Home Chef Review

What Is Home Chef?

When it comes to selecting a meal delivery service it can feel overwhelming with all of the varying options that are currently on the market. But, if going by customer feedback is any indication, Home Chef has quickly become one of the most popular and well received options.

Currently owned by Kroger, Home Chef started out in 2013 selling their services completely online. Their goal was to simplify meal times by providing customers with delicious, healthy meals that came pre-packaged and portioned out for a simplified cooking experience. 

Today, Home Chef is available as both an online delivery service, as well as having kits for sale in various Kroger stores. However, their main business is in direct-to-customer deliveries, and this review will look solely at their meal delivery services offered. 

With an ever-changing weekly menu and complete nutritional information, Home Chef is one of the best options if you are looking to reduce how much time you spend grocery shopping and meal planning. Leave the hard part to the professionals, and instead, follow their step by step instructions to prepare restaurant-worthy meals in the comfort of your own home, completely hassle free.

Home Chef Pricing & PLans

Unlike a lot of other meal delivery services, Home Chef doesn’t have specific plans persay. Instead, you set your preferences at sign up to match up with what you do and do not like to eat, and Home Chef will curate a menu selection for you every week. 

The lack of specific plans is actually a bonus, as you aren’t limited to a certain menu selection, and can instead pick from the wide range of recipes that are offered each week. In total, there are 18 options to choose from week after week, and the menu is always changing to include new dishes and flavors.

Home Chef is also one of the few companies that allows you to limit your selection based on allergies, which is something you need to do on your own elsewhere. Instead of scouring each and every ingredient list, you can select from a common list of allergens and Home Chef will make sure you aren’t offered any choices that contain that ingredient.

Since there are no specific plans, pricing is based off of how many people you are feeding, and how many times per week you feel like cooking. All other services offer a maximum of 4 servings per recipe, but with Home Chef you can actually select a maximum of 6 servings for each meal. This makes it a great option for anyone with a larger sized family, as you won’t find this anywhere else.

Below is a breakdown of the costs associated with all of the selections, giving you a comprehensive look at how much you will end up spending. Prices are broken down as the per week cost and are all in USD. Also, any order that is under $45 is charged a $10 shipping fee, which has been added in to the total cost below.

Recipes & Ingredients

All of the recipes that are offered by Home Chef take approximately 25 to 55 minutes to make and include step by step instructions on how to do so. While you do still have to cook the meals yourself, everything you need is included with your order and each ingredient is perfectly portioned out. Instead of trying to measure and prep, all you need to do is add everything together and cook for the recommended amount of time. When you’re done, you will have a meal that makes you feel like you’re eating at a restaurant, all while in the comfort of your own home.

Since Home Chef doesn’t offer specific plans, all of their recipes are labelled and categorized so that you can make choices based on your dietary preferences and needs. There are many categories available, including vegetarian, nut free, soy free, wheat free, and milk free. They also offer carb and calorie conscious options for those who happen to be on a diet.

Most meal delivery services are designed only to meet your dinner time needs, but Home Chef has a much more expansive collection of recipes and you can order breakfasts, salads for lunch, smoothies, and even desserts. These are all additional items, however, and there is an upcharge any time you include them in your weekly box.

Not only can you add other meals onto your order, but you can also add on fresh protein, express meals, and oven-ready options. The protein packs come with a variety of meats and/or seafood that you can either add to your recipes or use on your own for other meals. Express meals are options that are ready in under 15 minutes, and oven-ready choices come with a pan which you simply add teh ingredient and pop directly into the oven.

Below is a sample menu, which includes how many calories per serving as well as any special notes about the dish.

Ordering & Delivery

Ordering from Home Chef is extremely easy, and it can be done via their website or through their mobile app. Since there are no plans to choose from, all you need to do is select how many people you are feeding, how many meals per week you want to cook, and any dietary preferences you have. 

Once you have made your selections, given your address, and paid, you will be directed to the area where you can then make your selections for that week. Home Chef allows you to pick your weekly menu up to five weeks in advance, preventing you from having to remember to sign in every week to do that.

Unlike other delivery services that only offer what is on the menu, Home Chef goes a step further and will allow you to customize your protein preferences for some of the meals. This means that if you don’t eat pork, for example, and you see a recipe that looks amazing but contains pork, you could swap it out for chicken or beef instead. This high degree of customizability is something that truly sets Home Chef apart from competitors and makes them a popular choice among individuals who have dietary restrictions or allergies.

Once you have selected your meals, delivery will happen on the same day every week. You choose which day works best for you, and Home Chef will drop your order off at your doorstep. If you happen to not be home when delivery occurs, there is no need to worry. Each box is fully insulated to ensure it stays nice and cool, and nothing will spoil before you get home and put it in the fridge.

Is Home Chef Worth It?

There is a lot of debate over where meal delivery services are worth it, and a lot of that comes down to the cost per week. These services really are not for everyone, and budget shoppers or those who strict financial restraints aren’t likely to find that they fit into their lifestyle. Likewise, if you have a very large family, there are certainly cheaper ways to feed them that going this route. 

However, for the demographic that will find this worth it, these types of products are really aimed more at couples and busy professionals. They are also good for parents who need a break from meal planning every day, and those who are happy to spend a little extra for the convenience of it all. 

In addition, if you are someone who tends to eat out multiple times per week, opting instead for a meal delivery service like Home Chef is actually going to save you quite a bit. Even fast food can add up quickly, and Home Chef is on par with them pricewise, but instead of a greasy, fried meal you are getting something healthy and delicious.

If you are someone who hates grocery shopping and meal planning, or who wants to cook but isn’t sure how, then Home Chef is going to be a great tool for you to use. It saves you both time and energy, and you still walk away with a perfectly cooked meal each time. There are always various discounts available for first time customers, making it even more worthwhile to try it at least once. Many customers find that once they do try it though, they end up sticking with it long-term, as it makes meal time a much more enjoyable and far less stressful process.

How Does Home Chef Compare?

Because there are so many different meal delivery service companies around today, it can be tricky trying to figure out which one is the best and which one will work with your needs. Some of the main things people want to compare is how much it is going to cost them each week, how much variety there is, and if there are options that work for them. All of these factors are important, as it doesn’t matter how cheap it is if you can’t eat any of the meals offered. Likewise, a company that offers incredible meals are a high price aren’t going to be worth if you can’t actually afford it.

Below is a comparison of some of the most popular meal delivery services, which looks at all of the factors that people tend to consider before purchasing. 

All factors considered, Home Chef really does stand out above the rest, as they have more variety and more options than most of the other companies do. In addition, they also are one of the lowest priced options, making them an affordable choice for those who aren’t looking to spend a fortune every week.

What isn’t covered in the chart above is the fact that Home Chef goes beyond just vegetarian and diet options, and that they also serve up breakfast, lunch, snacks, and more. This is a well-rounded service that can make all of your meals easier and healthier. 

The other unique thing, which has been mentioned before, is the fact that you can customize meals to suit your preferences. There are no other companies that offer this ability, and instead you are simply limited to exactly what is listed on the menu. For those with allergies, or who are picky eaters, this means you can enjoy a wider variety of menu options as you can tweak them to meet your own needs.

Bottom Line

It’s true that meal delivery services are not for everyone, but for those who are interested it can be a real lifesaver in the kitchen. If you are stuck in a rut, eating the same old recipes every dinner because you aren’t sure what else to cook, then Home Chef can completely change up your routine. With a wide variety of options available every week, you can try different foods that take their inspiration from all around the world, and you may even discover new ingredients you had never heard of before.

Not only is the variety wonderful, but the convenience is what draws most people in. No more trying to plan out a week’s worth of dinners, or spending an hour at the grocery store after work when you just want to get home and relax. Everything arrives pre-portioned and ready to go right at your doorstep, and all you need to do is open and cook. 

With the addition of their express and oven-ready options, there are few other companies that can even compete in terms of easiness and variety. Including the high degree of flexibility, large sizing options, and reasonable prices, Home Chef is absolutely worth trying out.

* Get 50% off your first four boxes. Maximum discount per box is $45. 18 Free Meals does not apply to orders fewer than 10 servings per week. New customers only. Once redeemed, full balance of offer expires 10 weeks after you sign up. No carry over permitted. May not be combined with other offers. May not be used for gift cards. Not redeemable for cash. Not eligible in all states. Click here for additional details. Void where prohibited.