7 Best Meal Delivery Services in New Orleans 2024

New Orleans offers a wide variety of meal delivery services. This makes it crucial to find one that aligns with your need for convenience, dietary preferences, and budget. Finding the right service can significantly enhance your dining experience at home.

I’ve researched and reviewed dozens of meal delivery services considering various factors. These include meal variety, dietary accommodations, price, and customer service. Based on these criteria, I've identified the 7 best meal delivery options that deliver to New Orleans – and every service on this list has been personally tried and tested by my colleagues.

Factor stands out as my top recommendation for New Orleans. It delivers microwave-ready meals that are fresh and never frozen. It's the quickest way to get a healthy meal on the table. However, I've included a range of options in this list, so you can find one that seamlessly fits into your lifestyle.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in New Orleans Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Prepared Meals in New Orleans

Factor offers prepared meals designed to make healthy eating easy. The menu is well-stocked and varied, with options to suit several dietary preferences, such as keto, low-carb, vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian, and high-protein. The vegan meals and most of the keto ones are also dairy-free.

What’s on the Menu?

Most of the meals are of American inspiration, but there are also recipes from international cuisines like Greek, Asian, French, and Mediterranean. I mean, you can enjoy Chorizo Chili Mac (a favorite amongst kids), Indian Butter Chicken, and Grilled Steakhouse Filet Mignon at home without any effort on your part. When we tested Factor, we found the meals to be high quality and great tasting.

Factor's recipes follow the classic formula of protein, veggies, and starchy sides and only need 5 minutes in the microwave before you can enjoy a restaurant-worthy meal. And, if you’re watching your weight, you should know these meals range from 350 to 900 calories, with an average of 600 calories per meal.

All the ingredients used to cook the meals are antibiotic- and hormone-free. Factor only works with a network of trustworthy suppliers who employ sustainable practices. The same is true for the items available in the add-ons section, where you can find cooked protein, smoothies, juices, breakfast options, and healthy desserts.

What Makes It Special?

Since these are ready-made meals, there are no customization options. However, the variety of options and Factor’s tags (Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Keto, Vegan, and Vegetarian) make it easy to find the right food for your needs. 

Factor subscribers also get a free 20-minute consultation with an in-house dietitian who can help with your diet goals with personalized dietary advice. This service ensures meals not only satisfy taste but also support wellness objectives, enhancing Factor's appeal for health-conscious individuals.

Is It Good Value?

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 Meal Kits for Healthy Lifestyles

Green Chef is a USDA-certified organic meal delivery service, which makes it the perfect choice for health-conscious individuals and families. Its meals are designed to provide nutritionally dense ingredients and are varied enough to satisfy adults, children, and even picky eaters.

What’s on the Menu?

There are 8 meal plans, and you can mix and match when placing your order. The plans are Mediterranean, Quick & Easy, Plant Based, Gluten Free, Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein-Packed, and Gut & Brain Health. So, if you’re not on a strict diet, this variety makes the service more flexible.

Meal prep ranges from 20-40 minutes (there are a few 10-minute lunches), but most Green Chef meals take 30 minutes or less. This is possible due to Green Chef’s prepared ingredients – including chopped organic veggies and ready-to-use sauces and seasonings, which make cooking healthy, sophisticated meals easy.

The company also offers add-ons like breakfast entrees, salads, and protein packs. So, whether you're looking to eat healthier or just trying to save time, Green Chef is the perfect meal delivery service for you.

What Makes It Special?

Green Chef is all about organic (when possible), high-quality ingredients, and sustainable practices. It was the first meal kit to receive a gluten-free certification. We tried Green Chef at home and were very impressed by the gluten-free options.

I also like the recipes for plant-based dieters. The options are varied (14+ vegan and veggie meals per week), and the dishes are delicious. A good example is the totally vegan Artichoke “Crab” Cakes. Served with quinoa, roasted red peppers, sautéed zucchini, and walnuts, this dish is a fresh-tasting and nutrient-packed take on the classic seafood staple.

Is It Good Value?

Green Chef offers the flexibility of selecting between 2, 4, or 6 servings per recipe, catering effectively to larger families. This customization ensures that families of various sizes can enjoy healthy, gourmet meals without the hassle of portioning or waste.

If you choose the maximum box size (4 meals for 6 people per week), this sets the price per serving at an affordable $9.99. In my experience, this pricing structure makes Green Chef a cost-effective option for families looking to enjoy quality meals at home without breaking the bank.

3. Blue Apron – Best Jazzy Meals and Diverse Dishes in New Orleans

Blue Apron is 1 of the most popular meal delivery services in the United States, thanks to its diverse collection of dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. The menu includes familiar, New Orleans-inspired dishes like Cajun Chicken and Rice alongside more adventurous meals like One-Pan Udon Noodle Stir Fry.

What’s on the Menu?

Blue Apron is mostly known for its gourmet recipes that help you enjoy a restaurant-like dinner in the comfort of your own home. Inspired by some world cuisines, such as Italian, Mediterranean, Korean, Indian, Thai, and Mexican, the Blue Apron offer is sure to impress. We go into more detail in our in-depth tested Blue Apron review.

The menu rotates weekly, and each week there are recipes for everyone, including picky eaters, kids, vegetarians, and people on a weight loss diet. Some of the meals can even be customized by upgrading the protein or by making the meal vegetarian. And you can order meal kits or prepared meals, depending on the available time and your preferences.

Blue Apron also has quick-prep meals for busy people who don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. Look for low-prep meal kits that only take around 20 to 30 minutes to cook. These are easy to find while browsing the menu since the prep time is clearly displayed under each recipe.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron sources its high-quality ingredients from a network of farmers, fisheries, and ranchers to make sure your meals will have the best taste and the most nutritious value. The company works with more than 100 family-run farms that use sustainable farming practices.

Blue Apron introduces keto-friendly choices within its Prepared & Ready meals lineup, featuring dishes like Creamy Pesto Chicken and Cheesy Shredded Beef & Riced Broccoli. 

Is It Good Value?

Blue Apron offers 2-person and 4-person meal kit plans, with prices starting at $4.00 per serving. You can order between 2 and 5 meal kits for 2 or 4 persons each week. The number of single-serving Prepared & Ready recipes you can buy is 4, 6, 8, and 10. You also have to pay for shipping, which is a $10.99 flat fee per order.

Note that you can always add more meal kits and prepared meals to your order if you need larger quantities. Also, you can switch between plans week by week or order both meal kits and ready-to-eat recipes in 1 week. You’ll just have to make separate orders.

4. HelloFresh – Best for Family Dinners in the Big Easy

HelloFresh is 1 of the world’s most popular meal delivery services, and for good reason. With over 100 recipes and market items to choose from each week, you’ll definitely be able to find something for every member of your household, including the kids!

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is diverse, with recipes to suit every palate, including vegetarian, family-friendly, and calorie smart. Plus, there’s plenty of room for Louisiana-inspired classics like the Cajun Blackened Tilapia as well as HelloFresh’s famous Firecracker Meatballs.

Many recipes are developed around seasonal produce to keep the taste and nutrient content at maximum levels. We tried HelloFresh at home and found the recipes easy to prepare and enjoyable to eat.

HelloFresh provides its customers with easy-to-follow recipe cards for every recipe. Most of the meal kits take between 20 and 40 minutes to prepare and only 6 steps to cook. Also, you get detailed information on the spices and utensils you’ll need to have at home.

What Makes It Special?

You’ll have no problem finding recipes to match your cooking skills, with most of the recipes rated Easy or Medium on the difficulty scale. So whether you're a novice or an experienced cook, you'll find something to suit your needs.

There’s also the option to customize some of the meals (12+ sides and proteins each week) with HelloCustom. However, the powers of this feature are limited to swapping out ingredients like potatoes for broccoli or choosing a different protein. Still, it’s a good feature for whenever a meal you want to order doesn’t quite fit your needs.

Is It Good Value?

With competitive pricing, HelloFresh sits in the mid-range among meal kits. Larger orders offer a better per-serving price, while smaller orders are a bit higher. For instance, as a first-time user, you can get 6 meals for 4 people for only $107.75 by using our link. Shipping fees are fixed no matter your box size.

5. Home Chef – Best for a Flexible and Customizable Menu

My favorite thing about Home Chef is its Customize It feature. Nearly every dish can be customized with different proteins, such as adding an extra portion or substituting chicken for steak, pork chops, or even salmon.

What’s on the Menu?

I like that the menu offers variety in more ways than just international cuisines. For instance, in the Culinary Collection category, you’ll find meals like Red Wine Bordelaise NY Strip Steak or Balsamic Rosemary Beef Burger, which let you flex your skills in the kitchen and boast to your guests about your refined taste.

There are plenty of easy-to-prepare meals that can fit into any schedule. Whether it's an oven-ready meal, a traditional meal kit, or a 15-minute meal kit, there's something for everyone. So, for nights when you’d rather be at Preservation Hall, you can use one of Home Chef’s quick and easy dinners to help you get out of the house in no time.

There’s also a broad selection of add-ons you can choose from. You’ll see things like cooked proteins, options for lunch (soups, bread loaves and cheese spreads, salads, Mac & Cheese), breakfasts (frittatas, pretzel bites, smoothies), and desserts (cakes, waffles), making it 1 of the best meal delivery services around.

What Makes It Special?

I also like that you can exclude recipes that contain certain ingredients, such as sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, beef, poultry, pork, shellfish, mushrooms, or fish when you sign up. Our tested Home Chef review has more details.

However, please note that the kits are all prepared in the same facility. This means Home Chef may not be suitable for people with serious allergies. If you have any allergies, read each recipe’s ingredient list and make an informed decision. You can also check out our list of the best allergy friendly meal delivery services.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef offers a 6-person plan for up to 6 servings per week. Meals start at just $9.99 per serving with meals individually priced. This plan ensures that families or groups can enjoy a variety of meals throughout the week at a budget-friendly price point.

However, this service also represents a valuable option for couples seeking just 2 meals per person per week, despite the 3 meals per week plan offering more savings. The flexibility of Home Chef's offerings caters to different needs and preferences, ensuring that even smaller orders are economically viable.

6. BistroMD – Great for Weight Loss Dieters

Created by a bariatric physician, BistroMD’s menu is designed to cater to various dietary needs. All the recipes are nutritionally balanced to meet an adult’s needs, but also keep an eye on the calorie content to encourage healthy weight loss (each entree has less than 450 calories per serving).

What’s on the Menu?

BistroMD is a prepared meal delivery service that offers customizable meal plans to help people reach their health and wellness goals. From standard weight-loss plans to specialized diets like gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, menopause management, and heart-healthy eating, BistroMD has a program to fit everyone's needs.

For a well-balanced diet, BistroMD’s meals are designed following a specific formula that combines protein, healthy fats, and carbs in fairly equal amounts (with protein usually being the star of the show at 25-30 grams per meal).

BistroMD’s dietitians and nutritionists understand women and men have different caloric needs, which is why there’s a meal plan for Women (1,200 calories per day) and a meal plan for Men (1,400 calories per day). These calories are spread out over 3 meals and snacks per day (men get 2 snacks, and women get 1). This way of eating helps keep blood sugar levels balanced, which also keeps cravings in check.

What Makes It Special?

We were quite impressed by the desserts and snacks on offer in our tested review. Considering this is a weight loss meal delivery service, there are plenty of healthy alternatives to keep you entertained.

BistroMD calls its snacks EATS (Essential And Tasty Snacks) and offers delicious options, such as protein-packed strawberry cheesecake, cookie dough protein bars, and shakes. Their job is to provide tasty and nutritious treats that are sure to satisfy any craving and keep temptation at bay.

Is It Good Value?

BistroMD is designed for individuals, so all the meals are in a single-serving format. With the Full Program, you can get 3 meals plus snacks per day (5 or 7 days a week), but there’s also the option to get just Lunches & Dinners (5 or 7 days a week). 

Prices start at $6.59 per serving, which is a bit pricey. However, if you have the budget and want to lose weight, BistroMD is a great option. Shipping costs $19.95 each week, and all orders are shipped by FedEx Ground.

7. Purple Carrot – Plant-Based Versions of All Your Favorite Dishes

New Orleans is becoming a great spot for vegetarian and vegan foodies alike. However, staying on a completely plant-based diet can be rough if you don’t know where to shop. Fortunately, Purple Carrot makes it easy for you to enjoy delicious plant-based breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

What’s on the Menu?

Purple Carrot’s menu consists of over 35 vegetarian/vegan dishes each week. This is split into dinners, breakfast and lunch entrees (around 2 of each), and prepared meals. This may be smaller than other services, such as Green Chef, but the quality is consistently excellent. For a more in-depth look at Purple Carrot, check out our tested review.

The menu features a range of international cuisines. You can find dishes like Black Pepper Tofu, Caribbean Sweet Potatoes, and Buffalo Kimchi Noodles – so you get to go on a wonderful culinary adventure around the world.

The menu rotates each week. It’s great that if you can’t decide between meal kits or prepared meals, you can mix and match after you’ve set up your account. The Plantry offers vegan-friendly add-ons like vegan chocolate, plant-based cheese, spices, cookies, and snacks (like Sea Salt Crackers).

What Makes It Special?

Purple Carrot focuses on embracing whole, plant-based ingredients, steering clear of processed meat substitutes in its dishes. This approach allows for an easy selection of meals that cater to various dietary needs, including soy-free, nut-free, high-protein, and low-calorie options.

The Less Prep meal kits enhance convenience by including pre-prepared sauces and vegetables. This feature significantly reduces cooking and cleanup time, enabling you to enjoy quality meals without the hassle.

Is It Good Value?

If you want to try meal kits, prices start at $11.00 per serving for the maximum order (3 meals for 4 people per week). There’s also a 2-person plan, where you can order 3 or 4 meals per person per week.

On the other hand, the prepared meals are only available in a single-serving format, with the option to order 6, 8, or 10 recipes per week. You can easily skip deliveries and make changes from your account page.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in New Orleans

With so many different meal delivery services in New Orleans, finding the right one can be daunting. Here are some professional tips on finding the service that’s right for you.

• Know your kitchen skills: Meal kits are great for trying new recipes, but if you're not a whiz in the kitchen, a prepared meal service like Factor might be better for you.
  

• Be flexible with your budget: Price is important, but it’s important to crunch the numbers before you sign up. For instance, a service like HelloFresh is amazing when the budget is tight. Otherwise, if you want restaurant-worthy meals, you may want to check out Blue Apron.

• Understand your dietary preferences: If you are following a keto or vegan diet, meal delivery services with a tailored menu, such as Green Chef, provide more choices compared to general services that may only have 1 or 2 meals a week that suit your needs.
  

• Check the quality of ingredients: Many meal delivery services promise high-quality ingredients, but you should be able to check the source. Look for services like HelloFresh, which is transparent about its sources and highly committed to sustainability.

FAQ

What’s the best meal delivery service in New Orleans?

Factor is the best meal delivery service in New Orleans. Factor’s fresh prepared meals are designed by nutritionists and cooked by chefs to be both tasty and nutritious. And Factor’s varied menu ensures you’ll never get bored.

What is the best weight loss meal delivery service in New Orleans?

Its fresh, flash-frozen prepared meals make BistroMD the best weight loss meal delivery service in New Orleans. If those beignets have been taking a toll on your waistline, BistroMD is a great way to lose weight and improve your eating habits.

What’s the most affordable meal delivery service in New Orleans?

With great-value meal kits, HelloFresh is one of the most affordable service in New Orleans. The food is always of the best quality, made with fresh (sometimes organic) ingredients sourced from suppliers that use sustainable practices.

Best Meal Delivery Services in New Orleans in 2024 — Final Score