EveryPlate Delivers Budget-Friendly Vegetarian Meal Kits

Having tested numerous plant-based meal kits, which are often more expensive and limited in variety compared to regular grocery shopping, I was pleasantly surprised by EveryPlate's affordable vegetarian options. Each meal cost $7 per serving for two people across four meals, but leftovers often extended the servings. A promotional discount reduced the cost to $3 per serving, making it exceptionally economical. My first box, priced at $56 without the discount and $24 with it (excluding an $11 shipping fee), provided meals for nearly an entire week, proving cheaper than my usual grocery expenses in New York City.

While EveryPlate meals might seem repetitive with their pasta or rice bases and heavy use of cheese, they were flavorful enough to make me look forward to leftovers. The transparency in meal choices and pricing was appreciated, with EveryPlate offering a regular price of $7 per serving plus shipping, making it the most affordable meal kit tested. The simplicity of the dishes, often grain-heavy, helps keep costs low, distinguishing EveryPlate from more adventurous or health-focused options like Purple Carrot or Thistle.

Each meal took about an hour to prepare, despite instructions suggesting 20 to 30 minutes, and calorie counts ranged from 500 to 1,200 per meal. The ordering process begins with selecting meal preferences such as Smart & Fit, Quick & Easy, Family Faves, and Veggie, allowing customers to view relevant recipes first. EveryPlate's transparency is notable, as many meal kits require payment before revealing meal options. Each week offers 36 meals, including about 10 vegetarian choices, with meals labeled for dietary preferences and preparation time.

Customers can choose between three, four, or five meals per week, with servings for two, four, or six people. The CustomPlate option allows ingredient swaps, such as adding meat to vegetarian dishes. After setting preferences, customers create an account, provide shipping details, and choose a delivery date, with the earliest available four days later. EveryPlate operates on an auto-renewing subscription model, but orders can be skipped, canceled, or paused without penalty if done five days before the next scheduled delivery.

EveryPlate's ingredients arrive in a single refrigerated box, requiring customers to sort them for each recipe. Recipe cards provide basic instructions, with ingredients and preparation steps on opposite sides. Some ingredients, like spices, need to be measured out by the customer. Pantry staples such as salt, pepper, sugar, flour, butter, oil, mayo, and eggs are not included, contributing to the kit's lower price.

Throughout the week, I prepared four vegetarian meals with optional meat add-ons. The herbed white bean tomato stew with feta and garlic toasts, intended to take 30 minutes, took an hour due to extensive prep work. Despite its high sodium content, it was a comforting dish for a snowy day. The creamy zucchini penne with garlicky panko was a rich, savory dish that took longer than the suggested 20 minutes. The sticky-sweet pepper and broccoli bowl, a potential stir-fry with optional protein additions, required about an hour due to ingredient preparation. Finally, the figgy caramelized-onion and arugula pizzas provided a unique and satisfying meal option.