In the world of meal delivery kits, Blue Apron is a major deal. The company launched more than a decade ago, and since then, has expanded to include dozens of recipes, heat-and-eat meals, and even a handful of groceries. 

I’d heard the hype, but had never consistently ordered Blue Apron for myself — until recently. I was deeply curious to see if it lived up to its promise. So I spent four weeks ordering, cooking, eating, and documenting more than a dozen meals to find out. Here’s my full review.

Blue Apron is one of the original meal kit delivery services. Similar to other brands, the meals contain preportioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes. In more recent years, the Blue Apron has expanded to include sides, desserts, premade meals, and a handful of groceries.

Each week, customers choose from a rotating menu and select how many people they are feeding. A few days later a refrigerated box arrives are your doorstep with (almost) all the ingredients needed to cook.

To get started, enter your email address on the Blue Apron website (or in the app), then provide some basic information about your household size and meal preferences. From there, you can browse the available recipes for the week and select how many people you want to feed (between two or four) and the number of meals you’d like (there is no meal minimum or maximum). If you don’t pick your meals yourself, Blue Apron will automatically choose options for you based on your preferences (vegetarian, fast, protein-rich). 

Unlike many other meal kits, you don’t have to sign up for a subscription to get started — you can order boxes à la carte whenever you like, with a $10 order minimum. How’s that for flexibility?! If you prefer a subscription-based model, you can set up auto-ship so meals arrive on a regular schedule, but it isn’t the default. You can also schedule deliveries up to four weeks in advance.

Naturally, it depends on what you order each week. The total price changes based on how many people and meals you select, as well as the type. It’s hard to track down exactly how much it’ll cost you each week, because the price of each meal varies from $7.99 to $14.99.

The cheapest you can spend is $31.96 for two two-serving meals, plus a flat $11.49 shipping fee per box (as a reminder, there’s a $10 minimum per order). You can also order heat-and-eat breakfasts, precooked meats, and other non-meal kit items like dessert that can increase the overall total of the box.

Blue Apron also launched Blue Apron+, a $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year membership that offers subscribers free shipping on all orders, 5% off on autoship, access to Tastemade+, and more exclusive perks and deals. 

I’ve tested several meal kits as part of my job as a groceries editor at The Kitchn. (Reviewing groceries is also one of my passions.) I ordered 16 different meals from Blue Apron and tested them over the course of four weeks. Throughout this time, I took notes on delivery, quality, and functionality of the service. Every meal in this review was made by me in my own kitchen. 

Over four weeks, I tried 16 Blue Apron meals, intentionally choosing a mix of proteins, vegetables, and cuisines to test out as much variety and quality as I could. For the first two weeks, I let Blue Apron choose my meals to see what kind of recommendations it offers. The last two I selected my own. (Spoiler: They were all great, so great that I ordered the Sheet Pan Soy-Miso Chicken Thighs twice). 

• Week 1: Honey Mustard Chicken & Farro Salad, Sheet Pan Soy-Miso Chicken Thighs, Roasted Squash & Chickpea Salad, and Cilantro Paneer & Chickpea Curry
• Week 2: Fettuccine & Pork Bolognese, Sheet Pan Za’atar Chicken Pitas, Truffle Honey White Pizza, Beef & Curry-Spiced Rice, and Chimichurri Steak Sandwiches
• Week 3: Lime & Date Chicken, Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, Pork Schnitzel & Creamy Mushroom Sauce, and Seared Steaks & Soy Pan Sauce
• Week 4: Seared Chicken & Scallion Pan Sauce, Chicken, Carrots, and Pistachio, and Sheet Pan Soy-Miso Chicken Thighs

The first thing I noticed about Blue Apron was the sheer variety: There were over 50 recipes to choose from (more than any other meal kit that I’ve tried or browsed), including plenty of vegetarian, meat-forward, more-than-an-hour, and less-than-15-minute options. If you have dietary preferences, Blue Apron also has a filter on the upper right-hand corner to narrow things down by protein, times, and calories to help you decide.

You choose the day that the box delivers, and all but one delivery came on time. I received email and text updates once the box shipped, plus a final alert when it arrived at my door (a small but helpful feature I appreciated). The one that didn’t come on time came the next morning, and everything was still to temperature thanks to the ice packs.

The main thing that I had a hard time with — as I do for many meal kit delivery services — is the amount of plastic used. Everything is wrapped individually, and it just feels wasteful at times (I don’t have a better solution at this time). 

Everything arrived well-sorted and fresh: The proteins were high-quality, and packed separately from the bags of ingredients (underneath the ice packs), and the vegetables were vibrant. 

Over the four weeks, I never had an instance of scuffed produce (which is a HUGE feat when it comes to cross-country delivery!). But, each week there was at least one adjustment to a recipe. For example, when the Seared Chicken & Scallion Pan Sauce did not have its intended sauce, I received an email about what I was getting instead and instructions on how to move forward. 

The recipe times were accurate, too, another impressive accomplishment. Recipes took as little as 15 minutes from start to finish (thinking about the Honey Mustard Chicken & Farro Salad) and as long as an hour (like the Pork Schnitzel & Creamy Mushroom Sauce). The average for the recipe preparations was around 30 to 45 minutes with minimal cleanup. 

I ended up ordering the Sheet Pan Soy-Miso Chicken Thighs twice for its savory flavor and ease of cooking. All I had to do was season and throw onto a sheet pan. The Roasted Red Pepper Pasta was another standout, and I’ve actually kept the recipe card so I can make it again in the future (which is another added benefit of this mealkit!). 

I am very comfortable in the kitchen (meaning: I cook most of my meals myself), and felt like all of the recipes were very straightforward, even for the average (and beginner) home cook. Recipes had only a few elements, requiring minimal pots and pans and few overlapping steps. The instructions were thorough and included photos. 

By the end of the month, I found myself excited to receive new boxes in the mail. Of the 16 meals I tried, I’d happily reorder at least a few, including the Sheet Pan Soy-Miso Chicken Thighs (which I already ordered twice). Blue Apron made it easy to eat well without overthinking dinner, and for that alone, it’s worth considering.

If you’re someone who enjoys cooking and eating a variety of different meals, but dread the planning of said meals and the subsequent grocery shopping that follows, then Blue Apron is an easy yes for you. Because you don’t need to subscribe, it’s also a solid choice if you’re looking to take a break from your current routine or add fresh recipes to the mix.

The service shines in its variety of meal types (both in flavor and cooking method) and strikes an excellent balance between convenience and cooking. Each dish is thoughtfully curated with clear, easy-to-follow instructions (I love the photos!), making it accessible to both beginners and confident home cooks alike. 

While premium meals can add a few extra dollars per serving, meals start at $7.99 and are definitely competitive and comparable to other quality meal kit services. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a big money-saving trick, but it’s great for people who like cooking a variety of delicious meals. Also notable: It’s cheaper than takeout. 

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Have you tried Blue Apron? Tell us about it in the comments below.