Home Chef Review 2024: All You Need to Know

What is Home Chef & how was it created?

The company’s main mission is to make home cooking simple and accessible, helping you enjoy healthier and more diverse meals without the stress of planning, shopping, and prep work.

Founded in 2013, Home Chef was the brainchild of Pat Vihtelic.

Vihtelic’s love for home-cooked meals and his realization of how challenging it can be to plan, shop for, and prepare home-cooked meals in today’s busy world sparked the idea for the company.

He saw a gap in the market for a service that could simplify the cooking process without sacrificing the quality of the meals.

From its inception, Home Chef’s vision was to reinvent the dinner ritual by making it possible for people to cook and enjoy a meal at home without the usual challenges.

By offering fresh ingredients and diverse meal options, the company aimed to cater to different dietary needs and preferences, making it easier for you to enjoy cooking at home.

Initially starting in Chicago, the company expanded its services nationwide by the end of its first year.

Over the years, Home Chef has grown in leaps and bounds, all while staying true to its commitment to providing high-quality meals that are convenient and accessible to people from all walks of life.

As of 2023, Home Chef is now recognized as one of the leading meal delivery services in the United States, renowned for its varied menu, dietary flexibility, and simplified approach to home cooking.

Each week, Home Chef puts together a menu featuring 30 different meal options, each unique in its own way.

And they are not just any meals; they are gourmet creations crafted by professional chefs who understand the complexities of flavors.

Whether you are a vegetarian, a seafood lover, or a fan of good old meat and potatoes, Home Chef’s weekly menu has something that will tickle your taste buds.

They provide a range of hearty, balanced meals featuring quality proteins, fresh vegetables, and wholesome grains.

But that’s not all. Home Chef goes a step further by allowing you to customize your meal plans.

You can choose your dietary preferences, swap out ingredients, adjust serving sizes, or even change your delivery day, all in a bid to ensure that you get what you want, how you want it.

The best part? Each of Home Chef’s meal kits comes with step-by-step instructions that make meal preparation a breeze.

On average, you’ll have a delicious and nourishing meal ready in about 30 minutes.

First and foremost, Home Chef offers unparalleled flexibility.

From dietary preferences to portion sizes and delivery schedules, Home Chef is all about giving you the power to shape your own dining experience.

Don’t like a certain ingredient? Swap it out. Need meals for more people? Just adjust the serving size. It’s all just a click away.

Secondly, Home Chef’s meal variety is top-notch.

Unlike some meal delivery services that have a somewhat static menu, Home Chef offers over 30 fresh, innovative, and diverse meals every week.

Whether you prefer meat, seafood, or plant-based meals, you can be sure to find something that suits your palate.

To sum it up with the quality of their ingredients, you’d be amazed to know that this company sources fresh, high-quality ingredients that are pre-portioned to reduce waste and ensure you get the exact quantities you need for your meals. No more guesswork, no more waste.

So, whether you’re a busy professional looking for a hassle-free way to eat healthy, a parent seeking variety for family dinners, or a culinary enthusiast eager to try new recipes, Home Chef caters to your needs pretty well.

Home Chef offers you weekly subscription service for their meal kit. You can select any of their recipes from their meal kit list and get all the cooking instructions and ingredients delivered at your doorstep.

At the time of signing up with Home Chef, you have to fill out a questionnaire with some necessary details. It asks you how many people you are planning to cook for. You will get 3 options- 2, 4, or 6. The next important question is how many meals you want to cook per week. You can choose anything between 2 to 6. If you wish to opt for their free shipping options, you have to order 3 or more meals per week.

1. Choose Your Meals

Choose your recipes every week based on your health goals, dietary restrictions, and preferred foods. You can select from Home Chef’s suggested menu or make up your own.

2. Personalize Your Plate

You can swap, double up or upgrade select or your favorite recipes any time using Home Chef’s “Customize It” feature.

3. Make and Relish Your Food!

Get pre-portioned, fresh, and healthy food ingredients at your doorstep with Home Chef’s excellent meal delivery service. Use their step-by-step guide and recipe cards to create and savor your favorite and other exciting dishes effortlessly. Home Chef makes cooking a delightful experience.

Once you have decided to sign up with Home Chef, you need to fill out their taste chart. Here you need to specify your preferred meal ingredient for Home Chef to serve you better. Their meal preference choices are one of the most comprehensive in the market. Their culinary experts use your selections for building your detailed taste profile. The taste profile helps you get the ingredient as per your taste and preference.

With Home Chef, you will get plenty of dining options. You can choose anything from seafood, vegetables, meat, or any of your preferred combination. If you want to avoid any ingredient, specify that in your meal preference. For example, you may choose not to eat nuts, soy, dairy, gluten, certain veggies, and red meat or any combo of these.

It will help you stay away from ingredients on which you may have allergies. When you have finalized your meal preferences, choose how many meals you want per week. You can select 2,3,4,5 or 6 meals every week to prepare foods for 2,4 or 6 people. Home Chef has kept its meal kit choices exceptionally flexible, unlike most of its competitors. If you don’t like to go ahead with a typical or 2-person family plan, select from their bouquet of choices. Later on, you can choose specific days per week for meal delivery – Tues, Wed, Thurs, or Fridays. So much flexibility helps you try out different delicacies without compromising your health or diet.

Breakfast

How about crunchy Nutella Churro French toast or deliciously eggy breakfast with baked beans on the side? Sounds delicious, bet the taste will be even more irresistible. Are you a chicken person? Fill your heart with their savory and buttery chicken with crunchy munchy waffle. Your day will be filled with sunshine and lots of goodies when you start it with the finger-licking breakfast of Home Chef Meal Delivery.

Calorie Conscious

Well, you may be worried that Home Chef recipes can be low calorie with less flavor. Wrong! Their recipes may have low calories, but they are equally high on taste. Home Chef counts every calorie that goes into your immune system. Some of their delicious low-calorie dishes are turkey gyro meatball salad and chili-lime steelhead tout. Home Chef Meal Delivery satiate your taste bud by making you good about every aspect of their meal options.

Beef

Are you a beef lover? You will get all beefy delicacies right here with Home Chef. From casual dishes like BBQ gouda juicy lucy to classic ones such as truffled demi-glance steak, you will get every ounce of red meat you crave for. Drive straight into this gratifying and mouth-watering protein with the meal delivery of Home Chef right away.

Steak

Nothing can beat the mouth-watering steak. Every meat-loving family loves it in the United States. Whether you want to taste brasserie, sirloin, blue cheese, or get a coffee-ground polished steak, try your favorite one with Home Chef’s meal delivery recipe.

Smoothie

Sip and quench your thirst with Home Chef’s signature smoothies. Whether you are returning from your gym session or just starting your day, refreshing smoothies keep you energized. Sip Home Chef’s healthy and delicious smoothies come in different flavors like Strawberry Fields and Mango Tango. Feeling elated? Indulge in their sweet delicacies like Chai Gingerbread and Almond Joy. Let Home Chef make your day smooth with their refreshing smoothies.

Fish

Want to treat yourself with delicious salmon in the summer with Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce or fresh veggies on the sides. Go for the weekly fish fry option in Home Chef’s meal delivery service and buy yourself a bundle of happiness.

Salad

Are you a salad person? Eat healthy and feel better with fresh, light, leafy, and crunchy Home Chef salads. Try their signature salads like the Crispy Goat Cheese, Arugula, and Apple & Chicken Salad. Try their Southwestern Shrimp Salad if you love shrimp. You will get delicious yet simple flavors with Home Chef’s mouth-watering salads.

Pasta

Looking to spice things up with Home Chef’s classic pasta? Confused which one to choose between Rigatoni and Penne? Soothe your gut, heart, and soul with over a dozen of their pasta recipes. From linguine to lasagna, Sun-dried tomato to smokey sausage, nothing can go wrong with Home Chef’s classic pasta meals. Twist your tongue to slurp the flavored Home Chef pasta.

Shrimp

Shrimp’s versatility makes it an excellent choice for the seafood eater. The recipes and taste can vary to a great deal from coast to coast. The cooking styles and recipes can be different, but the core taste remains the same. If you want to gorge into the shrimp dishes, choose from Home Chef’s flavorful shrimp meal options. You get to taste different flavors, from sweet to spicy, gritty to buttery, or their unique ceviche style. Dive and satiate your cravings with the delicious shrimp recipes home delivered by Home Chef meal delivery services.

Salmon

Charge up your immune system with Omega-3 and Nutrition filled Salmon dishes. Salmon in garlic or light white tuna sauce or signature smokey salmon, you name any of it and get served right on your plate. Drop your fishing net and choose Home Chef’s fair-priced meal delivery service to get fresh salmon delivered at your doorstep.

Premium

Treat yourself and loved ones with Home Chef’s premium meals. Celebrate your weeknight, birthday, or anniversary with their top-quality and finger-licking meals. Go for their specialties like thick-cut lamb chops or classic filet mignon with smoked gouda-potato gratin on the sides. Light up some aromatic candles, bring out the fine bone china crockeries, and enjoy your romantic candlelight dinner with Home Chef Meal Delivery.

Carb Conscious

Want to go for a low-carb diet by avoiding bready entrees or starchy sides? Home Chef has your back. Their low-carb dishes are full of veggies, proteins, and other nutrients to offer you a balanced diet. Try their Sweet Chilli succulent chicken and crunchy lettuce-filled wrap or juicy pork tenderloin in green peppercorn flavor. Get these heavenly low-carb and low-calorie delights home delivered with Home Chef’s expert meal delivery services.

Vegetarian

Home Chef genuinely cares for all their veggie friends by offering a minimum of 3 vegetarian meal options per week. With delicious dishes like Mexican street corn flatbread and lasagna bianca, you will never run out of options. Treat yourself with green culinary experience with Home Chef’s veggie meal options. Give your body sufficient plant-based nutrients with Home Chef’s doorstep meal delivery options.

Without Nuts

If you want to stay away from nut-based recipes, Home Chef is the right choice. From their classic pork tenderloin rubbed on coffee to crisp Dijon chicken, you can enjoy these nut-free delicacies anytime you want. Your peanut-butter loving friends will envy you when you order Home Chef’s sumptuous nut-free recipes.

Lamb

Dreaming about chomping juicy lamb chops? Add this zesty red meat to your menu and get heightened satisfaction. Home Chef signature lamb dishes like lamb meatball pita and grilled lamb chops dipped in mustard crème will want you to crave for more. Your dinner table will be full of irresistible aroma impossible to ignore. So, what are you waiting for? Add Home Chef classic lamb dish to your meal delivery today.

Cod

Home Chef culinary experts source the fresh cod from the cold water of Atlantic deep-sea regions. Their master chefs spice it up with tasty sauces and panko or parmesan crusting to add to its flavor. Home Chef cod recipes are exceptionally gratifying when you add it to your weekly meal delivery options.

Dessert

Nothing finishes a perfectly prepared meal better than a sweet dessert. Give your dinner a tasty delight with Home Chef’s signature Cinnamon Apple Galette. Fresh desserts from the meal delivery service of Home Chef will give your fabulous meal a classy finish.

Poultry

Ah, mouth-watering, finger-licking chicken! Want to order your favorite chicken dishes from Home Chef meal delivery?
You will delicious chicken dinners ranging from their signature goat-cheese crusted chicken to the juicy chicken pot pie.

Prefer Turkey?

Don’t worry; Home Chef got you covered with palatable dishes like BBQ turkey burger or the spicy Thai Turkey lettuce wraps. You can get these savory poultry recipes right at your doorstep with Home Chef’s reasonably priced meal delivery service.

Chicken

Do you see finger-licking chickens in your dream?

Well, it’s time to make it a reality by getting hundreds of Home Chef chicken recipes. You can choose any flavor from classic to spicy to suit your taste. Treat yourself and loved ones with chef’s favorite Blackened Chicken Salad, Farmhouse Fried Chicken, and Chicken Pad Thai. Go for Home Chef’s affordable meal delivery service to get your favorite chicken recipe at your doorstep.

Without Soy

Are you allergic to soy-based dishes?

Home Chef has recipes that will make you jump and say, “oh boy, finally no soy.” They kept all their soy-free friends in mind while creating sumptuous recipes like Thai red curry shrimp and pesto chicken pizza. You can enjoy these delicious meals with Home Chef’s doorstep meal delivery service.

Without Wheat

Many of us want our diet to be wheat-free. Well, if you fall in that league, you should try Home Chef’s no-wheat recipe. You can choose from their delightful dishes such as salmon with dill crema or steak au poivre in your weekly meal delivery.

Seafood

Many of us go weak on our knees by seeing and smelling the aroma of finger-licking seafood. Seafood delicacies are not only delicious but Omega-3 rich and heart-healthy as well. Treat yourself with healthy seafood dishes like shrimp jambalaya and feta and herb-crusted salmon. Fit these recipes easily in your weekly seafood dishes and your budget.

Pork

A true meat lover can die for pork (not literally!) It’s super tasty and filled with loads of nutrients like potassium and iron. Try Home Chef’s fig-gazed pork tenderloin or mojito pork chops and keep licking your fingers after you’re done with your food. Trust me; your craving will increase when you add these recipes in your Home Chef meal delivery.

Carb Conscious and Calorie Conscious

This section is dedicated to carb and calorie-conscious people. Home Chef brings on your plate a higher taste packed with lower calories. Try their flavorful dishes such as roasted balsamic pear and chicken salad and feta and herb-crusted salmon to make every calorie count. Every ounce of carb is swapped with veggies and protein in Home Chef’s low-calorie dishes. Fill your heart with finger-licking delicacies like seared ribeye with Caprese salad or classic and juicy pork tenderloin wrapped in green peppercorn. When the flavors are doubled up, do you really need carb? With Home Chef, you will get these delicious low-carb, low-calorie meals right at your doorstep.

Staff Picks

All these signature and widely loved dishes are the results of the relentless efforts of Home Chef’s culinary experts. They innovate, create, taste, test, and revise recipes multiple times until these recipes are perfect. They care for each customer and get ingredients ready for your custom-ordered meal delivery every week. Taste the chef’s favorite meal and become a culinary expert in no time.

Without Milk

Do you have a lactose allergy? Get your chosen milk-free flavors with Home Chef’s world of delicacies. Enjoy the moment when cream and butter melts in your mouth with their signature Korean BBQ steak or shrimp with tiger sauce. Home Chef ensures all its customers get rich and flavorful recipes home delivered at their behest.

Also, check our guide on Top 5 Meal Delivery Service Meals for Mom

Home Chef meal delivered plans are reasonably priced and near the industry average. Prices range from $5.99 to $11.99 depending on the meal type (dinner, lunch, or any add-on). Shipping is around $10.99 per order.

Let’s delve deeper into Home Chef’s meal pricing. Their dinner is priced at $9.99 for every serving, and you may choose serving options between 2,4 or 6 persons. Get Home Chef’s 5-minute lunch at a lower cost with $7.99 each portion.

Their pricing is simple and transparent. Home Chef lets you know the delivery cost beforehand to make your decision making faster.

Now you can order many different meals with Home Chef’s bouquet of options. You can add-on fresh smoothies for $4.95, along with premium meals and protein packs on special occasions. These special menu items are a tad pricier than regular meals. For example holiday specials which include a dessert and multiple sides. Don’t spend your valuable time shopping groceries and looking for new recipes in your next Christmas. Place your trust in Home Chef’s expertise and get your favorite meal home delivered.

Home Chef recipes can instantly lift your mood with fresh ingredients, refreshing aroma, and quick to prepare items. End your 3 or 4-course dinner with deliciously fruity yet low-calorie sweets.

All your Home Chef orders will be delivered free of cost if they are priced more than $45. You may have to pay up to $10.99 if the order value is below $45.

Home Chef’s delivery network is spread across the US, except for some areas. After expanding its network, Home Chef’s delivery now covers 98% of the country.

Home Chef is continuously increasing its delivery range. Before ordering, it’s recommended to key in your zip code on Home Chef’s website and find out if your area is covered.

You will get your weekly menus usually delivered on Thursdays and Fridays. However, you can select the days at your convenience. Always remember, delivery options may vary depending on your location.

Read More: Dinnerly Review

To order your next meal from Home Chef, follow these easy steps:

1. First, select your meal preference.

2. Next, fill in your email address and zip code.

3. Select the number of dinners and recipes you need each week.

4. Fill in your bio-data and delivery details.

5. Add your payment details ranging from PayPal to either your debit or credit card.

6. Next, answer a few questions to build your Taste Profile. By doing this, Home Chef can learn your preferences and generate more accurate automated meal suggestions for your next order.

After doing all these, you can sit back and relax while your order gets delivered to your doorstep.

Ending your Home Chef Subscription is as straightforward as the process that got you started.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can terminate your Home Chef subscription:

1. Log in to your Home Chef account and navigate to the “Account Settings” section. Then, click on the subscription tab to see your plan.

2. On the Account Information page, you’ll find a variety of options. Navigate to the ‘Pause Your Account’ section. Under this section, you’ll find the option to ‘Pause Your Account.’ Click on it. Ensure you choose the indefinite pause option.

3. A new page will load, and you’ll be asked to provide a reason for your cancellation. Choose the option that best suits your situation and click ‘Pause Account.’

Your account should now be paused. Remember, a paused account is not the same as a canceled account.

You’ll need to contact Home Chef directly by sending an email to their customer service (support@homechef.com) with the subject line “Cancel Account” to cancel your account completely.

Yes! Feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the freshness, taste, and diversity of their meals.

Home Chef prides itself on delivering restaurant-quality meals you can cook right in your own kitchen. They carefully source high-quality ingredients and construct thoughtfully designed recipes to cater to a wide array of taste buds.

You won’t be eating bland, boring meals – each dish is packed with flavor, often featuring a unique twist that turns a classic meal into an exciting culinary adventure.

Whether it’s a Pesto Parmesan Chicken with Tuscan Tomato Green Beans or a Honey-Ginger Chicken Katsu with jasmine rice and broccolini, each meal is a burst of flavors that tantalize your taste buds.

Their chefs experiment with global cuisines, ensuring you’re exposed to a variety of flavors and cultures on your plate.

From the rich, bold flavors of Asian cuisine to the comforting, hearty tastes of American home cooking, there’s always something new and delicious to try.

Absolutely! Home Chef prides itself on creating recipes that are not just delicious but also simple and quick to prepare.

The company’s main aim is to make home cooking accessible to everyone, no matter their level of kitchen expertise.

In a nutshell, Home Chef takes the stress out of meal preparation.

Within 30-40 minutes, you’ll have a mouthwatering, restaurant-quality meal on your table, and you only need a few kitchen tools like your oven, a stove, a pan, pot, knifes to cut, etc to achieve this.

One of their most popular Coupons this month of July is the “18 free meals” discount, where new customers can receive as much as 18 free meals and a whopping 50% off their first 4 orders (boxes) when they sign up With the COUPON CODE AFF50OFF.

This is a fantastic incentive for those curious about Home Chef but hesitant to make a full-priced commitment.

Another popular coupon you could try is the “60% off” promo, where you can get as much as 60% off your first 3 boxes when you sign up with the coupon code AFF16FM.

Additionally, Home Chef occasionally offers “seasonal discounts,” which are promotions tied to specific events, holidays, or seasons.

These discounts vary and are available for a limited time, adding an element of surprise to your meal planning. So, do watch out for them.

Home Chef offers a wonderful solution for families looking for variety, convenience, and healthy meals.

Let’s examine the cost and preparation time for families choosing to order 2 meals, 4 meals, and 6 meals a week from Home Chef.

2 Meals a Week

For a family of four planning to eat 2 meals from Home Chef per week, the cost would be approximately $58.95 weekly or around $235.80 monthly (considering an average of $11.99 per meal serving).

This would average out to approximately $8.42 per day. The total prep time for these 2 meals would typically be around 1 to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the meals chosen.

4 Meals a Week

For those opting for 4 meals a week, you’d be looking at approximately $170.83 per week, which translates to around $683.32 monthly.

The daily cost would be around $24.40. The preparation time would approximately double compared to the 2-meal plan, meaning around 2 to 4 hours of cooking time in the week.

6 Meals a Week

With a plan of 6 meals per week, the cost comes to roughly $370.63 per week, which would be around $1,482.52 monthly.

This would average out to a cost of approximately $52.95 per day. Preparation time for these meals would range from 3 to 6 hours a week.

All these estimates are just that – estimates. The actual cost can vary depending on the specific meals you choose.

Home Chef offers a range of meals with varying levels of complexity, and some dishes might take longer to prepare or be priced differently.

However, the real value of Home Chef lies in more than just the financials and time commitment.

It’s also about the convenience, the variety of the meal offerings, the dietary flexibility, and the joy of cooking and eating together as a family.

For many, these benefits make Home Chef a worthwhile investment for their family’s meals.

Home Chef is an old and trusted player in the meal delivery market space for long. With time, meal delivery services are seeing a surge in competition and increasingly becoming popular. Home Chef keeps on innovating and rejigging their offerings to stay afloat and race ahead of the competitors. You won’t find such flexibility in other service providers.

With fresh and delicious ingredients of Home Chef, meal prep time doesn’t take more than half an hour. They have curated simple-to-follow step-by-step and detailed recipe cards to help you in your cooking journey. At the time of researching Home Chef meal delivery features and other aspects, we were pleasantly surprised by their commitment and efficiency level. If you are tired and bored of ordering outside or junk foods or waste your time in grocery shopping, Home Chef is your solution. You will get the taste of home-cooked, warm and healthy meals with them and enjoy a zero-cooking life.

With Home Chef’s flexible servings, you can easily get improved menu items, more detailed recipe cards, and flexible ordering process. You will get these options with specific menu items that allow you to add 2 to 4 portions to your chosen meal. For example, if you have called your friends for any occasion or need extra food, you don’t need to change your monthly subscription. Instead, more servings can be ordered for individual meals as per your requirements.

This option is perfect for:

• People with dietary restrictions and health issues
• Anyone wishes to save their valuable time
• People looking for a wide range of food choices

Despite all the wonderful features and benefits that Home Chef provides, it’s perfectly natural for you to explore alternatives.

Maybe you have specific dietary needs, or perhaps you’re just curious about what other meal delivery services have to offer. Here are two excellent alternatives you might want to consider.

HelloFresh

Just like Home Chef, HelloFresh offers a variety of flavorful and creative meal options each week.

Its recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, making it a strong contender for those who want convenience and variety in their meal planning.

Plus, with an emphasis on farm-fresh ingredients, it’s a great option for those who value quality and sustainability.

Blue Apron

Blue Apron is another fantastic alternative that specializes in delivering farm-fresh, seasonal produce, with an array of interesting recipes.

What makes it similar to Home Chef is its commitment to easy, home-cooked meals.

Blue Apron takes pride in providing culinary experiences that cater to all cooking skill levels, from novice cooks to seasoned kitchen veterans.

Home Chef stands out for the subtle difference in their offerings compared to other market players. They deliver the best quality ready-to-cook ingredients at your doorstep so that you can cook and eat fresh.

If you are a health-conscious eater, Home Chef can be a perfect choice. You can get a healthy portion of your favorite meal without sacrificing the flavor, taste, or convenience.

Some people may find it difficult to adjust to Home Chef’s cooking time for every dish. Unlike other meal delivery services that provide ready-to-eat foods, Home Chef meals need some preparation. Especially if you are pressed for time or had a busy day, cooking is what you would like to avoid. Home Chef guarantees flavor at the cost of your time.

If you are ready to spend 10 minutes extra meal prepping, Home Chef’s innovative recipes, flavorful dishes, fresh ingredients are well worth your extra cooking time.

Related posts:

• Home Chef vs. Blue Apron
• Home Chef vs. Green Chef vs. HelloFresh