Cooking dinner at home doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated. With meal kit services like SunBasket and Home Chef, you can get recipes and ingredients delivered to your door! The tricky part is choosing which of these services best suits your needs.
In today’s comparison, we will review two of our favorite meal kit delivery services and break down the pros and cons to help you better choose the service that best fits your lifestyle.
On one side, we have SunBasket, the California-based company that promises to make healthy cooking more manageable and accessible. On the other side of the comparison, we’ve got Home Chef, promising to make home cooking fun and diverse.
Our team at Meal Kit Review has years of first-hand experience with both meal kit services. In 2024, we tested two boxes from SunBasket and Home Chef to update this review. Here are all the details to pick the best fit for you.
Short On Time? Our Winner is Home Chef. Here is Why…
When comparing SunBasket vs. Home Chef, both companies offer excellent meal kit service but appeal to different audiences. SunBasket offers organic, new-age food for specific diets with a higher price tag, while Home Chef provides classic, easy-to-cook meals.
Upon review, our winner is Home Chef. Here’s why:
- The taste of meals
- The lower price
- The variety and style of meals
- The focus on excellent, fast, and easy meals.
- The many great add-ons for breakfast, fast lunch, and extra proteins
What is SunBasket?
SunBasket is a weekly meal kit delivery service that emphasizes organic and healthy eating. It offers traditional meal kits and pre-prepared fresh and ready options, with recipes that tend to be more “new-age” and may not suit all tastes. The service offers a variety of options to cater to specific diets, making it a good option for those who follow a specific diet plan.
What is Home Chef?
The Home Chef meal kit service delivers easy-to-cook meals with pre-measured ingredients right to your door. They also provide oven-ready and microwavable options for lunch and dinner to accommodate a busy schedule.
Home Chef offers over 40 recipes to choose from each week, including standard 30-minute meal kits or their “express” offering, which includes meals that come together in 15 minutes. Most Home Chef recipes are classics like meatloaf or roasted chicken but with an interesting twist.
Pros and Cons
SunBasket Pros
- A variety of recipes to choose from each week, including microwave-ready prepared meals
- Meal options to suit a variety of specific dietary needs, including keto-friendly, vegan, gluten-free friendly, and paleo
- Guarantee that all recipes use organic, sustainably sourced ingredients
- Unique flavors and recipes will teach you new skills and ways to prepare food
SunBasket Cons
- Recipes are new-age and may not suit all tastes and preferences
- It has a higher price tag than many similar meal services like Home Chef
Home Chef Pros
- Many quick and easy recipes in under 30 minutes
- There is a great variety of preparation options, including oven-ready and microwave-ready meals
- Ability to customize meals by switching out or adjusting quantities of proteins
- Offers meals for many dietary needs, including keto-friendly, pescatarian, and vegetarian
Home Chef Cons
- Can only swap out or customize proteins, not sides and other components
- It doesn’t offer options for all dietary needs
- Recipes tend to be more traditional and may not suit more adventurous eaters
The Meal Plans
SunBasket Meal Plans
SunBasket offers two basic plans with variable options for how many meals you get each week.
- Two-Person Plan: 2-5 meals a week for two people.
- Four-Person Plan: 2-5 meals per week for four people.
SunBasket offers a good selection of 28 dishes to choose from each week, plus many optional add-ons for light breakfast and healthy snacks! You can get meal kits or pre-prepared microwave-ready meals.
They also offer a wide selection of unique dietary plans, including paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, Mediterranean, diabetic-friendly, and more. If you follow one of these nutritional diets, it’s a big plus! You can further customize your selections with particular foods you’d like to avoid or reduce, including low-calorie or low-carb foods or allergens like shellfish or soy.
Home Chef Meal Plans
On the other side of the coin, Home Chef offers even more flexibility in terms of how many servings and meals you want per week, with plans to suit households with 2 to 6 people.
- Two-Person Plan: 2-6 meals per week for two people
- Four-Person Family Plan: 2-6 meals per week for four people
- Six-Person Family Plan: 2-6 meals per week portioned for six people
- Fresh & Easy Plan: Simple, delicious meals for everyday life
The Home Chef menu offers over 35 different dishes per week. These include low-calorie meals, 15-minute meals, oven-ready meals, vegetarian meals, and more.
Home Chef also caters to many dietary needs, with an option to filter for weekly recipes to suit low-calorie, vegetarian, high-protein, and gluten-smart diets. Their Customize-It option lets you swap, increase, or exclude proteins from most recipes.
The Meals Style
We can honestly say that every meal we cooked and tasted from both SunBasket and Home Chef was delicious! Our general impression is that SunBasket focuses more on healthy food and organic ingredients. Their meals include several nutritious ingredients, like greens, vegetables, gluten-free pasta, whole grain rice, etc. SunBasket also offers a “Fresh and Ready” selection of pre-cooked meals ready to heat and eat, making it easy to prepare your meals while keeping them healthy.
On the other hand, Home Chef tries to focus more on family dinners with classic recipes that have an interesting twist. Their recipes tend to be well-known and do not require any knowledge of sophisticated cooking techniques. The dishes from Home Chef are appropriate for families, as they’re suitable for adults, kids, and teenagers.
Overall, SunBasket has the upper hand when it comes to overall variety, with a fantastic selection of 28 dishes every week, plus the various add-ons. The real diversity with SunBasket is the number of choices that cater to special dietary requirements. The fact that they have such an impressive selection of dishes catering to dietary requirements is an appealing and unique part of the SunBasket Service. You can also mix and match the dishes as you desire and even select the type of protein in most meals, giving you maximum flexibility.
When it comes to a variety of dishes, the Home Chef menu offers 35 classic meals per week. Those include options for low-calorie meals, 15-minute meals, oven-ready meals, vegetarian meals, and more. With Home Chef, you can change or double the protein in most recipes. Regardless of the number of people your plan covers, you can choose from the full list of Home Chef meal selections weekly.
Is It Tasty? Our Experience
The Meal Kit review tried out two weeks of 2024 meal kit offerings from both SunBasket and Home Chef so we can bring you our honest experience of what to expect from both services.
SunBasket
As part of our review process, we tried several of SunBasket’s 2024 meal offerings, and we received two boxes to cook and enjoy.
Our favorite meal was the Lentil Mushroom and Apricot Burgers with Arugula Salad. These meat-free burger patties are flavorful and hearty thanks to the lentils, mushrooms, and cashews that go into making them- a delicious vegan high-protein combo. They paired well with the arugula salad for a unique and flavorful meal with many healthy ingredients.
Home Chef
With Home Chef, we sampled two boxes as well, with a variety of recipes to try. We enjoyed all of the Home Chef dishes we tried, and overall, these classic meals were more to our taste than the SunBasket meals, which used unusual ingredients that may not suit every palate.
Our favorite recipe we tried from Home Chef has got to be the Baked Shrimp Scampi, a selection from their oven-ready menu. This twist on the classic shrimp scampi uses couscous instead of noodles to keep it interesting while delivering great flavor. Following the simple steps, it was easy to cook the pre-prepared ingredients in the oven-safe dish, and we were pleased with the result.
Other Popular Meals To Try
In addition to the delicious recipes featured above, we recommend some popular meals from SunBasket and Home Chef.
SunBasket
- Chili-spiced Tofu Biryani with Cauliflower, Brown Rice, and Raisins
- Baharat Chicken over Wilted Kale with Tzatziki Salad
- Fresh Ricotta Cavatelli with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Walnuts
- White Bean Turkey Chili
- Crustless Chicken Pot Pie with Carrots, Celery, and Mushrooms
- Spicy Harissa Tofu and Quinoa Bowls with Carrots and Chickpeas
Home Chef
- Seared Scallops with Garlic Butter Risotto and Walnut Gremolata
- Corn and Steak Strip Risotto with Fresh Tomatoes
- Salmon Cakes with Dill Hollandaise and Greek-style Potatoes
- Gnocchi and Red Pepper Cream with Parmesan Cheese and Garlic Bread
- One-pan Parmesan Peppercorn Chickpea Salad with Romaine and Pita Chips
- Mushroom Parmesan Penne with Garlic Baguette
The Ingredients Quality
Both SunBasket and Home Chef consistently provide very high-quality products in their meal kits. SunBasket has a one-of-a-kind guarantee that all their ingredients are organic and sustainably sourced. This is a promise that really makes them stand out from the other companies in the industry.
Home Chef also provides quality ingredients in its meal kit delivery service, many of which are sustainably sourced. It has partnered with high-quality farms such as Paysan Breton Butter, World Wide Farms for farm-fresh herbs and vegetables, and Sea to Table for sustainably sourced seafood.
Diet Support
If you follow a specific diet, knowing how SunBasket and Home Chef can support your needs and preferences is helpful. Both SunBasket and Home Chef offer a variety of different options depending on your needs, so here is a breakdown of the specific lifestyles and diets each service caters to.
SunBasket
As a healthy and organic company, SunBasket offers many customization options, with each recipe clearly labeled to highlight the specific diets it suits. Choices available in the weekly SunBasket menu are:
- Gluten-Free Friendly
- Dairy-Free
- Soy-Free
- Paleo
- Mediterranean Diet
- Vegan
- Lean & Clean
- Protein Plus
- Vegetarian
- No Added Sugar
- Pescatarian
- Low Calorie
- Keto-Friendly
- Carb-Conscious
If you have very specific dietary preferences, the large number of options from SunBasket will be a good fit, as they tend to have multiple recipes for each of the above diets and preferences each week.
Home Chef
Home Chef offers tags on their meals to help you pick the recipes that suit your specific needs. These are the options you can easily filter for in the weekly menu:
- Calorie-Conscious
- Carb-Conscious
- Gluten-Smart
- Keto-Friendly
- Paleo-Friendly
- Vegetarian
- Pescetarian
- High-Protein
- Quick Meals (<30 Minutes)
It is important to note that Home Chef currently does not offer fully vegan or gluten-free options, so there may be a better meal kit for those dietary needs.
Optional Add-Ons
In addition to weekly dinners, both SunBasket and Home Chef offer many option add-ons that you get with your meal kit delivery.
SunBasket has a shoppable Market section where you can get breakfast items, snacks, drinks like coffee and tea, quick lunch options like salad and sandwiches, and even tasty desserts. You can also add additional proteins from the market to make your weekly meals go further or cut down on grocery trips.
Home Chef also offers add-ons for your weekly meal kits. They have microwave-ready lunches and many other extras, including breakfast items, sides, drinks such as coffee and smoothies, snacks, and quick lunches like salads and gourmet macaroni and cheese. You can also add additional a la carte proteins.
Pricing
Cost is a key consideration for many when choosing a meal kit delivery service. SunBasket tends to be a bit pricier due to its emphasis on organic and sustainably sourced ingredients. This makes Home Chef the more affordable option (as of 2024 prices).
SunBasket
Per Meal Cost: $9.99 – $25.99
Shipping: $9.99 per box
Home Chef
Per Meal Cost: $6.99 – $9.16
Shipping: $9.99 per box
The Delivery Box
SunBasket and Home Chef both commit to sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging to reduce waste.
Both companies use recycled materials for their boxes and other components. SunBasket packaging is entirely reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and most items in Home Chef boxes can be reused or recycled as well. Sunbasket and Home Chef use reusable ice packs, with SunBasket’s gel being compostable.
To learn more, SunBasket’s recycling guide can be found here. Home Chef customers who want to recycle their package components should look here.
Subscribing and Managing Your Account
When you sign up for your first box, you will set up an online account with SunBasket or Home Chef so you can manage your weekly deliveries and other account information. Both companies offer a well-organized and easy-to-use website and mobile app where you select and change your plan, define your eating preferences, choose what meals and add-ons to include in your weekly deliveries, etc. All account management is online and organized in an effortless and user-friendly way.
Both companies’ service models are subscription-based, with the option to skip weeks if necessary for travel or simply a break. They also offer flexibility in picking your preferred delivery day to suit your schedule. If you go on an extended trip, SunBasket and Home Chef will let you temporarily change the address for your deliveries so you can still receive your meal kit if you choose. You can easily switch to a different plan or add extra items to your boxes each week, allowing flexibility with both plans.
To cancel your account with either service, contact customer support, which will provide a quick response. There are weekly deadlines to cancel or skip a box, so make sure you plan ahead, or you may receive an additional delivery past the time you want to cancel.
What Do Customers Think Of It?
To get customer feedback from others who tried SunBasket and Home Chef, we headed to Reddit, a forum where people can share their opinions on any topic.
For SunBasket, customers appreciate the unique recipes that offer new combinations they hadn’t previously considered. Many also say the food helps them feel like they’re eating healthy while still enjoying delicious meals. The main downsides people mentioned were the price and the meals, which can be unusual.
In their review of SunBasket, @sierra400 says: “All the meal kits we have had are easy to prep, usually just 1-2 pans only. Very flavorful and unique recipes. Things we wouldn’t normally think to cook or mix together.”
In response to a post asking which service people recommend, @fuzzycatpaws says, “SunBasket has been the best of the lot – the most natural option.”
Home Chef customers appreciate the overall menu design and variety and the fact that the service helps them learn new ways to prepare meals. Some customers have reported issues with deliveries and packaging.
About Home Chef, @Bilfrost shared: “Every meal is restaurant quality (and I would argue, often better).” In fact, they rate it as the top of all the meal kit services they tried.
Meanwhile, @emjokuh said: “I feel like it helped me develop my kitchen skills a good amount and gave me some great recipes and ideas I’ve carried on. And the food was always really good.”
Delivery Area
SunBasket currently ships to most zip codes in the United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, and parts of New Mexico. Depending on your delivery area, deliveries can be scheduled any day between Sunday and Thursday.
Home Chef delivers to 98% of the United States, and customers in most areas can pick which day of the week their meals will be delivered. You can enter your zip code during the online sign-up process to ensure the company can deliver meal kits to your area.
Customer Support
SunBasket and Home Chef offer thorough FAQ pages to answer many common customer questions quickly. For additional support from SunBasket, they offer a 24/7 automated self-support chatbot, or you can reach out to an agent via text, phone, or email. With Home Chef, you can use their online chat, call their phone number, or send an email request for support.
Benefits Of Using Meal Kit Services Like SunBasket & Home Chef
Meal kit delivery services like SunBasket or Home Chef can be an easy, convenient way to enjoy healthy meals at home. They can offer diet support and help you stick to a routine of eating fresh, home-cooked foods. By having ingredients for healthy dinners delivered right to your door, you can enjoy fresh meals without having to plan out each week’s menu yourself. These services are an excellent fit for busy lifestyles, limiting your trips to the grocery and making it easier to figure out what to have for dinner each week.
Meal kit delivery services can also help support your health goals and dietary needs with options for low-calorie, vegan, keto, and other food preferences. The specially designed recipes make it easier to meet your diet goals while finding new, delicious meals that suit your needs.
Bottom Line – Our Winner is Home Chef
When comparing SunBasket and Home Chef, both companies offer excellent meal kit services that appeal to different audiences.
If you’re looking for organic, healthy, new-age food or a specific diet like paleo, SunBasket will be your go-to choice, but with a much higher price.
If you want excellent-quality classic meal options that are easy to cook and taste incredible, Home Chef’s meal delivery service is a great fit for you!
After conducting this detailed review, our winner is Home Chef, and here is why:
- The taste
- The price
- The variety and style of meals
- The focus on excellent, fast, and easy meals.
- The many add-ons for breakfast, fast lunch, and extra proteins
Why Trust Us? Our Review Process
The meal kit industry has expanded rapidly over the last ten years, and finding a service that perfectly suits you can be challenging and confusing with so much information to sort through. That’s where the Meal Kit Review can help.
Our team at the Meal Kit Review is seasoned professionals who have used meal kit services for many years. We are well-versed in the pros and cons of each meal kit delivery service. With our attention to detail, we make sure to provide you with the most relevant information collected from in-depth first-hand experience.
Our approach to reviewing each meal kit is hands-on. Our team orders the product, cooks it according to the provided instructions, and uses that experience to review each service. For each meal kit we review, we sample a variety of recipes and keep our experience up-to-date with new offerings.
We are very proud of our processes, and our mission is to be the one-stop shop for meal kit information.
