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Dinnerly Review: The TRUTH About The Ultra-Affordable Meal Kit – Tested & Rated
We Cooked 32 Dinnerly Meals Over 8 Weeks - Here’s What Surprised Us —A no-nonsense breakdown of the cheapest meal kit in America — tested by home cooks, a dietitian, and a recipe pro.
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Photo by Body Freedom Collaborative
Stacy Woodruff, Ph.D.
Medical Writer
Stacy Woodruff is an Assistant Professor in Healthcare Management with seven years of experience. She focuses on diversity and inclusion in healthcare, holds a Bachelor's in Business/Public Administration, a Master's in Education, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Science.
The relentless question echoes in kitchens nationwide as 5 PM approaches: “What’s for dinner?” Between hectic schedules, decision fatigue, and the ever-rising cost of groceries and takeout, putting a satisfying, home-cooked meal on the table feels increasingly like a luxury.1 Enter the booming meal kit industry, promising convenience delivered to your door. But amidst premium offerings with gourmet price tags, one name consistently undercuts the competition: Dinnerly.
Touted as the most affordable meal kit in America, Dinnerly promises simple, tasty meals starting at a jaw-dropping $4.99 per serving.2 It’s an enticing proposition, especially for budget-conscious families, students, and anyone feeling the pinch. But does that rock-bottom price come with hidden costs – to quality, variety, or your sanity? Can a meal kit this cheap actually be good?
We don’t rely on marketing hype. Our dedicated team—including seasoned home cooks, a professional recipe developer, and a registered dietitian—embarked on an intensive 8-week testing period with Dinnerly. We ordered, unboxed, chopped, sautéed, and tasted our way through dozens of meals. We scrutinized ingredient freshness, timed the cooking process, evaluated the recipes’ “wow” factor (or lack thereof), and compared the entire experience head-to-head with its main rivals. This is our comprehensive, brutally honest review – the deep dive you need before deciding if Dinnerly deserves a spot in your kitchen rotation.
What Exactly IS Dinnerly? The Low-Cost Meal Kit Demystified
Launched in 2017 by Marley Spoon (the same company behind the more premium Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon kit), Dinnerly was designed with one primary goal: affordability. Its entire business model revolves around stripping away the frills common to other meal kit services. Think of it as the budget airline of the meal kit world.
Here’s how Dinnerly keeps costs down:
1
Simpler Recipes
Most meals feature only 5-6 main ingredients and require fewer, more basic cooking steps.
2
Digital Recipe Cards
Instead of printing glossy, step-by-step cards for every meal, Dinnerly provides instructions digitally via their app or website. This saves significantly on printing and shipping weight.
3
Minimalist Packaging
Ingredients for multiple meals are often grouped together in the box rather than individually bagged per recipe (though meats and some sensitive items are separated).
4
Fewer Marketing Costs
Less emphasis on elaborate branding and advertising compared to giants like HelloFresh.
5
Shared Infrastructure
Leverages the existing logistics and supply chain network of its parent company, Marley Spoon.
The result is a service explicitly targeting individuals and families who prioritize cost savings and simplicity over gourmet ingredients, complex flavors, or extensive customization. If you’re looking for a straightforward way to get dinner on the table without breaking the bank, Dinnerly wants to be your answer.
Our Testing Protocol: Behind the Scenes of This Review
To deliver insights beyond surface-level observations, we implemented a rigorous testing protocol:
Duration & Scope: Over 8 consecutive weeks, our team tested Dinnerly, ordering a variety of 2-person and 4-person boxes, totaling over 32 different meals across various cuisine types.
The Team:
Lead Writer & Home Cook: Evaluated overall user experience, recipe clarity, and taste from an average cook’s perspective.
Recipe Developer & Tester: Assessed recipe structure, ingredient quality, cooking techniques, and potential for enhancement.
Nutritional Reviewer (Kelly Morrow, MS, RDN, FAND): Analyzed nutritional information, portion sizes, and health aspects.
Two Independent Home Testers: Provided feedback on ease of use, family-friendliness, and real-world convenience under typical household conditions.
Evaluation Metrics: Each meal and the overall service were rated on:
The Dinnerly Experience: From Online Click to Cooked Meal
Signing up for Dinnerly is straightforward. The website is clean and guides you through selecting your plan size (two or four people) and the number of meals per week (three to six). Pricing starts at $4.99 per serving for the largest boxes, scaling up slightly for smaller orders (e.g., $5.49 – $6.39 per serving for fewer meals).
Meal Selection: Once registered, you access the weekly menu, typically boasting 45+ options. This sounds impressive, but filtering is basic. You can tag preferences like ‘vegetarian,’ ‘kid-friendly,’ ‘low-calorie,’ or ‘one-pot meal,’ but dedicated filters for allergies (gluten, dairy) or specific diets (keto, paleo) are absent. While vegetarian options exist, true customization like swapping proteins or upgrading ingredients is generally not available, unlike services like Home Chef. The interface is functional but less visually rich than competitors. You select your meals for the upcoming weeks, and it’s crucial to check the required pantry staples listed with each digital recipe at this stage. Dinnerly assumes you have basics like oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, flour, and sometimes eggs or butter on hand.
Delivery & Unboxing: Our deliveries consistently arrived within the scheduled window. The cardboard boxes are relatively plain. Inside, you’ll find ingredients loosely packed, often grouped by type rather than by meal. Meats are typically vacuum-sealed and placed near large, non-toxic ice packs at the bottom. Produce (like potatoes, onions, carrots) might be loose, while smaller items (spice blends, sauces) are contained in small plastic bags or containers. Compared to kits that meticulously bag every ingredient for each recipe, Dinnerly’s approach feels less organized and requires you to sort ingredients upon arrival.3 While aiming to reduce packaging, it paradoxically still involves a fair amount of plastic for individual components and relies heavily on those large ice packs. Insulation effectiveness was generally adequate in our tests, but some online reviewers mention occasional issues in very hot weather or with delivery delays.
Recipe Cards & Cooking: This is a major differentiator. Dinnerly defaults to digital recipe cards accessed via their app or website. While eco-friendly and cost-saving for them, it can be inconvenient in the kitchen. Testers found themselves frequently referencing a phone or tablet with potentially messy hands.4 Printing the recipes beforehand is an option but adds a step. The instructions themselves are concise, usually broken down into 6 clear steps with accompanying photos. They are designed for simplicity, focusing on basic techniques like chopping, pan-frying, roasting, and boiling. Prep times were generally accurate, with most meals realistically achievable in the advertised 25-40 minutes.5 However, the simplicity means less guidance on how to perform techniques, assuming a basic level of cooking knowledge.
Tester’s Note: “Sorting the ingredients was the first hurdle. Unlike HelloFresh where everything for ‘Meal A’ is in Bag A, with Dinnerly, you have to hunt: ‘Okay, the carrots for this meal, the chicken for that one…’ It takes an extra 5-10 minutes upfront.” – Sarah K., Home Tester
The Taste Test: What Dinnerly Meals Actually Taste Like
Affordability and convenience mean little if the food isn’t enjoyable. We sampled a wide range, from comfort food classics to vaguely international flavors. Here’s a taste of our findings on specific meals:
Low-Cal Pork & Zucchini Stir-Fry with Sesame Noodles:
Ingredients: Ground pork seemed decent quality, zucchini was fresh, noodles were standard. The sauce packet was quite small, relying heavily on soy sauce flavor. Needed extra pantry staples like sesame oil.
Process: Very quick (under 25 mins). Simple chop and stir-fry technique.
Taste: Palatable but basic. The sauce lacked depth; testers immediately reached for extra soy sauce, ginger, and sriracha to liven it up. Portion size was adequate for a low-calorie meal but might leave bigger appetites wanting more. Verdict: 3.5/5 – Okay, but needs doctoring.
Cheesy Baked Penne with Meat Sauce & Zucchini:
Ingredients: Ground beef was standard supermarket quality. Canned tomatoes, penne pasta, zucchini, and a small packet of mozzarella/parmesan blend. Onions and garlic were fresh.
Process: Straightforward boil pasta, brown meat, combine, bake. Took about 35 minutes. Easy cleanup.
Taste: Classic comfort food. Hard to mess up, but also uninspired. The cheese amount felt a bit sparse for a “cheesy” dish. Satisfying and definitely kid-friendly. Verdict: 4.0/5 – Solid, simple crowd-pleaser.
Crispy Oven-Baked Tilapia with Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans:
Ingredients: Tilapia filets were acceptable but not premium quality (thin, slightly watery). Potatoes and green beans were fresh. Included a small packet of breadcrumbs and a spice blend.
Process: Simple roast potatoes/beans, coat and bake fish. About 30 minutes total.
Taste: The fish was okay, but the “crispy” coating was underwhelming – more soft than crisp. The spice blend was generic. Roasting vegetables is easy, but the overall dish felt bland. Needed lemon, fresh herbs, or a sauce – none provided beyond the basic spice mix. Verdict: 3.0/5 – Edible, but forgettable.
Overall Impression: Dinnerly meals generally deliver on being edible and easy to prepare. However, flavor profiles tend to be simple, relying heavily on basic sauces or spice blends. Experienced cooks will likely find themselves adding extra seasonings, acids (lemon/vinegar), or fresh herbs to elevate the dishes. Ingredient quality is acceptable for the price point but noticeably a step down from more expensive services6 – expect standard supermarket-grade produce and proteins rather than artisanal or organic options. Freshness was mostly good in our tests, but consistency can be a concern based on broader online reviews.
The Pros and Cons
Despite some criticisms, Dinnerly offers compelling advantages for the right customer:
Pros
Unbeatable Affordability: This is Dinnerly’s superpower. With prices starting around $4.99 – $5.49 per serving (plus shipping), it’s significantly cheaper than most competitors (often $9 -$13 per serving) and often rivals or beats careful grocery shopping for similar meals, especially considering food waste reduction. For budget-driven households, this is a massive draw.
Extreme Simplicity & Speed: Recipes genuinely stick to 5-6 main ingredients and around 6 clear steps. The focus on basic techniques (chop, sauté, roast) makes it ideal for absolute beginners or those who find cooking intimidating. Most meals reliably come together in under 35-40 minutes.
Reduced Food Waste: By sending (mostly) pre-portioned ingredients, Dinnerly helps minimize the all-too-common scenario of buying a whole bunch of parsley for one recipe and watching the rest wilt in the fridge.
Family-Friendly Focus: Many recipes are tagged “Kid-Friendly,” featuring familiar flavors and simple preparations likely to appeal to pickier eaters. This makes it a practical option for busy parents.
Decent Weekly Variety: Offering 45+ meal choices each week prevents immediate menu fatigue and provides enough options to suit different tastes, including a good number of vegetarian meals.
Cons
Ingredient Quality & Sourcing Questions: This is a frequent point of discussion in online reviews, and our testing aligned. Produce is generally standard, not premium or organic. Meats are adequate but not top-tier. Freshness can occasionally be inconsistent. Transparency on sourcing is minimal compared to some niche, higher-end kits.
Significant Packaging Waste: While they use fewer types of packaging (like individual meal bags), the overall volume of plastic (bags for spices, sauces, meats, produce) and the large ice packs still feels substantial. The environmental impact is a valid concern for many consumers.
Limited Customization & Dietary Support: Beyond basic tags, filtering for specific allergies or diets (gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo) is lacking. You cannot swap proteins or customize ingredients within a recipe, making it unsuitable for those with strict dietary needs.
Recipe Simplicity Can Be Boring: While a pro for beginners, the lack of complex flavors or interesting techniques can become monotonous for more adventurous eaters. Many meals feel like they need “something extra” that you have to provide.
Mandatory Shipping Costs: The per-serving price is low, but you must factor in the flat-rate shipping fee, which is currently $11.99 per box. This significantly impacts the overall weekly cost, especially for smaller boxes.
Digital-Only Recipes & Pantry Staples: The lack of physical recipe cards annoys some users. More significantly, Dinnerly often requires more pantry staples (vinegars, specific oils, condiments) than kits that include tiny bottles of everything, potentially adding hidden costs or inconvenience if your pantry isn’t well-stocked.
(Note: Prices and shipping are approximate and subject to change/promotions. Ingredient Quality/Packaging are subjective assessments based on testing and common reviews.)
Analysis: Dinnerly and EveryPlate (owned by HelloFresh) are direct competitors in the budget space, offering very similar pricing and simple recipes. HelloFresh and Blue Apron offer slightly higher quality ingredients, more complex recipes, and better dietary filtering at a higher price point. Home Chef stands out for its extensive customization options (swapping proteins, doubling portions, meal upgrades), making it the most flexible but also potentially the most expensive. Dinnerly consistently wins on the absolute lowest starting price per serving (before shipping).
Expert Corner: A Nutritionist Weighs In
Kelly Morrow, MS, RDN, FAND, reviewed nutritional information for a sample of 20 recent Dinnerly meals.
“Dinnerly meals offer convenience, but nutritionally, they are a mixed bag,” Dr. Sharma notes. “Portion sizes are generally reasonable, aligning with standard dietary guidelines. Many meals incorporate vegetables, which is positive. However, there are areas for improvement.”
Key Observations:
Sodium Levels: Can be quite high in many dishes, particularly those with pre-made sauces or processed meats. Regularly exceeding 1000mg per serving isn’t uncommon, which is over 40% of the recommended daily intake for adults.
Refined Carbohydrates: Pasta, white rice, and bread feature prominently. Opting for meals with whole grains (when available) or adding your own side salad can improve fiber content.
Saturated Fat: Dishes featuring red meat, cheese, or creamy sauces can be high in saturated fat. Balancing these with leaner protein choices (chicken, fish, plant-based) throughout the week is advisable.
Vegetable Variety: While present, the variety of vegetables within a single meal can sometimes be limited (e.g., just potatoes and green beans).
Dr. Sharma’s Recommendation: “Dinnerly can be part of a healthy diet if chosen mindfully. Prioritize meals with lean proteins and plenty of non-starchy vegetables. Be conscious of sodium content, and don’t hesitate to augment meals with extra vegetables or a side salad. For those managing specific health conditions like hypertension or diabetes, careful meal selection and potential modification are necessary.”
Pro Tips: Getting the Most Out of Your Dinnerly Box
Our team discovered a few tricks to maximize the Dinnerly experience:
1
Pantry Check is Non-Negotiable:
Before finalizing your weekly order, meticulously review the “You Will Need” section for each recipe online. Running to the store for vinegar mid-cooking is frustrating.
2
Embrace Your Spice Rack:
Dinnerly’s seasoning is often minimal. Assume you’ll need to add extra salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, herbs (fresh or dried), or your favorite hot sauce to boost flavor.
3
Taste & Adjust Sauces:
Don’t just dump the sauce packet in. Taste it first. You might want to dilute it, add acid (lemon juice/vinegar), sweetness (honey/sugar), or spice.
4
Inspect & Organize Immediately:
Upon unboxing, check all produce for freshness and sort ingredients by recipe using your own containers or designated fridge shelves. This saves confusion later. Report any quality issues to customer service promptly.
5
Master the Skip:
Dinnerly’s website/app makes it easy to skip weeks. Use this liberally if the menu doesn’t appeal or if you’ll be away, avoiding unwanted charges.
6
Supplement with Sides:
If portions feel small or lack veggies, bulk up meals easily with a simple side salad, steamed frozen vegetables, or extra rice/quinoa.
Who Should Subscribe to Dinnerly (and Who Shouldn’t)?
Dinnerly isn’t for everyone, but it excels for specific groups:
Dinnerly
Subscribe to Dinnerly If:
Your #1 Priority is Cost: You’re looking for the absolute cheapest meal kit per serving.
You’re a Cooking Novice: You want simple, easy-to-follow recipes with basic techniques.
You Hate Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping: Convenience is key, and you’re happy with basic meals.
You Have Picky Eaters: The kid-friendly, simpler flavor profiles are appealing.
You Want to Reduce Food Waste: Pre-portioned ingredients help use only what you need (mostly).
You’re a Foodie: You crave gourmet flavors, unique ingredients, and interesting techniques.
You Need Dietary Customization: You follow strict diets (keto, paleo, gluten-free) or have severe allergies.
Ingredient Quality is Paramount: You prioritize organic, premium, or locally sourced ingredients.
You’re Environmentally Conscious: The amount of packaging is a major concern.7
You Enjoy Complex Cooking: Dinnerly’s simplicity will likely feel boring or restrictive.
You Dislike Relying on Digital Recipes: You strongly prefer physical recipe cards.
The Bottom Line: Our Final Verdict & Rating
Dinnerly successfully achieves its mission: to be the most affordable meal kit service.8 For households where budget is the primary driver, it offers undeniable value, providing a convenient way to get simple, decent meals on the table for significantly less than competitors or frequent takeout. Its ease of use makes it accessible for beginners and busy individuals.
However, that affordability comes with clear trade-offs. Ingredient quality is standard, not premium. Flavor profiles are often basic and require enhancement. Customization and support for dietary needs are minimal. And the packaging, while perhaps less elaborate than some, still contributes to environmental concerns. The mandatory shipping fee also eats into the per-serving savings.
Overall Rating: 3.8 / 5.0 Stars
Verdict: Dinnerly is a solid choice for the extremely budget-conscious consumer or the true cooking novice who values cost savings and simplicity above all else. If you fit that profile and manage your expectations regarding ingredient quality and recipe complexity, it can be a worthwhile service. However, if taste, ingredient quality, dietary options, or sustainability are higher on your priority list, you’ll likely find more satisfaction (albeit at a higher price) with competitors like HelloFresh, Blue Apron, or the highly customizable Home Chef.
It depends on your box size. For a 2-person, 3-meal box (6 servings total), expect around $39 – $6.49/serving) + $11.99 shipping = $51/week. For a 4-person, 6-meal box (24 servings), it could be around $120 ($4.99/serving) + $11.99 shipping = 132/week.
Can I cancel Dinnerly easily?
Yes, Dinnerly (like most meal kits) makes skipping weeks or canceling your subscription relatively easy through your online account settings. Be sure to make changes before the weekly cutoff deadline (usually 5-6 days before delivery).
Is Dinnerly suitable for vegetarians/vegans?
Dinnerly offers several vegetarian meals each week (usually 5-7+), clearly tagged. However, dedicated vegan options are rare, and cross-contamination in packing facilities is possible. Strict vegans should likely look elsewhere.
How does Dinnerly compare to EveryPlate?
They are very similar budget-focused services with comparable pricing, simple recipes, and standard ingredients. EveryPlate is owned by HelloFresh, while Dinnerly is owned by Marley Spoon. Minor differences might exist in weekly menus or specific ingredient suppliers, but the core concept is nearly identical.
Are the Dinnerly portion sizes generous?
We found portion sizes generally adequate and aligned with standard dietary recommendations. They aren’t typically oversized, especially for low-calorie options. Very hearty appetites might occasionally find them slightly small.
Do I need cooking experience for Dinnerly?
No, Dinnerly is designed for beginners. The recipes use basic techniques and provide clear, step-by-step digital instructions. If you can chop vegetables and follow simple directions, you can cook Dinnerly meals.
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June 17, 2025
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Written By Stacy Woodruff, Ph.D. Edited By Suzanne Briggs Medically Reviewed By Dr Emma Thomas, MPH, PhD Copy Edited By Jun Xu
June 17, 2025
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