We are in the midst of a high-protein craze. You’ve probably seen protein bars plastered all over subway cars, protein-ified menu items at fast-casual chains like Starbucks and Sweetgreen, and protein versions of classic ingredients (protein pasta, protein crackers, protein…yogurt?) lining practically every aisle at the grocery store.
If you’ve ever tried to adopt the protein-maxing lifestyle, you’ll know that hitting your protein target at every meal can be harder than it sounds, particularly if you’re trying to get most of that protein from whole foods rather than bars and powders. “I generally recommend spreading protein intake evenly throughout the day with about 20–30 grams per meal (of course, depending on your specific needs),” explains Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, a registered dietitian based in Los Angeles. In other words, getting enough protein isn’t necessarily about loading up on one enormous, protein-packed dinner; it’s about building it into your meals throughout the day.
For anyone who doesn’t want to spend their Sunday meal-prepping 12 chicken breasts and six pounds of ground beef, high-protein meal delivery services can make that goal considerably easier. Depending on the service, you can choose from meal kits that require some cooking or fully prepared meals that go straight from the fridge to the microwave. Either way, they take some of the planning out of eating enough protein without requiring you to build every meal around a shaker bottle and a scoop of powder.
Best prepared high-protein meal delivery service: Factor
Most flavorful high-protein prepared meals: CookUnity
Best high-protein meal kit: HelloFresh
For well-balanced macros: Tempo by Home Chef
If you have an extra-large appetite: Fresh Meal Plan
The best vegan service: Purple Carrot
For people who want to cut down on grocery trips: Hungryroot
Of course, we are live-to-eat people here at Bon Appétit, so we looked for services that consistently delivered on both the protein and flavor fronts. Every service we tested had a “high protein” (or equivalent) menu filter, which typically meant that those meals had at least 15 grams of protein per serving (though most were in the 30–40 gram range).
Read on for all of the high-protein meal delivery services we’d actually order from again.
Tested and reviewed by: April Benshosan, contributor; Alaina Chou, shopping writer
About Factor: Factor’s premade microwavable meals are ready after a quick zap in the microwave. They’re dietitian-approved, according to Factor’s website, and marketed toward the health and wellness-minded.
What we love: Microwaveable tray meals are hard to execute, and after years of testing by multiple staffers and contributors, our consensus is that Factor makes excellent prepared meals. Most Factor dishes follow a protein plus starch plus veggie format that, while simple, means the meals feel both balanced and satisfying. Proteins tend to be well-cooked and nicely seasoned, and dishes are flavorful across the board. When contributor April Benshosan tested the service recently, she was shocked by “how juicy and well-cooked the chicken breast was in every single Factor meal.” When I tested the service for two weeks, I found the same to be true—in fact, the poultry dishes I, Alaina, ordered (namely the Green Chile Chicken and Homestyle Turkey and Gravy) turned out to be my favorites.
But, of course, there are plenty of tasty prepared meal delivery services out there. The thing that sets Factor apart is the sheer number of high-protein options available each week (I most recently counted over 60). “High protein” means something different for every service on this list, but Factor seems to reserve this label for meals with 30 or more grams of protein (though I spotted a decent number of offerings with over 40 grams).
What we’d leave: While Factor offers dozens of high-protein options, the same-same format can become repetitive if you’re eating them for weeks at a time. Benshosan also notes that the meals can be pretty high in sodium, with some containing more than 20% of the recommended daily value. “That wasn’t a deal-breaker for me because each meal made up about a third or a fourth of my total daily calories (and I like to think I need the extra electrolytes since I sweat out a lot of sodium at the gym), but it’s something to keep in mind depending on your dietary needs,” she writes.
Click here for our full review of Factor’s high-protein meals.
Tested and reviewed by: Noah Kaufman, senior commerce
Tested and reviewed by: Noah Kaufman, senior commerce editor
About CookUnity: In all our years of testing meal delivery services, CookUnity has always produced the most culinary prepared meals. The company signs up chefs to develop meals, many of them big names like Pierre Thiam, Jose Garces, and Michelle Bernstein. Meals arrive fresh at your door (as opposed to frozen or half-frozen like lots of other prepared meal delivery services).
What we love: Making heat-and-eat meals is so, so hard to get right. Precooked proteins rarely have taste and texture anywhere close to what you could make if you prepped them fresh. But CookUnity nails this. The chicken was impressively juicy, and, even more unexpectedly, the eggs in the breakfast burrito weren’t at all dry. Speaking of that breakfast burrito, it held together tightly after coming out of the microwave, a feat lots of premade microwave burritos fail to accomplish. I take all those as signs of well-prepared food.
The flavors were also bold across the board. The spice mixtures on the chicken and swai fish popped, and the sauces and dressings drizzled on top added a nice acidic tang.
The range of choices, even within the high-protein category, is wide enough that I had no problem finding a week’s worth of interesting meals.
What we’d leave: While there are several high-protein options, the filter for them is a bit hard to find. On the ordering page, you’ll need to click the Diet and Lifestyle drop-down menu and scroll down until you find Protein, under which there’s an option to check off a Protein Boost box (to filter for meals that include 30-plus grams of protein), or use a slider to select a minimum and/or maximum amount of grams per meal.
Click here for our full review of CookUnity.
Tested and reviewed by: Brittany Loggins, contributor
About HelloFresh: HelloFresh is one of the most well-known brands in the meal kit space for a reason: Its meals are consistently tasty and well-thought-out, and the sheer number of menu options each week means there’s truly something for everyone. While it’s known for its meal kits, it also offers a variety of heat-and-eat and grocery items.
What we love: There are a whopping 156 high-protein options on an upcoming week’s menu, which all have over 30 grams of protein per serving. When contributor Brittany Loggins tested the service recently, she was thoroughly impressed. “After a week of cooking, I ended up with several meals I loved enough to make again on my own. Along the way, I picked up a few new tricks—easy ways to add flavor and texture with spices, sauces, and garnishes I wouldn’t normally reach for, but now absolutely will,” she writes.
Some favorite high-protein meals from her week of testing included a crispy Parmesan chicken with garlic scallion couscous and lemony roasted carrots, chicken sausage and spinach ricotta ravioli with tomatoes and lemon, and one-pan beef stir-fry tacos with tangy slaw, crispy fried onions, and sriracha mayo.
What we’d leave: A number of BA contributors and staffers have tested HelloFresh over the years, and one common complaint is that product quality or longevity can be a bit hit or miss.
Click here for our full review of HelloFresh.
Tested and reviewed by: Francesca Krempa, contributor
About Tempo: Brought to you by the popular meal kit service Home Chef, Tempo is a prepared meal delivery service that offers dietitian-approved, fresh meals made with whole ingredients. Meals are categorized by dietary goals (e.g., high-protein, balanced, low-calorie, even GLP-1-friendly) and rotate weekly, so you can customize your meals to your dietary lifestyle.
What we love: If you love good food, want to increase your protein intake, and treasure convenience, Tempo might be the high-protein meal delivery service for you. Your Tempo journey starts with a short questionnaire about your lifestyle and preferences. Tempo uses these to shortlist recipes you’d likely be interested in, but you can still browse the full weekly menu and override suggestions if something unexpected catches your eye. The weekly menu rotates regularly and includes an impressive mix of protein-forward plates, globally inspired bowls, and comfort-food-adjacent options.
When contributor Krempa tested the service, she ordered a mix of classic dishes (Italian chicken and veggies, grilled salmon and rice) and exciting meals she wouldn’t typically cook herself on weeknights (harissa meatballs and creamy shrimp fra diavolo). What stood out was how many of the meals tasted like they were cooked from scratch, not healthy convenience food. “All of my proteins were well-seasoned and tender, the vegetables retained texture instead of dissolving into mush, and sauces were bright and flavorful,” Krempa says. She was most skeptical about trying the fish, which can easily become too firm when reheated in the microwave, “but Tempo’s tasted delicious! Out of all 10 meals I tried, the grilled salmon in poblano crema was my favorite—the fish was flaky but not overcooked, the rice hearty, and the poblano sauce fresh and creamy, like something handmade in a restaurant kitchen,” she says.
Krempa also appreciated the nutritional transparency. On the back of every Tempo meal, you’ll find a nutrition panel that clearly lists calories, protein, carbs, and fat, making it easy to track macro intake. One thing Tempo excels at is balanced macros: While some meal delivery services are high in protein, it often comes at the expense of more calories. The grilled salmon in poblano crema is 580 calories and 28 grams of protein; the fiesta grilled chicken was just 390 calories for 30 grams of protein.
What we’d leave: The portions may feel modest for those with bigger appetites or especially active lifestyles. “There were a few meals that left me hungry. In those instances, I added a side salad or extra snack to round things out. I’d say most Tempo dishes are perfectly portioned for lunch. But if you’re someone who looks forward to a larger dinner, some meals might feel too light without a bit of zhuzhing,” Krempa says.
Read our full review of Tempo Meals here.
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, shopping writer
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, shopping writer
About Fresh Meal Plan: Fresh Meal Plan specializes in microwaveable tray meals that are, as the name would suggest, fresh rather than frozen. The meals are also dietitian-approved and “chef-crafted” according to the brand’s website. With meal labels like Keto, Paleo, Vegan, and Lean & Mean, this is a service that feels targeted toward wellness-heads with specific health goals.
What we love: Everything about Fresh Meal Plan’s website gives gym bro, from the copy to the (not very stylized) imagery, so my expectations were low when I set out to test the service. I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty the meals I ordered were. Nearly every dish tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned, portions were ample, and I was particularly impressed with how well some of the vegetable sides retained their texture even after three minutes in the microwave. As someone who loves a simple, well-executed, balanced meal, I particularly enjoyed the juicy lemon thyme chicken with sweet potato and asparagus.
I was also impressed by how high in protein Fresh Meal Plan’s offerings were across the board. The majority of the meals (of which there are typically over 60 on a given week) have more than 30 grams of protein, many have more than 40, and there are even a few options with 50-plus grams for those really looking to protein load. I also loved that I could make any meal “XL” for an added $3—a major plus for anyone who often finds themselves still hungry after a standard microwaveable tray meal.
What we’d leave: There was one major miss among the meals I ordered—namely, a piece of cod that was tough and fishy and came with some green beans that were truly on their last legs. I’ll also note that Fresh Meal Plan’s menu offerings aren’t exactly exciting. Most could be categorized as classic American fare, with some Italian American and Mexican-inspired dishes sprinkled in.
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, commerce writer
About Purple Carrot: Purple Carrot has been our favorite vegan meal kit for years, so it’s no surprise that it’s also our top pick for vegans looking to eat a high-protein diet. Every menu item the brand offers is entirely vegan, from the meal kits to the grocery selection.
What we love: I tend to eat some form of meat every day, so I wasn’t expecting to like Purple Carrot nearly as much as I did. In fact, in all of my years of testing meal delivery services, Purple Carrot is undoubtedly one of my favorites. That’s largely because the meals are all genuinely interesting—so much so that I had a hard time narrowing down my choices during my two weeks of testing.
My main gripe with fully plant-based eating is that, as someone who prioritizes protein in her diet, I find it difficult to get my fill without the help of chicken and fish. That’s why I was so impressed with Purple Carrot’s high protein offerings—there were over 30 options for one of the weeks I looked at when writing this review, which means plenty to choose from each week.
The preparation for each dish I made was straightforward, and eating them felt satisfying, so much so that I never missed the meat. Some favorites were the BBQ Burnt Ends, which used a pulled mushroom protein to (very convincingly) mimic barbecued meat, and the Spicy Szechuan-Style Glass Noodles, which had a hefty amount of tofu that kept me full for hours.
What we’d leave: While many of the other services on this list set the bar for what’s considered “high-protein” at 30 grams, Purple Carrot seems to award the label to anything over 15 grams, which is a bit lower than I try to aim for with my lunches and dinners.
It’s also worth noting that for the most part, these are not designed to be particularly speedy meals. Most of the meals I tested took somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes, though I will note that each meal was pretty accurate to the total cook time stated on the recipe card.
Click here for our full review of Purple Carrot.
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, commerce writer
About Hungryroot: Hungryroot occupies its own category in our meal kit coverage. Think of it as an online grocery store that specializes in semi-prepared foods, which Hungryroot helps you mix and match to create a slate of easy-to-make meals.
What we love: Hungryroot is the most customizable service on this list, perfect for people who love the idea of grocery shopping but hate the process of actually going to the store. Instead of signing up for a set number of meals, you’ll sign up for a plan that includes a certain number of credits per week and then go about adding items to your cart until you reach your limit (though you can always tack on more things for an added charge). You can shop from the Recipes or Groceries section, the difference being that the former features meal kits made up of a few grocery items (think Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas made from a premade green chile sauce, fully cooked seasoned chicken, tortillas, and sour cream), and the latter is a way for you to add a host of individual items to your cart, including the ones you’ll find in the recipes.
Hungryroot has a staggering number of options for anyone looking to up their protein intake. You can easily filter for high-protein meals (which Hungryroot classifies as 25-plus grams per serving) and select your desired protein source from options like chicken, bison, or tempeh.
I particularly loved all of Hungryroot’s fully cooked chicken options. The individual packs of sous vide chicken were great for adding protein to salads or wraps, and the sous vide half chicken made for an easy weeknight dinner, requiring just a quick trip to the oven to warm through and crisp up. These sous vide packages also promised to stay fresh if refrigerated unopened for far longer than a piece of chicken I cooked myself would, which meant I wasn’t stressed about using everything up within a single week.
What we’d leave: If you suffer from decision paralysis, be warned: Hungryroot’s Recipes section is essentially a list of every possible combination of ingredients from its grocery selection, which means there are thousands of options to scroll through, and many of them are nearly identical. I found this overwhelming, and if I were to continue to use Hungryroot in the future, I would gravitate toward using the recipes solely as inspiration and instead adding my own selection of individual grocery items to my cart every week.
While Hungryroot recipes are extremely beginner-friendly, a bit of cooking intuition will go a long way in streamlining and elevating each meal. For instance, I saved myself some cleanup by combining veggies and proteins in a single oven-safe pan and roasting them together, instead of sautéing the vegetables on the stove while the protein baked.
To test high-protein meal delivery services, we relied
To test high-protein meal delivery services, we relied on years of testing experience to establish a list of prospects. Then we enlisted the help of BA staffers and contributors to test each service for at least a week. We took notes on the ordering process, number and variety of high-protein offerings available each week, and delivery and unboxing experience for every service.
Then it was time to eat. We cooked or reheated meals according to the instructions, then assessed them based on ingredient quality, recipe clarity, and, of course, taste.
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Source: www.bonappetit.com
