7 Best Meal Delivery Services in Baltimore 2024

Saving money is hard with Charm City’s harbor-front eateries and incredible farmer’s markets. These can eat into your budget and take up all your time. Convenience is certainly key in today’s world, and that’s where meal delivery services come in. 

Meal kits and ready meals delivered to your door are great for saving time and money, but they’re also a great way to eat healthily at home. I’ve made it my mission to find the best Meal Services in Baltimore that are comparable to restaurant-level convenience, taste, and variety.

I rounded up the best 7 services based on many factors, including the quality of the ingredients, dietary preferences, costs, and our reviewer's personal experiences. At the top of my list, you’ll find Factor – a prepared meal delivery company I love for its variety and health-focused meals that are both as convenient and tasty as it gets. Continue reading for more details and my reviews of other services!

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Baltimore Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Prepared Meals in Baltimore

Factor delivers nutritionally balanced and ready-to-heat meals right to your doorstep. Prepared meals mean you don’t have to worry about prep work or cooking. All you have to do is pop the meal in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is diverse, including keto, high protein, low calorie, and vegetarian options. To find the meals that work best for you, Factors uses a system of colorful tags that bear the name of your diet (Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Protein Plus, and Vegan & Veggie).

Factor’s meals range from 350-900 calories per serving, depending on your diet. Most recipes feature a combination of lean protein, complex carbs, and fresh vegetables. According to our in-depth review of Factor, every dish is GMO-free and made with mostly organic produce.

If the core menu is not enough, the Add-ons menu is there to fill in the gaps. Factor has many extras on offer, including breakfasts, smoothies, snacks, proteins, juices, shakes, healthy desserts, and more.

What Makes It Special?

Keto dieters will find Factor’s menu particularly appealing, with a majority of dishes tailored to their needs. On the other hand, vegans and vegetarians now can enjoy Factor’s newest additions – Flexitarian or Vegan & Veggie plans. This is a great improvement compared to its previous 5 to 8 vegan and vegetarian meals per week.

Factor also offers you a free 20-minute online meeting with dietitians and nutrition coaches. This unique feature is great if you need help forming healthy eating habits and making the most of your Factor subscription. If you like the help you get in your first session, you can sign up for more.

Is It Good Value?

Factor offers meals with high nutritional value. Professional nutritionists craft well-balanced dishes while skilled chefs prepare them.

Factor’s pricing depends on the number of meals you order each week, with larger orders lowering the per-meal price. The best-value option offers 18 single-serving meals for $103.41 on your first purchase if you use our link.

2. Green Chef – Best Organic Meals in Baltimore

Green Chef is a meal delivery service dedicated to sustainability. It offers organic, ethically sourced ingredients and environmentally friendly practices. With 45+ weekly menu items, Green Chef is also a great option for those looking to eat healthier while also following a specific diet.

What’s on the Menu?

The meal kits are accessible to all skill levels, and pre-made ingredients (like sauces and marinades) make them easier to prepare. Most recipes take between 25 and 30 minutes to prepare and cook.

For instance, a recipe like Blackened Shrimp and Grits only takes 25 minutes to prep and cook. Even though it might sound intimidating at first, you’ll be able to cook it to perfection due to the detailed instructions.

Green Chef also offers an extensive selection of add-ons where you can find a wide range of items that can help spice up the core menu. For instance, you can find loads of cooked proteins (Sustainably Raised Atlantic Salmon Filets or Organic Ground Beef), 10-min lunches, and a good selection of breakfasts like oatmeal and keto-friendly egg bites.

What Makes It Special?

Even if you’re a newbie in the kitchen, you’ll be able to enjoy Green Chef’s meals. According to our tried-and-tested Green Chef review, the recipe cards are clear and helpful. Recipes include detailed steps along with informative photos.

I also like that the quality of the ingredients used in the meal kits is top-notch. Most of the produce and eggs are organic, and the beef and chicken are raised to high animal welfare standards. As a result, the meals are tastier and healthier.

This USDA-certified company offers a complimentary 20-minute nutrition coaching session for prospective subscribers. If you need help or advice with your diet, a registered dietitian can help you with that.

Is It Good Value?

Green Chef is a great choice for health-conscious people. It’s also a good choice for couples and larger households, as you can order for up to 6 people per week. You get more than just healthy food because the service offers nutrition coaching sessions.

Green Chef is on the pricier side, with prices starting at $9.99 per serving for the maximum box size (4 meals for 6 people per week). There’s also a 2-person plan that’s great for couples, but the cost per serving is steeper than for larger orders.

3. Blue Apron – Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Service in Baltimore

Blue Apron is one of the best meal delivery services for restaurant-worthy dinners. With a wide variety of meal kits and prepared meals – from classic American and international flavors to gourmet dishes –  Blue Apron ensures that every mealtime is exciting.

What’s on the Menu?

The meal kits are easily prepared with Ready to Cook low-prep recipes. Plus, there are various family-friendly recipes each week that include simple and delicious ingredients everyone will love. Meals like Three Cheese Pizza are easy to prep and cook and are appreciated by kids and adults.

In our tested review, we discovered that Blue Apron offers customizable swaps and add-ons for several recipes each week (for a small upcharge). This is a great way to personalize your menu. For instance, you can turn your vegetarian Pesto Gnocchi into a non-vegetarian dish with shrimp or Hot Italian Pork Sausage.

If you prefer heat-and-eat options, go for Prepared & Ready dishes. You’ll find 16 of these offerings per week. Their standard heating time is 5 minutes, and you’ll see labels like Carb Conscious and 30 g of Protein on the main menu.

What Makes It Special?

Vegetarians and low-carb dieters will appreciate meal kits from the Veggies and Wellness plans, though the selection may be limited. You can also customize your order by adding à la carte appetizers, desserts, snacks, sides, and even prepared meals for up to 2 people from the Add-ons menu.

Blue Apron sources high-quality ingredients from a network of 100+ family-run farms that practice sustainable farming. The company only works with suppliers who don’t use added hormones or antibiotics. As a result, you can be sure that the ingredients in your meals have been produced responsibly.

I like that the company is actively seeking ways to reduce its carbon footprint and packaging material waste. Over 85% of Blue Apron packaging is recyclable, including plastic containers, metal cans, glass bottles, and cardboard boxes.

Is It Good Value?

Competitive pricing, high-quality ingredients, and sustainability efforts make Blue Apron a great choice. Also, it’s among the rare meal delivery services in Baltimore that allows you to try its meals without subscribing first. To do so, visit its on-site Market section.

In terms of pricing, I like that Blue Apron offers great value and flexibility. The starting price is $4.00 per serving. Subscription sizes start at 2 kits for 2 people or 4 prepared meals per week. There is no hard maximum for any of these meal types.

4. HelloFresh – Best Menu Variety for Baltimore Families

HelloFresh offers convenient and budget-friendly meal kits for a variety of tastes. The large menu also supports a number of dietary needs. I like it when menus have options from a variety of cuisines, and HelloFresh delivers just that.

What’s on the Menu?

HelloFresh boasts a diverse menu of 100+ meal kits and other items each week. Most options change regularly, except for the most beloved recipes. Look for standout dishes identified by tags such as Best Recipe 2024, Premium Picks, and Hall of Fame.

Most of the recipes are standard American fare, but the menu also features internationally-inspired dishes. These include Sweet Chili Beef & Cabbage Stir-Fry and Southwest Stuffed Zucchini Boats.

Best of all, HelloFresh has a surprisingly large selection of diet-friendly meals. The vast menu has plenty of vegetarian recipes – and even some vegan options – each week. The menu caters to other dietary needs as well, including low-calorie and high-protein.

What Makes It Special?

In our dedicated review, we found that HelloFresh is a great option for families with children. After all, even the pickiest of eaters enjoy comfort foods like Cheesy Smashed Burgers or the Guac Lover’s Burrito Bowl. Its recipes aren’t always the healthiest in the market, but they’re guaranteed to please the family. If you’re after healthy meals, check out Green Chef.

Since the menu is extensive, each meal is labeled according to difficulty level and diet. It would be even better if you could filter the menu, but the tags make it easy to browse. Other tags on the menu include Seasonal, Easy Prep, Spicy, and more.

HelloFresh also offers some customization options, expanding its menu even more. This feature is called HelloCustom and lets you change, swap, or upgrade 12+ sides and proteins each week. It’s not as extensive as Home Chef’s Customize It feature, but it’s still a great option.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh prices are affordable and place it around the middle of the pack for meal kit services. Although larger boxes will cost more overall, you’ll get the best per-serving value for a larger order, with higher per-serving prices for smaller orders. For example, 6 meals for 4 people cost just $107.75 for the first order if you use our link.

5. Home Chef – Best for Customization Options

Home Chef is a great choice for couples and families. It provides the right balance between tasty and healthy and offers meals inspired by various international cuisines. What’s more, it caters to people with different time availability and introduces upcoming recipes up to 6 weeks in advance.

What’s on the Menu?

Home Chef has an extensive menu containing dozens of entrees and extras. And you can find everyday options as well as meals suitable for special occasions there. If feeding a family, click on the corresponding link in the lower-left corner of the screen to check out the best family-friendly recipes.

Everything is tagged and categorized, making it easy to find what you want. For instance, under the Culinary Collection label, you’ll find restaurant-quality meals that take around 60 minutes. In the Express section, you’ll find low-prep meals that take 15 to 25 minutes.

Other sections that indicate low-prep meals are Oven-Ready, Lunch, and Fast & Fresh. Also, if you want a bit more variety, check the Bundle & Save and Extras sections. Here you’ll find soups, breakfast and lunch options, cooked proteins, snacks, and beverages.

What Makes It Special?

Home Chef is famous for its Customize It feature that allows you to swap proteins. As an example, the Shrimp Bruschetta Risotto can also be ordered with Double Protein Shrimp, Steak Strips, or Diced Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.

Despite all this flexibility, Home Chef isn’t suitable for people with food allergies or restrictive diets since most dishes cater to a general palate. You’ll find a decent selection of meals with Gluten-Smart and Keto-Friendly tags and even some Paleo-Friendly meals.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef’s meals vary in degrees of complexity from easy to medium difficulty, as our tested review explains. Everyone will be able to find something to fit their taste and skill level.

You can also get creative with the ingredients during cooking since Home Chef is a meal kit delivery service. Still, if you’re not that skilled in the kitchen, I recommend following the recipe cards. They’re well-designed, and all the steps come with instructions and images, so it’s easy to see how your dish should look at every stage.

Home Chef is great for couples and families since you can order for 2, 4, or 6 people, and the prices start at $9.99 per serving. You can order between 2 and 6 dishes per week.

6. BistroMD – Best for Baltimoreans Looking to Lose Weight

BistroMD is a weight-loss-focused meal delivery service with physician-designed meals to help you lose weight. The service features ready-made meals (frozen and shelf-stable) with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

What’s on the Menu?

BistroMD has 1 of the largest menus among the meal delivery services operating in Baltimore. It features about 150 meals, many of which fall into different plans. The menu doesn't change, but the meal selection is large enough to avoid repetition.

The dishes are low in calories and sodium, so you’ll also be eating healthy but tasty food. Plus, BistroMD offers a variety of programs for men and women, such as Signature Program, Gluten Free, Heart Healthy, Keto Flex, Diabetic, Vegan, and Menopause (for women over 55).

The menu is quite extensive, but you can’t mix and match plans. Once you select a plan, you will only receive meals that suit that diet.

What Makes It Special?

Each program is available in 5-day or 7-day weekly formats. All plans include lunch and dinner, while the Full Program adds breakfast as well. You can also add snacks to any plan.

In addition to the meal options, BistroMD also provides helpful advice from its team of dietitians, nutritionists, and wellness coaches. This is a good source of tips and support to help you reach your diet and lifestyle goals.

Is It Good Value?

There is a good variety of international cuisines (like Mexican, Italian, and Asian), but the recipes are more about nutritional facts than refined taste.

We taste-tested BistroMD and found that it’s a good option for those who are serious about losing weight. But if you’re looking for gourmet meals, you’re better off with a service like Blue Apron.

Prices start at $6.59 per serving, but there is a lot of variety depending on which plan you choose. The minimum order is lunches and dinners for 5 days per week.

7. Purple Carrot – Best 100% Plant-Based Menu in Baltimore

Purple Carrot caters to individuals seeking a diet free from animal products, focusing on meals made from genuine plant ingredients. Unlike some competitors that lean on alternative meats like Beyond products, Purple Carrot prioritizes authentic plant-based meals.

What’s on the Menu?

Purple Carrot's menu is a diverse collection of recipes from around the world. If you thought vegan meals were boring, think again. The menu has items like nutrient-rich meals like Coconut Ginger Congee with Crispy Tofu or Falafel Spiced Tofu with Pickled Cauliflower & Creamy Cashew Dressing. Yum!

The meal kits section has options for dinner, breakfast, and lunch (plus snacks). Some of these kits are marked Less Prep to indicate speedy meals that only need about 25 to 30 minutes to prep and cook. Read about our experience cooking with this service in our dedicated Purple Carrot review.

The prepared meals section only has entrees, but there’s a good variety of dishes. You’ll find everything from international cuisines to veggie versions of classic crowd-pleasers, like West African Peanut Stew and Mac N’ Cheese. All the recipes on this menu are under 600 calories and only need around 2 minutes in the microwave.

What Makes It Special?

I like that most of Purple Carrot’s meals have between 350 and 800 calories per serving. This means that you can enjoy the benefits of a plant-based diet even if you’re on a weight loss journey.

Since it’s a 100% plant-based service, some common allergens (like dairy) are out by default. And there are plenty of gluten-, soy-, and nut-free recipes.

Purple Carrot stands out for its dedication to sustainability. The company uses packaging that’s both recyclable and biodegradable. And you'll get detailed guidance on how to dispose of it responsibly.

Is It Good Value?

I do like the idea of dishes made with high-quality, fresh veggies, but I think the menu is a little limited. There’s variety, but if you stick with a weekly subscription, you may get bored after a while.

If you’re just looking to add more vegan meals to your diet, you may want to try a service like Green Chef. It has a selection of vegan recipes as well as those for omnivores and you can mix and match the entire menu.

Since Purple Carrot caters to a niche diet, it’s a bit on the pricier side. The cost per serving starts at $11.00 for the maximum meal kit order (3 meals per person for 4 people). There is also a 2-person plan, with a minimum order of 3 meals per week. Prepared meals are typically a bit pricier, and you can order 6, 8, or 10 single-serving dishes per week.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Baltimore

Baltimore is a city with lots of food services and a rich culinary scene, so it can be difficult to find the right meal delivery service on your first try. Here are some of the most important features I considered when making this list:

• Food quality: Choose a meal delivery service that uses top-notch, fresh ingredients. Green Chef, for example, focuses on using organic items, especially for produce and eggs.
  

• Variety of meals: Whether or not you adhere to a specific diet, selecting a service offering a broad selection of meal options is advisable. This approach allows you to experience a greater diversity of cuisine and provides more opportunities for experimentation. HelloFresh is a good example of a service that offers a diverse menu.
  

• Meal kits vs. prepared meals: While there are a few services that offer both, most meal delivery services focus on 1 or the other. If you like cooking and have the time, you may find a service like Green Chef to be a great choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for meals that only need 2 minutes in the microwave, you should check out Factor’s menu.

• Cost: One of the fantastic things about Baltimore is that it caters to all budgets; you just need to find the right options. To determine the best meal delivery service for your budget, consider the price per serving and the size of the box. 
  

FAQ

What is the best meal delivery service in Baltimore?

Factor is one of the best meal delivery services for Baltimoreans who want to enjoy restaurant-worthy prepared meals in the comfort of their home. The company also has a great selection of add-ons, including breakfast items and smoothies that can be added to your order.

What is the cheapest meal delivery service in Baltimore?

All of the options on my list offer good value, but Blue Apron offers the cheapest per-portion cost, starting at just $4.00.

What is the best meal delivery service in Baltimore for weight loss?

BistroMD is one of the best options if you like tracking your calorie intake and macros. The service offers several meal plans, and all the recipes were designed with the help of registered dietitians.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Baltimore in 2024 — Final Score