in the freezer and you don’t have to worry about eating them all in a week. While many companies deliver frozen meals, we just think ModifyHealth does it best. For starters, all meals are made with ingredients that are organic, gluten-free, and free of any artificial colors, flavors or additives.
“ModifyHealth believes that food is medicine and that what you eat has the power to change how you feel,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix. “Most of their meals contain a lean source of protein like chicken, fish, or tofu, which is ideal for anyone wanting to eat less saturated fat or reduce their cholesterol.”
The taste was unexpectedly good, earning a 4.5 out of 5. “These are frozen meals and I didn’t have high hopes based on the other frozen meal deliveries I had tried,” says precision nutrition coach and GGR Head of Content Nicole Davis. “These were the best by far.”
There are also different levels of carbohydrates in each meal. There’s a carb-conscious menu, and three of their other plans (Mediterranean, low-FODMAP, and gluten-free) are advertised as good for those with celiac disease.
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Nix’s one qualm is the meals’ caloric content, which range from 250 to 700 calories. “Meals with less than 400 calories may not give you the energy your body needs to function optimally,” she says.
Nicole says the meals were good for her, though her husband didn’t feel full after eating them. We give the portion size a 4 out of 5.
Price per serving | About $13 |
Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared meal |
Meals per week | 6 |
Delivery area | Nationwide (with free shipping) |
Examples of meals we tried | Beef Skillet with Cabbage and Sweet Potato, Black Bean Burger with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce, Balsamic Chicken with Quinoa, Artichokes, and Tomatoes |
Other Low-Carb Meal Delivery We Researched
HelloFresh: HelloFresh is one of the most recognizable names in the meal delivery industry, but surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of customization options and very limited low-carb meals. There is a “Meat and Veggies” meal plan, but it includes starches and other ingredients that don’t fit into a low-carb diet.
Marley Spoon: Marley Spoon had plenty of low-carb meal options, but GGR performance editor and tester Anthony O’Reilly said everything was “mediocre” and he was unimpressed with ingredient quality. There were a couple of times that the ingredients were on the verge of being spoiled. Given his experience, we can’t recommend this one at this time.
Sunbasket: Sunbasket was another mediocre service, according to GGR staff writer and certified sports nutrition coach Amanda Capritto. She says she had to “doctor” most of her meals to get the flavor she wanted. To add to that, there’s not a ton of low-carb meal options, so you’d likely end up getting bored quickly if you’re looking for variety.
How We Picked and Tested the Best Low Carb Meal Delivery
We put a lot of effort into picking and testing the best low-carb meal delivery. First, we talked to registered dietitian, Perry Nix, R.D., L.D., to get her take on what makes a food delivery service good and what makes it not so good.
From there, we narrowed down the options based on specifics like variety of menu items, quality of ingredients, price, and sustainability. We then had our team of testers, which is made up of nutrition coaches, personal trainers, and other health and fitness professionals, personally try each of the services.
We went through the complete ordering process, signing up for the service on the website and going through all the necessary steps to get our deliveries. We tried different types of meals, used different cooking methods, and even got our partners involved in the process to see how satiating meals were for different body types and activity levels.
Finally, we rated each service based on a variety of factors, including price, ordering process, taste, ease of preparation, portion size, ingredient quality, meal plans, shipping, and more. The services with the highest rating across the board made our list.
Benefits of Low-Carb Meal Delivery
Low-carb meal delivery services are certainly convenient, but they have benefits beyond that, too. They make meal prep easier, can save time and money, and make it easier to stick to a restrictive diet.
Makes Meal Prep Easier
The biggest benefit of a meal delivery service is that it makes meal prep so much easier. You don’t have to find recipes, grocery shop, then spend a whole day or two cooking. Instead, you sign up, choose your meals, and have a box of food or pre-portioned ingredients arrive on your doorstep.
Can Save Time and Money
On a similar note, low-carb meal delivery can save you time and money. While it may seem like a higher upfront cost, there’s typically less food waste since you only get what you need. You also don’t have to go to the grocery store as much, so you’re less likely to make impulse purchases that drain your wallet and make you veer off track.
Makes Restrictive Diets Easier to Follow
Meal delivery services also make it easier to follow more restrictive diets, like low-carb or keto diets. You don’t have to think about balancing macros yourself or diligently reading through ingredient lists to make sure you’re on plan. Instead, you can quickly view the macros before ordering, and choose already-made meals or meal kits that fit within these parameters.
Buying Guide: What to Look for in Low-Carb Meal Delivery
The best low-carb delivery service for you may not be the best option for someone else. All the companies on this list have a lot to offer, but you still need to narrow them down based on what works best for you. Consider variety, quality of ingredients, price, and sustainability when making your choice.
Variety
Some people like to repeat the same meals over and over, while others thrive on variety. If you fall into the latter category, you want to make sure that the low-carb meal delivery you choose has a robust and/or regularly changing menu. This can help prevent food boredom, which can make you more likely to stick to your plan.
Quality Ingredients
Quality ingredients are also important, but there are different levels here. Some companies have certified organic ingredients, while others locally source many items, but don’t have organic certifications. Figure out what’s important to you, and how that fits into your budget.
We recommend always choosing companies that prioritize whole foods and limit processed and artificial ingredients as much as possible.
Fair Price
Budget is always a deciding factor in any purchase. Most of these low-carb meal delivery services operate on a subscription model, but the price per meal varies widely. Before committing to one, break down the weekly cost to the price per meal or serving to see how much bang you get for your buck. We’re not here to tell you what a good price is—that’s subjective—but make sure you feel comfortable with the weekly commitment.
Sustainability
When meal delivery companies first came onto the scene, they got a lot of flak for excessive packing and large carbon footprints. But most of them have come a long way, using recyclable packaging whenever possible and reusable options when not.
Sustainability is important for the greater good, so when choosing low-carb meal delivery, try to find options that prioritize minimizing their carbon footprint.
Low-Carb Meal Delivery: FAQs
What Amount Of Carbs Is Considered “Low-Carb?”
There’s no strict definition of “low-carb.” Typically, low-carb diets range from about 20 to 100 grams of net carbs (total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols) per day. The sweet “low-carb” spot for you may be different than what works for someone else.
Is Low-Carb The Same Thing As Keto?
No, low-carb and keto are not the same thing. Low-carb is more general and often “allows” more carbs than a keto diet, which typically limits net carbohydrates to around 20 grams per day.
Is Green Chef Actually Keto?
Green Chef calls its low-carb plan keto, but that’s a stretch. The meals have fewer than 20 grams of net carbs per serving, but many keto dieters limit their total daily carb intake to 20 grams. Because of this, we think these meals are low-carb, but not quite keto.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
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Following a more restrictive diet like low-carb or keto used to mean hours spent in the kitchen carefully preparing your own meals since there were no other options. But nowadays, low-carb meal delivery services make things really easy. These companies not only offer macro-balanced meals, they prioritize quality ingredients and focus on sustainability so you can feel good all-around. We’ve tested over 40 of the best meal delivery services and spoke with registered dietitian, » Read more about: Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery (2024): 12 Tasty Options to Keep Your Macros On Target » Read more