Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service: Sunbasket vs Green Chef vs Purple Carrot vs Veestro vs Fresh N Lean
Are you committed to a vegan diet and earth-friendly practices but just can’t find the time to meet those goals? Consider a vegan food delivery service. You’ve likely heard of meal delivery services like Blue Apron that deliver prepared meals to your home each week. You may not realize there are dedicated vegan meal delivery plans quite similar to Blue Apron.
Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
We’ve chosen our best vegan food delivery winners based on several factors, including quality of ingredients, nutritional value, the variety of meals and plan choices, sustainable ingredient sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, pricing, and more.
Learn More About The Environmental Impact Of Meal Kits
Each vegan meal subscription box offers something different, so we’ve broken down our winners into “best of” categories to help you choose the best option for your diet and lifestyle needs. Check out our picks for vegan Blue Apron alternatives.
Best For Family Meals: Chip and Kale Review
Chip and Kale is a non-subscription plant-based meal kit service based out of Pittsburgh, PA. A new menu posts every Monday and you have until midnight the following Sunday to place your order.
Since there’s no subscription model, the Chip and Kale meals allow for flexibility (don’t forget to go in and place your order each week). You can also order a la carte (buy what you need on any given week). They even offer desserts and brunch items.
Our Personal Review
Chip and Kale sent Kimberly, one of our writers, some sample meals to try out. She and her husband loved every meal that was sent. The meals were simple to cook and convenient, especially with a baby at home. The meals didn’t include any sides, so they added some to help round the meals out a little.
Sample Meals:
- Buffalo Tempeh Bowl
- Skillet Enchiladas
- One Pot Pasta Bolognese
- Thai Summer Noodle Soup
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No need to create an account to order | Less menu variety and flexibility of order size (family meal only) |
| Non-GMO ingredients, made without preservatives | |
| Large portions (each meal serves 4) | |
| Optional dessert add-ons | |
| Gluten-free option | |
| Gift cards available and reward program for loyal customers |
Pricing
- 5 Meal Package for 4 servings: Starts at $5.25 per serving
- Shipping: Cost varies by location.
- View all options
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Most Creative Recipes: Green Chef Review
Green Chef stands out for their creative and tasty vegan recipes, which can give you ideas to create your own vegan dishes. Each box contains healthy raw ingredients that are responsibly sourced from sustainable growers.
- Eco-Friendly packaging
Sample Meals:
- Ginger-Curry Tempeh
- Middle Eastern Lentils
- Cauliflower Niçoise Salad
- Southwest Bean Burger
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ingredients do not contain any synthetic pesticides, GMOs, artificial ingredients, and are 95% certified organic | Can’t choose individual meals |
| Sustainably sourced, fresh ingredients | No vegan family plans (yet) |
| Color-coded items with easy to follow instructions and photos | |
| USDA-Certified Organic | |
| Skip weeks or cancel auto-shipping anytime | |
| Tends to be big enough portions for an extra serving |
Pricing
- Vegan Plan: 2-person plan; 3 meals per week starts at $9.99 per serving
- Shipping: Included
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Video: Green Chef Unboxing
Want to see what’s inside a Green Chef box? Watch this quick unboxing video we made which shows what to expect when you get your delivery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op-6OPlyHAA
Best Variety: Vegan Garden Review
The Vegan Garden is a fantastic choice for people who want plenty of options. In fact, The Vegan Garden has the most extensive variety of menu choices, types of foods, meal plans and packages of any other vegan meal delivery service on the market.
You can even create your own à la carte order or choose a weight loss plan. With so many options, you may be able to skip the grocery store entirely.
Although they’re surprisingly tasty, all of their meals come frozen — a drawback for people who want entirely fresh food or those who want to prep their meals (and learn recipes). Of course, for people who want quick and simple meals, it doesn’t get much easier. They do require a two-month contract for all meal plans, so we encourage you to order à la carte before locking into a subscription.
Sample Meals:
- Vegan Breakfast Burrito
- Tikka Masala
- Lasagna Napoletana
- Cyprus Salad
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All items are vegan, and most are gluten-free | All meals are frozen and pre-made |
| Large variety of à la carte meals, meal packages, and meal plans (all meals are pre-made) | Minimum two-month contract with all meal plans and packages |
| Recyclable packaging | Not 100% organic |
| Special weight loss plans and packages | Not many raw ingredients, like green salads |
| Offers smoothies, cookies, juices, teas and cleanses | Hefty shipping fees for some plans |
Pricing
- Meal Delivery Plans: Start at $199/month for 28 items of your choice (comes out to around $7 per item)
- Shipping: $29.00 per order ($19 in California)
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Best For Varied Dietary Needs: Sunbasket Vegan Review
Established in 2014, Sunbasket has established itself as a leader in organic and non-GMO meal kit delivery. It offers a wide variety of options, including Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Lean & Clean, Mediterranean, and now Diabetes-Friendly.
Sunbasket’s labeling system clearly outlines the source for all food items. Most meals take about 30 minutes to prepare and are about 500-800 calories per serving. We love that each meal comes wrapped in its own paper bag so you can quickly grab what you need to get started and then recycle the bag when you’ve finished cooking. The sauce containers are great to reuse for salad dressings and storing household items too.
They also now have the option to add on breakfast and healthy snacks.
Sample Meals
- Crispy tofu stir-fry with sweet Sichuan sauce and jasmine rice
- Mushroom muffulettas with olive tapenade and kale chips
- Sweet potato and black bean chili
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can choose which recipes you prefer for the week from 15+ different options | No step-by-step photos on the recipe cards (if that’s something that’s important to you) |
| Each recipe comes in its own paper bag, so everything is sorted for convenience | Fewer diet options for the Family Plan |
| Various diet options including Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Paleo, Lean & Clean, Carb-Conscious, Mediterranean, Diabetes-Friendly, and more | Does not ship to some states |
| USDA-certified organic | |
| Clear instructions in every box on how to dispose of the packaging and shipping materials (100% recycle or compost) | |
| Can adjust the frequency to weekly, every other week, or once a month |
Pricing
Sunbasket offers two or four people plans with a variety of diet choices, including Chef’s Choice, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Lean & Clean (weight management), Mediterranean, Vegan, Pescatarian, and Diabetes-Friendly.
2-People
- 2 recipes/week: $13.99/serving/person
- 3 recipes/week: $11.99/serving/person
- $7.99 shipping fee per order
4-People
- 2 recipes/week: $10.99/serving/person
- 3 recipes/week: $10.99/serving/person
- 4 recipes/week: $10.99/serving/person
- $7.99 shipping fee per order
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Read Our In-Depth Sunbasket Review
Other Vegan Meal Kits
These didn’t make the top winning categories but are worth mentioning as well in the ever-growing vegan meal delivery market (no pun intended).
Fresh n’ Lean Review
Fresh n’ Lean is a great option for people looking for little to no meal prep time. The meals come prepared and vacuum sealed, so all you have to do is heat them up.
They’re delightfully tasty for fully prepared dishes. All of their vegan meals are organic and include no meat or dairy, processed ingredients, MSG, GMOs, artificial flavors or ingredients, preservatives or gluten.
Their menu includes flavorful Asian-inspired, South American, Continental and Mediterranean classic dishes. Fresh n’ Lean also offers additional meal plans including Low Carb Vegan, ION Performance Protein+ and ION Performance Paleo. We couldn’t find much information about their packaging, except that it’s recyclable.
Sample Meals:
- Hearty Granola (breakfast)
- Crunchy Curry Almond Quinoa
- Red Pepper Squash Bowl
- Chipotle Cabbage Rice
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 100% plant-based meals | They choose meals for you |
| All organic and gluten-free | No family plans |
| High protein and fiber dishes | Prepackaged meals don’t look very appetizing in their containers |
| Recyclable packaging | Not many raw ingredients, like green salads |
| Good choice of add-on meals and snacks | |
| Free delivery, skip weeks or cancel auto-shipping anytime |
Pricing
- Vegan Plans start as $8.40 per serving (5 or 7 day plans)
- Shipping: Free
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Purple Carrot Review
Purple Carrot is our pick for the best overall value with a vegan meal delivery service. They offer reasonable pricing for all-fresh ingredients that are super healthy, and they give you free shipping to boot. All of their meals include complex carbohydrates from sustainably sourced vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits, as well as healthy fats and lean proteins.
Purple Carrot’s recipes are creative, full of flavor and easy to prepare. All of their packaging is made from post-consumer waste and is reusable, recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. They’ve also recently introduced a new meal plan, TB12 Performance Meals, created with Tom Brady and TB12. This meal plan is for athletes and people with an active lifestyle.
Sample Meals:
- Toasted Quinoa Stir-Fry with Crispy Sesame Shiitakes & Chinese Chives
- Tofu Tikka Masala with Spring Vegetables & Brown Basmati Rice
- Beluga Lentil Taco with Quick Guacamole & Sun Sprout Slaw
- Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo with Warm Broccolini Radicchio Salad
Personal Experience
Our team member Jeff Butler has used Purple Carrot. Here is his experience.
My wife and I have been receiving Purple Carrot weekly since 2016. With three little kids, we don’t have the time or energy for meal preparation, and Purple Carrot fulfills our needs perfectly. They have a nice variety of quick meals that can be cooked in 25 minutes or less, while also having a great selection of more complicated (and tastier) meals that can take about an hour (good for weekends).
While very rare, there have been a couple of shipping mishaps and instances of un-fresh produce, but the support team was quick to resolve any problem. After all these years, the recipes never get stale, and we are always happy with the meals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All menu items are 100% plant-based | Can’t choose individual meals |
| Sustainably sourced, fresh ingredients | Not 100% organic |
| Easy to follow recipes (under 40 min. prep time) | Doesn’t ship to entire U.S. |
| Eco-friendly packaging | |
| High-performance meal plan available for athletically inclined vegans | |
| Free delivery, Skip weeks or cancel auto-shipping anytime |
Pricing
- 2 Serving Plan: 3 Dinners per week (option for 4) starts at $11.99 per serving
- 4 Serving Plan: 2 Dinners per week (option for 3) starts at $9.99 per serving
- Shipping: FREE
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Veestro Review
Similar to Fresh N’ Lean, Veestro’s meals are already prepped and ready to eat right out of the box. The company offers both one-time delivery and subscription options as well as breakfast, soups, desserts, juice cleanse and weight loss choices.
All of Veestro’s food is 100% plant-based, uses organic ingredients and is free of preservatives. They also offer gluten-free meals. All orders placed by Sunday will ship out the following Monday or Tuesday.
We love that Veestro makes eating healthy both easy and convenient. The meals are frozen and a la carte, so you can re-order the same dish again if you like it.
We did discover a few negatives to this service. The cooking instructions ask you to heat up the meals in the microwave rather than the oven or stove. Also, the packaging is a bit wasteful (although the carton trays are 100% compostable and plastic pouches are recyclable and BPA-free). With a steep shipping cost, Veestro is best for those who plan to order large volumes.
Sample Meals:
- Entrees: Country Fried Chick’n or Red Curry with Tofu
- Breakfast: Omelet Primavera or Oatmeal Breakfast Pie
- Soups: Hearty Vegetable Bean Soup or Quinoa Soup
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Organic, non-GMO ingredients | Expensive shipping costs for small quantities |
| Wide-variety of meals and types | Wasteful packaging |
| Breakfast and dessert options | Minimum order of $35 |
| A la carte, non-subscription allows for flexible ordering | Microwave used to heat meals |
| Meals last up to 8 weeks in the freezer and 1 week in the fridge | |
| Large community of satisfied customers |
Pricing
- Weight-Loss Meal Plans (3 meals a day for 5 or 7-day plans) starts at $11/meal
- Shipping: Free for meal plans
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Vegetable and Butcher Review
Vegetable and Butcher prides itself on sustainably sourced, seasonally-focused meals from farmers that they know and trust. The recipes are crafted by a fine-dining chef who is also a registered dietitian.
All meals are pre-made, gluten and dairy-free and they offer vegan and paleo options. The fixed menu rotates weekly and you can choose a combination of items for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 2, 4 or 6 meals per week.
For those lucky enough to live in the greater Washington DC area, the company offers a 1-week trial that’s commitment-free and if you want to subscribe you save 10% on every box.
Vegans will want to go with the Vegetable’s Basket plan, but the company also has a Butcher’s box that may include pasture-raised chicken, grass-fed beef or wild caught seafood (for $1 more per meal). The ordering process was a little confusing compared to other sites because you can’t pick out your own meals.
Sample Meals:
- Breakfast: Tofu Scramble w/ Sweet Potato, Avocado + Pico de Gallo
- Lunch: Mixed Summer Greens w/ Strawberries + Roasted Walnuts
- Dinner: Korean Vegetable Bibimbap
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly-curated recipes with top-notch ingredients | Limited pick up locations |
| Free shipping always (on day of meal) | No option for selecting your recipes (they pick for you unless you specify a dietary restriction) |
| Short lead time for signing up and receiving meals the following week | Meals are on the more expensive side compared to other vegan meals |
| No commitment plans, so you’re not locked into a subscription | |
| Fresh, organic produce | |
| Option to add on snacks, juices or dessert from reputable brands |
Pricing
- Vegetable’s Basket Plan: Starts at $11 per meal (select from Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner and 2, 4 or 6 days per week)
- Shipping: Free (or pick up at one of their pickup locations).
Coupon
Our link above applies discounts if available
Video: Why Adopt A Plant-Based Diet?
Check out the video below by 22 Days Nutrition that’s packed with tons of info about how you can benefit from a vegan diet, including weight loss.
Are Meal Delivery Services Eco-Friendly?
When you consider going with a food delivery service, surely one of the considerations is how all that packaging and food sourcing ultimately affects our environment. We’re with you on this major concern. That’s why we chose meal delivery services that are committed to eco-friendly practices. All of our picks source their ingredients from sustainable growers and all packaging is either recyclable, reusable or compostable.
If you’re interested in other meal delivery services for family members who aren’t vegan, be sure to check out our article comparing many of the top meal delivery subscription sites.
