Green Chef Review: Satisfying Organic Meals Made Simple (2024)

If you prioritize organic foods in your diet, Green Chef stands out as one of the select few USDA-certified organic meal kit services available today. With over 80 recipes offered each week, the brand caters to a diverse range of dietary preferences, including plant-based, gluten-free, keto and more. Moreover, the service adeptly caters to individuals, couples and larger families, ensuring that varying needs are accommodated with ease.

While Green Chef prides itself on using high-quality, organic ingredients, it’s also one of the pricier meal kit brands in the market. To assess whether this higher cost is justified, I decided to put the service to the test for a week, preparing four organic meals from its ever-changing menu. My rigorous Green Chef review included evaluating the service's user-friendliness, ingredient excellence, taste and overall value. After thorough consideration, I concluded that despite the elevated price tag, the certified organic meal kit company delivers on its promise, particularly if you seek satisfying, flavorful organic meals.

Green Chef

Plans: Mediterranean, gut & brain health, calorie smart, quick & easy, plant-based, protein-packed, keto, gluten-free | Servings: 2, 4 or 6 | Cost per serving: $12 and up | Weekly menu options: 80+ | Shipping: $11

Pros:

  • Wide variety of recipes each week
  • Meals are flavorful and filling
  • Fresh, pre-portioned organic ingredients
  • Recipes are quick and easy to cook
  • Tasty add-ons for breakfast, lunch and snacks

Cons:

  • Many recipes are high in calories
  • Fairly expensive price per serving

Green Chef Review

How Green Chef Works

When signing up for Green Chef, you begin by selecting the number of meals per week—two, three or four—along with the servings per meal, which can range from two to six. It's worth noting that opting for more meals or servings typically reduces the cost per serving, which falls between $12 and $13. During this stage of the sign-up process, you have the option to choose a specific "meal plan," such as calorie smart or plant-based, or explore the entire weekly menu by selecting all options.

Following this, you proceed to input your shipping and payment details before selecting your desired meals. There are options to customize your meals, like substituting proteins or adjusting portion sizes. Additionally, the brand offers "add-ons" for your box, such as extra protein, breakfast items like egg bites or oatmeal, and even desserts, all of which incur an additional cost.

Green Chef sends a weekly reminder to choose your meals, allowing you to customize your selection up to five days before delivery. Moreover, you have the flexibility to skip deliveries as frequently as you wish and cancel your plan at any time.

Delivery

Green Chef delivers its packages between Monday and Saturday, with the specific delivery day varying based on your location. Shipping is available to the contiguous United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, with a flat-rate shipping fee of $11 per box.

My Green Chef meals were delivered right to my porch, and the box arrived at around 6 p.m. on my expected delivery date. Inside the box, all the ingredients (excluding meats) were neatly organized in paper bags by recipe. For instance, ingredients for the parmesan linguine were grouped together in one bag, while those for the quesadillas were in another. This made it easy to keep everything organized in my fridge. At the base of the box, two large ice packs and the proteins, still frozen, were securely placed.

While unpacking the box, I noticed that the majority of the packing materials are easily recyclable. I particularly appreciated that the insulation inside the box can be recycled curbside, as I've encountered difficulties with recycling insulation from other brands in the past.

Meals

In my Green Chef box, I received three entrees and one lunch, all tailored to serve two people. Each recipe was accompanied by a large, easy-to-follow recipe card, and all the ingredients were conveniently pre-portioned, saving me the hassle of using measuring cups while cooking. Additionally, I opted for one of the brand’s dessert "add-ons" for my box. Here are my thoughts on the meals.

Cantina Chicken And White Bean Soup

This soup made for a fantastic, quick weeknight dinner. It was a breeze to prepare—I simply had to cook the chicken and then simmer the remaining ingredients for a few minutes. Despite its seemingly effortless preparation, the final result was remarkably flavorful. Served with homemade tortilla chips on the side, the recipe called for three tortillas, yet there were six in the package, allowing for extras if desired.

The one thing that surprised me about this meal was the high-calorie count. The brand claims it’s 890 calories per serving, which seemed quite high considering the basic ingredients and fairly small portion sizes.

Parmesan Linguine With Shrimp And Bacon

This recipe falls under the brand’s “Chef Select” options, which feature premium proteins and ingredients, at an additional fee per serving. It exuded a more upscale vibe compared to the other meals, and the freshness of the produce, including broccoli and parsley, was notably impressive. The thick slices of bacon also looked and smelled delicious. With my partner assisting, we managed to prepare this meal in just under 20 minutes, although it might take a bit longer if working solo.

Overall, the pasta dish proved to be exceptionally flavorful and satisfying. It leaned towards being a more indulgent recipe, and the serving size was just right for two people—though those with heartier appetites might find themselves craving larger portions. It’s worth mentioning that this recipe, like the previous one, had a relatively high calorie count—870 calories per serving. However, this didn’t come as a surprise considering the richness of the ingredients.

Southwest Turkey And Bell Pepper Quesadillas

This recipe involved slightly more prep than the others, but it was still easy to prepare. I had to chop the bell peppers and scallions, then cook them with the ground turkey before assembling and cooking the quesadillas. The whole process took around 30 minutes, slightly longer than anticipated.

There was ample filling for two quesadillas, resulting in a satisfying meal. However, the flavor of the quesadillas themselves was just okay—the hot sauce and sour cream dip were really what elevated the flavor. Without them, the quesadillas would have been rather bland.

Prosciutto, Ricotta And Kale Toasts

Of all the recipes I tried, this “10-Minute Lunch” was my favorite in terms of flavor. True to claim, it only took a few minutes to prep and assemble, requiring no cooking. The final result was absolutely delicious and well-balanced, with just the right amount of saltiness, heat, sweetness and richness. I would definitely recreate it for a quick yet gourmet lunch option.

Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

The Cinnamon Crumb muffins are an optional add-on for your delivery that includes four muffins, each of which was individually packaged. The cake itself was moist, generously adorned with crumb topping. They served as an excellent choice for a mid-afternoon snack or a delightful dessert following dinner.

Pricing

The pricing for Green Chef meal kits varies depending on the number of servings and meals per week you order. Dinners and lunches typically range from $12 to $13 per serving, which is slightly higher compared to other meal kits. Additionally, the brand charges a flat shipping fee of $11.

To give you an example of the cost per week, three meals for two people (excluding upgrades or add-ons) amount to $92 per week, including shipping. Conversely, four meals for four people per week total $203.

It's important to note that additional expenses can contribute to the overall delivery price. For example, "premium" meals such as the Chef Select options incur an extra $7 to $10 per serving, depending on the recipe. Similarly, add-ons come at an additional cost; for instance, the four Cinnamon Crumb Muffins I received in my box were priced at $13.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I found Green Chef to be impressive in terms of menu variety, ingredient quality and flavors. All the organic ingredients arrived in excellent condition, and although some recipes offered smaller portions, the meals were consistently filling and flavorful. What stood out was that all four recipes took 30 minutes or less to cook, with minimal prep involved—I usually only needed to chop one or two ingredients. This was a welcome change as I've often felt frustrated with other meal kits that require extensive chopping before cooking.

However, the main downside of Green Chef is its pricing. Starting at $12 per serving, plus an $11 shipping fee, it is noticeably more expensive than other meal kits; for instance, Blue Apron's prices begin at $8 per serving. While Green Chef's premium price reflects its use of organic ingredients, it may be a worthwhile expense for those who prioritize convenience and ingredient quality.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

With the rising cost of groceries, the Forbes Vetted team is dedicated to helping you find convenient and cost-effective ways to feed your family. We’ve tested several of the best meal kit delivery services available today, including Blue Apron, Home Chef, and Sunbasket, and we’ve also extensively researched other meal services, including the best prepared meal delivery services and the best vegan meal delivery services.

For this article, Forbes Vetted contributor Camryn Rabideau embarked on a week-long exploration of Green Chef, preparing four meals from the brand's current menu. She meticulously assessed the service's delivery, ease of use, meal diversity, flavor and pricing

Why Is Green Chef Expensive?

Green Chef stands out as one of the pricier meal kit delivery services, with prices ranging from $12 to $13 per serving. This higher cost is primarily attributed to the brand's emphasis on providing organic ingredients, distinguishing it as one of the few meal delivery options certified by the USDA as organic. Within Green Chef meal kits, you'll discover a selection of organic, fresh produce and eggs, alongside organic beef, chicken and wild-caught seafood. In instances where sourcing organic ingredients isn't feasible, the brand ensures to include high-quality conventional alternatives.

Green Chef Review: Satisfying Organic Meals Made Simple (2024)
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