People with celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder) also follow a strict gluten-free meal plan.
Years ago, it was difficult to find anyone who even knew what gluten-free meant. But today, the term is common knowledge; products fill the grocery stores and niche shops, and, probably most conveniently of all, you can get gluten-free meals delivered straight to your door. If this sounds like music to your wheat-sensitive ears, then here are ten of the best gluten-free meal delivery services that’ll make your day (and your diet!) today.
Breaking Down Our Top 10 Choices: Which Is Best For Your Needs?
Green Chef: Best for fast meal kits
Freshly: Best for allergies
Sunbasket: Best for options
Fresh n Lean: Best for fresh meals
BistroMD: Best for weight-loss and maintenance
Veestro: Best for organic, vegetarian, & vegan eaters
Factor 75: Best for nutrition, coaching, & health
Eatology: Best for total customization
Purple Carrot: Best for easy plant-based meal kits
Epicured: Best for tons of low FODMAP & gluten-free options
A Closer Look at Our Top 10 Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services
1. Green Chef
Fast & simple gluten-free meal kits
- Price: From $12.99
- Shipping: $8.99
- What's in the box: Pre-measured coded ingredients, recipe cards
Green Chef is a gluten-free meal delivery service with a notable difference: it is a meal kit service. That means you’ll get all the ingredients, sauces, and recipes you need to make delicious gluten-free meals fresh and on the spot. Everything is pre-measured, so there’s little work involved. Green Chef is certified gluten-free and organic, so you know whatever you order from the Paleo, Keto, or gluten-free plans is safe and made with top quality ingredients. Choose from seven different gluten-free meals every week.
Pros
- Pre-measured ingredients and special sauces
- Certified gluten-free and organic
- Color-coded ingredients for easier recipes
Cons
- No customization options
- Have to pay for shipping
Read the full Green Chef review
2. Freshly
100% gluten-free menu ready-to-eat
- Price: From $8.49 per meal
- Shipping: $5.99
- What's in the box: 4-12 fully-made meals per week
Freshly is another meal delivery service that has gluten-free certification. And Freshly does it one better; all of its meals are 100% gluten-free (even the penne!). The company is also very strict about other allergens like soy, nuts, and milk. So if you have more allergies, Freshly can be a great option. Choose from 4-12 gluten-free meals every week, and have ready-to-eat meals delivered to your door according to your preferred delivery schedule.
Pros
- Gluten-free certification
- Easy mobile app
- Accommodates lots of dietary requirements
Cons
- Automatic recurring orders
- Not a lot of options for vegans
3. Sunbasket
Organic gluten-free meals & kits
- Price: From $10.99 per meal
- Shipping: $5.99
- What's in the box: All prepped ingredients
Sunbasket is another meal delivery service that is easy for gluten-free menus. The service is USDA-organic certified and all meals are crafted by chefs and approved by dieticians for optimal nutritional balance. Sunbasket gives you a choice between meal kits and ready-to-eat meals. Kits come with prepped ingredients, while fresh and ready meals can be popped into the microwave or oven for faster gluten-free meals. So you have plenty of options, whichever style you prefer.
Pros
- Lots of menu options
- Meal kits and ready-made meals
- Certified organic
Cons
- Kits can take up to 40 min to prepare
- Not all meals are gluten-free, so need to manually select
Read the full Sunbasket review
4. Fresh n Lean
Fresh & nutritious high protein meals
- Price: From $10.78
- Shipping: Free shipping
- What's in the box: 1-3 fully-prepared meals each for 5/7 days
Fresh n’ Lean doesn’t just provide gluten-free meals; it’s also got delicious options that are low on the sugar, salt, fat, and calorie fronts. So you can cover all your bases with this single meal delivery service. Certified organic, Fresh n’ Lean meals are all gluten-free, filled with good-for-you nutrients, and best of all, never frozen. You’ll get the freshest meals that are really good for you, delivered to your door.
Pros
- Organic-certified, FSMA compliant
- Good for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, paleo
- Meals are prepared fresh
Cons
- Can’t select your own meals in some plans
- Have to call directly to cancel auto-subscription
Read the full Fresh n Lean review
5. BistroMD
Gluten-free meals geared towards healthy weight
- Price: From $9 per meal
- Shipping: $19.95
- What's in the box: Made meals, 5-7 breakfasts, lunches, dinners
BistroMD was created by a doctor to help people lose weight in a healthy, manageable way. Today BistroMD offers nutritionally-balanced meals that are gluten-free and geared towards helping people lose weight and maintain their healthy weight as well. Choose from 5 or 7-day plans that include breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even snacks according to your preferences. What’s also great about BistroMD is how flexible it is. You can customize your menu, set preferences, and even meet with dieticians over the mobile app.
Pros
- Lots of weight-loss benefits like dietician consultation
- Loads of gluten-free options
- Meals are designed by a doctor
Cons
- $20 shipping fee
- Have to put in CC info before you pick your meals
6. Veestro
All organic, vegan meals for happy gluten-free eaters
- Price: From $9.99 per meal
- Shipping: Free on auto-deliveries, $9.99/one-timers
- What's in the box: Fully prepared, organic vegan meals
Veestro is the top choice for most vegans and vegetarians, and it’s a great option for gluten-free meals as well. That’s because Veestro uses all organic ingredients in its ready-made dairy, nut, soy, and, yes, gluten-free menus. The meal delivery service believes that life is lived better when we’re living off the earth (i.e., plants), and Veestro does a great job of creating delicious (sometimes surprisingly so) meals out of nothing but the green (and purple, and orange, and red…).
Pros
- All organic, vegan, vegetarian, & gluten-free menus
- No preservatives, fillers, or artificial ingredients
- Rewards program for savings
Cons
- 100% plant-based, so steak-lovers beware
- Meals are frozen
7. Factor_
Health refactored with nutrition power
- Price: From $11.00 per serving
- Shipping: Free shipping
- What's in the box: Fully-prepared 4-18 meals per week
Factor_ delivers fresh meals, never frozen. Ingredients are also top of the line, including fresh veggies, grass-fed proteins, and quality grains that won’t hurt your stomach (think wild rice, quinoa). Factor_ includes some super healthy ingredients too, like shirataki noodles, almond flour, and spinach for a real nutrition boost, so you’re getting the best of the best onto your plate. You’ll get a whole new gluten-free menu every week too. So there’s never any concern for meal-time boredom.
Pros
- All 100% gluten-free ingredients and facilities
- Fabulously nutritious meals and ingredients
- Nutrition training programs with certified dieticians
Cons
- Somewhat pricey
- No shipping to Alaska or Hawaii
8. Eatology
Gluten-free eating the way you want it
- Price: From $10 per meal
- Shipping: $25
- What's in the box: Fully-prepared 10-18 meal options
Eatology is a much smaller fish in the big open sea of meal delivery services, but we believe in this little guy! It’s got a ton of options, including family platters, seasonal specials, and even custom orders. Eatology even lets you customize the size of your meals and what’s included. You can order regularly (weekly) or one-time. The service comes with tons of gluten-free menu options, and best of all, these dishes are outstanding. Full of flavor, you’ll enjoy meals like bacon ranch pizza and cranberry balsamic chicken. Yum!
Pros
- Incredible flavors and meals
- All gluten-free options
- Loads and loads of customization
Cons
- Site is a bit buggy
- Very high shipping fees
9. Purple Carrot
All day eating on the Earth
- Price: From $4.30 per meal
- Shipping: Free
- What's in the box: Fully prepared, organic vegan meals
Like Veestro, Purple Carrot is a 100% plant-based meal service that’s also organic and vegan-friendly. However, these are meal kits that you can whip together in just a few minutes. Every meal on the gluten-free menu is healthy, loaded with planty goodness, and actually tastes great. Purple Carrot covers the spectrum too, offering breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even snacks. And if you want to cook your own meals once in a while, Purple Carrot has a whole slew of free delectable gluten-free recipes that you can try out on your own.
Pros
- Affordable pricing, snacks under $5
- Extra recipes available online
- Free shipping
Cons
- Not an exclusively gluten-free meal service
- Not certified gluten-free
Read the full Purple Carrot review
10. Epicured
Top of the line gluten-free, chef-made meals
- Price: From $4.99 per meal
- Shipping: Free over $100, otherwise $10-$20
- What's in the box: Chef-prepared, gluten-free meals
Epicured is a serious gluten-free meal delivery service. Being a 100% low FODMAP and gluten-free menu with all natural ingredients, Epicured has got all the backings you could ask for including Mount Sinai Gastroenterology care team and Michelin star chefs behind the aprons. So, if you’re looking for some seriously healthy, seriously nutritious, and seriously gluten-friendly meal options, Epicured is the way to go.
Pros
- All natural, all gluten-free, 100% low FODMAP menu
- Excellent backing and certification
- Professional chefs preparing each meal
Cons
- Meals may need additional spicing per taste
- Shipping is pricey in some areas
And there are others out there too. Brands like Trifecta Nutrition, Paleo on the Go, and MagicKitchen all offer gluten-free menus worth perusing.
Reviewing the Top Meal Gluten-Free Delivery Services: Our Methodology
Top10.com gluten-free meal delivery services reviews are based on objective facts. Our reviews are based on research via the meal delivery site, trusted 3rd party sites, customer reviews, and use of the product through free trials, or through paid use in some cases.
It is not always possible to use the product through its entire lifecycle. However, reviewers will try the signup process, make customer service queries to check response times and perform any other possible function within the review period. For the rest of the information, we rely on what the brand says about its own product offering, customer reviews, and complaints, ratings from independent agencies like the BBB, and trusted journalistic publications.
Some of the key features we compared when looking at the gluten-free meal delivery services on our list were:
- Price
- Shipping
- Delivery areas
- Special offers
- What's in the box
What You Need to Know Before Choosing a Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Service
Maybe your super-trendy friend was doing it, so you decided to hop on board. Or maybe your Cali-based doctor recommended it for you. Or maybe you’re not really sure why you started eating gluten-free at all. Well, now’s the time to clarify that point because it’s an important one. If you’re only doing this to be on the cool train (no judgments, bell bottoms), then your requirements will be a lot looser than someone who is eating gluten-free meals because their health depends on it. So determine for yourself why you’re checking out gluten-free menus, and then you can move forward.
Many meal delivery services claim to be certified gluten-free when in fact they are not. Offering a meal that doesn’t have wheat in it doesn’t qualify you as a gluten-free meal service. So don’t be fooled. After all, if you have a serious allergy or sensitivity to gluten, you don’t want meals that have any trace of gluten, including sauces, dressings, and other extras that many meal services may not have considered unless they’re taking this health matter seriously. Your best choice doesn’t have to have gluten-free certification, but they should have a solid policy when it comes to keeping gluten out of their meals.
Another thing you want to look out for are meal options. A quick scan will reveal that many would-be gluten-free menus contain only one or two actual gluten-free meals. Bummer! So when doing your perusing, make sure to check how many options you’ll get to prevent meal boredom. All the gluten-free meal delivery services on this list have several gluten-free options for you to choose from. You’re welcome.
Meal Delivery Services During COVID
In today’s current situation, gluten-free is just one health issue you need to be concerned with. Another one is how careful is this meal delivery service being about the present Coronavirus pandemic and what precautions they are taking to ensure your meals are sanitary and safe. Quality brands will take all government-mandated requirements to protect your health as well as extra steps for even more security. Here are a few of the ways good gluten-free meal delivery services are keeping you safer:
- Daily and semi-hourly disinfection of all stations
- Employees are required to wear gloves, masks, and hair nets whenever working with meals
- Employees are required to take health screening
- Deliveries are all contactless
Tips on Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services
Meal delivery services save you time without a doubt. You’ve got a gluten-free meal plan made up for you in an instant. And do we even have to tell you how much time you’re saving by not going to the supermarket, waiting in lines, and having to cook meals from scratch? But what’s more surprising is that these services may save you money as well. Here’s how:
- Money-saver #1: Skip the stores
Gluten-free ingredients are expensive! Marketers will gladly slap a gluten-free sticker on anything, adding several dollars for their efforts. But many of those items are either loaded with garbage (but gluten-free!) or something you won’t use very often. So you’ve spent a lot of money on things that’ll end up in the trash (or should be at any rate). Gluten-free meals, on the other hand, are nutritionally-balanced and are made with whole, real, nutritious ingredients. And since you’re getting a serving, you don’t have to spend money on an ingredient you’ll be using once and tossing in six months when you clean out the pantry.
- Money-saver #2: Order in bulk
Looking to save? Order your gluten-free meals in bulk, and then stick them in the freezer for a later date. You’ll pay less per meal, and you’ll have a good stock for whenever you want. Frozen gluten-free meals are made to preserve the flavor. So when you defrost, they’re still appetizing.
To get the most out of your gluten-free ordering experience:
- Browse your options, and comparison shop
- Utilize the pause or skip a week functionality on your membership accounts
- Supplement with your own simpler home-cooked meal periodically to change things up or save on the subscription fees for that week
- Utilize the fun gluten-free recipes that many of these services offer to create your own gluten-free menus when you’re in the mood
Finally, when ordering from a gluten-free meal delivery service, you want to look at the overall health quality of the meals. It’s not enough to just avoid gluten. If the meal is loaded with sodium, has tons of unhealthy fats, or is covered in sugar, you’re better off skipping dinner altogether. So check out the nutritional quality of the meals as well as the validity of the gluten-free certification.
How Much Do Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services Cost?
Gluten-free meal delivery services range in terms of pricing from as low as $5 a meal up to about $15. The discrepancy in pricing has a lot to do with factors like quality of ingredients, area where you live, and amount of food you order. For example, some gluten-free meal delivery services will give you a discount if you order in bulk. So the per meal cost goes down, saving you considerably.
Other services offer discounts, including welcome offers and period coupons sent to your inbox. Many gluten-free menus will give you a discount if you set up recurring deliveries. This is also a convenient way to ensure you never run out of your health-friendly meals. When calculating the costs of one service versus another, be sure to include any shipping fees you might have to pay as well as the cost of meals.
Get Gluten-Free Meals Knocking on Your Door
Gluten-free diets were all the rage about ten years ago. But as people realized the health benefits of cutting out those carbs, the trend continued to gain traction. Today, it seems that gluten-free has taken up permanent residence at restaurants, grocery stores, and households the world over. In the meal delivery realm as well, there are plenty of gluten-free options to choose from. So check out our top choices, see which one works best for your needs, and enjoy the convenience and health benefits of ready-made gluten-free meals whenever you want them.
