Home Chef

Home Chef delivers weekly meal kits with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards. Choose from 30+ weekly options including 15-minute meals, oven-ready dishes, and grill-ready proteins. Customize proteins, double portions, or upgrade ingredients on most meals.

Home Chef has carved out a distinct position in the crowded meal kit market by emphasizing flexibility and convenience without sacrificing quality. Acquired by Kroger in 2018, the company benefits from grocery retail expertise while maintaining its meal kit focus. The standout feature is customization - unlike competitors where you’re stuck with prescribed ingredients, Home Chef lets you swap proteins, upgrade ingredients, and adjust portions on most meals.

Founded in Chicago in 2013, Home Chef delivers to 98% of the US and has grown to become one of the largest meal kit services by volume. With a 3.2/5 Trustpilot rating (3,642 reviews), A+ BBB rating with accreditation, and 13 years in business, the company has established reliability in a category plagued by operational challenges and customer service complaints.

The key differentiators are variety and format options. Each week offers 30+ meal choices including standard cook-at-home recipes, 15-minute quick meals for busy weeknights, oven-ready meals that require almost no prep, and grill-ready proteins for outdoor cooking. This variety addresses the common meal kit complaint of feeling locked into one cooking style.

Pricing Plans

Plan	Servings	Meals/Week	Price/Serving	Weekly Total
2-Person	2	2 meals	$11.99	$55.92
2-Person	2	3 meals	$10.99	$73.89
2-Person	2	4 meals	$10.49	$91.86
4-Person	4	2 meals	$10.49	$91.86
4-Person	4	3 meals	$9.99	$131.79
6-Person	6	2 meals	$9.99	$131.79

Additional Costs:

• Shipping: $10.99/order (free with orders over $65 in some areas)
• Premium meals: +$3-8/serving for upgraded proteins or specialty dishes
• Protein customizations: +$2-6/serving depending on upgrade
• Add-ons (smoothies, desserts, proteins): Varies

First-Time Discounts: New subscribers typically receive 50-65% off the first box, with smaller discounts (20-40%) on boxes 2-5. Factor in full pricing when evaluating long-term value.

What’s Included

Each Home Chef delivery contains complete meal kits for your selected recipes:

Pre-Portioned Ingredients: Fresh proteins, produce, and pre-measured sauces/seasonings. Ingredients arrive in insulated packaging with ice packs. Home Chef’s Kroger partnership enables broader ingredient sourcing and freshness standards.

Recipe Card System: Large, full-color cards with:

• Clear step-by-step instructions (typically 6-8 steps)
• Estimated cook time and difficulty indicator
• Nutritional information per serving
• Tips for customization and leftovers
• Wine/beverage pairing suggestions

Meal Format Options:

• Standard Cook: Traditional meal kits requiring prep and cooking (25-45 min)
• 15-Minute Meals: Quick recipes using pre-prepped ingredients
• Oven-Ready: Tray meals requiring minimal prep, just bake and serve
• Grill-Ready: Marinated proteins ready for outdoor grilling
• Culinary Collection: Premium recipes with elevated techniques

Customization Features:

• Swap proteins (chicken to steak, add shrimp, etc.)
• Double protein portions
• Upgrade to premium ingredients
• Add extras like side dishes, smoothies, desserts

How It Works

1. Sign Up and Set Preferences: Create your account and indicate:

• Household size (2, 4, or 6 servings)
• Meals per week (2, 3, 4, 5, or 6)
• Dietary preferences (vegetarian, carb-conscious, calorie-conscious)
• Proteins to avoid
• Cooking equipment available

2. Browse Weekly Menu: Each week, Home Chef releases 30+ recipes across categories. Menu opens Wednesday for the following week’s delivery. Options include:

• Fresh & Easy (simpler recipes)
• Calorie-Conscious (under 650 cal/serving)
• Carb-Conscious (under 30g net carbs)
• Vegetarian
• Oven-Ready
• Grill-Ready
• Premium/Culinary Collection

3. Select and Customize Meals: Choose your meals for the week. On most recipes, you can:

• Swap the default protein for alternatives
• Upgrade to premium protein options
• Double the protein portion
• Add additional sides or ingredients

4. Review and Confirm Order: Check your selections before the weekly deadline (typically Thursday for the following week). Make changes, add extras, or skip the week entirely.

5. Receive Your Delivery: Boxes arrive on your selected delivery day in insulated packaging. Ingredients are packed to maintain freshness for delivery windows - helpful if you’re not home immediately.

6. Store Properly: Refrigerate proteins and produce upon arrival. Most ingredients stay fresh 5-7 days when properly stored, giving flexibility on cooking nights.

7. Cook and Enjoy: Follow recipe cards step-by-step. Standard meals take 25-45 minutes; 15-minute and oven-ready options are faster. Recipe cards include timing cues to coordinate multi-component dishes.

8. Manage Subscription: Full flexibility through your account:

• Skip any week (deadline ~Thursday before delivery week)
• Change delivery day
• Adjust plan size or meal count
• Pause or cancel anytime

Who It’s For

Best For:

• Busy Families: The oven-ready and 15-minute options make weeknight dinners manageable with demanding schedules
• Customization Seekers: Those who want meal kit convenience but hate being stuck with prescribed ingredients
• Cooking Beginners: Approachable recipes with clear instructions build confidence without overwhelming
• Variety Lovers: 30+ weekly options prevent the menu fatigue common with smaller meal kit services
• Kroger Shoppers: If you already shop Kroger, meal kits can integrate with existing grocery habits

Not Ideal For:

• Strict Dietary Requirements: While options exist, selection is limited for keto, paleo, Whole30, or severe allergies
• Budget-Focused Shoppers: At $10-12/serving plus shipping, meal kits cost 2-3x grocery shopping with planning
• Non-Cooks: Even oven-ready meals require basic kitchen skills and cleanup
• Single Diners: Minimum 2 servings per meal; solo eaters face leftovers every night
• Sustainability Prioritizers: Packaging volume, while partially recyclable, bothers eco-conscious consumers

The 3.2/5 Trustpilot rating (3,642 reviews) reflects mixed customer satisfaction, better than some competitors, though BBB customer reviews average only 1.13/5. Positive reviews emphasize variety, customization, and the convenience of oven-ready options. Complaints typically center on occasional ingredient quality issues, pricing after introductory discounts expire, and the learning curve of managing subscriptions to avoid unwanted charges.

Home Chef works best for households that value flexibility within the meal kit format. If you want more control than HelloFresh offers but simpler recipes than Blue Apron, Home Chef hits the middle ground effectively.