California's Top Meal-Delivery Kits

Preparing a healthy, homemade meal on the daily is often easier said than done. Given a millennial's uber-busy schedule, it can be hard to squeeze in time to creatively concoct a hearty meal. But with California's top meal-delivery kits, it's possible to quickly prepare delicious yet healthy cuisine for your friends and family—without having to go grocery shopping.

Meal delivery kits are skyrocketing in popularity thanks to the endless options that can satisfy the entire family, including those who are on a vegetarian, paleo, or keto diet. So, instead of opening your cookbook, check out California’s best meal delivery services to save time and feast on delish dishes with your loved ones.

California's 7 Best Meal Delivery Services

1. Sun Basket

Price: $72 per week (three recipes per week, two servings per recipe)

Areas served: All of California

Sourcing: Capa Organic, Hodo Soy Tofu, Lakeside Organic Gardens, Durst Organic Growers

Food: Paleo, diabetic-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free, lean and clean, vegetarian, pescatarian, and Mediterranean

Sun Basket offers a wide variety of meal kits and plans. One of the healthiest meal-service deliveries, Sun Basket provides organic produce, antibiotic- and hormone-free meat and eggs, and wild-caught or sustainably raised seafood in its meal-delivery boxes. The San Francisco-based company also prides itself on its sustainable packaging and its partnerships with local farmers who practice sustainable crop rotation and water efficiency.

With flavorful menus to choose from each week, you can easily spice up your family dinner. Sun Basket meals also feature kits for different kinds of diets. If you don’t have specific preferences, go with the planned weekly menu or mix and match meals. Savor scrumptious chef-crafted meals such as cheesy chicken tetrazzini with mushrooms and green salad; salmon tacos with cabbage slaw, salsa roja, and chipotle yogurt; or beef chili with cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt. 

2. Thistle

Price: Starting at $42 per week (or $11.50 a meal)

Areas served: San Francisco Bay Area, North Bay, Sacramento, Davis, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County

Sourcing: Greene & Hemly Orchards, Coke Farm, Aedan Miso, Inside Thistle

Food: Weekly plant-based menus with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options 

The deliciously nutritious meals created by Thistle will leave you craving more. Thanks to its dedication to providing customers with high-quality, plant-forward meals, San Francisco's Thistle is on our list of top meal kit delivery services. Each meal is locally sourced and organic whenever possible; the meal plans can also be customized based on your diet. 

The upcoming menus feature nourishing, light, and colorful dishes such as the savory polenta bowl with chimichurri for breakfast; beetroot, quinoa, and ricotta salad for lunch; yuca asada and pinto bean bowl for dinner; and an Okinawan sweet potato bar as a snack. If you're into juicing, there are plenty of juices to keep you going throughout the day, too. (We recommend the cold-pressed Hunter for those needing a dose of leafy greens or the Lava for tropical-fruit lovers.) Get ready to purchase your meal subscription box and indulge in premium, healthy foods. 

3. California Chef

Price: Starting at $9 per meal or $48 for two days (breakfast and dinner each day)

Areas served: Los Angeles County (excluding areas north of Agua Dulce), Orange County, Inland Empire, North San Diego

Sourcing: Local farms

Food: Family-style, signature, and custom menu options

Boasting one of the best meal kits in California, California Chef was founded in Chatsworth with the intention to provide healthy, restaurant-quality meals that accommodate the modern millennial's fast-paced lifestyle. With a choice of over 50 seasonally inspired menus that can accommodate various diets, you're bound to love California Chef. For 14-plus years, the company has been producing healthy meal kits for the whole family; by using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, California Chef has earned its reputation as one of the healthiest meal delivery services.

Can't decide what to order? Select one of the weekly specials for a savory treat. You'll never be bored, either, because the menu is constantly changing. For your next Sunday breakfast, consider feasting on a Cajun scramble with black bean hash and sweet potatoes before indulging in a lunch of seared salmon with zucchini, walnuts, and dill dressing. These healthy, homemade meals are the fuel you'll need to conquer your day.

4. SoCal Fresh

Price: Starting from $63 per week

Areas served: Most of San Diego County, Riverside County, Orange County

Sourcing: Local farmers and purveyors offering organic and seasonal products, clean proteins, and soy-free vegetarian proteins

Food: Flexitarian, dairy-free, keto, paleo, plant-based

Tailored to meet nearly every dietary need, Temecula's SoCal Fresh is one of the best meal subscription boxes in California. If you'd like to diversify your daily dishes, the Chef’s Choice is a wonderful opportunity to do so, but you can also opt to build your own menu. Simply select your lifestyle dietary needs, the number of meals, and then check out—SoCal Fresh's chef will handle the rest. Delectable dishes (such as creamy artichoke chicken with zoodles and a Mexican bowl with carne asada and tomato corn bean salad) await you.

5. Gobble

Price: Starting at $72 per week (for three recipes each week, two servings per recipe)

Areas served: All of California

Sourcing: Local producers for fresh produce, poultry, and meats

Food: Gluten-free, dairy-free, low carb, and veggie options

Don't have the time to chop veggies but still enjoy the cooking process? Then San Francisco's Gobble is one of the best meal kit delivery services for you. All of the prep work—including peeling, chopping, and marinating—are done in advance, so you just have to do the cooking. Freshly prepared and hot out of the oven, your homemade meal will be ready within 15 minutes.

Choose between the classic or "lean and clean" dinner option; the menu is updated weekly, so a culinary adventure awaits each week. You can dine in and enjoy homemade shrimp linguine with lemon and sun-dried tomatoes or spicy Thai basil chicken with brown rice. 

6. Fresh n' Lean

Price: $7.93 per meal

Areas served: All of California

Sourcing: Locally grown, organic, whole-food, nutrient-dense, gluten- and GMO-free ingredients

Food: Protein-packed, paleo, keto, vegan, and vegan low-carb options

Treat yourself to a delectable dinner prepared by Fresh n' Lean. This meal kit delivery has certified-organic ingredients and offers meal plans based on your dietary preferences. If you'd just like to sample a single meal, Fresh n' Lean offers that option as well. Menu choices include everything from salsa verde cage-free chicken casserole to salmon quinoa with caper aioli, so we know you'll be in seventh heaven. 

Based in Anaheim, Fresh n' Lean makes it simple and easy to provide healthy meals for your family. Once you've received your weekly order, simply chill it, heat it when you're ready to eat, feast away, and repeat the following week. The company's top meal plans include protein+ (structured to optimize your fitness goals), keto, paleo low-carb, and vegan low-carb alongside a standard menu option.

7. Trifecta Nutrition

Price: Starting from $108.43 per week

Areas served: All of California

Sourcing: Local, family-run suppliers using sustainable practices

Food: Keto, clean, paleo, vegan, classic, vegetarian

Still missing out on the fun because you're constantly cooking? Thanks to Trifecta Nutrition, time is on your side. The Sacramento company boasts a rotating weekly menu, macro-balanced organic meals, and science-backed nutrition plans.

Whether you're a gym rat or a wholesome eater who refuses to eat blandly, the fresh flavors, vibrant colors, and aromatic ingredients in Trifecta Nutrition's meals will leave you craving more. From paleo breakfasts (like the zucchini and bell pepper frittata) to vegan dinners (such as shiitake mushroom wild rice), this healthy meal-kit delivery service will nourish your body and soul.