You may be looking to try a meal delivery service to lighten your load or spice up your weeknight dinner routine. Dinnerly is an affordable meal delivery service that offers a rotation of meal kits with nutritious ingredients that take 30 minutes or less to make. And convenience isn’t the only thing Dinnerly provides. You might even eat more healthfully with a meal kit service like Dinnerly that offers balanced meals with lots of veggies, like lemon chicken and broccoli or low-calorie shrimp korma curry (currently on the menu). (1) You can see the macronutrients—carbs, fats, and protein—and other nutritional information for each recipe, to make sure the meals work for your dietary needs.
There are lots of meal kit options these days, so we’re providing a full breakdown of Dinnerly’s service to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Key product features
What you should know
Dinnerly is a budget-friendly meal kit service from the same company that creates Martha Stewart’s curated Marley Spoon meal kits.
- Our tester was impressed with the flavorful tandoori chicken and turmeric rice.
- The starting price for a meal starts at $4.99, which is less expensive than similar services.
- Dinnerly is great for busy couples and families who want to spend less time in the grocery store and more time at home enjoying a hot meal.
Dinnerly overview
Dinnerly offers low-carb, low-calorie, picky eater approved, vegetarian, quick and easy, and gluten-free meal kits. The meals are made from the same company as Martha Stewart’s Marley Spoon, but at a better price-point per meal.
You can preview the rotating weekly menus before deciding whether to subscribe. The Dinnerly website provides ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information for each meal. It tells you what Dinnerly is sending you and what you should have on hand, like salt, pepper, and olive oil.
“Being able to preview the meals, especially if you are pre-logging nutrients, can be a helpful jumpstart for pre-logging your daily and weekly meals.”
Victoria Burgess, PhD, CSCS, CISSN, Fortune Recommends Advisor
Dinnerly offers meals for two or four people. Next, select meal preferences and then pick how many meals you want per week, between two and six.
Dinnerly meals come with pre-portioned ingredients, which may help you eat less, or have more control of your calories if you’re on a weight loss journey. A lot of the meals include veggies, which can help you increase your vegetable intake, or at least introduce you to more veggie-forward meals. (1) The American Heart Association recommends that you get five servings of veggies per day and four servings of fruit each day. (2)
If you have food allergies, Dinnerly may not be the best choice for you because of the risk of cross contamination in the fulfillment centers. While Dinnerly offers “gluten-free friendly “ options, the meals are not certified gluten-free, which can be very important for people with celiac disease.
You can manage your subscription from the Dinnerly website, Android app, or iOS app. If you’re going on vacation or on a business trip, you can skip a week, pause your subscription, or cancel at any time.
Cost and delivery
Before discounts, Dinnerly costs $4.99 per serving (if you choose six meals for four people). You can expect to pay $11.99 in shipping. Select the day of the week you’d like your delivery to arrive. Deliveries will arrive between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., which is a pretty big window of time. This can be difficult to plan around if you have things to do that day but still want to make sure you are able to put your meals away at a temperature needed. Dinnerly ships throughout the continental United States.
Dinnerly offers a community heroes discount for medical providers, first responders, military, government employees, students, and teachers. Dinnerly accepts the following payment methods: American Express, Discover Card, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
Customer service
If you have questions or concerns about your Dinnerly order, you can call customer service at 888-267-2850 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It also has a help center on the website.
Our experience with Dinnerly
Dinnerly meal kits come in a recyclable cardboard box, packed with ice packs to keep everything cool. Food like meat should not reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which it begins to spoil, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (3)
Although having a single box creates less recycling, it also made for a heavy load to carry up to our tester’s apartment. Once inside her home, she easily opened the box and found the ingredients in good condition and very fresh. The rice and sesame seeds came in pre-portioned plastic bags, and a few items, like lemon and onions, were loose in the box, but unharmed.
Each Dinnerly meal comes with a recipe card with step-by-step instructions and pictures of the food to give you an idea of how the meal should look once complete. You can also read the digital recipe cards online on Dinnerly’s website if you prefer. Our tester found the instructions complete and the recipes easy to make.
Our tester tried the lemon-garlic ravioli, Korean beef rice bowl, and tandoori chicken and turmeric rice, which was her favorite. The chicken dish was warmly spiced, and the vibrant turmeric made the dish colorful. Tumeric has been around for thousands of years and has made headlines lately for its health benefits. Tumeric has the potential to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, inflammation in the body, and has antiviral properties. (4)
“While research still needs to be done, turmeric is still great to consume in small amounts to potentially help improve cardiovascular disease risk.”
Jen Roper, PhD, CSCS, Fortune Recommends Advisor
Our tester also enjoyed the bold Korean flavors with thin, shaved gochujang marinated beef, sauteed carrots and spinach, and jasmine rice. She said the meal was next level with toasted sesame seeds and a sunny-side-up fried egg. The ravioli dish with snap peas was pretty good. Although she liked the idea of veggies added to this dish, the peas seemed like a strange addition and were not tender enough.
What customers are saying
Dinnerly has garnered 4,979 reviews on Trustpilot and 47% are five stars. People like that this service is budget-friendly.
“Always love it when my budget allows me to subscribe to Dinnerly. Excellent ingredients, perfect portion sizes and delicious recipes.”
Jennifer F., Trustpilot
However, several people have complained about food quality.
Shanna, a verified customer, was disappointed by Dinnerly. “I’ve received a few Dinnerly boxes now, and every time there is something wrong. An ingredient missing, a package ripped open, cooler bags leaking on the food, or rotten produce. There needs to be better quality control. The meals are still good though, no complaints there.”
Specs
| Starting price | $4.99 |
| Shipping cost | $11.99 |
| Shipping area | Continental U.S. |
| Meal type | Meal kits, prepared meals |
| Number of meals per week | Two to six |
| Meal plan options | Low carb, low calorie, picky eater approved, vegetarian, quick and easy, and gluten-free friendly |
| Cancellation method | Online |
We’ve featured Dinnerly in:
Compare Dinnerly
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| Dinnerly | EveryPlate | Marley Spoon | HelloFresh | Home Chef | |
| Rating | |||||
| Starting price per meal | $4.99 | $5.99 | $10.99 | $9.99 | $7.99 |
| Meal type | Meal kit, prepared meals | Meal kit | Meal kits and prepared meals | Meal kits and groceries | Meal kits and prepared meals |
| Meals per week | 2–6 | 3–5 | 2–6 | 2–6 | 2–6 |
How we test meal delivery services
Signing up for a meal delivery service like Dinnerly can help you eat nutritious, affordable meals when you’re busy. Being able to point and click a mouse saves time you’d otherwise spend in meal planning, shopping at the grocery store, meal prepping, and cooking.
Not every meal delivery service is a great fit for everyone. That’s why Fortune Recommends™ aims to personally test every meal delivery service we review. Our goal is to provide unbiased, honest feedback to help you pick the right service for you. Note that while Dinnerly does cater to a variety of eating preferences, it does not have paleo or keto meals and has few vegan options.
Here’s why you can trust our meal delivery reviews.
Every Fortune meal delivery review features:
- In-depth analysis by testers and/or authors who are certified nutritionists and/or registered dietitians
- Testing for portion/ingredient accuracy, taste, and freshness
- Fact-checking and reviewing by qualified experts
At times, we may feature meal delivery services we haven’t yet tested. Until we can try them, we examine each service’s cost, meal variety, nutrition breakdown, and customization options. We then update our reviews once we’ve tested them to highlight everything we liked and didn’t like.
You can read our full meal delivery service testing methodology here.
Meal choices—30%
A meal delivery service should provide numerous healthy options for most meals of the day. It should also give you as much authority as you want over what you order. Here’s what we take into account in our meal choices rating:
- Multiple options
- Substitutions
- Guidance
- Label transparency
Food quality—30%
We aim to match you with companies that use delicious chef-designed recipes and have the dietary firepower of nutritionists and/or registered dietitians behind them. Here’s what goes into our quality rating.
- Flavor
- Healthiness
- Freshness
- Portion size
Value—20%
Meal delivery services run the gamut in price, but what you receive should feel reasonable for what you’re paying. Dinnerly is one of the more affordable meal kits we’ve reviewed. Here’s what we factor into a program’s value rating:
- Fair price
- Multiple quantity options
- Customization
Customer experience—20%
Getting a meal delivery service is more than just about food. We read reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau to see what others think about the service. We want you to know you can reach customer service when it’s convenient for you.
- Packaging
- Ease of preparation
- Reviews
- Customer service
FAQs
What is Dinnerly?
Dinnerly is an affordable meal delivery service that can ease the burden of meal planning and grocery shopping on busy weeknights. The meals are easy to make and come in a variety of cuisines to help you spice up your menu.
How much is Dinnerly?
The lowest per-meal price Dinnerly offers is $4.99; that’s when you opt for six meals for four people. Your price will vary if you change how many servings you’d like per meal (two or four) and how many meals you’d like per week. Shipping with Dinnerly is $11.99.
Is Dinnerly worth it?
For the price and convenience, we think Dinnerly is well worth it. It’s customizable and you can choose from different dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or low-carb.
Is Dinnerly healthy?
Dinnerly is a convenient way to get nutritious meals that can align with your eating preferences and dietary needs. Dinnerly has low-carb and low-calorie options. If you lean into a vegetarian diet, Dinnerly also has meals for you. The meals are pre-portioned and have lots of veggies, which may help you eat more healthy meals.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Our experts
Victoria Burgess, Ph.D., CSCS, CISSN
Victoria Burgess earned her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University Chicago and holds her NSCA CSCS and Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN). She is an adjunct professor in the Human Performance and Nutrition department at Concordia University Chicago & Parker University, where she teaches undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level courses.
Jen Roper, Ph.D., CSCS
Dr. Jen Roper is an associate professor of health and human sciences at Loyola Marymount University. She received her Ph.D. in physical education, sports and exercise science in 2015 from the University of New Mexico, with a specialization in exercise science and biomechanics. She has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2014.
Jessica Coulon
Jessica is a contributing editor and writer who specializes in fitness, health, nutrition, and science content. Previously, she was an editor for Popular Mechanics and Bicycling, where she covered pro cycling news, wrote how-to guides, and tested all the latest and greatest bike gear. She was also a regular shoe tester and contributor for Runner’s World. You can often find her skiing or riding her mountain bike, and racing with the F1RE female enduro team.
Lily Moe
Lily is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor with over seven years of experience in health media. As a former Fitness Coach, Lily’s editorial prowess has largely focused on fitness, nutrition, and weight management. She has also spent a fair share of time in testing labs, analyzing everything from protein powders to yoga mats. Her work has appeared in Verywell Fit, Verywell Mind, Health, and more.
Kelly Uhler
Kelly has a multifaceted background in elder care, health care, and copywriting. She has worked for organizations such as A Place For Mom and Homecare.com, which gave her the opportunity to work closely with families, providing reliable information to help them make informed decisions about their loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life.
Lauren Evoy Davis
Fortune Recommends Staff Writer
About Author
Sources
- Fraser, K., Love, P., Laws, R., Campbell, K.J., & Spence, A. (2023, December 1). Meal kit subscription services and opportunities to improve family vegetable consumption. Health Promot Int, 38(6):daad155. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10664410/
- American Heart Association. Fruits and vegetables serving sizes infographic. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/fruits-and-vegetables-serving-sizes
- USDA.gov. How temperatures affect food. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/how-temperatures-affect-food
- Liu, S., Liun, J., He, L., Liu, L., Cheng, B., Zhou, F., Cao, D., & He, Y. (2022, July). A comprehensive review on the benefits and problems of curcumin with respect to human health. Molecules, 27(14):4400. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35889273/