Top 5 Best Meal Delivery Boxes Right Now: Expert Tested & Reviewed

September is here, and with it comes the rush back to work, school, sports, and daily routines. Getting back into the kitchen rhythm can be tough, but meal delivery boxes make it effortless. Providers like HelloFresh, Ekomenu, and Marley Spoon compete fiercely to deliver healthy, convenient meals. A few years ago, we spotlighted HelloFresh. Much has changed since—prices, recipes, and quality have evolved. As founder of Mealbox.com, I've personally tested dozens of services extensively. Here's my updated ranking of the best meal boxes available today.

Table of contents

What is the best meal box right now?

With so many options like HelloFresh, Ekomenu, Marley Spoon, Willem & Drees, De Krat, De Familiebox, Albert Heijn's Allerhande Box, and Picnic's Presto, choosing is tough. At Mealbox.com, we've rigorously tested them all based on quality, ease, variety, and delivery. Here's our current top 5:

1. HelloFresh
2. Ekomenu
3. Marley Spoon
4. Allerhande Box
5. Willem & Drees

1. HelloFresh: Overall Best Meal Box

• Cost: €40.95 for 2 people, 3 meals
• Serves: 1 to 6 people
• Ingredient Quality: Excellent—fresh from trusted suppliers. Complaints are rare now, securing its #1 spot. Note: Not organic.
• Recipe Variety: 14 weekly options with broad appeal. Some repeats, limited specialty diets.
• Ease of Use: Outstanding app for seamless recipe selection and box planning.
• Delivery: Reliable with multiple days/timeslots via their own service. Track your courier live.

2. Ekomenu: Surprising Organic Newcomer

• Cost: €41.88 for 2 people, 3 meals
• Serves: 1 to 4 people
• Ingredient Quality: Top-tier—100% organic, straight from farmers, free of additives and E-numbers.
• Recipe Variety: My Personal Menu offers 20 recipes across 12 lifestyles (gluten-free, lactose-free, diabetic-friendly). Customize portions per dish.
• Ease of Use: Adequate via account; no app yet, less intuitive than rivals.
• Delivery: 3 fixed days via PostNL (mixed reviews); Ekoplaza pickup available.

3. Marley Spoon: Most Creative Meal Box

• Cost: €41.95 for 2 people, 3 meals
• Serves: 2 to 4 people
• Ingredient Quality: Solid overall, though occasional misses or freshness issues amid rapid growth.
• Recipe Variety: 20 weekly choices with tags like “kid-friendly,” “vegan,” or “30 minutes.”
• Ease of Use: Intuitive app and account; packed with inspiring recipes even between boxes.
• Delivery: 5 days with wide windows via PostNL (some complaints).

4. Albert Heijn's Allerhande Box

• Cost: €38.85 for 2 people, 3 meals
• Serves: 2 or 4 people
• Ingredient Quality: Reliable freshness matching AH standards.
• Recipe Variety: 9 weekly picks (scale for 2/4); at least 3 vegetarian.
• Ease of Use: Basic—no dedicated planner. Ideal for AH shoppers adding bags to orders.
• Delivery: Fast via AH service; free over 3 dishes, many slots.

5. Willem & Drees Organic Box

• Cost: €41.00 for 2 people, 3 meals
• Serves: 1 to 4 people
• Ingredient Quality: Exceptional—100% organic from Dutch farmers, minimally packaged for max freshness.
• Recipe Variety: 7 box types (seasonal mix, family, quick & easy, low-carb). No per-recipe picks; swap weekly.
• Ease of Use: More hands-on—no cards (online only), interpretive instructions, variable portions.
• Delivery: Local entrepreneurs offer flexible options with personal tips.

Which meal boxes have you tried?

What's your experience with these services? Ease of use is key for me, though I miss slow-cooker compatibility. Share below!