Cutting out dairy products can offer numerous benefits, such as improved digestion, clearer skin, and reduced inflammation. Plus, with the growing variety of delicious dairy-free alternatives available, it’s easier than ever to enjoy your favorite meals without compromising on taste or texture.
However, creating satisfying and nutritious dairy-free meals at home can sometimes be a challenge, especially with busy schedules and limited cooking expertise. That’s where meal delivery services come in; they offer a convenient solution by bringing carefully crafted, ready-to-eat meals right to your doorstep.
At Mealfan, we understand the importance of finding the perfect meal delivery service to suit your needs and preferences. So, we took it upon ourselves to review some of the top dairy-free meal delivery services out there.
We dug into their menus, compared their prices, and most importantly, taste-tested all their delectable dairy-free offerings. So, keep reading to discover our top picks for 2024 and why we believe you should give them a try.
1. HelloFresh – Unmatched Variety of Dairy-Free Dishes
HelloFresh’s Meal Type: Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals
HelloFresh’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
HelloFresh’s Prep Time: 5–50 minutes
HelloFresh’s Starting Price: $4.49/serving
When it comes to finding a meal delivery service that offers a wide range of delicious, dairy-free options, HelloFresh is my top pick. While they don’t have a specific dairy-free plan, we were stunned by the large option of meals that were either dairy-free or could be easily modified to fit the diet.
As we browsed through HelloFresh’s menu, we found a few great selections of dairy-free dishes in their Veggie plan, which featured plant-based recipes. Just to be clear, many of the meals on their Veggie plan were not dairy-free, but there were a few that were and others that could be made so with a few simple tweaks.
We particularly enjoyed the Sesame Peanut Noodles with Bell Pepper and Carrot Ribbons and Harissa Sweet Potato Pita Pockets with Cucumber Dill Salad. Even outside the Veggie plan, we discovered plenty of dairy-free options, like the Sesame Beef Stir-Fry with Sugar Snap Peas and Basmati Rice, Sesame Honey Beef Stir-Fry with Carrot Ribbons and Jasmine Rice, and Pork and Veggie Bibimbap with Zucchini, Carrots & Jasmine Rice.
Sesame Peanut Noodles with Bell Pepper and Carrot Ribbons
Harissa Sweet Potato Pita Pockets with Cucumber Dill Salad
Sesame Honey Beef Stir-Fry with Carrot Ribbons and Jasmine Rice
Sesame Beef Stir-Fry with Sugar Snap Peas and Basmati Rice
Pork and Veggie Bibimbap with Zucchini, Carrots & Jasmine Rice
Despite these delicious varieties of meals, HelloFresh makes it pretty clear that these recipes were all processed in the same facility as their other meals that are not dairy-free, so you may want to take note of that. Aside from that, HelloFresh is committed to having fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers.
We also appreciate their commitment to sustainability, with eco-friendly packaging and a mission to reduce food waste. Plus, their recipes are designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions and preportioned ingredients, making meal prep a breeze even for novice cooks.
In terms of pricing, you can expect to spend around $4.49 to $11.99 per serving, depending on the plan and number of meals you select. While this may be on par with other meal delivery services, we found that HelloFresh’s portion sizes were generous and the quality of ingredients was exactly what we expected.
2. Blue Apron –Best for Global Dairy-Free Flavors
Blue Apron’s Meal Type: Meal kits
Blue Apron’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
Blue Apron’s Prep Time: 5–45 minutes
Blue Apron’s Starting Price: $5.74/serving
These guys have seriously stepped up their dairy-free game lately, and we were impressed by their delicious offerings. Exploring their menu, we found a Vegetarian category filled with tasty recipes, some of which were dairy-free or easily adaptable.
One particular dish that actually caught my interest was the Spicy Tofu & Vegetable Lo Mein with Curry-Peanut Sauce. For meat lovers, you’ll surely love the Pork Chorizo Burgers with Fig Mayo & Roasted Peppers and Korean Rice Cakes with Stir-Fried Vegetables & Soft-Boiled Eggs.
Spicy Tofu & Vegetable Lo Mein with Curry-Peanut Sauce
Pork Chorizo Burgers with Fig Mayo & Roasted Peppers
Korean Rice Cakes with Stir-Fried Vegetables & Soft-Boiled Eggs
To make things even better, Blue Apron lists out every single ingredient for each recipe, so those with additional dietary restrictions can easily check if a meal works for them. With some of us being allergic to some ingredients, we appreciated being able to quickly scan and ensure the dishes were safe for us.
Speaking of accommodating, Blue Apron allows you to fully customize your meal plan and serving sizes each week based on your preferences. You can mix and match dairy-free, vegetarian, wellness-focused meals and more. We felt totally in control of our meal choices rather than being limited to a set menu.
Another thing we found interesting about Blue Apron was their commitment to introducing you to unique, worldly flavors and ingredients. Many of their dishes featured global spice blends and tasty new-to-us produce like maitake mushrooms.
Farro Jambalaya with Crispy Maitake Mushrooms
In terms of value, their dairy-free meals come in at around $5.74–$11.9 per serving, which is pretty standard. They also provide discounted offers for new customers that can make it even more budget-friendly to start. We really appreciated the clearly labeled recipe cards that highlighted straightforward meal prep instructions, nutritional info, and calorie counts.
3. Home Chef – Endlessly Customizable Dairy-Free Menus
Home Chef’s Meal Type: Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready
Home Chef’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
Home Chef’s Prep Time: 5–50 minutes
Home Chef’s Starting Price: $7.99/serving
Home Chef is a meal delivery service that stands out for its highly customizable menu, making it an excellent choice for subscribers on a dairy-free diet.
One of the standout features of this company that I found interesting was their “Customize It” tool, which allows you to swap, upgrade, or double-up on proteins in selected recipes. This means you can easily make a meal dairy-free by opting for a plant-based protein or omitting the dairy-containing ingredients altogether. Not many services offer that sort of flexibility.
Home Chef boasts of an extensive menu with around 20 recipes to choose from each week. While not all recipes are dairy-free, the company makes it easy to identify suitable options by clearly labeling each dish. You can find dairy-free meals in categories like Under 625 Calories, Vegetarian, and Under 35g Carbs.
Some delicious options we found intriguing under these categories were the Perfect Teriyaki Ginger Salmon with stir-fried bok choy and carrots; Indian-Style Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry with rice, crispy onions, and cilantro; Coconut-Crusted Tofu Rice Bowl with sweet chili mango chutney; Cuban-Style Quinoa Bowl with avocado, black beans, and cilantro vinaigrette; and for the meat lovers, the Chimichurri Steak with roasted potatoes.
Perfect Teriyaki Ginger Salmon with stir-fried bok choy and carrots
Indian-Style Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry with rice, crispy onions, and cilantro
Coconut-Crusted Tofu Rice Bowl with sweet chili mango chutney
Cuban-Style Quinoa Bowl with avocado, black beans, and cilantro vinaigrette
Chimichurri Steak with roasted potatoes
For other recipes, you can make ingredient substitutions (if needed) to suit your dietary preferences. In other words, you can easily swap out dairy-containing ingredients for dairy-free alternatives, such as replacing cheese with a vegan alternative or opting for a dairy-free sauce (you get the point).
Another thing we liked about Home Chef is their user-friendly website and app. The platform’s user interface made it easy for us to manage our accounts, select meals, and make all the necessary customizations we needed. We also discovered that we could skip a delivery or pause our subscription if we wanted to.
For what it’s worth, their pricing seems a bit competitive with meals starting at around $7.99 per serving, depending on your plan. This pricing is similar to other meal delivery services (you’d agree), but let’s not forget the “Customize It” feature that Home Chef has (which other services don’t) which, in my opinion, makes their pricing an excellent value for their meals.
4. EveryPlate– Most Affordable Dairy-Free Meals
EveryPlate’s Meal Type: Meal kits
EveryPlate’s Minimum Order: 2 Servings
EveryPlate’s Prep Time: 20–30 minutes
EveryPlate’s Starting Price: $1.49/serving
With meals starting at just $1.99 per serving, EveryPlate is one of the most affordable meal delivery services available on the market today, and they’re poised to making quality home-cooked meals affordable and accessible to their subscribers.
This company offers a streamlined menu with around 26 recipes to choose from each week. And while the menu is not as extensive as some other meal delivery services, there are always several dairy-free options available.
Meals like the Hoisin-Glazed Pork Meatloaf with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Black Bean Taco-Dillas, and Curried Coconut Chickpea Soup are some of the dishes I was impressed with. Their menu features a mix of classic comfort foods and international flavors, all designed to be easy to prepare and enjoy.
Hoisin-Glazed Pork Meatloaf with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
Curried Coconut Chickpea Soup
While you won’t find any fancy, chef-curated recipes (which we had no problem with), EveryPlate’s meals prove you don’t need a lot of ingredients or complicated techniques to enjoy a tasty, satisfying dairy-free dish. Likewise, their offerings (the ones we tried) were quite delicious.
We also have to feature their 100% recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging. All their recipe cards, insulation materials, and boxes can go right into the recycling or compost bin. It was amazing and refreshing to see an affordable service like EveryPlate still prioritizing sustainability.
The only potential downside was that their menu had less variety week to week compared to pricier services and their website was not user-friendly at all. However, with the budget-friendliness and quality ingredients, we were more than happy to forgive them on those minor lapses.
5. Green Chef – Best Organic Dairy-Free Meals
Green Chef’s Meal Type: 10–45-minute meal kits
Green Chef’s Minimum Order: 3 meals for 2 people
Green Chef’s Prep Time: 25–40 minutes
Green Chef’s Starting Price: $9.99/serving
Green Chef offers a rotating menu with around 8 recipes to choose from each week, including several dairy-free options. As a USDA-certified organic company, they are committed to using only the best, most sustainable ingredients in their meals. So, you can trust that every meal is packed with nutrients and free from harmful pesticides and additives.
This focus on sustainability also extends to the packaging as well, with recyclable and compostable materials used whenever possible. And with their flexible subscription options and ability to skip or cancel anytime, you can enjoy their organic, dairy-free meals on your own terms.
With options like the Maple Cauliflower Power Bowls, Spicy Sriracha Tofu with Peanut Sauce and Sriracha Tamari Beef Bowls, you’ll never feel like you’re missing out on flavor or satisfaction.
Maple Cauliflower Power Bowls
Sriracha Tamari Beef Bowls
Spicy Sriracha Tofu with Peanut Sauce
The good thing is that Green Chef does all the prep work for you, with premeasured, pre-chopped ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards that will make the cooking process easy. No more endless chopping or measuring – just simple, delicious meals that you can feel good about eating.
Of course, all of this quality and convenience do come at a slightly higher premium than some other meal delivery services. With meals starting at $9.99 per serving and options for 2, 4, or 6 servings per recipe, Green Chef may not be the most budget-friendly option when compared to other services like EveryPlate.
But if you consider the time and money you’re saving on grocery shopping and meal planning, not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re eating the highest-quality, organic ingredients, you’ll see it’s worth every penny.
6. Hungryroot– Innovative Premade Dairy-Free Meals
Hungryroot’s Meal Type: Meal kits, online grocery shopping
Hungryroot’s Minimum Order: 6 Servings
Hungryroot’s Prep Time: 10–35 minutes
Hungryroot’s Starting Price: $9.49/serving
With Hungryroot, you don’t have to worry about meal planning, recipe hunting, and on some occasions, even cooking. Their team of expert chefs and nutritionists has designed menus of fresh simple recipes that you can use to cook healthy meals at home.
And with a variety of dairy-free options like the Lemon Artichoke Quinoa Cup and the Coconut Curry Rice Bowl available, you can enjoy the convenience of these meals without sacrificing your dietary preferences. These dairy-free meals come with ingredients of the highest quality.
Lemon Artichoke Quinoa Cup
Coconut Curry Tofu Rice Bowl
Plus,they also offer a variety of dairy-free snacks and pantry staples, like their Almond Chickpea Cookie Dough and Superfood Almond Butter that make it easy to stick to your dairy-free diet throughout the day.
Almond Chickpea Cookie Dough
Superfood Almond Butter
As for cost, Hungryroot’s meals run around $9–$10 each, which is very fair for the nutritious dishes of this quality. And you don’t have to worry about your subscription because it’s flexible, meaning you can pause or cancel at any time you feel like it. So, no unnecessary commitments are required.
The only slight downside I found with Hungryroot was that their premade meals do have a relatively short 4–7-day refrigerated shelf-life before expiring. So, you’ll need to plan to eat the dishes shortly after delivery. But honestly, with how tasty the meals were, I really didn’t have a problem with that.
7. Dinnerly– Wallet-Friendly Dairy-Free Meal Kits
Dinnerly’s Meal Type: Meal kits
Dinnerly’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
Dinnerly’s Prep Time: 20–45 minutes
Dinnerly’s Starting Price: $6.24/serving
Just like EveryPlate, Dinnerly is another affordable meal kit service that is committed to making home cooking accessible to everyone. Their meals are very affordable, starting at just $6.24 per serving.
And the great thing about this service is that their menu is updated weekly, with a fairly rotating selection of dairy-free options like the Coconut Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice or Quinoa-Veggie Hummus Bowl with Steak & Chickpeas.
Coconut Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Quinoa-Veggie Hummus Bowl with Steak & Chickpeas
Plus, their dairy-free meals are packed with flavor and made with simple, wholesome ingredients, and they come with easy-to-follow recipe cards. This means that even if you’re a novice cook, you could still whip up a delicious, dairy-free meal in no time.
But just because the meals are inexpensive doesn’t mean they skimp on taste or creativity. These meals are designed by expert chefs and use the same high-quality ingredients as other meal kit services. The only difference is that they keep their costs down by using digital recipe cards instead of paper ones and offer fewer ingredients per dish.
And with their flexible subscription options and ability to skip or cancel anytime, you can try them out without fear of any long-term commitments.
The only potential downsides that are worth noting are their weekly menu options, which we found to be quite limited compared to their premium competitors. During our order, there were typically only 2–3 dedicated vegetarian/dairy-free dishes to choose from that week. But we’re guessing they’ll work on that soon.
Aside from that, they’re a great service, and their meals are designed to be satisfying and filling, with generous portions that will leave you feeling full and happy.
How to Pick the Best Dairy-Free Meal Delivery Service for You
If you’re contemplating which service to use or try out, here are some tips to help you in the decision-making process:
Budget
First, get clear on your budget. Services like EveryPlate and Dinnerly offer extremely affordable meals around $6 per serving,while others like Green Chef and Blue Apron are more of a premium at $10–$12 per serving. So, decide what pricing works best for you and what exactly you’re looking for.
Dietary Needs
Also, pay close attention to just how customizable the menus and options are. If you have multiple dietary restrictions beyond just dairy-free, something like Green Chef’s plant-based meal selection or Home Chef’s “Customize It” feature may work best for you.
Convenience Level
Consider how much actual cooking you want to do. Meal kits like HelloFresh and Blue Apron require more prep work, while heat-and-eat services like Hungryroot are totally hassle-free.
Menu Variety
Are you someone who craves variety or do you prefer simple, repetitive meals? Services like Green Chef and Home Chef offer a huge rotating selection of dairy-free dishes, whereas Dinnerly and EveryPlate have smaller weekly menu options. So, think about that before choosing any service.
Sustainability
If you’re an eco-conscious eater, then brands like Green Chef may be the best service to patronize with their organic ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging and offsets. EveryPlate and Dinnerlyare also great options to consider because of their low plastic use.
Wrapping Up
No matter which service you opt to try, every one of them here is a total game-changer if you’re looking to maintain a diary-free lifestyle without sacrificing mind-blowing flavors and easy meal prep. So, take your time and pick the best service that fits your needs and budget.
