Food writer Kate Ng has tested nearly 10 recipe boxes over a month and a half, from Gousto to Mindful Chef, to find the best meal kits for busy households in 2026. Her top pick overall is Gousto, while Mindful Chef takes the crown for healthy recipes.
Why recipe boxes remain popular
Planning and cooking dinner every night can be exhausting, especially as takeaways and eating out become more expensive. Recipe boxes, which provide recipes and ingredients in exact amounts, boomed during the pandemic in 2020 when everyone was stuck at home. Demand has since fallen as shopping habits returned to normal, but they remain popular among busy workers and families.
How the boxes were tested
Each box was assessed on website experience, recipe selection and variety, ease of instructions, quality of ingredients, and recipe success. The amount of waste generated was also noted, with boxes using less plastic being a priority. Ingredient sourcing and organisation were also considered.
Best overall: Gousto
Founded in the UK in 2012, Gousto offers over 175 recipes per week and caters to a huge range of dietary requirements. A recent feature allows customers to change the type of protein on certain recipes or add more of a particular ingredient. Meals were well-portioned with plenty of protein and fibre, though ingredients are not separated by recipe, requiring some self-organisation. A five-recipe box for two people costs £37.00 (£7.40 per serving).
Best healthy: Mindful Chef
Mindful Chef impressed with high-fibre meals and well-sourced produce, featuring an all-female chef team. Recipes include egg fried rice with king prawns and green pea gnocchi with basil and pumpkin seeds. Portions were generous, often providing lunch for the next day. Meals start from £5.12 for a family box or £6.75 for a two-person box.
Best for meal prep: Abel & Cole
Abel & Cole offers fully organic produce with around 12 rotating recipes each week, including one-pot meals, soups, salads and lunch prep kits. Most recipes feed four people and double as batch cooking options. Smaller ingredients arrive in reusable glass jars, and plastic is only used for delicate vegetables. However, meat options are very limited.
Best organic: Riverford
Riverford sources most of its meat from organic West Country farms and offers a wider recipe selection than Abel & Cole. Recipes are simple to follow with a high satisfaction rate, though some dishes may need extra seasoning. Each recipe comes in separate boxes, which can take up significant fridge space.
Best vegan: Planthood
Planthood, fully plant-based and dairy-free, offers chef-made sauces and dressings. Each meal is separated into labelled paper bags that slot neatly into the fridge. Recipes are accessed via QR codes, which can be tricky if the sticker is ripped. A two-person box starts at £45 for three meals. All packaging is compostable or recyclable.
Best pasta: Nonna Tonda
Nonna Tonda makes fresh pasta daily and sends it out within 24 hours, sealed in compostable bags with ready-made sauces. Meals are ready within five minutes and include a weekly pizza recipe and a dessert kit. Boxes are flat for easy fridge storage, and packaging is recyclable or compostable.
Best for special dinners: Cookaway
Cookaway offers themed recipe boxes developed by professional chefs from around the world, with over 180 global recipes across 9 cuisines. Boxes can feed two to five people and include cards about the recipe developers. Multiple dishes mean lots of washing up, but the experience is thoughtful and fun.
Best organised: Grubby
Grubby is plant-based with ingredients separated into labelled bags and recipe cards inside each. Over 150 monthly rotating recipes are available, with most low-calorie and low in saturated fat. Additional seasoning is often needed. Frozen meals are also offered but not recommended as they are not very tasty.
Best for low plastic waste: HelloFresh
HelloFresh has swapped plastic sachets for paper packets, with most of the box recyclable or reusable. Recipes are straightforward with a good balance of carbs, protein and vegetables, though there is an overreliance on peppers and tomatoes. Costs range from £3.50 to £7.00 per portion. However, delivery issues can occur with third-party couriers, including Evri.
Which recipe box should you choose?
Gousto wins for cost-effectiveness, variety and taste, while Mindful Chef excels in ingredient quality. Vegans are well-catered to by Planthood and Grubby, organic and seasonal produce is prioritised by Abel & Cole and Riverford, pasta lovers will enjoy Nonna Tonda, special dinners call for Cookaway, and HelloFresh delivers on low cost and low packaging waste.
