You can get meal kits and prepared meals from many services in Fort Collins. Whether you're into fresh dishes or prefer the convenience of frozen food that lasts longer, you're in luck. Now, with so many alternatives out there, it's only natural to wonder if the value of the meals you're getting matches the cost.
After testing out these services, I've made a list of the best meal delivery for Fort Collins to help you decide. They deliver nutritious and well-balanced meals that can assist you in achieving various dietary goals. You can try meals inspired by celebrated cuisines around the world, and there are many options for both meal kits and heat-and-eat prepared meals.
After careful consideration, I’m picking Factor as my top service. It caters to various dietary needs and preferences and provides nutritious, fully prepared meals with high-quality ingredients. If you want a fast supper after a hard day’s work, Factor is tough to beat.
Factor – Best meal delivery service for Fort Collins
Green Chef – Best organic meal delivery service
Blue Apron – Best gourmet and family meals for Fort Collins
HelloFresh – Best varied selection of meal kits
Home Chef – Best meal delivery for dieters with food allergies
You can prepare food in a few minutes
Find over 35 weekly meals on the menu
The service has options for vegans, vegetarians, and keto dieters
Current deal: Get up to $130 off + free shipping on your first box. Code: WEB130FREE
Factor's expert chefs cook nutritious dishes formulated by licensed dietitians. The company draws inspiration from American and various international cuisines to create complete meals catering to different dietary needs. Moreover, you'll only have minimal cleanup after finishing your meal. For these reasons, I consider Factor among the best prepared meal delivery services.
You'll notice sections upon accessing the menu – Ready-Made meals and Add-Ons. The former comprises between 30 and 40 heat-and-eat meals, such as low-calorie bowls, roasted meats with vegetables, and burgers made of cheese, mushrooms, and veggies, for example. The latter features up to 50 desserts, beverages, and proteins, such as pancakes, smoothies, and grilled chops.
Check the self-explanatory tags accompanying meals to find suitable options. Some examples of tags are Keto, Calorie Smart, and Vegetarian. While not as many feature the Carb Smart tag, don't let yourself be misled because Factor ranks highly among the top low-carb meal delivery services.
The majority of Factor's meals have between 350 and 900 calories. Some may go under or over these limits, but you should find most averaging around 600. You'll find Factor suitable if you're an omnivore or high-protein eater. There are also several fish-based meals and plant-based options, perfect for pescatarians and vegetarians/vegans.
Go to Our Plans in the header to customize your meal selection. These let you narrow down your preferences based on the following categories:
Keto
Protein Plus
Calorie Smart
Chef's Choice
Vegan & Veggie
Flexitarian
Many ingredients are organic and non-GMO across all plans. Read our dedicated review to learn more about what to expect from Factor’s menu.
If you have allergies, then make sure to read the ingredients carefully before purchasing a meal. You can’t customize the meals, and as they all arrive fully prepared, you can’t remove any ingredients. If the ingredients don’t suit your needs, just skip the meal.
You can't personalize ingredients with Factor. That's because the service focuses on preserving the high nutritional value of its meals. If a recipe includes ingredients you dislike or are sensitive to, all you can do is skip it.
You'll receive fresh food from this service, so leave enough space in the refrigerator. Typically, Factor's meals have a refrigerated shelf life of approximately 7 days. The company doesn't recommend freezing its dishes.
Factor lets you schedule a free, 20-minute nutrition coaching session. During this session, a certified dietitian will address all your dietary queries. This is a great feature that most services don’t offer.
The cost per recipe varies based on the number of single-serving meals in your order. The larger the order, the lower the cost per meal. For example, its best-value box gives you 18 meals for just $103.41 on your first order if you use our link. Note that Fort Collins residents have to pay a $10.99 delivery fee.
The company sources food from family farms
You receive pre-measured ingredients
Options for Mediterranean, low-calorie, and vegan dieters are available
Current deal: Free Salads for Two Months + 50% Off Your 1st Box
Green Chef is the first meal kit delivery service to receive CCOF certification, and it’s also a USDA-certified organic company. Moreover, it sources food from local family farms and craft economies to provide top-quality ingredients in its meals.
You'll find organic produce, eggs, and meat, as well as wild-caught seafood, in your meals. Green Chef selects suppliers that successfully go through regular compliance checks to ensure the utmost quality and adherence to organic standards. So, it's no wonder the service consistently ranks among our favorite organic meal delivery services.
I love that Green Chef is open about its ingredients. In cases where organic ingredients aren’t available, in-box communication and labeling make it clear. You’ll still receive high-quality and responsibly-sourced items – no matter what.
The service's menu has 45+ weekly meals, and you’ll be able to view menus up to 3 weeks in advance. Flatbreads, bowls, and soups are typically among the available options. In general, these recipes qualify for lunches and dinners.
Check the Add-Ons menu for a selection of breakfasts, desserts, and protein packs. You may find wraps, pancakes, oatmeal, muffins, and beef tenderloin, among other extras.
Keep an eye on the accompanying tags to find suitable meals quickly. These provide insights into the meal's characteristics. Some available tags are Plant Based, Gut & Brain, and Quick & Easy. You’ll also be able to see each meal's estimated prep time.
Choose any of the following meal categories to personalize your meal plan:
Keto
Plant Based
Quick & Easy
Gluten Free
Mediterranean
Protein Packed
Gut & Brain Health
Calorie Smart
Read our tested Green Chef review to learn what you can expect from these programs. Aside from the obvious, Green Chef's dishes suit carb-conscious and low-calorie dieters.
You can't customize individual ingredients in Green Chef's meals. So, carefully review recipes to ensure they don't feature foods you're sensitive to. Or you can simply skip or replace unwanted ingredients during meal prep. Alternatively, check Home Chef for ample opportunities to tailor meals.
The service provides preservative-free food, making its shelf life relatively short. So, eat seafood-based dishes in 3 days and other recipes no later than 5 days following the delivery.
The price per recipe varies depending on the number of servings. It begins at $9.99 for the maximum order of 4 weekly meals for 6 people, gradually increasing for smaller orders. The minimum purchase is 3 meals tailored for 2 foodies. As a Fort Collins resident, you'll have to pay a $10.99 shipping fee to get the box.
You can choose individual proteins
The service is an eco-friendly company
Options for low-calorie, carb-conscious, and vegetarian eaters
Blue Apron’s team of seasoned chefs create complete, nutritionally-balanced dishes. The company also sources around 80% of the ingredients you get directly from farms and other trusted suppliers. What's more, Blue Apron is a carbon-neutral meal delivery service and it has around 80 meal kits and prepared meals every week on offer.
You can prepare the service's meal kits easily, no matter your skill level in the kitchen. Also, the team takes the guesswork out of portioning by pre-measuring the ingredients for you. This approach ensures you receive the right amount of nutrients and reduces food waste to a minimum. And you can review upcoming options 4 weeks in advance.
Blue Apron also has an impressive Add-Ons section. It features desserts, salads, and proteins. If you prefer more convenience, you can opt for the fresh Prepared & Ready meals plan. You’ll find a variety of meals that cater to diets, including keto-friendly, low-calorie, and high-protein.
Go to Plans to personalize your meal kit plan. There, you can select any of the following preferences:
Veggies
Wellness
Fast & Easy
Chef Favorites
Family Friendly
Note that these categories are there just for organizational purposes. You can order from the full menu, no matter which options you pick. Check out our tested Blue Apron review to learn more about this.
Blue Apron caters to weight-loss, carb-conscious, vegetarian, and pescatarian diets. And you can try food from various international cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese.
Personalize selected dishes by swapping ingredients. For instance, if you prefer seafood over chicken, you can easily replace boneless chicken breast pieces with shrimp in the Curry-Peanut Chicken recipe.
You can also add meat to selected vegetarian meals (and vice versa). For example, make Poblano Pork Sausage Quesadillas vegetarian by removing Smoky-Flavored Poblano Pork Sausage and adding black beans and spinach. Or add Hot Italian Pork Sausage to Whole Grain Pasta & Cauliflower to make it suitable for meat eaters.
This meal kit service has a 7-Day Freshness Guarantee policy. But note that freshly prepared meals typically have a shorter shelf life. Contact customer service if you're dissatisfied with any ingredient's quality to get a refund or replacement.
The price per meal with Blue Apron varies based on the size of your order and the meal plan you choose. It starts at $4.00 per portion. The minimum order is 2 meal kits with 2 recipes, while the maximum purchase is 5 meal kits with 4 servings. You can buy 4, 6, 8, or 10 Prepared & Ready meals per plan. Note that you'll also have to pay a flat-rate shipping fee of $10.99 to get the order to Fort Collins.
Note that you can add any number of meal kits and prepared meals to your order if you need more food. Also, you can switch from one plan to another between weeks. And if you wish to mix and match both meal types in a single week, you can do so by placing separate orders.
The service has over 100 main dishes on offer
Options are available for all skill levels
Meals cater to pescatarian, carb-conscious, and weight-loss dieters
HelloFresh's menu boasts around 100 weekly entrees. And since dishes change weekly, this service delivers a meal variety that's hard to beat. You can plan your mealtime well in advance since it publishes recipes up to 6 weeks ahead of time.
Most meals are suitable for lunch and dinner. However, I noticed some options appropriate for breakfast on the extensive menu. Common recipes include pastas, burgers, fajitas, bowls, and more.
Check the prep time info accompanying recipes when browsing the meal selection. Also, keep an eye out for self-explanatory tags that highlight the key features of each dish. These include Easy Prep, Protein Smart, Veggie, and Seasonal.
HelloFresh clearly highlights its most popular meals. These are typically labeled as Best Recipe, Hall of Fame, and Premium Picks. What’s more, the company has recipes for all skill levels marked as Easy, Medium, and Hard. Select the dish to see its difficulty level ingredients, and nutritional information.
Select Our Plans in the header to tailor your meal plan before accessing the menu. Available categories are:
Veggie
Pescatarian
Under 20 Minutes
Family Friendly
Meat & Veggies
Fit & Wholesome
These categories are more like organizers than limitations, as our HelloFresh review points out. You can mix and match food from different categories, even from those you don't choose at this stage.
You can find low-carb and low-calorie meals on HelloFresh's menu. There are also a few vegan options. But if you follow a niche diet, such as keto or gluten-free, you may find Green Chef a better option.
The HelloCustom feature allows you to personalize selected recipes. It's available with all plans, so use it to replace over 12 proteins or side dishes. You might have a choice between crispy potatoes and broccoli for a side dish or chicken and steak for the main protein of a dish.
HelloFresh is affordably priced, especially for larger orders that offer a lower per-serving rate. For example, new users can get 6 meals for 4 people for just $107.75 when using our link. Shipping costs stay the same no matter your order size.
You can exclude up to 9 common allergens
The service features various meal customization levels
Options for low-carb, high-protein, and pescatarian diets are available
Home Chef lets you exclude specific allergens and meats from your meal plan. Click on Pick Your Meals on its homepage to get started. First, state your email and zip code. Once you complete this step, you can specify dietary preferences and leave out up to 9 foods. These are mushrooms, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, beef, poultry, pork, shellfish, and fish.
You can customize much more than common allergens and meats with this service. For starters, take a quiz to figure out the company's meal types you should prioritize. Some questions will be about the foods you crave and your affinity toward cooking.
You'll come across 4 filters when browsing the menu. These are Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Vegetarian, and < 30min. If you’re looking to lower your calorie intake, you’ll be glad to know that Home Chef is among the best low-calorie meal delivery services in Fort Collins. Note that you can choose only 1 filter at a time, so select the 1 that matters most to you.
Menu categories include Meal Kits, Express, Oven-Ready, Fast & Fresh, Lunch, Bundle and Save, and Extras. Go for Meal Kits if you’re an intermediate cook. If you're a busy person seeking quick and more convenient options, check the other easier prep categories.
Personalize the ingredients in selected meals with the Customize It tool. It accompanies many recipes, allowing you to choose your favorite ingredients from various alternatives. Check our tested Home Chef review to learn more about this feature.
Customize It lets you swap proteins in most recipes. For example, choose between shrimp, Impossible Burger, and chicken breasts, among other options in the Veggie Alfredo Rigatoni. In Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, you can replace thighs with steak strips and chicken breasts, among a few other alternatives.
Home Chef has a selection of around 35 mains for you to choose from. Additionally, its Extras section, featuring proteins, bites, sweets, and beverages, adds a few dozen options. But, if you're looking for a wider range of meal choices, I recommend checking HelloFresh.
Prepare refrigerated food from Home Chef within 5 days from delivery. If the dishes you ordered contain poultry, seafood, or ground meat, eat them within 2 days at the latest. If you wish, freeze the recipes to save them for later.
The cost per portion depends on the quantity you order. The minimum order consists of 2 meals for 2 people, while the largest order provides 6 meals for 6 individuals. Prices per portion start at $9.99, and meals are priced individually, so smaller orders don’t incur a higher per serving price. For delivery to Fort Collins, the service charges $10.99 regardless of the order size.
150+ dishes on a 6-week rotation
3 meals and snacks provide around 1,400 calories a day
Diabetic, keto, and vegan options are available
BistroMD is an excellent option for people committed to weight loss. It has gender-specific plans catering to various dietary needs. According to customer reviews, this service helps people lose significant amounts of weight. So, whether your goal is to shed 50 or 300 pounds, you're in good hands.
You can lose weight while having 3 satisfying meals and nutritious snacks throughout the day. The company offers plans that provide the right balance of calories and nutrients. On average, females and males can expect a daily calorie intake of 1,200 and 1,400 calories, respectively.
Our reviewer discusses the many different food options in our comprehensive review. The service focuses on low-calorie meals more than flavor. Still, it’s good enough to rank on our list of the best weight-loss meal delivery services in America.
You can choose from the following BistroMD weight-loss programs:
Signature – over 150 meals free from artificial ingredients
Gluten Free – 100+ dishes without wheat, rye, and barley
Heart Healthy – 100+ recipes with low levels of sodium and fat
Diabetic – over 100 meals featuring lean proteins for blood sugar control
Menopause – 100+ dishes formulated to deal with hormone changes
Keto Flex – 85 or more low-carbohydrate dishes providing a less restrictive diet from traditional keto
Vegan – at least 25 recipes free from animal-derived ingredients
You can choose a category from BistroMD's menu. Its programs typically include options for Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, and Snacks. Vegan is the only plan featuring only Lunch/Dinner. You'll find many pescatarian recipes, too, albeit the service doesn't have a dedicated plan.
You'll notice that many meals fall into different categories. If you take Italian Style Omelet as an example, you'll find it throughout 6 plans, including Signature, Heart Healthy, and Gluten Free.
You can get up to 3 daily meals, 5 or 7 days a week. If you prefer to skip breakfast, opt for the Lunches & Dinners plan. The full 7-day program includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners. Eat anything you like for the remaining My Night dinner guilt-free.
The company ships its recipes frozen. If you prefer fresh, ready-made meals, I suggest subscribing to Factor. Also, note that you can't customize ingredients in BistroMD dishes. So, carefully review the recipe before purchasing if you're sensitive to some foods.
Larger orders offer better savings. The price per serving for BistroMD starts at $6.59 for the full 7-day plan and increases with smaller orders. As a Fort Collins inhabitant, you have to pay a delivery fee of $19.95 to get your order.
The service has meal kits and prepared dishes
35+ options on the weekly menu
Options are available for diabetic, low-calorie, and high-protein foodies
Purple Carrot prepares plant-based dishes free from animal proteins. Thus, it's an ideal choice for vegans and other individuals who want to incorporate more veggies and fruits into their diet. By eliminating meat and other animal-derived foods, the company significantly reduces the presence of common allergens, making it 1 of the top allergy-friendly meal delivery services.
You can choose between options when browsing the menu. These are Meal Kits, Prepared Meals, and Less Prep. Overall, you’ll find around 35 options on the menu.
The Meal Kits category typically contains 16 weekly dinner recipes. You'll also find breakfasts and lunches. There’s also a Plantry with different add-ons for an extra cost. Check out our tried-and-tested Purple Carrot review for a closer look.
Prepared Meals usually feature 16 heat-and-eat dishes. You can warm most of them in 2 minutes, while you can consume a few of them without heating. Tasty looking options include Vibrant Falafel Bowl, Pizza Beans, and Cavatappi Ragu.
Check the self-explanatory tags accompanying each meal when browsing the menu. These will help you make informed decisions since they point out the meal's key features. Some of them are Gluten-Free, <600 Calories, and Nut-Free. Besides, most meals feature serving time and calorie information.
Recipes may stay fresh for up to 7 days from delivery, depending on the meal type. But most meal kits are safe to eat for up to 5 days from delivery. Thus, check the Best by sticker upon reception to stay on the safe side.
One of the best vegan meal delivery services suits other diets, too. You'll find it caters to your needs if you're on a vegetarian, carb-conscious, or high-protein diet.
Is It Good Value?
The meal price depends on whether you choose meal kits or prepared meals. The minimum order for the former is 3 recipes with 2 portions, while the maximum purchase is 3 meals with 4 servings. The latter come in batches of 6, 8, or 10 single-serving meals. The price per serving starts at $11.00.
You can mix and match meal kits and prepared meals in your account. You benefit from free delivery if your order exceeds $99. If not, you pay $10 to get your package delivered to Fort Collins.
Top Plans | |||||||
Top Plans | |||||||
Our Rating | |||||||
Our Rating | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
Best Offer | |||||||
Best Offer | $103.41 Per Box | $9.99 Per Serving | $4.00 Per Serving | $107.75 Per Box | $9.99 Per Serving | $6.59 Per Serving | $11.00 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | |||||||
Minimum Order | 6 prepared meals | 3 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 10 prepared meals | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals |
Meal Types | |||||||
Meal Types | Prepared meals | 10-45 minute meal kits | 5 - 60 min meal kits and prepared meals | Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready | Prepared meals | Meal kits, prepared meals |
Prep Time | |||||||
Prep Time | 2-3 min | 25-40 min | 5-45 min | 5-50 min | 5-50 min | 2-3 min | 3-40 min |
Active Deals | |||||||
Active Deals |
Explore the top Fort Collins meal delivery services and determine the best fit by researching these key factors.
Consider the delivery policy: Flexibility and reliability in delivery are crucial, given Fort Collins' varying weather and busy schedules. I assessed each service's delivery options, scheduling flexibility, and reliability. Factor shines in this area with its accommodating delivery schedules and commitment to punctuality, making it the go-to for those prioritizing convenience.
Consider your dietary needs: Different diets and nutritional requirements are common among the diverse population of Fort Collins. I explored this aspect by examining each service's menu flexibility and dietary options. For those with specific dietary needs, Green Chef offers a wide range of organic, keto, and vegan options, making it my top recommendation.
Consider how much time you have: The busy lifestyle of Fort Collins residents means time is a precious commodity. I evaluated how much preparation each service requires. HelloFresh stands out for its quick and easy recipes, ideal for those looking to minimize kitchen time without sacrificing quality.
Factor is the best meal delivery service in Fort Collins. It has prepared meals for a variety of diets, making it convenient for different lifestyles. If you are leading a busy and active lifestyle, Factor is a great way to make sure you get delicious and nutritious meals without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
In Fort Collins, the most affordable meal delivery service I've found is HelloFresh. It stands out for offering a variety of meal plans that cater to different budgets without compromising on the quality of ingredients. HelloFresh achieves a balance between cost and convenience, making it an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without overspending.
Green Chef is the best health-conscious Fort Collins meal delivery service. It's a certified-organic company sourcing organic and other high-quality ingredients from suppliers that must pass regular quality checks.