Feeling hungry?

I hope not, because then reading this review may be torture. I’ve been reviewing meal kits for more than four years now, including a few stints with Hungryroot. This time around, I wanted to do a deep dive into the service, highlighting both the meal kit features and the grocery delivery options that result in a balanced and well-stocked fridge — no grocery store trips required.

Hungryroot is a bit different than a traditional meal kit, in that it combines recipes and grocery items all in one big box. However, the ordering and delivery process is very much the same, following a weekly delivery cadence and with a very easy-to-add menu of items and meals.

You can fill your box with a mix of recipes and groceries, or just one or the other — the choice is totally yours. The site uses weekly credits, so you “pay” for each item as you go. This system allows for customization, making for a great option when you need more meals over groceries one week or pre-made meals the next week.

The pricing structure for Hungryroot is a bit unique. Plans start at $70 per week, but then each item or meal is priced out individually. Meals start between $3.99 and $8.99 and snacks start at $1.99.

Fill your box based on your plan, which is then given a credit system according to the monetary amount. For example, my $130 box equated to 57 credits and I chose to “spend” those credits on five recipes, one pre-made microwave meal, one bag of chips, and one dessert.

Hungryroot meals tend to be on the lighter side, featuring lots of salads, sandwiches, and stir-fries. They work well for both fast dinners and yummy lunches, especially for those who work from home or like to meal prep.

Hungryroot offers a full kid’s menu, as well as a family menu, so it’s equally perfect for those with kiddos. You can spend your credits across menus, allowing you to add some meals for them and a few for you each week.

As I’ve already mentioned, there’s also a full selection of groceries. In that section, you’ll find both Hungryroot’s brand, which is delicious, and other name brand items that I have now become obsessed with (looking at you, Pipcorn chips.) Many of these items are health-conscious, with vegan or vegetarian options and all-natural ingredients.

Hungryroot is my kind of meal kit since I am the type to leave grocery shopping until I have just one egg, a block of cheese, and a singular tomato left in my fridge. My friends and I call it “Batchelor Fridge” and it’s not a good look — and this is where Hungryroot saves the day.

I love this service, as it focuses more on groceries and whole ingredients than pre-portioned meal kits, although it does provide recipes and step-by-step instructions if you still want that.

I opted for a mix of both groceries and recipes and would continue to do that if signing up for the service longterm. I absolutely loved how each item, regardless of whether it corresponded to a recipe or not, was full-sized and not pre-portioned, as I could keep the leftovers and also see exactly where it came from. With meal kits, sometimes you only get a bit of a pepper or a sprinkle of cheese and you don’t see the whole bag, nor do you get to keep it for later. The only downside, of course, is that there is more prep work, but many of Hungryroot’s recipes are very simple.

If you do like hearty, complex cooking, this isn’t for you. But, for lighter, easy meals that can be done in five to 30 minutes, this is perfect. Many of the meals had only three steps to complete, with very little chopping or mixing required, and maybe two pots and pans maximum. They also offer pre-made meals, which are fresh and delicious, if you prefer no cooking at all.

The last perk of Hungryroot for me is the ability to try new grocery items that I may not have ever grabbed if strolling the aisles myself. I learned about my favorite Pipcorn chips thanks to the service, and I recently was able to try the new tiramisu cup with my leftover points.

Hungryroot is a great option for those who seriously hate grocery shopping, love having an excuse to try new food and drink brands, and don’t mind a lighter lunch and dinner. This is also a great plan for those with young kids, as the kid’s menu has finger-friendly meals that I think children will love.

Skip this meal kit and go for one of the other 15-ish I tried if you prefer a heartier dinner or a different pricing structure, but it may be worth a try just for the grocery discoveries alone.

Diet: Pay attention to the dietary options each service caters to, from vegetarian and vegan to Keto and paleo.

Household Size: Count the number of people in your family and then account for how much they eat to best calculate how many servings you need to feed everyone. Some kits detailed above have larger portions, while others are single-serve only.

Budget: Meal kits and services have a wide range of prices. Some offer free shipping, while others have a minimum spend. Specialty or health-related plans may cost more.

Time: Think about how long you want to be cooking for each night. Some meals require 30 or more minutes to cook, not including cleaning up. Others are microwavable and thus don’t require clean-up time.

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