Dinnerly is a leading budget-friendly meal kit delivery service built on the philosophy that great home-cooked meals shouldn’t require complex recipes, dozens of ingredients, or a high price tag. It is consistently one of the cheapest meal kits available, designed specifically for families, couples, and individuals who want to save time and money without compromising on flavor.
Dinnerly achieves its low price point by implementing cost-cutting measures that simplify the process, such as using digital recipe cards, minimizing packaging, and focusing on recipes with fewer ingredients.
Who is Dinnerly For? Focus on Budget and Simplicity
Dinnerly is aimed at the budget-conscious and busy home cook, often requiring less than 30 minutes of prep and cook time per meal.
Dinnerly is ideal for:
- Families and Couples: Looking for affordable, family-friendly meals that appeal to picky eaters.
- Beginner Cooks: Recipes are straightforward, typically involving only 5 steps and 6-7 main ingredients.
- Budget-Conscious Consumers: Individuals or households prioritizing price over premium, organic, or specialty ingredients.
- Time-Strapped Individuals: Meals are designed to be fast, often ready in 30 minutes or less.
How Dinnerly Works: Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Value
The core concept of Dinnerly revolves around simplification and efficiency:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | Meal Kit (Ingredients and recipe provided; customer cooks the meal). |
| Recipe Complexity | Low. Typically 5 steps, using 6-7 ingredients. |
| Recipe Format | Digital-only recipe cards (saves on printing costs). |
| Packaging | Minimal and simple; ingredients are often grouped loosely instead of bagged by meal. |
| Menu Variety | Excellent for a budget service, offering 100+ weekly items, including meal kits, ready-made meals, and add-ons. |
| Special Diets | Offers tags for Vegetarian, Low-Calorie (under 650 cal), Low-Carb (under 40g carbs), and Picky Eater Approved meals. |
Menu and Customization
Dinnerly’s menu changes weekly and features familiar, comforting classics alongside a selection of more inventive dishes. The available meals are highly flexible:
- Customizable Dishes: Many recipes allow users to swap proteins (e.g., ground beef for turkey) or upgrade ingredients for a small fee.
- Saver Recipes: These are specially priced meals that are typically $\$0.50$ to $\$1.00$ cheaper per serving than the standard meals.
- Add-ons: The menu includes extras like desserts, snacks, and quick breakfast items, functioning almost like a mini-online grocery store.
Examples of Common Meal Types:
- Classic comfort foods (Burgers, Pasta, Meatloaf).
- Quick Sheet Pan Meals (e.g., Lemon Herb Chicken and Veggies).
- Simple ethnic flavors (Tacos, Curries, and Stir-fries).
Dinnerly Pricing and Plans
Dinnerly stands out by consistently offering prices significantly lower than most competitors. The price per serving decreases as the total number of servings ordered increases.
The standard US shipping fee is typically between $\$9.99$ and $\$11.99$.
| Plan Size | Meals Per Week | Estimated Cost Per Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest Box (2 meals / 2 people) | 4 servings | $\approx \$8.99$ |
| Average Family Box (4 meals / 4 people) | 16 servings | $\approx \$5.49$ – $\$5.99$ |
| Largest Box (6 meals / 4 people) | 24 servings | $\approx \$4.69$ – $\$4.99$ |
Note: The prices above reflect standard rates and do not include promotional discounts, which are frequently offered to new subscribers.
Final Verdict on Dinnerly
Dinnerly is an exceptional service for anyone whose goal is to get dinner on the table affordably and quickly. It successfully eliminates meal-planning stress and grocery shopping while remaining significantly cheaper than eating out, and often comparable to a standard grocery haul.
The primary trade-offs are the lack of pre-sorted ingredients (requiring the user to quickly separate components) and the general simplicity of the recipes, which might disappoint gourmet cooks seeking complex, layered flavors. However, for sheer value and convenience, Dinnerly is the best budget meal kit on the market.