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What You Need to Know About Meal Delivery Services
The variety of meal delivery services has taken off in recent years. Ventures like Daily Harvest and Amazon Fresh have added to the list of options available to users who want prepared food.
There are multiple options for people who would rather not cook at home. Eating out is one of the obvious options, but not everyone wants to go out every time for a meal. Meal delivery comes in handy on such occasions.
Sometimes, too, if you are a busy person, such as a working mom, you might choose to have meals delivered at home. Another case where these services can help is if there are young kids or the elderly at home, who might not be able to cook.
How Meal Delivery Services Work
Meal delivery services come in two main types. The first is ready-meal delivery. These food delivery providers will bring to your house professionally-prepared, ready to eat meals. For a set fee each week or on a per-meal basis, for example, you can get food straight to the house.
The second category of meal delivery services is the meal-kit delivery services. These services shop ingredients and prepare recipes for you. They then deliver the ingredients, recipes, and steps to follow so that you can make the dish. These companies are a good fit for those who want to save time on shopping but want the freedom of cooking their own meals.
Notable Meal Delivery Companies
To get started with meal delivery services, you will want to look up the available options in your area. Meal delivery services tend to cluster around big cities and metropolitan areas where delivery can be fast.
Some notable meal delivery services include:
- Veestro – A meal delivery company catering to vegans
- Amazon Fresh – Delivers meal kits ranging from burgers to soups and vegetables
- Trifecta – Provides meals for athletes and others on physical training regimens
- Provenance – A New York focused organic meal delivery service
Typical Costs for Meal Delivery Services
With meal delivery services, you can choose the right level of service to suit your budget. Entry level meal plans can be had for between $50-$100 per week. Such plans will offer, say, one meal a day that’s delivered to you. Entry level plans are great if you can cook at other times and just want a single meal replacement here and there.
More comprehensive meal plans can cost between $200-$400 a week. At the higher end of the scale, you get a comprehensive diet plan that includes plenty of variety. This way you don’t get bored with the food and improve your health while on the plan.
Meal delivery services come with several significant advantages. If you are strapped for time, for example, they can free up your time and allow you to do other things. This could be the case, for example, with athletes or busy executives.
Another advantage is the consistency. If you are not a good cook but still want excellent food all the time, meal delivery services can guarantee a high level of food quality.
Since meals delivered by these services take healthy eating into account, you might also experience some health benefits as well.
Meal kit delivery, on the other hand, allows you to build up your cooking skills over time. You get guidance on preparing all the meals and get all the ingredients you need in one place.
Using Meal Delivery Services Long Term
If you are going to rely on meal delivery services for the long term, pay attention to your dietary selections. It’s easy to always order the same thing when you discover that the delivery service is especially good at it, for example. The potential drawback here is that you might fall in a dietary rut and miss out on certain essential nutrients.
Change up your meal selections from time to time and eat some items that are not your favorites. This will ensure you get a balanced diet and don’t suffer from malnutrition.
Make sure to supplement your meal delivery food with locally-sourced vegetables and fresh fruits.
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I Tried Sunbasket for 3 Weeks—Here's My Detailed Review
Everything you need to know before trying it for yourself..
Bridget is an associate editor for performance marketing at Verywell. She has three years of experience writing for a variety of Dotdash Meredith brands, covering a wide range of topics like subscription services, meal kits, and home products. Highlights: * Bridget is the associate editor for performance marketing at Verywell where she works on health, family, fitness, and mind content * Bridget graduated from Iowa State University with B.A. in advertising and a business minor * Bridget's work has appeared in Real Simple, People, InStyle, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens, Shape, Parents, and Health
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How I Tested the Service
Signing up for sunbasket.
- Sunbasket Menu
Sunbasket Delivery and Packaging: Sustainable-ish
- Cooking Sunbasket Meals
- Sunbasket Ingredients
- How the Meals Tasted
- Sunbakset Cost
Sunbasket Customer Service
Sunbasket reviews.
- Sunbasket vs. Daily Harvest
- Who's It Good For?
- Who Isn’t It Good For?
My Testing Methodology:
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process . If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Sunbasket is a healthy meal delivery service that offers a variety of meal plans for different diets and eating habits. And it doesn't stop there: Sunbasket also has plenty of add-ons, so you can have every meal, snack, and dessert delivered right to your door. The best part about this service? You can mix and match different meal plans and preferences to create a customizable order that works for you and your family. If you do follow one specific diet—say, pescatarian —Sunbasket has plenty of recipes to choose from to fit your needs, too.
During my three-week testing period, the brand sent me five different Sunbasket premade meals , three meal kits (each with two servings), one breakfast, and three snacks to try. My thoughts in three words? Fresh, healthy, and satisfying.
I don't follow a specific diet; however, I aim to eat healthy meals that make me feel good. And when it comes to trying new flavors, I'm not picky. With that said, it's no surprise that Sunbasket's meals aligned with my nutrition needs and, as a bonus, left me the right amount of full. Oh, and every single meal is approved by in-house dietitians, so you know you're in good hands.
The most surprising part of my experience was seeing a small number of ingredients transform into restaurant-worthy entrées , which, in my opinion, came to life because of the flavorful sauces and dressings (hello, green goddess). Created by award-winning chefs with step-by-step instructions included, each recipe is enjoyable from the start of the cooking process to the last bite—or in some cases, post-plate lick.
Sign up now: From $56/week; sunbasket.com
My overall rating for Sunbasket: 9.4/10
- Fresh, organic produce and sustainably sourced proteins
- Variety of meal plans for different lifestyles and dietary needs (including diabetes)
- Satisfying portions in both meal kits and premade meals
- Lots of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and add-on options available
- Mostly reusable and recyclable packaging
- Shipping isn't included
- Limited family-friendly options
- Not available in all 50 states
- Bulky packaging
Signing up for Sunbasket is a breeze thanks to its user-friendly website and free app (available on Apple and Android devices). First, choose which type of meals you're interested in—Fresh & Ready no-prep meals or Meal Kits, which take 15 to 40 minutes to prepare. You can have both kinds in your box, but this step is helpful for those who are after one over the other. Sunbasket Fresh & Ready meals each feature one serving, so if you go that route, you can start selecting your heat-and-eat entrées right away. If you want Sunbasket's healthy meal kits, first choose one of the dietary preference options, including paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, Mediterranean, diabetes friendly, and no particular diet. Sunbasket is flexible, so you can always mix and match meals from different diets. Remember it's a helpful tool for shopping the Sunbasket menu if you are on a special diet—not a commitment.
Once you choose your adjustable plan, you can customize it even further by checking preferences, like low carb, avoid dairy, and high protein. Next, select how many servings you need per meal kit and how many dinners you want delivered each week. Finally, submit your email address and zip code, and you're ready to start picking your meals. Whether you're on the website or app, you can see pictures and nutritional information for each meal kit and premade dish available on the weekly menu. Note: Sunbasket ships everywhere in the U.S. except for Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and some areas in New Mexico.
Sunbasket Menu: Healthy and Versatile
There are 10 Sunbasket meal plans: Paleo, Carb-Conscious, Gluten-Free, Lean & Clean, Diabetes-Friendly, Chef's Choice, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Mediterranean, and Fresh & Ready. The Lean & Clean plan features under-600 calorie dishes made with whole foods, Chef's Choice has a variety of global-inspired recipes, and the others are pretty self explanatory. Each category has plenty of meal options to choose from each week. And since Sunbasket is overall a healthy meal delivery service, there are a lot of meals that fit the requirements of multiple diets. One meal kit might be labeled as Mediterranean, Carb-Conscious, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Paleo, Diabetes-Friendly, Lean & Clean, Family-Friendly, and Gluten-Free.
One confusing part of Sunbasket's website is knowing how many servings you can order per recipe. At first, it looks like you might only be able to choose between one and four servings, but you can actually order up to 16 servings. You can get up to eight of the same Fresh & Ready single-serve meals and up to 16 of the same meal kits.
If you need individual servings, Sunbasket Fresh & Ready meals are a no-brainer. They take no more than six minutes to heat up in the microwave or oven and taste absolutely delicious. For couples, families, or people who want leftovers, consider Sunbasket's meal kits, which are available in three options: Classic, Pre-Prepped, and Chef's Table. Classic meal kits take 30 minutes or less to make and include helpful cooking instructions. Pre-Prepped meal kits are the quickest and easiest option, featuring recipes that take 15 to 20 minutes to prepare, with pre-chopped and measured ingredients. If you're feeling fancy, the Chef's Table meal kits give you access to premium meats, special ingredients, and exquisite flavors. Feeding little ones? Look for the family-friendly label. There aren't a lot of kid-pleasing meals on the weekly menu, so you might have to make modifications to meals without that official title.
In addition to premade meals and meal kits, Sunbasket offers additional cuts of meat and a handful of homemade snacks, such as spinach artichoke dip. There is also a wide selection of bites, breakfast options, and desserts available from popular health food brands, like Siete and Perfect Bar, that you can add to your box. All of the add-ons include what diets and preferences they are suitable for, information about the brand, and an ingredient list.
The Sunbasket meals and snacks I chose:
Sunbasket meal kits:.
- Orange chipotle-glazed pork with coleslaw and roasted sweet potato
- Fish po' boy bowl with tomato relish and chipotle mayo
- Montreal steaks with green goddess chopped salad
Sunbasket Fresh & Ready Meals:
- Spaghetti alla beef Bolognese
- Beef chili with cheddar and Greek yogurt
- Pancetta and kale couscous with olives and creamy feta dressing
- Shrimp paella
- Creamy spinach and mushroom penne with almonds
Sunbasket Breakfast/Snacks:
- Mylk Labs cultivated blueberry and Vermont maple oatmeal cup
- Perfect Bar peanut butter protein bar
- Remedy Organics cacao protein drink
- Old Dog Ranch Mexican hot chocolate walnuts
Depending on your zip code, you can choose a day between Sunday and Thursday to have your meals delivered. My first shipment was delivered on a Tuesday afternoon, the second arrived on a Wednesday late afternoon, and my final delivery got here on a Tuesday afternoon. Since the temperatures are very high right now in the summer, it was nice that I was working from home and able to bring the box inside as soon as it arrived. However, the package was so insulated that I could've left it outside for hours without the food going bad. Note: Once you bring the box inside and open it up, immediately place the food in the fridge.
Unpacking the food didn't turn into a guessing game. It's very clear which packages are your meal kits, premade meals, and snacks. The meal kits come in a paper bag with a recipe label and inside are all the ingredients (except meat or fish) and the instructions. Fresh & Ready meals are clearly labeled and have nutritional information and heating instructions on the back side. Some Fresh & Ready meals can go in the freezer if you know you won't be able to eat them before their best by date. All the meal kits should be placed in the fridge.
Admittedly, I was skeptical about whether or not the fresh ingredients would arrive in good condition. I can happily say that all of my produce and meat were fresh, ripe, and bright. The tomatoes were plump, the cilantro was anything but wilted, and the green onions were *chef's kiss.*
Sunbasket's website claims it takes pride in its commitment to sustainability. For the most part, the packaging proves this to be true. The big box is constructed from recycled and virgin kraft paper, the insulation is made with reclaimed denim, and the meal kits come in recyclable paper bags. These three parts can be recycled curbside. The not-so-sustainable part of Sunbasket's packaging was that the majority of produce and seasonings are bundled in plastic and the gel packs are covered in plastic. The good news? The brand's website says it's currently working towards 100 percent recyclable packaging.
Cooking Sunbasket Meals: Quick and Easy
If I had to put myself in a cooking level category, I would call myself an intermediate at-home chef. When I feel like whipping up something tasty, 99 percent of the time it comes out pretty darn good. Plus, if I'm not cooking, my meals are usually on-point thanks to my grill-master boyfriend and award-winning restaurants in my city.
My verdict of Sunbasket meal kits? They only take an average of 30 minutes to make, satisfy self-proclaimed foodie palates like my own, and come with instructions that are easy to follow for beginner cooks and beyond. Basically, if you know how to use a knife, you'll nail the dish.
The only time I felt unsure was when I was cooking top sirloin steaks on the stovetop for the green goddess chopped salad. I had never cooked steak that way before; however, the helpful instructions (and incredible seasoning blend) led me to a five-star meal. Other than that moment of self doubt, one minor issue I had was knowing how much cabbage to use for the Montreal steak salad and the fish po' boy bowl. Both meal kits came with a large wedge but didn't mention a specific measurement.
What I like about the Sunbasket recipe cards is that they cover everything you need to know about your dish in a brochure you can keep forever. The front page features a picture of the meal, diets and preferences it's compatible with, cook time, total calories, and number of servings. Inside the booklet, there is an ingredient list of everything included in your bag (note: you have to use your own salt, pepper, and oil), plus a step-by-step prep and cooking process guide. The back side provides a short-and-sweet summary of the recipe's flavors and inspiration as well as a breakdown of nutritional information. If you prefer a virtual visual, you can either go to the brand's website or download the Sunbasket app to view the same information on the recipe cards.
As the name suggests, Sunbasket Fresh & Ready meals can be heated up in a snap. If you use a microwave (like I did), your meal only takes three to five minutes. My microwave is pretty powerful, so my dishes were done in three minutes. If you'd rather use a conventional oven, the Fresh & Ready entrées take 20 to 25 minutes to heat up.
Sunbasket Ingredients and Sourcing
For several decades, Sunbasket's executive chef, Justine Kelly, worked in some of the top San Francisco restaurants. Because of her experience, she knew which farms and fisheries to connect with to provide the best ingredients for Sunbasket meals. "A lot of it is based on relationships, farming practices, and quality of ingredients," Kelly said. "I look for farmers that are not spraying industrial chemicals and take good care of their soil."
Sunbasket works exclusively with U.S. family farms, trusted ranchers, and fishermen who work for fisheries that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (a leading authority in sustainable seafood). The suppliers grow organic produce, raise antibiotic- and hormone-free meat, and catch wild fish, all of which are raised responsibly and sustainably. Fresh produce, eggs, and dairy products are USDA-certified organic, and there are even some USDA-certified organic meat and poultry options on the menu. On rare occasions, Sunbasket has to send non-organic produce, eggs, and dairy products, but the company will let you know when that happens.
Sunbasket Flavor and Quality: Mostly Make-Again Meals
Overall, Sunbasket's meals did not disappoint. In fact, I was extremely impressed with each one. All three meal kits were outstanding as well as most of the Fresh & Ready meals. My absolute favorite was the fish po' boy bowl with tomato relish and chipotle mayo meal kit. It was labeled as Lean & Clean, Diabetes-Friendly, Spicy, Dairy-Free, Paleo, Soy-Free, Mediterranean, Carb-Conscious, and Gluten-Free. The meal kit came with ripe organic produce, including a red onion, shredded carrots, a cabbage wedge, and roma tomato. Other ingredients were cornichons, chipotle mayo, a paleo bread crumb blend, lemon vinaigrette, and two wild-caught sole fillets. With thorough cooking instructions, the dish was super simple to make. It took less than 30 minutes and only required one pan and two small bowls, which made cleanup a breeze. As far as taste goes, the flavors were 10/10. Usually at-home seafood dishes aren't the most exciting, but the paleo bread crumb crust, fresh tomato relish, and chipotle mayo drizzle gave the protein wonderful texture and flavor. My boyfriend isn't the biggest seafood fan, but he also thought it was exceptional. One serving was 480 calories and left both of us full and satisfied.
The only meal I tried that I wasn't crazy about was the premade beef chili with cheddar and Greek yogurt. For diet and preference categories, it was labeled Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, Spicy, and Carb-Conscious. The chili was a little too heavy and filling for a summertime lunch; however, as a Fresh & Ready meal, it only took four minutes to heat up in the microwave. I enjoyed the convenience of a quick meal, but I wouldn't add it to my order again in the warmer months.
After trying the different Sunbasket meal options, I've learned that sauces, seasonings, and fresh produce take dishes to the next level. The meals also reminded me that healthy meals don't need to be so boring—goodbye bland chicken and vegetables. Because I enjoyed the three meal kits so much, I plan on using the Sunbasket recipe cards for years to come.
Sunbasket Cost: Similar to Other Meal Delivery Services
For two people (couples):.
- Two meal kits with four servings total is $13.99/serving
- Three meal kits with six servings total is $11.99/serving
- Four dinners with eight servings total is $10.99/serving
For four people (families):
- Two meal kits with eight servings total is $10.99/serving
- Three meal kits with 12 servings total is $10.99/serving
- Four dinners with 16 servings total is $10.99/serving
Fresh & Ready meals (single serving):
- Four meals per week is $11.99/serving
- Five meals per week is $11.99/serving
- Six meals per week is $9.99/serving
- Seven meals per week is $9.99/serving
- Eight meals per week is $8.99/serving
Shipping: $7.99 per order
Right now, new customers can get $90 off with free shipping plus four bonus gifts for your first four deliveries. Just head to the website and enter your email address in the pop-up form—then Sunbasket provides a code to use at checkout.
If you need to contact Sunbasket's customer service, you have a few different ways to go about it. You can call 866-786-2758 and text +1-208-960-6505 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m PT any day of the week, email from their contact info on Sunbasket's website or on the app and hear back the next business day, and use the online chat feature that's available 24/7. For those who don't want to speak with a representative, Sunbasket's customer self-service page allows you to find solutions on your own. Lastly, the Sunbasket FAQ page is super informative as well.
"I've been using Sunbasket for nearly a year and find the service to be very consistent and reliable," one Sunbasket customer said. "The few interactions I've had with customer service have all been resolved to my satisfaction. I have never had any trouble pausing or adjusting my account to coordinate with vacations, guests, or other disruptions to my usual schedule."
As noted in the review above, it's easy to make changes to your delivery. Just make sure to do so before Wednesday at 12 p.m. PT. If you're going on vacation, log into your Sunbasket account and skip a week in the Schedule tab. Otherwise, you can send your box to your vacation address or a friend's home as a thoughtful treat. Need to change your meal plan, password, or address? Once you're logged in, go to My Account settings and make those adjustments in a snap. If you want to pause or officially cancel your subscription, go to the Manage My Subscription link on the settings page.
Sunbasket has 3.3 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. Based on 2,848 customer reviews, 47 percent said it was excellent, 27 percent said it was great, 16 percent said it was average, six percent said it was poor, and six percent said it was bad. According to Trustpilot, Sunbasket typically replies to negative reviews in one day or sooner and has replied to 100 percent of its negative reviews. Overall, customer satisfaction is positive.
"I'm a huge fan. My husband and I have been ordering from them for two years now (and typically about 42 weeks out of the year)," one five-star reviewer said . "The recipes are very tasty and things we wouldn't have tried on our own. Love the global influence and wide variety of dishes."
"Up until this last delivery, their produce has been excellent," one four-star reviewer said . "But this time I had four items from three different meals I couldn't use. So I really only got one meal out of four that I could prepare properly." The Sunbasket team replied to the customer's feedback and directed them to its customer service contact page for further assistance.
Sunbasket: My Take
Is Sunbasket worth it? As a healthy eater, I vote yes. If you value organic, healthy foods and/or follow a specific diet, Sunbasket makes it so easy to stay on track without sacrificing flavor or portion size. Plus, the meals don't require advanced skills, so it's a stress-free cooking process. Like all meal delivery services, it also saves you time because you don't have to plan meals or go to the grocery store. You just can't beat a box of quality ingredients delivered to your doorstep.
Another reason I recommend Sunbasket is because it reduces food waste . I cook for two people, so oftentimes I'm left with extra produce, meat, and condiments—which unfortunately usually get tossed in the trash. Having the exact amount of ingredients to feed two people means there's little to no food waste after the meal is made.
Healthy Meal Delivery Kits Comparison: Sunbasket vs. Daily Harvest
In the meal delivery business, Sunbasket and Daily Harvest both fall under the healthy category. As someone who has tried both of the services, my honest opinion is that Sunbasket is better. Why? Daily Harvest's menu is 100 percent plant-based and vegan, and it includes items like smoothies, grain bowls, soups, oat bowls, and flatbreads. The meals didn't always fill me up. Because I'm not vegan, I usually added my own seafood to the grain bowls and protein powder to the smoothies to satisfy my hunger. Sunbasket was the opposite. The Sunbasket single-serve meals and meal kit dishes left me comfortably full because they had an adequate amount of calories to keep me full—not to mention Sunbasket meals are fresh and Daily Harvest cups are frozen. Daily Harvest bowls and Sunbasket Fresh & Ready meals both cost about $9 per serving, making Sunbasket the overall winner.
Who's This Service Good For?
It's an excellent meal delivery service for those who want to eat healthier in general and also those who follow specific diets, like diabetes, gluten-free, vegetarian, Mediterranean, and others. Sunbasket is great for individuals, couples, and people with busy schedules.
Who Isn't It Good For?
People who don't enjoy healthy foods, picky eaters, and families with young children may not like Sunbasket. I wouldn't recommend Sunbasket to people who don't value convenience or quality meals.
My overall ranking for Sunbasket was 9.4/10 after evaluating pricing, quality of ingredients, ease of preparation, sustainability, and more. I took each of the below factors into account to arrive at a weighted score out of 10.
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Sunbasket Review
This meal delivery service has plenty of choices.
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We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process . If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi
Accommodates a variety of diets
Simple and quick to prepare meals with organic ingredients
Wide selection of proteins and broad range of add-ons
Occasional muted flavors
Higher price point than some other services
Sunbasket is a meal delivery service that checks a lot of boxes. With its organic ingredients, wide range of add-on items, and eco-friendly packaging, Sunbasket is an ideal choice for those who want to take the stress out of weekly meal planning while still doing their part to help the planet.
- How It Works
Pricing: Simple and Straightforward
- Choosing Meals
- Support Materials
- The Cooking Process
- Flavor, Freshness, and Quality
- Nutritional Value
Sunbasket Is Good For
- Customer Service
- Making Changes and Canceling
Methodology
- Final Verdict
Sunbasket is more healthful than your average meal delivery service, with relatively few refined carbs, lots of organic vegetables, and modest calorie counts. Plus, with a large selection of add-ons and fresh, fully-prepped single-serving dinners, Sunbasket's service goes way beyond meal kits. And with a wide variety of dietary profiles—like paleo, gluten-free, lean and clean, vegetarian, Mediterranean, pescatarian, and diabetes-friendly—as well as numerous protein substitutions for every dish, Sunbasket is about as flexible as they come.
Meal delivery services tend to cater to a specific audience, so finding the service that is right for you is about knowing your tastes and needs. What's your budget? How much time do you wish to spend cooking? What are your dietary preferences? All these questions and more will help you find the perfect service for your particular situation. We put Sunbasket to the test, breaking down many aspects of the service to help you decide whether you should give it a try.
We spent months researching, ordering, testing, eating, and writing about 40 different meal delivery services. Our testers wrote in-depth reviews and filled out detailed surveys about each company, which we used to assign an overall score to each one.
Learn More: Read Our Full Methodology
How It Works: Healthy, Organic Meals Weekly
Signing up for Sunbasket is very simple. The first question you must answer is whether you're more interested in meal kits or Sunbasket's "Fresh & Ready" heat-and-serve meals. Next, you'll be asked about your diet, preferences, the number of people at your table, and how many meals you'd like per week. Sunbasket is a subscription, so this process will set the framework for your weekly delivery. However, you can change all of these settings at any time.
Once you've signed up, Sunbasket will send you a box on your chosen delivery day each week. You can either leave the meal selections up to Sunbasket or actively manage your subscription by choosing your own meals. Shipping costs $9.99 per box, but Sunbasket will waive the shipping fee for your first order.
While some meal delivery services offer volume-based pricing structures, Sunbasket's pricing simply depends on what you order. Meal kit pricing starts at $11.49 and increases depending on selection. For example, a vegan dish like tofu curry might ring up at the $11.49 price point, while a meat-forward dish like chicken and orzo comes out to $12.79 per serving. "Speedy" meal kits, which are pre-prepped and meant to cook in 20 minutes or less, are a bit more expensive, with some meals as high as $17.99 per serving. Shipping is free for your first order, and after that, you'll pay $9.99 per box.
Choosing Meals: Large Selection of International Flavors
Sunbasket features a wide array of culinary styles and ingredients, and the menu changes every week. There are currently 20 meal kit options and 13 Fresh & Ready choices available each week, with selections like Japanese curry udon with edamame, spicy Sichuan mapo tofu with mushrooms and kale, pinto bean and hominy pozole rojo with queso fresco, and Black Angus rib-eyes with artichoke butter and garlicky green beans on the menu. Sunbasket's breakfast and lunch choices are classified as "add-ons."
As mentioned, you can either choose your own meals or accept Sunbasket's selections based on your dietary preferences. If you want to make your own selections, the cutoff to do so is Wednesday at noon PT. Each Sunbasket box can hold up to eight items. You can order as many boxes as you like, but you are limited to eight orders of any one kit or Fresh & Ready meal. Sunbasket meal kits serve either two or four people, and Fresh & Ready meals all include one serving. We found the portions to be a little on the smaller side, but they were still satisfying.
Sunbasket is most flexible when it comes to protein selection. Some dishes allow you to select from nearly a dozen options across multiple protein categories, from fish to poultry, beef, pork, lamb, and plant-based proteins like tofu and meat substitutes.
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What We Made
For our Sunbasket delivery, we ordered four meal kits and four Fresh & Ready prepared meals across a range of cuisines, flavors, and protein options. The meals we chose are as follows:
- Sea scallops over fresh fettuccine with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach
- Snapper with romesco, vegetables and almonds
- Burmese chicken and sweet potato curry
- Sirloin strip tacos with zucchini scallion salsa
Prepared Meals:
- Broccoli mac and cheese
- Chicken chow mein with broccoli, mushroom, and toasted garlic
- Beef donburi rice bowl with edamame and kimchi-lime vegetables
- Burrito bowl al pastor with plant-based Impossible Beef
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The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley
Support Materials: Perfectly Adequate
Each meal kit includes a foldout recipe card with instructions, a photo of the prepared meal, a list of all ingredients, nutrition information, and the occasional tip and fun fact. The instructions are color-coded, with directions for four-serving preparation in red, and prep steps—such as chopping vegetables—in purple. There are also directions for each of the various protein options you may have selected. We found the recipes to be simple, well-written, and easy to follow. All of this material is available in the Recipe Book section of the Sunbasket app. There, you can see all Sunbasket's recipes, the recipes for your orders, and any favorites that you've saved.
The Sunbasket website also has a Tips and Techniques section drawn from the content on the Sunbasket blog. These tips are not linked specifically to your order, so you may have to do a bit of exploratory digging if you're looking for a particular tip or technique. There is some video content as well, but it's not easy to find on the site. If you're looking for video, visit Sunbasket's YouTube channel.
Packaging: Very Eco-Friendly
Compared to other meal delivery services, Sunbasket stands out from the rest with its environmentally-friendly packaging. Our order came in a recyclable box lined with paper and denim insulation. The food is kept cold with plastic ice packs, which are filled with a compostable blend of water and cotton fiber.
Inside the box, our proteins were sealed in plastic, and brown paper bags held the remaining ingredients for the kits. These ingredients are packaged in various forms of plastic, such as small screw-top jars, clamshell containers, and LDPE bags. Eggs are packaged inside individual cardboard cartons, which are sealed inside plastic bags. Thick-skinned vegetables like cucumber and radish had no extra wrapping or packaging, and the Fresh & Ready meals came in fiber trays with cardboard sleeves.
In total, our Sunbasket order included 68 pieces of packaging—45 for the meal kits and 23 for the prepared meals. Of those 68 pieces, 32 were eligible for curbside recycling and 34 were able to be recycled at a special facility. Only two items had to be sent to the landfill, which is a major win in our book.
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The Cooking Process: Simple and Straightforward
On its website, Sunbasket helpfully labels each kit to indicate the level of pre-preparation of the ingredients. "Speedy" kits include pre-prepped ingredients, and they're said to be ready in 20 minutes or less. Even the standard kits without such labels are relatively simple. The most you'll have to do is chop a couple of veggies, cook a protein, and maybe prepare some grains. There are a few somewhat complex recipes that require up to an hour of work, but these are the exception rather than the rule.
The kits we tested came together quickly, often faster than Sunbasket's estimates. All the sauces and dressings arrived pre-portioned. None of the recipes had more than four or five major steps, so beginners should have no trouble with Sunbasket.
In terms of cookware, all our meals were easily prepared with only a pot, a frying pan, and a mixing bowl or two. You must supply your own oil, salt, pepper, and sugar. And as for the Fresh & Ready meals, all you have to do is heat them in the microwave or the oven to enjoy.
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Flavor, Freshness, and Quality: Top Quality Ingredients, Some Muted Flavors
Sunbasket's freshness and quality were very good, and we found that the meals we ordered were mostly flavorful. However, some dishes needed some extra oomph in terms of spices and seasonings. Overall, though, our meals smelled and looked great, and we found them filling and satisfying.
As far as sourcing, Sunbasket provides transparency about its sustainable processes and standards. The company strives to use 100% organic produce in their meals, and they work with farmers, fisherman, and ranchers on responsibly sourcing proteins. On top of that, they give back to the community by donating food to several non-profit organizations.
Nutritional Value: Balanced Organic Nutrition
Sunbasket excels in the area of nutrition. The meal kits are packed with high-quality, lean proteins, organic vegetables, and whole grains, with very reasonable calorie counts—ranging from 350 calories in the sole dish to around 880 calories for the salmon and farro bowl. Several of our meals fell into multiple dietary categories like paleo, gluten-free, Mediterranean, and carb-conscious. If nutrition is your priority, Sunbasket is definitely a good choice.
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Very busy folks who want to keep it healthy, as well as those looking to conveniently jumpstart a better diet, will be well served by Sunbasket. If you have any time at all to do your own meal planning, however, you may not get much added value from a Sunbasket subscription.
Add-Ons: Most of the Bells and Whistles
Add-ons are one of Sunbasket's great strengths. The only things the service lacks are beer and wine. Otherwise, Sunbasket offers an extensive, well-curated selection of add-ons, divided into five major categories: Breakfast, Lunch, Pasta & Sauce, Proteins, and Snacks. Each of these categories contains multiple subcategories. All told, there are dozens of intriguing items, from soups and pizzas to breakfast bars and egg bites, juices, cheeses, cooked proteins, sweets, and more. As a nice bonus, Sunbasket includes one of these items as a free gift in each of your first four orders.
Sunbasket offers an extensive, well-curated selection of add-ons, divided into five major categories.
Customer Service: Plenty of Avenues
We reached out to customer service via text to ask a few basic questions. It took about 40 minutes to get a response. Once we were in touch with an agent, all our questions were answered within about 30 minutes. Sunbasket has several other customer service avenues, including phone, email, a chat bot, a self-service system, and "ask an expert," where you can get questions answered by other Sunbasket customers. There's also an FAQ section on the website, although it's difficult to find.
The other avenue we used was the self-service feature. When our first box arrived wet and torn, we used the self-service feature to report it. We were automatically offered a credit for the cost of the entire order. Since none of the ingredients seemed compromised, we declined, but it was good to know that this type of resolution was available.
Making Changes and Canceling: No Trouble
Making changes to your delivery, customizing your order, and canceling your Sunbasket service is straightforward. You can change and customize your order in the My Menu and Schedule tabs. My Menu is for altering the contents of your order; Schedule is for skipping deliveries or arranging shipping to a temporary address. To reduce your delivery frequency, pause, or cancel your account, go to Account Settings and click "Manage My Subscription."
Sunbasket is a great service. While a few of our meals could have benefited from a little more seasoning, that alone shouldn't prevent you from trying Sunbasket for yourself. The service has a lot of options, and we did very much enjoy the majority of our meals. The main sticking point for us is value, which is unavoidably subjective. If you're willing to pay a little more for organic food and convenience, then Sunbasket may be right for you.
Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated 40 different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, and customer service, as well as the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our Spruce Eats tester panel includes dietitians, chefs, and longtime food writers. The one thing they all have in common is their love and knowledge of food.
- Product Name Sunbasket
- Starting Price $9.99 per serving
- Delivery Area 46 states
- Products Arrive Fresh
- Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Yes
- Free Shipping? Only on your first order
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Sunbasket Meal Delivery Service Review
Mostly delicious DIY meal kits, and expanded grocery options
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The Bottom Line
Sunbasket delivers tasty entrées with varying levels of preparation effort, from heat-and-eat to classic cooking. You can add a wide variety groceries to your order, too. That said, the menu-selection process needs improvement.
- Delicious from-scratch kits
- Convenient pre-prepped options
- Substitutions sometimes offered
- Expanded grocery delivery options
- Good packaging
- Cheaper, smaller portion options
- Disappointing oven-ready meals
- Ordering process needs improvement
- Lacks visual instructions
- Sunbasket Meal Delivery Service Specs
Meal-kit delivery services mainly sell convenience, and Sunbasket certainly makes it easy to get a hot dinner on the table. It also lets you skip trips to the store by selling a wide variety of grocery add-on items to your orders, from single-serve yogurts to cuts of meat. It heads further down the convenience road by offering three meal types: oven-ready (in other words, heat and eat), pre-prepped (where ingredients come cleaned and precut), and classic cooking (where you get ingredients and follow a recipe from top to bottom).
The convenience comes with tradeoffs, however, and Sunbasket's meals sometimes show it. For example, oven-ready meals lack texture contrast and freshness. Furthermore, the service's meal-choosing process isn't particularly intuitive. Sunbasket is a good choice if you're mainly concerned with getting meals on the table and avoiding shopping, but make certain that the meals you're picking meet your dietary requirements.
- How Much Does Sunbasket Cost?
Sunbasket's meal kits cost anywhere from $10.99 to $12.99 per serving, depending on the number of meals you buy at a time. Fresh and Ready meals start at $4.36 for the new smaller, single-portion sizes, or $8.99 for a larger portion. There's a $7.99 shipping fee, too, which typically gets waived on your first order. The exact price depends on how many recipes you order per shipment and the plan you choose. Here are two examples:
A Vegetarian plan for four people, containing three recipes per shipment, costs $11.99 per serving. That totals $155.47 with shipping and tax (depending on your zip code)
A Paleo plan for two people, containing four recipes per shipment, costs $10.99 per serving. That totals $90.12 per box (shipping and tax included)
Sunbasket lets you shop for additional food items when you choose meals for the week. These include breakfast items, snacks, pastas, single-serve soups, nuts, crackers, meats, seafoods, all priced à la carte . The selection has grown over time, to the point of become a major selling point. Sunbasket now views itself as an overall food delivery company, not just a meal kit service—a smart growth direction. The mojo taco marinade we tried with a meal kit was so good they should sell it separately.
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The only major category missing is fresh produce. We like the convenience of being able to supplement a cooking kit or ready meals with additional items and perhaps skip a trip to the store. That said, Editors' Choice pick Hungryroot offers a strong grocery alternative.
- How Much Do Other Meal Services Cost?
Sunbasket costs about the same, or a little more, than most other meal-kit delivery services. EveryPlate is one of the lowest-priced options you'll find. No matter how many people you need to feed, it's $4.99 per serving with a flat $8.99 shipping fee per box.
HelloFresh and Green Chef (Editors' Choice picks for omnivores and plant-focused meals, respectively) charge between $9.99 and $12.99 per serving, with a $7.99 shipping fee. It's worth mentioning that many companies waive the shipping fee on your first order.
Blue Apron (Editors' Choice pick for cooking education) costs a little less: between $7.49 and $9.99 per serving, and shipping is always free for all but the smallest plan.
MisenBox (Editors' Choice pick for serving local restaurant food nationwide) varies wildly when it comes to price, but that's because all its food comes from various independent restaurants.
Purple Carrot , which is all vegan , falls between $8.99 and $10.99 per serving. Shipping rates vary based on the size of the kit you get, ranging from $5.99 to $11.99.
Most meal services mentioned so far ship a minimum of two servings per recipe. Single-serve options are available, though they tend to offer ready-made meals rather than cooking kits. Freshly, Splendid Spoon , and Daily Harvest are examples of these fully prepared meal kit services. Freshly's meals ($7.99-$11.50 per serving) are a step up from TV dinners of yore, though similar in portion and packaging. Splendid Spoon ($9.50-$13 per meal, shipping included) sends you premade soups, bowls, and smoothies. Daily Harvest ($6.99-$7.75 per meal) sends you frozen ingredients for smoothies, soups, and bowls; you simply add liquid to them, and heat or blend the ingredients before eating.
- Sunbasket's Menu
When you first sign up for Sunbasket, you must make a few choices about the plan type you want and style of food you'd like to see and choose from. Your kits can either contain two or four servings per recipe. As for types of meals, the options are:
- Carb-Conscious
- Chef's Choice
- Diabetes-Friendly
- Gluten Free
- Lean & Clean
- Mediterranean
- Pescatarian
After you choose your selection, the site sends you to a page where you pick meals. Here's the problem: Based on the selection you make, you see those meals first, but you don't see them only. Pick vegetarian, and the first four meal options are all vegetarian, but the fifth and sixth are pork chops and turkey meatballs under "More Dinners."
Now, a vegetarian would be quick to notice pictures of meat and seafood, but someone with other dietary restraints might not catch on that the options don't fit their needs. Let's say you have celiac disease and you choose a gluten-free plan. If you then get a meal option for two-bean chili mac 'n' cheese with penne, you might assume the penne is gluten-free. If it's not, but it shows up on your list of options, that's troubling.
You must pay attention to tags that appear below the preview image of each meal choice. That's where you'll definitely see soy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and other important notes. The tags are helpful, but when someone chooses a plan type, they may rightfully expect to see a filtered list of meal options that only fits their requirements. Furthermore, while meal descriptions list allergy information, there's no way to filter by, say, nut allergy needs.
Sunbasket has other tags letting you know which meals are "speedy" to make, as well as oven-ready, or pre-prepped. Depending on the meals you pick, you can also sometimes upgrade an ingredient for a price, such as choosing organic meat over a conventional product, or swapping chicken thighs for breasts.
You can browse Sunbasket's menu without an account. Click any menu preview, and you'll see the full list of ingredients, instructions, and other notes about the recipe. You don't see images of the recipe in progress, which some other services such as HelloFresh, EveryPlate, and Blue Apron provide. If you're new to cooking, visual information goes a long way to helping you understand the steps.
When the Sunbasket kit arrived, there were three meals neatly packed into one box. The company strives to make each element of its packaging recyclable or compostable (Opens in a new window) . Insulation is either recycled denim or shredded recycled paper filling. You can reuse the recycled denim as stuffing for pet beds or other furniture projects. You can also use it for noise reduction if you want to, say, build a home studio and start recording a podcast .
Ice packs are thick plastic bags (#4, in case you want to clean and recycle them) filled with a frozen gel that's 98% water and 2% non-GMO cotton. It's not unlike the gel that other meal kit delivery services use, except that Sunbasket says that you can compost it. You can even use it to water a garden. Most other services say you need to dump the gel in the trash.
Each meal kit arrived neatly packed in paper bags and clearly labeled. Inside the paper bag, ingredients were packed in plastic bags or containers. Some companies cut down on packaging by leaving some ingredients, such as onions and potatoes, unwrapped. EveryPlate doesn't bother to package each meal into individual bags. It's not all that hard to pull out the ingredients you need each time you make a meal.
- Cooking and Eating
In a previous Sunbasket review, our writers loved the meals they tried. All three would be considered Classic options under the choices that Sunbasket now offers. Blackened chicken with collard greens and sweet potatoes was a hit, as was the seared steak with a cucumber-radish salad and penne. Tempeh bolognese with rigatoni and roasted broccoli received an "OK" from our raters, as did a warm bean and summer squash salad with couscous. Recently, however, we've been less than impressed with Sunbasket's offerings, especially when it comes to oven-ready options.
Let's start on a high note with the pre-prepped Mediterranean lemon chicken. The recipe bag contained four components: a bag of broccoli florets (it was supposed to be baby broccoli, but we received a note saying that they were out); a plastic container of red peppers, olives, and sliced cooked artichoke hearts; raw chicken; and a premade lemon vinaigrette-style sauce.
It was a cinch to put together. You pan-fry the chicken in a skillet and remove it, cook the broccoli in the same pan, and finally toss up the other vegetables until everything's warm. Divide across two plates and add the sauce. Or skip the sauce. It really didn't need it.
Broccoli is always a winner, and the other vegetables left us with no taste complaints. They seemed to have a light marinade, but it may have been juices and oils from the olives and artichokes. In any event, the chicken raised suspicion. When cooked, the pieces released a lot of liquid, especially when pressed to test for doneness. Perhaps they had been plumped (Opens in a new window) , that is to say, injected with a saltwater solution to make them juicier. Sunbasket says it uses chicken that's "responsibly raised and antibiotic and hormone-free." It says nothing about plumping.
Sunbasket's food started to disappoint with the oven-ready spicy Sichuan dan dan noodles. As an oven-ready meal, it came nestled in parchment paper in a container made of thin wood. You could probably turn the containers into small outdoor planters. Anyway, the instructions say to remove the surrounding plastic and either nuke the whole thing in the microwave (lay a wet paper towel across the top for best results) or pop it into a hot oven. We did the oven method, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Cooking the wood initially gave off a faint burning smell, but that quickly subsided.
There was not a hint of spice, and more importantly, not a hint of texture. The noodles, tofu, and spinach were all the same mushy consistency. Except for a few strands of nearly melted spinach, the whole dish was monotone in color, too. This dish needed something crunchy or fresh added, like sliced scallions, or toasted sesame seeds, or mung bean sprouts. Mixing in a teaspoon of chili garlic sauce gave it some kick. Sunbasket should consider sending a fresh topping or two for these oven-ready meals. They sorely need it.
They same was true with a pappardelle meal we tried. It needed a healthy amount of added seasoning for its generous spinach portion. Conversely, the hefty Southwestern turkey and sweet potato skillet had a nice blend of spicy flavors, but the sweet potatoes themselves clashed with what was otherwise perfectly fine chili—it should've been left on the side. After eating both of these dishes, we had plenty of leftovers, but if your eyes aren't bigger than your stomach Sunbasket now offers smaller, cheaper, single-portion sizes for all Fresh and Ready meals.
Finally, the oven ready Thai green curry with shrimp, zucchini, and jasmine rice was one of the worst entrées we've had from a meal-kit delivery service, despite wanting to like it. This wasn't anything close to good. The meal ingredients come in two containers. One has precooked rice, which is a turn off since you don't know where it's been and how long ago it was cooked. The second container holds the shrimp and zucchini curry.
When cold, the gravy has a gelatinous cream color, and it heavily coats all the ingredients. Once warm, it becomes translucent. Not all green curries look green, but they don't usually melt away like butter.
This dish wasn't entirely mushy. The precooked shrimp became rubbery when reheated. Could this dish have been saved by a few sprigs of fresh Thai basil or bright red bird's eye chilis? Maybe, but we doubt it.
- The Sun Also Rises
Overall, Sunbasket has good food options, whether you enjoy cooking or are looking for a more convenient way to put together a meal. The oven-ready meals don't work, though. Avoid them.
In addition, you may want to sign up for Sunbasket over another meal kit delivery service because it lets you add groceries to your order. It's not the same as online shopping à la FreshDirect or Instacart, but it's nice to tack on a few dips, a bar of chocolate, or a package of ravioli. Hungryroot is still our Editors' Choice pick when it comes to grocery options.
Sunbasket has its charms, but there are many other meal kit options that we recommend. If you're looking for something more surefire, our other Editors' Choice picks are Blue Apron for novice cooks, Green Chef for people who like plant-focused meals (vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike), MisenBox for people nationwide who want quality local restaurant food, and HelloFresh for people with a varied diet.
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Sunbasket Review for 2023: A Dietitian’s Expert Take
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Sunbasket is a meal kit service that’s focused on high quality ingredients and convenience.
Offering a variety of meals produced using organic, sustainably sourced ingredients, Sunbasket may be a simple solution for busy, health-conscious consumers.
However, as it’s relatively expensive and doesn’t offer options for all specialty diets, it may not be the best choice for everyone.
This article takes an in-depth look at Sunbasket and whether you should give it a try.
- variety of meal plans and recipes
- prioritizes organic and sustainable ingredients
- minimal time and effort required
- recyclable and compostable packaging
- multiple add-on options
- great flavor and variety of ingredients
- may contain some plastic packaging
- unsuitable for those with allergies or certain dietary restrictions
What is Sunbasket?
Sunbasket is a meal delivery service that aims to help you save time on cooking while allowing you to enjoy a variety of fresh, flavorful, and nutritious meals.
The service offers two options: You can purchase meal kits, which include step-by-step recipes and premeasured ingredients, or you can purchase fully prepared meals , which you simply need to reheat to enjoy.
In addition to dinner entrees, Sunbasket allows you to order many optional add-ons, including a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes, fresh pasta, proteins, and snacks.
This could make it appealing to people who want to streamline their meal prep, improve their cooking skills, or diversify their diet.
Sunbasket uses high quality, seasonal ingredients — including primarily organic produce — and offers a range of meals for many dietary restrictions, so it’s a good option for those interested in healthy eating.
How Sunbasket works
Sunbasket offers a range of options, making it easy to find something that works for you. To get started, you simply choose two or more dinners from the weekly menu available on the Sunbasket website.
You can select from several meal plans to receive customized menu recommendations, including:
- Chef’s Choice: seasonal recipes
- Paleo: high protein meals without grains, gluten, soy, corn, or dairy
- Carb-Conscious: meals containing 25–35 grams of net carbs per serving
- Gluten-Free: wheat alternatives; unsuitable for those with severe gluten-related disorders , such as celiac disease, as foods are packaged in a facility that processes food allergens, including gluten
- Diabetes-Friendly: recipes approved by the American Diabetes Association
- Vegetarian: excludes meat, fish, or poultry
- Pescatarian: vegetarian with wild-caught seafood
- Fresh & Ready: heat-and-eat meals, some ready in as little as 4 minutes
- Mediterranean: whole grains, healthy fats, wild-caught seafood, and responsibly sourced meats
Even if you select one of the meal plans above, you can still customize your weekly menu by mixing and matching with other recipes.
You can also download the service’s free app, which is available for free on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Meals typically include premeasured ingredients and are often already prepared or oven-ready.
While all dinners can be cooked and served in less than 30 minutes, several “speedy” options are available, which are ready to enjoy in less than 20 minutes.
Add-ons, including breakfast, lunch, and snack options, are also available for an additional fee.
You can cancel or change your order on the website or using the Sunbasket app. You can also skip a week or forward your weekly box to a different address if you’re traveling.
Changes to your weekly order must be submitted online by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the Wednesday before your delivery.
Sunbasket meal options
Sunbasket offers a variety of dinner recipes each week, including vegetarian options, seafood dishes, and meat or poultry meals.
With pasta dishes, curries, tacos, pilafs, paellas, and whole grain bowls available, there are plenty of options that will allow you to tailor your weekly menu to your taste buds and dietary restrictions or needs.
All Sunbasket meals use fresh, varied ingredients and feature herbs, spices, sauces, and seasonings to maximize the flavor of each dish.
Here are a few examples of meals you may find on the menu:
- Broccoli and Fresh Mozzarella Panini with Honey-Glazed Carrots
- Beet and Quinoa Salad with Orange, Goat Cheese, and Toasted Naan
- Seared Salmon with Chimichurri and Provençal Vegetables
- Lebanese Beef and Spinach “Tacos” with Spicy Tahini Yogurt
- Burmese Salmon Salad with Lemongrass, Cabbage, and Apple
Dinner meal kits contain either 2 or 4 servings per recipe, while Fresh & Ready meals are individually portioned and contain just 1 serving each.
Examples of Fresh & Ready meals include:
- Chipotle Butternut Squash Stew with Chorizo, Cauliflower, and Cashews
- Spaghetti alla Beef Bolognese
- Middle Eastern Chickpea and Freekeh Grain Bowl with Herb Yogurt
- Butter Chicken
- Burrito Bowl with Achiote-Citrus Braised Pork, Corn, and Black Beans
Breakfast options are mostly ready-to-eat meals such as egg bites, hand pies, yogurt, oatmeal, protein bars , waffles, juices, and smoothies.
Similarly, lunch dishes from Sunbasket include portable soups, microwaveable meals, cooked proteins (including plant-based options), and tortillas and breads.
How to choose meals
Each week, you can create a custom menu by ordering from a selection of rotating entrees and add-ons using the Sunbasket website or app.
You can filter the results to show meals that contain fewer than 600 calories; “speedy” options, which are ready in 20 minutes or less; or dishes that fit a variety of dietary restrictions (paleo, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, or vegan).
You can also look at detailed information for any recipe or meal, including the ingredients, potential allergens, nutritional content, and step-by-step preparation instructions.
Prices are listed on an item-by-item basis, and you can see your order total in your cart before you check out.
You can also select a specific delivery date. Your order can be changed until 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the Wednesday before it’s set to arrive.
Grocery marketplace add-on items
In addition to meal kits and prepared meals, Sunbasket offers a variety of add-on items, which you can purchase individually.
Breakfast options include fully prepared items such as:
- breakfast burritos
- oatmeal cups
- vegan butter
- protein bars
The service also has a wide variety of prepared add-on items for lunch, including:
- noodle bowls
- bread, buns, and tortillas
What’s more, you can order several types of pasta, sauces, snacks, and proteins such as seafood, beef, and poultry.
Items are priced individually and can be added to your order each week using the website or app.
What ingredients does Sunbasket use?
Sunbasket prioritizes high quality, sustainable ingredients and estimates that 99% of the produce that it ships is organic .
Additionally, the service currently only uses organic milk, yogurt, eggs, and tofu.
In terms of seafood, Sunbasket uses wild-caught or sustainably raised seafood that the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch — an organization that promotes sustainable seafood — has labeled either a “Best Choice” or a “Good Alternative.”
Sunbasket’s meat and poultry are also antibiotic- and hormone-free, and the lamb is always pasture-raised.
Organic and/or grass-fed meat and poultry are also available for select recipes.
All meal kits include simple step-by-step recipes, and many are ready to enjoy in 30 minutes or less.
Depending on the recipe, some ingredients arrive premeasured or prepared for easier cooking.
Sunbasket also offers a variety of Fresh & Ready meals, which are fully prepared and delivered in a microwave- or oven-safe tray so you can reheat and enjoy each meal in as little as 6 minutes.
How is Sunbasket packaged?
Each shipment arrives in recyclable and composable packaging .
However, individual ingredients may be enclosed in plastic bags or containers, which may or may not be recyclable depending on your location.
To maximize the freshness of your meal, orders are shipped in a paper-insulated package, and meats are frozen in airtight bags.
You can select a preferred day for your weekly delivery, which can ensure that you’re able to refrigerate ingredients promptly once they arrive.
When opening your box, you’ll find brown paper bags for each meal, which include the ingredients you’ll need for that specific dish, as well as recipe instructions.
Proteins, such as shrimp, poultry, and red meat, are located under an ice pack for better temperature control.
Instead of large cards with step-by-step photos, Sunbasket includes small recipe booklets that contain instructions, nutrition facts, and a list of tools and pantry ingredients required.
Recipes are also available online, along with bonus content, such as homemade drinks, desserts, and videos.
Are Sunbasket meals healthy?
Sunbasket meals feature an array of fresh, seasonal, and nutrient-dense ingredients, including many varieties of vegetables, whole grains, and proteins.
Most meals are also nutritionally balanced, with a good amount of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates in each serving.
Sunbasket’s meal kits are low in added sugar and free of highly processed ingredients — a plus in our book.
However, keep in mind that some meals may contain a higher amount of calories, carbs, or sodium in each serving.
In particular, many of the Fresh & Ready meals contain more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium per serving, which may not be suitable for those following a low sodium or heart-healthy diet.
Similarly, some meals contain more than 700 calories per serving and more than 80 grams of carbs. While these meals can still fit into a well-rounded, nutritious diet, they might not be ideal for people who are following a low calorie diet or a low carb diet such as keto .
Therefore, if you have any dietary restrictions, it’s important to check the nutrition facts for each meal when selecting your weekly menu to determine which recipes fit into your diet.
How much does Sunbasket cost?
Compared with its competitors, Sunbasket can be somewhat pricey. Meals cost $9.99–$17.99 per serving at the time of publication.
Keep in mind these prices do not include add-ons, such as breakfast, lunch, or snack options, which could increase the price.
The prices also do not include shipping, which costs a flat fee of $9.99 after your first box.
How to contact Sunbasket customer service
If you have any issues with your order, there are several ways to contact customer service.
In fact, you can easily email, call, or text a customer service representative during normal business hours Monday through Friday.
You can get assistance and advice from Sunbasket customer experts, and a self-service section is available on the website to help you resolve simple issues with ingredients or delivery. A digital assistant, Sunny B., is also available 24 hours a day.
Sunbasket offers a money-back guarantee and promises a full refund if you’re dissatisfied with your order for any reason.
Who tried it
My experience trying sunbasket.
While Sunbasket sounds great on paper, the only way to know whether it’s worth paying for is by trying it out for yourself. I received three recipes to cook:
- Black Angus Rib-Eyes with Warm Kale, Romanesco , and Goat Cheese Salad
- Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp with Spanish Rice
- Mojo Tacos with Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Onions, and Salsa Verde
Delivery and ingredients
My Sunbasket box was actually delivered after I’d already gone to bed, though with a 9-month old, bedtime is pretty early in our house.
However, I was impressed that the ice packs kept all of the ingredients fresh and cool overnight — even the shrimp was still perfectly cold, which hasn’t always been my experience when trying other meal delivery services.
I also appreciated that the meal kit ingredients were packaged by meal, as it helped keep my fridge organized.
How long does Sunbasket take to cook?
Most of the meals Sunbasket provides can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, making them great options if you’re running short on time during the week.
In fact, both the tacos and the Mediterranean shrimp dishes took me less than 20 minutes to whip up. The steaks took a tad longer, though the meal was still ready in less than half an hour.
While I didn’t try them, the company offers several meals that are oven-ready or fully prepared, including some dishes that require as few as 6 minutes to prepare.
Plus, most of the add-on breakfast and lunch options require little to no preparation and can be either microwaved or enjoyed as is.
Are the meals easy to make?
Each meal comes with a small recipe booklet, which I found to be less user-friendly than the large recipe cards that many other services provide.
Even so, I found the recipes straightforward and the meals easy to make.
What’s more, two of the three recipes required just one frying pan and one or two mixing bowls, making cleanup a breeze.
How does Sunbasket taste?
Chef Justin Kelly creates and designs all Sunbasket recipes to be both delicious and nutritious — which they are.
Thanks to seasonal ingredients and house-made spice blends and sauces, each of the meals I tried tasted fresh and flavorful.
Here’s what I thought of each meal:
This recipe was my family’s favorite, as the mojo marinade provided just the right amount of heat, which was balanced out by the tangy pickled onions and tart salsa verde. I was also super impressed by the corn tortillas, which were thicker and softer than most store-bought varieties.
Black Angus Rib-Eyes
What I appreciated most about this dish was how the garlic-porcini seasoning didn’t overpower the natural flavor of the steaks. Furthermore, the salad with fresh herbs and lemon vinaigrette could easily be served at a restaurant.
Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp
This was the only dish that I wish would have offered a bit more variety in terms of flavor. That said, the meal was still delicious, and the shrimp was of good quality.
Would I order Sunbasket again?
I’ve tried several meal delivery services and can confidently say that Sunbasket is one of my favorites.
It offers a great variety of meals to choose from, including meal kits and prepared entrees, and the service’s dedication to organic and seasonal ingredients results in dishes that taste fresh and are brimming with flavor.
Therefore, if cost wasn’t a consideration, I’d absolutely order Sunbasket again.
However, as I have access to organic and local ingredients at a nearby supermarket — and I have the time to plan and prep my meals — it’s hard for my family to justify the cost of Sunbasket.
Sunbasket alternatives
Sunbasket stands out from its competitors as one of the few meal delivery services to prioritize high quality, organic, and sustainably sourced ingredients.
However, this comes with a slightly higher price tag. HelloFresh and Blue Apron both start at just $7.99 (depending on the number of meals/servings).
Sunbasket recipes are also often quicker and more convenient than other services. Many meals arrive pre-prepared and are ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes.
Many other meal delivery services provide ingredients that haven’t been premeasured, cut, or cooked, meaning that some recipes can take up to an hour to prepare.
Additionally, while some other delivery services offer add-ons like wine pairings, smoothies, and snacks, Sunbasket is one of the few meal kits to offer extra meals, like breakfast and lunch.
Finally, keep in mind that if budget is your primary concern, you may want to consider a meal planning app, such as eMeals or PlateJoy .
While you’ll need to buy your groceries in-store or online, these services can still save you time, as they offer customized meal plans and grocery lists.
Who should try Sunbasket?
Sunbasket may be a good choice for health-conscious people who are short on time but still want to enjoy tasty, homemade meals using high quality ingredients.
Because it’s slightly more expensive than many other meal delivery services, it may not be the right fit for those on a tight budget or people who aren’t as concerned about eating only organic or sustainable ingredients.
Additionally, those with food allergies or a gluten-related disorder should be cautious when using Sunbasket, as foods are packaged in a facility that processes major food allergens, including gluten.
The options are also somewhat limited for those with certain dietary restrictions, which can make it challenging for those following a strict vegan, dairy-free, or ketogenic diet .
That said, if it fits within your budget and you don’t have special dietary concerns, Sunbasket may be worth trying, especially if you prioritize organic, seasonal ingredients or meals prepared with fresh herbs and custom spice blends.
Customer reviews and brand reputation
Sunbasket is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau but holds an A- rating, which is based on factors such as the company’s business practices, its complaint history, and how long it has been in business ( 1 ).
On Trustpilot, Sunbasket has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, which is based on 3,318 customer reviews ( 2 ).
Many reviewers on Trustpilot report satisfaction with the quality of meals and ingredients, the responsiveness of customer service, and the variety of options available.
On the other hand, some customers mention experiencing issues with incomplete deliveries, order errors, and missing ingredients. A few also mention dissatisfaction with the high price per serving.
In 2020, Sunbasket was involved in a class action lawsuit, which alleged that it disregarded employee privacy by collecting and using employees’ personal biometric data ( 3 ).
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of meals does sunbasket offer.
Sunbasket offers two types of meals: Meal Kits and Fresh & Ready meals.
Meal Kits come with premeasured ingredients and require a bit of prep and cooking, typically between 20 and 40 minutes. Fresh & Ready meals are ready to heat and eat. They need only a few minutes in the microwave or oven.
Both meal types offer paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, low carb, and Mediterranean options.
Sunbasket also offers breakfast and lunch options, as well as several à la carte products such as proteins (both animal and plant-based) and snacks.
How much does Sunbasket cost per week?
Price depends on the number of meals you select. Meal Kits serve two or four. Fresh & Ready meals serve one.
The least expensive meal on either plan costs $9.99. The most expensive meal costs $17.99.
Which is better, Sunbasket or HelloFresh?
This will depend on what you’re looking for in a meal delivery service.
Sunbasket has more diet-specific meal options and uses mostly organic ingredients. Fresh & Ready meals can save time since you don’t have to chop or cook any of the ingredients.
HelloFresh meals require a bit more prep than Sunbasket meals and don’t contain many organic ingredients. The price per serving is cheaper than Sunbasket, but it’s worth noting HelloFresh doesn’t offer as many diet-specific options.
Is Sunbasket sustainable and ethical?
Sunbasket prioritizes sustainability by using mostly recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging to minimize its environmental impact. Its meals also feature sustainably sourced seafood, organic produce, and responsibly raised meat without hormones or antibiotics.
The company says it works closely with suppliers to ensure that it adheres to strict animal welfare standards. Also, the company is working toward transitioning to more humane processing methods.
Is Sunbasket a good deal?
Sunbasket prices can vary depending on the specific meals and add-ons you select.
While Sunbasket is more expensive than other meal delivery services or buying groceries on your own, it may be worth the cost for people who prefer eating organic or experimenting with new recipes each week.
The bottom line
Sunbasket is a meal delivery service that offers flavorful, fresh, and healthy meals produced using mostly organic, sustainable ingredients.
While it’s a bit pricier than some similar services, it offers a good variety of meals that are easy to prepare and can be customized to fit most diets.
Sunbasket may be worth a try for those looking to enjoy healthy, delicious meals that require little time or effort.
Get started with Sunbasket
Interested in trying Sunbasket? We can help!
Simply complete a quick registration online. Choose a basic plan, then customize your Sunbasket with unique flavors and fresh ingredients that inspire you.
Last medically reviewed on December 12, 2022
How we reviewed this article:
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Dec 13, 2022
Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
Catherine Conelly
Medically Reviewed By
Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT
Copy Edited By
Jill Campbell
Aug 18, 2022
Lindsey Vickers
VIEW ALL HISTORY
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Review Highlights
“ I really like fresh organic food and Sun Basket delivers not only that but really interesting recipes that are flavorful and unique. ” in 431 reviews
“ My husband does our cooking and he likes not having to shop for ingredients and the recipes are easy to follow. ” in 47 reviews
“ We've tried Hello Fresh , Blue Apron, and Green Chef and we like Sunbasket the best! ” in 68 reviews
Location & Hours
San Francisco, CA 94107
Potrero Hill
Amenities and More
5 More Attributes
Ask the Community
Ask a question
Does anyone receive the boxes at the right temperature? My first box was opened immediately upon delivery and the temperature of the food was 48 degrees and up. I really want this to work but don't want to worry about food poisoning every time
I love Sunbasket, but my food has not arrived frozen solid. I get them at the end of work so the box is outside from noon to 5pm. I immediately move to freezer and not not had any food issues.
How many days can food last in shipment from Sunbasket?
The meat is frozen but the rest of the greens are fresh so it won't last more than a week. What I have done If I already know I can't use all the meals I will freeze the meat and then use the ingredients in another week.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sunbasket
Is Sunbasket currently offering delivery or takeout?
Yes, Sunbasket offers delivery.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Sunbasket accepts credit cards.
How is Sunbasket rated?
Sunbasket has 2.5 stars.
What days are Sunbasket open?
Sunbasket is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun.
Sunbasket Review: The Best Meal Kits We've Tried (and We've Tried 'Em All)
Editor's Choice: This healthy meal kit service has loads of interesting and easy-to-follow recipes, but they come at a cost.
In this article
- How sunbasket works
- Sunbasket pricing
If you're looking for a meal kit service with inspired recipes that are easy to make, healthy and delicious, I put Sunbasket right at the top of the heap. Your meal kit options in 2022 are plentiful and they fall under a slew of categories: There are budget-friendly meal kits to feed the family for $5 a serving, others using mostly organic ingredients and 100% plant-based meal kits for those keeping to a vegan or vegetarian diet. After testing all of the top platers, Sunbasket impressed me the most with intriguing recipe options and an extremely high success rate.
- Creative, interesting and healthy takes on classic dishes
- Fresh, mostly organic produce
- Lots of options for vegetarians and pescatarians
- Affordable if you're eating mostly plant-based meals
- One of the most expensive meal kit services around
- A la carte pricing makes it even pricier for meat eaters
Product details
- Pricing Starting at $10/serving
- Type Meal kit, pre-made
- Regional Availability Most zip codes in United States except in AK, HI, MT, and parts of NM
- Number of Meal Options per Week 20+
- Menu Options/ Diet Types Paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, pescatarian, mediterranean, keto-friendly, fresh and ready
Following in the footsteps of the original meal kit operation, Blue Apron , Sunbasket launched seven years ago and has evolved into one of the best options for healthy meal kit delivery, using plenty of high-quality, organic ingredients and catering to an array of diets and nutrition plans including keto, paleo, the Mediterranean diet, vegans and vegetarians.
Sunbasket has added another element to its business model in the form of a nearly full-service online marketplace of grocery items, including fresh meat, fish and seafood, cheese, coffee, snacks and bread, all of which can be added to your box each week. The timing for this offering couldn't be better, with the pandemic causing many of us to make fewer trips to the store.
Read more : Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services for 2022
Sunbasket does slide in at a higher price than other meal kit delivery services like Home Chef , Blue Apron and EveryPlate , but that leaves me with a raft of questions. Are Sunbasket's healthy meals tasty enough to justify the extra cost? Are Sunbasket meal kits good or just healthy? Who are Sunbasket meal kits good for , and who are they maybe not so good for? And the answers are here: I tried a weeks' worth of Sunbasket meal kits, and my thoughts on the evolving healthy meal kit delivery service can be found below.
How Sunbasket works
The first thing you'll do is pick the number of meals you want each week and the number of servings per meal. Sunbasket now prices meals a la cart and so the cost is determined only by the meals you choose each week and won't change depending on how much or little you order. You can choose two, three or four meals per week with recipes serving either two or four people. It's also worth noting that you can adjust those quantities as you go, so don't worry about being locked into a plan.
Sunbasket will tailor your weekly menu to a specific diet or nutrition plan that you might be following.
Next, you'll select a diet or eating plan if it applies (plant-based, gluten-free, pescetarian) so Sunbasket can filter out any meals that don't adhere but you can still order from the full menu each week. You can also do swaps and upgrades like chicken breasts in place of chicken thighs or change from pork to fish, sometimes for an added charge.
Each week you select meals for the following week's delivery. Your box arrives on the doorstep on a day of your choosing in insulated packaging and you're ready to go. Sunbasket ships to nearly every US ZIP code excluding Alaska, Hawaii and parts of North Dakota, Montana and New Mexico.
Sunbasket recently moved to a la carte pricing. Plant-based options are as inexpensive as $11.49 per serving while some meat and fish recipes are as much as $18.
Sunbasket pricing: Now with a la carte pricing
Sunbasket recently moved from a fixed subscription model to a la carte pricing. Meals now range from $11.49 all the way up to $18 a serving. This means a bit of a price jump for those who eat meat since those recipes are now mostly $15 or $16 a serving. Those who choose mostly plant-based meals may see a drop in overall price since the bulk of vegan and vegetarian meals are around $12 or $13 per serving.
This makes Sunbasket one of the more expensive meal kit services out there, but that's not surprising considering you're getting meal kits with organic produce and higher-quality meat and fish.
What are Sunbasket meals like?
Healthy, to be certain. Sunbasket has around 15 to 17 meals to choose from each week but they're nearly all recipes I would categorize as healthy with an exception of one or two. You won't find much greasy comfort food, as you do with some other meal kit companies such as EveryPlate or Home Chef . Sunbasket also claims to use roughly 99% USDA-certified organic produce, all of which I personally found crisp and fresh when it arrived. All of the nutritional information you could possibly want is made readily available both at the time of selection and when your meals show up.
In terms of style, Sunbasket meals are creative and unique. While some meal kit services play it safe with familiar food and flavors, Sunbasket takes chances and delivers interesting and often healthy spins on global cuisine. Take this chickpea paella with artichoke hearts for example, or chicken Kiev with Russian salad topped with hard-cooked eggs . Sunbasket has lots of low-carb and keto-friendly options as well, with interesting side salads, veggies and healthy slaws.
The quality of ingredients was very high, and Sunbasket's meats and produce were some of the freshest of any meal kit service I've tested. Portions were also just right, in my opinion. I often had a bit of food left over, but never so much that I'd worry about it going to waste.
Fully prepared meals for 'those nights'
In addition to traditional meal kit delivery, Sunbasket offers a variety of oven-ready, aka Fresh & Ready, meals that are fully prepared and require only heating and no prep, assembly or cooking. For example, the week I chose meals there were five Fresh & Ready meals: three pasta dishes, chicken tikka masala with rice and a Mexican-style quinoa bowl.
Sunbasket's Fresh & Ready meals require no prep or cleanup.
How easy are Sunbasket meal kits to prepare?
Sunbasket meal kits do vary but most are simple to prepare. Like many other meal kit services, Sunbasket has some more involved meal kits and some that are quick to make -- some take as few as 20 minutes -- which it categorizes as "speedy" or "preprepped." You won't find as many complicated recipes as you might with a service like Martha & Marley Spoon or Blue Apron, though, and extensive cooking experience isn't required.
The recipes I cooked and how they went
Balinese chicken with cucumber-cabbage salad : Simple as it was, this was one of the best meals I've made since I started testing meal kits and it's a perfect encapsulation of Sunbasket's food. It only took 20 minutes but the nuanced heat of the turmeric-spiced chicken and cool crunchy salad with fresh mint felt like something I might order at a fancy al fresco lunch spot.
Pappardelle with wilted spinach, sweet peas and ricotta : This would have been difficult to mess up and thankfully I didn't. A light, healthy pasta dish you could eat in any season and one I would absolutely have again.
Low-country shrimp and grits : The shrimp was fresh, the cheesy grits were simple to make and this hearty recipe was packed with flavor. This was one of Sunbasket's "heavier" meals, but it didn't send me into a full food coma.
The Balinese chicken was light, spicy and satisfying.
Sunbasket support materials
There is nothing extraordinarily good or bad about Sunbasket's recipe cards. I found them clear and concise with some helpful footnotes for beginners, like a brief explanation of what a roux is, for example. The Sunbasket app is useful, clear and mostly intuitive. You can place or change your weekly recipe selections through it, look up nutritional information for certain dishes and locate all recipes past and present.
Who Sunbasket meal kits are good for
Sunbasket is one of the best meal kit delivery options for someone looking for healthy meal kits that are anything but boring, but still easy to make . The culinary team has some creative takes on classic dishes using lean meats and fresh, organic produce . Sunbasket's weekly menus also include many meals that cater to many popular diets, including low-carb, keto, gluten-free and the Mediterranean Diet.
Sunbasket offers around four vegetarian options a week , so it's not a bad choice for those looking to go plant-based or add more meatless cooking to their routine. The menu also features a good number of quality seafood dishes each week, such as this poached cod in tomato broth with potatoes and raisins , making it one of the best meal kit services for fish and seafood eaters.
Sunbasket's pappardelle with wilted spinach, snow peas and ricotta.
Who Sunbasket meal kits are not so good for
Even though it offers a family plan that turns out to be a good value, I would say Sunbasket is probably not the best meal kit service for picky eaters, young or old. It's also not the best meal kit service if you're looking for rib-sticking comfort food like meatloaf, pork chops and mashed potatoes. For that, I might suggest EveryPlate. (Read my EveryPlate review here .)
Sunbasket packaging and environmental friendliness
Sunbasket is not much better or worse than other meal kit services when it comes to eco-friendly packaging. The meals were each separated in paper bags and not plastic. All the ingredients were thoughtfully packed without much egregious waste and coolers and ice packs were recyclable.
Changing, skipping or canceling a Sunbasket order
You can add, change or cancel meals easily through the app or through the website . You can also skip a week's delivery or cancel anytime prior to the weekly cutoff, which is the Wednesday before your next week's delivery at 12 p.m. PT. There is responsive customer service available during business hours by phone, email or chatbot if you have questions or concerns about your order.
The final verdict on Sunbasket
If you're interested in trying a meal kit service to make weeknight meal planning easier and money isn't a huge concern but eating healthy is, I would choose Sunbasket. I am the type who gets tired of eating the same thing and I loved the variety Sunbasket offers. Sunbasket's ingredients were also some of the freshest I've tried, which makes all the difference in a simple pasta dish or stir-fry.
Sunbasket feels practical without feeling cheap in any way. Though some recipes are more involved than others, most of the Sunbasket meals are simple and unpretentious but still feel special. At between $12 and $18 a serving, Sunbasket isn't cheap, but if you care about organic produce and quality, healthy ingredients, it's definitely worth the extra bucks.
First published on Jan. 15.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Sunbasket Reviews
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Reviews 4.6.
3,334 total
Most relevant
Better than the rest
Unlike other delivery services, the food shows up fresh. Delicious recipes and the pre-cooked meals make dinner super easy on long days. Their reps handle issues quickly and they don't bs you.
Date of experience : February 28, 2023
Our 2022 Transparency Report has landed
Liars & harmful to me.
They say that I ordered and customized. I did not. I am disabled and on a knee roller. why would I order something that I COULD NOT EVEN get inside. I don't have the money for this kind of stuff. I can't believe that this is happening to me. They won't do anything about it and it is going to cause me financial harm.
Date of experience : February 05, 2023
Reply from Sunbasket
Hi Lynne, sorry to hewar that you received a box you did not expect. Please send us a message with the subject line 'Trustpilot Review' so we can find your message right away and work towards assisting you.
Meals too small!
I loved the food and the recipes were easy to make and original. The reason I can only give three stars is because the meals were tiny! The Japanese fish hot pot, for example, was supposed to be dinner for my husband and me, but I ate it by myself, as an appetizer -- according to the recipe, each serving had around 300 calories -- that is not enough for dinner! It was tasty, though, but waaaaay too expensive for so little food.
Date of experience : January 26, 2023
Hi Sandra, thanks for your feedback. We've provided this feedback to our Kitchen and Recipe teams.
Sunbasket is awesome!
Sunbasket is awesome! I have recommended this compay to family members and friends. The dishes are delicious and the customer service is excellent!
Date of experience : February 02, 2023
Healthy, dependable, & innovative!
Innovative, healthy recipes with quality ingredients offered weekly for virtually every palate. Variety of ethnic selections and frequent menu choices for entrees. Accurate nutritional breakdown and responsive customer service. Personally as s longtime customer, I do wish to see more truly spicy recipes but understand that would not be feasible for widespread customer tastes. Although, maybe those of us who like spicy food could receive more of the spicy ingredients to accommodate our spicy needs 😀.
Date of experience : December 12, 2022
Hi Chris, thanks for the kind review and the feedback! Happy cooking!
Thank You Sunbasket for Your Understanding
I recently had an issue that I had to contact Sunbasket customer service team. I was totally at fault, but was hoping for their help, any way. From this experience, I have to compliment their customer service team for helping me resolve the problem. They are truly there to answer an email and help troubleshoot an issue. Sunbasket is a conscious business and it shows. I am so thankful to them!
Date of experience : November 24, 2022
Hi Mary, thanks for the kind review. We're glad to hear that our team was able to assist you and provide you with a resolution. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have and we're always happy to help.
Sunbasket has it all
Sunbasket has it all: exceptional and varied cuisine that can be customized to your taste and medical need, exceptional and reliable delivery, exceptional and friendly customer service. They are also VERY flexible regarding requests. Look into them and subscribe. You will only find yourself delighted.
Date of experience : December 01, 2022
Thanks for the kind review, Stephen. Happy cooking!
Loooooveed sunbasket but there’s issues
Loooooveed sunbasket but can’t give a 5 star due to inconsistency issues. Amazing experiences in the springtime but once summer came around everything arrived rotted. I had to cancel during the summertime because I was losing so much money receiving rotted food. It ships from California and I’m located in Nebraska. If you’re west coast or mountain time you might have different results during the summer. I had more items rotten than fresh for too many orders in a row. Also would receive meat that was sketchy (fully thawed upon receipt) I could not confidently cook and consume. The recipes, everything about this company rocks aside from the inconsistent quality during hot weather
Date of experience : December 23, 2022
Hi Cassy, thanks for the feedback you've given us. Sorry to hear that you're not getting the same experience during the Summer months. We'll be sure to share this feedback with the proper teams.
We've Eaten With Sun Basket Since 2015
We have eaten three meals a week with Sun Basket since 2015. If they weren't absolutely amazing we wouldn't have gone with them for so very long. Their food is always delicious and allows us to enjoy many different cuisines and flavors and learn great recipes and prep/cooking techniques. Their customer service is superb.
Date of experience : November 08, 2022
Hi there, thank you for the kind review. We're so glad to hear that you're enjoying the meals you've received. Happy cooking!
Customer for years - Unsubscribing
Sunbasket altered the way they inform their customers about upcoming deliveries. As a result of that change, food was delivered to my home while I was out of town. This message is the last amount of time I will waste on the issue, as I've had to go back and forth with them in their CS system, getting replies from a different agent each time with disingenuous language (I hope you're having a wonderful day! I'm sorry you don't understand how our system works... have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app?). I sent them screen captures of their alerts from before and after their change but it didn't matter because it went to a new agent with no context or apparent empathy. It was dismissive and frustrating. I could have accepted a true explanation or at least an acknowledgement that the points I made were valid (as one who tests and improves similar systems, I believe they were), but each reply was as generically "empathetic" as the last with no resolution. I've really enjoyed the food, the recipes and the knowledge I've gained about cooking. It's too bad their investment in CS doesn't reflect the same commitment to quality.
Date of experience : January 10, 2023
Hi Kevin, We're really sorry to hear you had an issue receiving notifications. We've forwarded this to our engineering team so they can take a further look into this and address the situation.
High quality, excellent service.
We have used Sunbasket since they started. We live in a rural area so I appreciate the convenience and access to items I might not find in town. It is nice being able to skip weeks as I travel frequently and cannot always order. Whenever we have had an issue they resolve it immediately. Great customer servce.
Date of experience : November 06, 2022
Great Fresh Recipes, but Pricey
The food quality is excellent for the most part. So far only one recipe was a dud, and an ingredient was missing. They get only 4 stars because the prices are pretty high and they don’t even include certain things like oil, salt, pepper and sugar. I don’t keep sugar in the house and was out of oil once so that was no fun. For the premium price, EVERYTHING should be included. That would also make it easier to bring the meals on a weekend getaway, etc.
Date of experience : October 19, 2022
Their app was in error
Their app was in error. Even after proving this to them, they charged me for food I did not order. Customer service is poor. Do not trust this company. **After this initial review, the company responded, only to ask me to respond to a help/link. I already did this. I talked to two customer service representatives, and emailed one. After showing them screen shots of the app’s errors as proof, they would not acknowledge that the app was in error. I skipped a week, but was still sent and billed for food. I don’t need this aggravation, so I have unsubscribed from this company.
Date of experience : November 09, 2022
Hi Deborah, we're sorry to hear about this. Please send us a message here: https://sunbasket.com/help/ with TrustPilot review in the subject line and we'll be happy to help.
Professional and Timely Response
Although my 1st order was delayed in transit by FedEx, Sunbasket courteously refunded the order. It was out of Sunbasket's control but they have kept me as a loyal customer! I will be re-ordering soon. Thank you for making this right with such a timely and professional response.
Date of experience : November 03, 2022
LOVE THESE MEALS & THE SERVICE
I am so grateful for these meals. Organic and great tasting. Presently I need to have the easy meals & even if need to freeze them they are still very good. Our only problem with all types of rural deliveries is the delivery service itself & thus far GREAT for these meals. I had one issue last week with thinking I had skipped & a very spicy couple of meals came w/ an order. It was very quickly resolved &, I feel, above & beyond my expectations.
Date of experience : October 04, 2022
Sunbasket is a no-brainer
Sunbasket is a no-brainer. It simplifies every chore involved in meal planning. We have subscribed since 2017 and are still very pleased with the quality of the ingredients, the selection of meal choices, the response from customer care when small issues pop up and the delicious tasting recipes. My only concern and feedback is for Sunbasket to continue working on reducing plastic container usage.
Date of experience : September 21, 2022
We're so happy that you're enjoying the service, Simone. Happy cooking!
If you get a gift certificate, BEWARE!
I won a $100 Sunbasket gift certificate. I placed an order which had a small balance of less than $10. I had to charge that to my credit card. No problem. I then cancelled all the upcoming deliveries until after the holidays, to allow time for me to cancel the service. There was an issue with my credit card (security code changes often), so I re-entered it. A week later, I noticed a $72 charge on my credit card. I used the Sunbasket site and contacted support via a painfully slow chat. After a long wait, I was told that when I re-entered my credit card, it triggered an order! How is that my fault? (Oh, and the "Free" gift certificate meal wasn't even that good. Flavorless steaks.) Sunbasket refused to give me a credit for the unwanted purchase. (Though Sunbasket appears to have responded to me, there are no direct messages to resolve any issues)
Date of experience : January 02, 2023
Hi Marc, we're really sorry to hear about this experience you had. We'd love to make this right for you. We've sent you a DM via Trustpilot so we can assist you further.
Top Notch Customer Service
I received Top Notch customer service issue resolution! I had an issue with my shipment and it was taken care of immediately! I felt that the customer service representative went above and beyond! I am so pleased that I have decided that I will probably never cancel my subscription with sun basket! I feel safe and comfortable and I know that they have my back!
Date of experience : September 14, 2022
Outstanding and efficient service!
The support staff resolved an issue for me that was a huge help for me in the moment. They were quick, kind and professional. And we have been extremely happy with the food/meals. Very healthy and easy to prepare.
Date of experience : November 30, 2022
We're glad to hear that our team was able to help, Nancy! Feel free to reach out whenever and we'd be happy to help.
Love the heat and eat option!
The food is fresh and portions generous. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that many of the choices contain sides that I don't want. May I suggest a choice of sides, protein, etc. thank you.
Hi Lynn, thanks for the feedback. We'll pass that along to the proper teams so they can take that into consideration. In the meantime, happy cooking!
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Sunbasket Review: This Meal Delivery Service Makes Healthy Eating a Breeze
By Jake Smith
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you’re hoping to eat healthier, but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. My Sunbasket review is the result of trying to improve my eating habits—and as someone who too often resorts to grabbing takeout or cooking the same dish over and over again, I’m truly impressed with this meal delivery service . But let’s not skip ahead! Here’s everything to know about Sunbasket—and whether it’s worth the money.
How does Sunbasket work?
Sunbasket is a meal delivery service that specializes in organic ingredients and easy, down-to-earth recipes that’ll please foodies and picky eaters alike. Its slate of dishes is refreshed each week and includes options for basically any diet you can imagine, including gluten-free, vegan , vegetarian, Mediterranean, low-calorie, and paleo . (It’s sort of like the cooler, California-dwelling cousin of Blue Apron or Hungryroot .)
Each week you choose at least two meals from Sunbasket’s lineup, but there’s no limit on how many you can order. Most of the offerings are meal kits, which arrive with premeasured ingredients that feed either two or four people. If cooking isn’t really your thing, you can opt for single-serving Fresh & Ready meals, which only need to be heated up. Plus, you can add fresh and frozen market items like yogurt and falafel to your box, meaning you might be able to shorten your grocery store trip.
Meals start at $10 per serving—cheaper (and healthier) than most takeout and fancy grocery items, but more expensive than staple meals with simple ingredients from the supermarket. Meal kits will run you between roughly $23 and $33 each for two servings—and shipping on your first order is free. (Shipping on subsequent orders varies by area.)
Boxes arrive with everything you’ll need for the week, and you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. Because everything is pre-portioned, Sunbasket helps to cut down on food waste. Its packaging is nearly 100% recyclable too, adding to its sustainable bona fides. Most zip codes in the contiguous United States are covered, except for Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico.
My Sunbasket review
At first glance, I’m not exactly Sunbasket’s target audience: I famously hate following recipes . The fridge-clean-out meal is my favorite challenge each week. I pick up ingredients at my around-the-corner grocery store almost daily. But I’m also stuck in a rut with my staple dishes, especially plant-based ones. I also have a penchant for eating out, and I’m trying my best not to throw up my hands and order takeout at the end of the day. Sunbasket sidestepped both issues, allowing me to experiment with a new menu that doesn’t compromise my dietary preferences.
I sampled three meals of two servings each from Sunbasket, and I was impressed that it was a breeze to find options that fit my dietary preferences. I don’t eat—or, more accurately, try not to eat—dairy, and I also tend to avoid meat when cooking. From about 20 meal-kit options, I selected rainbow quinoa–black bean tacos , roasted salmon and fennel en papillote , and smoky tempeh nachos with cucumber-grape salsa .
Pretty much every meal delivery service claims to be an easy experience; not all of them follow through, especially when you find yourself pulling out a second cutting board or looking up a word on Google. (What’s the difference between julienne and chiffonade, anyway?) But Sunbasket actually delivers—I spent no more than 25 minutes on each meal, and the most intense task was cubing a cucumber.
Better yet, each meal left me feeling completely satisfied but not overfull. It’s a balancing act that I have difficulty achieving when I’m cooking for myself or ordering at a restaurant. Here’s a breakdown of my experience, recipe by recipe.
My first Sunbasket meal was also the easiest. The entire thing took less than 10 minutes, and most of that was simply microwaving the quinoa-bean filling, which came precooked. Partially because the recipe was vegan , the tacos didn’t have the quintessential taco flavor you’d expect from ground beef. But the result—complete with juicy tomatoes, bright, acidic slaw, and surprisingly great premade guacamole—was a welcome change. And although it was a two-person serving, there was plenty to feed three people. Not a bad way to start.
In the past, fennel has always let me down. But the veggie was so good here (alongside perfectly baked salmon and crispy zucchini) that I’m a newly minted fennel stan. While cooking this meal, I started to appreciate all the thoughtful details I had missed during the first recipe: easy-open plastic bags, clearly labeled ingredients, and parchment paper included in the bag. I only had to supply salt, pepper, and oil, and I got through all of the prep work in less than 10 minutes. I finished everything on my plate almost as soon as I sat down to eat, and I discovered a new way to cook salmon in the process. Good on you, Sunbasket!
Vegan cheese is a tricky subject. When it’s done well (which, honestly, is not often) it’s a miracle; when it’s done poorly (which is most of the time), it’s a goopy mess that makes you question your diet in the first place. But praise be: Sunbasket’s dairy-free take on nachos is actually delicious, and it took just a little chopping to make. Well-seasoned tempeh , fresh cucumber-grape salsa, pickled jalapeños, and amazingly great “cheesy” cashew sauce make a great meal when piled on top of chips. It’s also a summer-friendly recipe, considering I didn’t even need to turn my oven on. I’m now a Sunbasket believer.
Courtesy of brand
Sunbasket Subscription
Is sunbasket worth it.
If you’re hoping to cook at home more, looking out for your health, or following a specialized diet, Sunbasket can help. I had zero issues, and every meal materialized with minimal effort in less than half an hour; it was so good I’m even reconsidering my animosity toward recipes.
The service isn’t exactly cheap, and you should consider how (or if) it’ll fit into your food budget before you start planning your weeks around it. But for people like me, who regularly spend more per serving on takeout and find themselves in cooking ruts, Sunbasket is like an investment in myself—a promise that I’ll eat a healthier, home-cooked recipe instead of a greasy delivery meal or the same old plate of pasta week after week. In the end, this delicious, healthy food lives up to the price tag, and it’s more than worth a try.
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SunBasket Review for 2023 | What We Loved & Hated!
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Sunbasket is a leading meal kit delivery company, and in our personal opinion, the best one!
We’ve been on and off customers of Sunbasket since 2017, and we’ve decided to refresh our Sunbasket review in 2023 since there have been many new changes to their service since our last review! Our last SunBasket review did feature a video review, so if you also want to see the meals on video, make sure to check it out ! But, we do recommend reading this review, since we go over all the changes! Once you’re sure of your purchase, make sure to check out our Sunbasket Coupon page !
So a quick history on Sunbasket, it was started by Chef Justine Kelly in 2014. Even though Sun Basket is one of the youngest of the bigger players in the market, they’ve grown rapidly due to its health-conscious meal kits and pro-environmental approach.
Every bit of Sun Basket’s packaging is bio-degradable and every week the company donates over 1,000 pounds of food to food banks. This is a big key for us personally, since there is A LOT of waste in typical food delivery, and in general food waste, so it’s nice to see them being proactive on these issues.
Ordering Sunbasket Meals
For starters, you’ll want to decide what “type” of meals you’re looking for. If you want quick meals, meals that you simply throw into the oven for 10-15 minutes without any actual cooking, then the “Fresh & Ready” meals are perfect for you. On the other hand, if you do enjoy cooking, and want to be part of the process from start to finish, then “Meal Kits” is the suitable option for you.
As you might notice, the “Fresh & Ready” meals are cheaper than the “Meal Kit” meals, so that is one thing to keep in mind. In this review, we will be covering both types of meals, but first, let’s dive into the prices!
How much is Sunbasket?
How much you pay per serving comes down to how many meals and servings you’re ordering per delivery. Since this can be a bit cumbersome to fully detail, we do have a separate where we completely break down how much Sunbasket costs .
The simple answer is that for “Meal Kits”, you’ll pay as much as $13.99 per serving or as little as $10.99 per serving. For “Fresh n’ Ready” meals, you’ll pay as much as $11.99 per serving or as little as $8.99 per serving.
This is also a great point to mention that we do keep an eye on the different Sunbasket coupons that come out, and the current one is a $90 off promo w/ 1 free gift
If you use this promo code , you’ll only pay $6.36 per serving for the “Meal Kit” meals and $4.36 for the “Fresh n’ Ready” Meals. Now that’s quite the savings!
We have seen that in the past few months, prices have gone up by another $1 per meal due to supply constraints and ongoing inflation.
Our Sunbasket Review
Here’s the juicy part, let’s get into what we ordered for the family! We actually ordered 7 different meals, 4 of them were “Fresh n’ Ready”, and the other 3 were “Meal Kits”:
Delivery Process
The Sunbasket Meal Kit I ordered arrived on time and the packaging was fantastic! There were two boxes, one with enough gel packs to keep the food “refrigerated” and a second box with enough gel packs to keep the frozen food from thawing out. It was really cool to see that the gel packs were made of biodegradable material, allowing them to simply be cut open and thrown in the trash.
As we were unboxing the kit is was very simple to distinguish between what needed to be put in the refrigerated and what needed to be kept frozen. There were a total of 7 meals in the kit, 4 simple “toss in the oven” ready-made meals, and 3 which took a bit more preparation (Meal Kits). The 4 meals that required multiple ingredients had everything bundled together in a brown paper bag in the box to be refrigerated, which was labeled with the meal name on the side. Any additional ingredients that needed to be frozen were labeled with which specific meal they belonged to, which made things very nice and organized.
Overall, receiving the delivery and unpacking everything was a very well-thought-through and seamless process. I was able to easily stack all of the meals in my fridge on a single shelf, and the frozen ingredients were neatly packaged and stackable as well. The ingredients all looked fresh and appetizing and with the exception of the two items mentioned above, everything was bundled together with the meals they belong with.
Preparing the Meals
Preparing the meals was every bit as easy as the delivery and packaging! Obviously, the frozen meals were much simpler than the other 4, but that was to be expected, and they were not overly complicated either! I would feel more than comfortable letting my children help me out in the kitchen making these meals or trusting a teenager to follow the directions step by step on their own.
The frozen meals were all uniform in their preparation steps. Simply add a single tablespoon of water, cover with foil, and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Stir and continue baking for 10-15 more minutes… easy as pie (literally!). There are also microwave instructions, but I stuck with the conventional oven. My first meal was a bit mushy, so I went off script on the next two and kept the foil off after the initial 20 minutes of backing to help dry up some of the moisture and firm up the entrée.
Prep for the 4 bigger meals was more involved. Some meals required washing and cutting vegetables, thawing proteins, and other routine food prep tasks that might require a bit more skill. Each meal kit had a set of instructions included in the bag along with the ingredients. The instructions are written very clearly and neatly and include a list of all of the ingredients that should be inside the paper bag meal kit, a list of any ingredients you will need from your own pantry (things like salt, pepper, olive oil, etc…), and a list of tools/utensils you will need for prep and cooking. You can then simply follow along step by step and the very well-written instructions take you through preparing your base ingredient (the quinoa in my three meals), washing, chopping, and making ready your vegetables and garnishes, and cooking your proteins.
Each meal lists more than one protein option and directions on how to prepare it to pair with the specific meal you are cooking. For instance, my full meal kit came with both chicken and salmon. Each of the four meals I prepared gave instructions on how to cook chicken, fish (salmon), or beef to pair with the meal, so I could mix and match any protein I was feeling on a particular day to go with that meal!
The first day I had a bit of a false start when I grabbed one of the meal kits out of the refrigerator only to realize that the protein for the meal was still frozen in the freezer. That is completely my fault, but it pays to remember that the protein is separate from the refrigerated meal kit.
Overall the prep is very well thought through and easy to execute. Each step is done in a logical order so that you end up with a warm plate of food at the end, rather than cooking your meat first and then letting it get cold while you finish the rest of the steps. The recipes are crafted with great attention to detail.
Rainbow Quinoa (Meal Kit)
The flavors here were good. The guacamole and salsa that came pre-packaged had a surprisingly fresh flavor too them, which suggests to me that they were made not too long before being shipped! Add in the fresh lime that came with the kit and everything had a nice fresh and earthly flavor to it! The quinoa-black bean mix was good, but my kids prefer a meat as the protein in their tacos rather than beans, so that might be something to keep in mind when you are ordering for your family. The corn tortillas were definitely not your grocery store variety. They were clearly handmade (with slight variation in size and shape) and a much more refreshing flavor than the typical tortillas that have aged for an unspecified amount of time on a shelf in a store.
Spicy Tinga Tacos with Black Beans and Pico De Gallo (Meal Kit)
This was our favorite!!! Just as with the last meal the tortillas were fresh and flavorful. Also the Pico De Gallo, salsa, Tinga sauce, and parsley were still very earthy in flavor. My family appreciated the black beans much more without the quinoa mix. And most important for me, there was a bit of a kick, but they were not overly spicy, even though that is in the name.
Quinoa Bowls with Wilted Greens and Citrus Dressing (Meal Kit)
We all liked the greens, chicken, and citrus dressing together as a salad, but the younger members of the family were not as excited about the addition of the quinoa. Also as I’ve mentioned before I would suggest cooking the chicken a little less time than what is prescribed in the instructions. The greens were all fresh and the Citrus Dressing was like a fresh spin on a Caesar dressing… very tasty! This was also kind of light for dinner the serving size we had was for 2, but I think I would eat the whole portion myself for dinner!
Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini with Braised Kale (Fresh n’ Ready)
This didn’t look really appetizing coming out of the oven, but was actually pretty good! The kale mixes in nicely with the flavor of the rest of the meal, so it was a great way to “sneak” in some green vegetables to my kid’s diet! The chicken was a little dry, but no more than what is to be expected from an oven-ready meal in my opinion. I’m not sure what sort of cheesy sauce was used, but it was very flavorful and coated the noodles, kale, and chicken well.
Zesty Black Bean – Quinoa Bowl (Fresh n’ Ready)
This was our least favorite. The quinoa was not nearly as flavorful as what comes in the fresh meal kits we tried first. The best way I can describe the flavor is similar to that of “old” rice, there was almost a “musty-ness” to the taste… if that makes sense. We couldn’t really taste the beans or “zesty” sauce of the quinoa.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (Fresh n’ Ready)
This was good, but I think it could have been great if I would have removed the foil during the last few minutes of baking. Since I followed the directions on the package, however, it was soggy and watery. I also would suggest Sunbasket or parents cut the cauliflower pieces a bit smaller before serving, there were some pretty decent sized chunks in my meal! Aside from those two things, the flavors were good and the mac and cheese and cauliflower make a great pair!
Quinoa Penne with Spicy Arrabbiata, Italian Sausage, and Bell Peppers (Fresh n’ Ready)
This meal was also very tasty! It looked bright and colorful when we took it out of the oven and mixed it up and the taste matched the visual! The sausage was still a little warm, while the rest of the meal was hot, but had a great flavor to it. The sauce and the bell peppers added another level of heat to the dish (which was a level too high for me and a couple of the kiddos – so keep that in mind if you have some mild pallets!). Overall great flavor, very appetizing to look at, and very tasty!
Final Thoughts
Another lovely experience with Sunbasket! What I really loved about ordering “Meal Kits” from Sunbasket was finding new recipes and flavors to explore. Over the years, I’ve taken my favorite dishes from Sunbasket, and simply replicated them myself moving forward! Did we love all the meals in our box? Nope! But did some of the meals blow us away? Yes, they did!
When I placed this particular order in, I decided to go outside my comfort level for some of the selections, specifically the quinoa. While I’m not the biggest fan of quinoa, as you might have read, it was still fun to experience those sorts of dishes.
Over the years, I have noticed Sunbasket place incredible effort in expanding their meal lineup, and even adding on snacks, and various other options such as “Breakfast”. I’m happy to see that, and I intend to continue being a Sunbasket customer.
It’s worth mentioning that pausing your subscription is simple, and done with a few clicks, so don’t be worried about being roped into a long commitment.
Just make sure to use this promo code , select your own meals, and tell us down below what you think of your meals!
Thank you for reading our review.
Sunbasket Review
Recipe choices, specific dietary choices, customer interface, customer support.
Rated #1 by My Food Subscriptions
Johnathan Statham
I'm Johnathan, writing to you from the beautiful city of Los Angeles. Studied at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, and am currently a sous chef! On the side, I've started MyFoodSubscriptions to review various meal kits being sold.
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Pretty good review on Sun Basket, thanks! But, is the price per meal still accurate?
For the most part – yes.
For up to update Sun Basket pricing, it’s best to go this page: https://sunbasket.com/pricing/
As it stands right now, you will pay between $10.99 to $12.99 per serving depending on the size of your order with the “Classic Plan”. When it comes to the “Family Plan”, you will pay $10.99 per serving.
Beautiful pictures!!
Will a beginner be able to make their sun basket meals look as good? Thinking of cooking something special for by hubby.
What’s the best coupon for Sun Basket?
Yes, you can Cathy! We aren’t much cooks ourselves but it wasn’t difficult to make beautiful meals. We’re happy that you enjoyed our Sun Basket review.
For a list of active Sun Basket coupon codes, it’s best to go to this URL .
How many options are there for vegan eaters? Looks like your Sun Basket review doesn’t talk too much about the vegan meal plan.
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58% off Sunbasket Promo & Coupon Code | Mar. 2023
Everything You Need To Know About Sunbasket Meal Delivery Service
A big benefit of cooking with a meal kit is the extra couple of bucks you can save without going to the grocery store or eating out. Sunbasket, as is the case with most other meal kits, gives you the option to choose between shopping for a family of two or four. It also lets you customize how many meals you’d like to be delivered weekly. The more servings you order, the cheaper the delivery.
While it's still cheaper than take out, it can be a little pricier than its competitors. Just two meals a week for either family size will set you back $12.99/serving. Four meals costs $10.99/serving, which is about as expensive as other services like HelloFresh and Blue Apron get. One reason for the higher price tag: Sunbasket’s guarantee that 99% of the produce they ship is USDA certified organic.
More From Delish
Bottom line: In comparison to other meal kits, it's on the pricier side. But, mostly everything is organic.
Choosing Your Menu
One of the things that Sunbasket shines at is choice. Each week, you should be able to pick from 20+ recipe ranging in degrees of difficulty. Their commitment to catering to dietary restrictions is the strongest in the meal kit game. When signing up, you’re given the chance to specify whether you're vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, carb-conscious, paleo, soy-free, diabetes-friendly, dairy-free, or want recipes that are below 600 calories.
Sunbasket also offers three preparation styles. In addition to the classic cooking option, they offer both oven-ready meals as well as kits with pre-prepped ingredients, eliminating all dicing, peeling, and slicing. These choices are perfect for those looking to get dinner on the table faster.
Bottom line: You have a lot of options to customize your menu based on your dietary restrictions and preferences.
The Packaging
Your meal kit will arrive in a recyclable cardboard box filled with individually labeled paper bags for each recipe. Inside each bag, you’ll find your ingredients either in their own plastic containers, or if possible, loosely but safely packed in the bag itself. Though we did have to throw out some wrappers, it was not as bad as some other meal boxes, where each and every ingredient was individually packaged. Additionally, pre-made components like sauces and condiments are often sent in delightful little jars, perfect for reusing in your kitchen.
Cooking From A Box
In each bag you’ll find a mini recipe booklet that, in addition to cooking instructions, outlines exactly what equipment you'll be using, if there are additional ingredients you'll need, and full nutrition facts. Another nice touch is the “KID CAN!” section, which outlines kid-friendly kitchen tasks, within the recipe.
Sunbasket, with its thorough descriptions of steps and approachable writing style, is great for cooks with any level experience—but especially beginners. With the recipes I tried, basic methods like stir frying veggies, roasting corn tortillas to make tostadas, and reducing stock to make gravy were laid out in an approachable, easy to follow way.
I did run into some issues with cook times. I nearly burnt half a pot of rice cooking following the recipes' minimum cooking time. And all three of the recipes I cooked had wide ranging total times. In keeping those with busy schedules or bigger families in mind, I would have liked to see a little more specificity.
Bottom line: The recipes are easy, but the cook times aren't reliable.
On their website's homepage , Sunbasket promises “unreal flavor” in their meals, and after rounds of meticulous tasting and testing, I can confidently say that they have delivered. In the three recipes I tried, I loved the diversity in flavors and composition of the dishes. With the contents of one box, I drowned bangers and mash in a mushroom gravy. The next day I ate a crunchy tostada topped with a healthy mix of spicy black beans, yellow squash, and pickled vegetables.
I also loved that Sunbasket isn’t afraid to highlight ingredients that some folks may be a little intimidated by (but are actually really easy to use), like fermented black bean paste. Sunbasket’s organic produce was looked better and tasted fresher than what you’d find in other meal kits.
Bottom line: The recipes are delicious.
The Verdict
Whether you're trying to get more comfortable in the kitchen, determined to broaden your culinary horizons, or simply wanting to order less takeout, I highly recommend Sunbasket. It's a little pricier than the competitors, but if you can swing it, the extra cost is worth it for better quality ingredients and a bevy of weekly options. Especially if you are someone with dietary restrictions.
Justin Sullivan is the Assistant Food Editor for Delish, where he helps test, develop, and (of course) taste recipes like one-pot meals, easy desserts, and everything in between. He has worked in professional kitchens across New York, but his favorite role will always be as matzoh ball sous chef to his grandma. He loves diners and being from New Jersey, and when he’s not prepping and testing hundreds of Delish recipes, Justin travels the globe as the world’s foremost chicken finger critic.
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Sunbasket Review 2022: An Easy But Expensive Way to Get Nutrient-Dense Meals
By Sarah Madaus
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- Ingredients arrived fresh
- Good recipe selection
- Plant-forward meals
- Some meals lacked flavor
- Small servings
As a health-focused writer who balances multiple jobs, I’ve leaned on meal kit delivery services to cut down my trips to the grocery store , reduce my personal food waste, and save time cooking and prepping. After being disappointed by the waning quality and nutrition in some other meal kits I subscribed to, I was interested in trying out Sunbasket , which prides itself on being more intentional about thoughtfully sourcing ingredients than its competitors.
How I Tested
For this review I followed our meal-kit buying guide , based on criteria recommended by dietitians. I ordered three Sunbasket meals over the course of one week, each of which had two servings. I selected a mix of non-vegetarian meals, some of which were entirely new to my palate.
My menu: Turkey meatball lettuce cups with Buffalo sauce and carrot slaw, spicy chicken tinga tacos with black beans and pico de gallo, and sole baja fish taco bowls with green goddess slaw and tomato salsa. The turkey meatball lettuce cups and baja fish taco bowls were prepared and cooked by me, while the chicken tinga tacos came mostly premade—all I had to do was cook the meat and heat up the beans and sauce.
Below, find my full Sunbasket review after whipping up these meals, including my thoughts and feelings about how easy it is to use, affordability, taste, and more.
This is where Sunbasket shines. I’ve tried a handful of other meal delivery kit companies, and when it comes to customization, I’ve seen two things: (1) There is little—if any—ability to customize based on dietary restrictions and preferences, or (2) the user interface is so confusing that it makes you not even want to customize. I was thrilled to find that Sunbasket is clear and easy to follow. The first page of Sunbasket’s ordering system has you check off any diets you follow, like gluten-free, paleo , vegetarian , Mediterranean, and pescatarian. Then there’s a section where you check off dietary preferences like high fiber, soy-free, low added sugar, pork-free, dairy-free, and more.
What’s more, once you begin to choose your meals, you can pick from traditional meal kit meals (where you cook and prepare everything), preprepped meals (where ingredients come prechopped, and sauces come premade), and fresh and ready meals (which are prepared meals that just require reheating ). My only issue here is that despite choosing to avoid shellfish, beef, and pork, meals containing those ingredients still populated when I went to choose my dinners.
For an additional cost, you can pick add-ons for your box, which include aesthetically pleasing Whole Foods–esque groceries, plus preprepped small meals and snacks like smoothies , soups , egg bites, and falafel.
The meals I could choose from cost between $12 and $17 per serving (with two servings per meal). The total cost for my box was just over $90 for three meals with two servings or six meals total—if your serving sizes align with Sunbasket’s (mine did not—more on that later). The fine print said that my subscription could cost between $68 and $120 per week.
This is a pretty steep price to pay for a meal kit —and it’s comparable to a casual-ish take-out meal in NYC where I live—which begs the question, why would you pay the same amount if you have to do the prep and cooking? The answer I came up with is that with Sunbasket meals, there is generally more transparency in ingredients, freshness, and nutrients. It also means that my grocery shopping list was a little bit shorter. It’s up to you to decide if that’s worth it for you.
I found Sunbasket’s ordering process to be seamless. For your first box, you can get $90 off (a very, very nice trial option), plus a free gift and free shipping. But bear in mind that after your first week, there are no discounts. After you confirm your order, you’re able to make changes by the 3 p.m. E.T. on the Wednesday before your delivery. Those changes can include making meal swaps, skipping a week, changing your delivery address, or canceling your Sunbasket subscription.
My delivery arrived on time and the delivery driver listened to my instructions on how to navigate buzzing into my Brooklyn apartment. When I opened the box, there were multiple recyclable and water-safe ice packs protecting all of the ingredients, and each meal came in a paper bag. The only issue I had is that my container of preprepped black beans burst in transit, which rendered them unusable and made a mess inside the box.
The Sunbasket recipes are blissfully easy to follow, and they don’t exaggerate about how long the prep and cook time will be (looking at you, HelloFresh). The recipe cards lay out all of the ingredients, and each of my meals only included about three to four steps. None of my meals took more than 30 minutes from start to finish, which honestly surprised me given that they were pretty nutrient-packed meals that would normally take longer to prepare, in my experience.
When choosing what I wanted in my box, I was impressed by all of the healthy meals available. Healthy is, of course, a loaded term , but to me it means that the meal has a balanced mix of fresh fruits and veggies, protein, fat, complex carbohydrates, and spices. The meals I chose—chicken tacos, fish taco bowls, and meatball lettuce cups—felt nourishing, satisfying, and nutritious. It’s easy to see the nutrition information for each meal; all you have to do is click on the recipe. Sunbasket’s produce was very fresh upon arrival and stayed fresh for a long time. In addition, the meat and fish products are sustainably sourced, antibiotic- and hormone-free (read more about that here ), and they box up 99% organic produce.
The ingredients I received in my Sunbasket box were high-quality and the recipes were easy to follow, but once they were put together I found the serving sizes to be very small for someone like myself who is a fitness professional and exercises six to seven days per week. What’s more, some of the meals were difficult to eat. (Not great date night foods! Sunbasket is lucky my partner and I have been together for a while, ha.) I did appreciate that none of the recipes took longer than 30 minutes to prepare and cook, which is a blessing since I’m short on time. But after comparing a receipt from a previous week’s worth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner groceries, the price of three dinners alone from Sunbasket was only $20 cheaper.
The bottom line? Sunbasket offers excellent customization, organic ingredients, and tasty recipes but, for my current income, that’s not enough for me to pay the steep subscription price.
Related Reading:
- The Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services to Try in 2022
- Diabetic Meal Delivery Services That Make Life So Much Easier
- The Best Meat Delivery Services to Try Out This Year
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
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Sunbasket is more healthful than your average meal delivery service, with relatively few refined carbs, lots of organic vegetables, and modest
Furthermore, the service's meal-choosing process isn't particularly intuitive. Sunbasket is a good choice if you're mainly concerned with getting meals on the
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The quality of ingredients was very high, and Sunbasket's meats and produce were some of the freshest of any meal kit service I've tested.
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If you're hoping to cook at home more, looking out for your health, or following a specialized diet, Sunbasket can help. I had zero issues, and
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Sunbasket Review 2022: An Easy But Expensive Way to Get Nutrient-Dense Meals · Some meals lacked flavor · Expensive · Small servings.