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Hello Fresh Subscription Box Review + Coupon – March 2016

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseJul 25, 2016 | 7 comments

HelloFresh-March-2016-Box

HelloFresh
3.9 overall rating
44 Ratings | 29 Reviews

Hello Fresh is a weekly meal delivery subscription that sends healthy recipes and the pre-measured ingredients you need to make them at home. 

Check out all of our reviews of Meal Delivery Services to see every meal kit subscription box option!

HelloFresh-March-2016-Inside

It’s easy to skip deliveries using the Hello Fresh website, and you can skip as many weeks as you like.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

HelloFresh-March-2016-Contents

The Subscription Box: Hello Fresh

The Cost: The Classic Food Box (for omnivores) starts at $9.90 per person per meal. The Veggie Box (for herbivores) starts at $9.08 per person per meal. The Family Box (for families) costs $8.75 per person per meal.

ACTIVE DEAL: 16 Free Meals (Offer is for new subscriptions only across 9 boxes and varies by plan) + First Box Ships Free + 3 Surprise Gifts
CODE: MSA16HF

The Products: Healthy recipes and pre-portioned fresh ingredients.

Ships to: The contiguous US.

Check out all our Hello Fresh reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory for more meal boxes!

HelloFresh-March-2016-Welcome

This is my first Hello Fresh box since October, so they included a “Hello & Welcome” booklet.

HelloFresh-March-2016-Welcome2

The booklet provided information about some of Hello Fresh’s partner farms and suppliers.

HelloFresh-March-2016-Perks

I also received an envelope filled with “curated offers.”

HelloFresh-March-2016-JamieOliver

Hello Fresh also included a card to announce their recent partnership with celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver! I think this is really exciting! Each week, Hello Fresh will feature one of Jamie Oliver’s recipes. Also, for every box purchased, Hello Fresh will make a donation to Jamie Oliver's Food Foundation.

Mushroom and Spinach Flatbread

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Calories per Serving: 720

HelloFresh-March-2016-Booklet

In each box, Hello Fresh includes a booklet that spotlights seasonal ingredients and includes your recipes for the week.

HelloFresh-March-2016-BookletPages

Each two-sided recipe includes an ingredient list, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions.

HelloFresh-March-2016-BookletPages2

Ingredients for each recipe come packed in their own box.

HelloFresh-March-2016-BoxedIngredients

I really like the packaging, but it takes up a lot of space! I had difficulty finding room in my fridge for all of the boxes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadPrep

The first recipe I made from this box was Mushroom and Spinach Flatbread, and I began by prepping my ingredients.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadCrust

I rolled out the flatbread dough using a rolling pin and par-baked it at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadMushrooms

While it baked, I prepared the veggies.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadVeggies

I sautéed mushrooms, onions, garlic, and spinach with salt and pepper.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadAssemble

After the flatbread came out of the oven, I layered mozzarella, the sautéed veggie mix, and parmesan cheese on top. I then returned the flatbread to the oven until the cheese started to bubble.

HelloFresh-March-2016-FlatbreadPlated

I love all types of pizza and flatbread, so I was VERY excited for this dish. Unfortunately, though, I found it to be disappointing. The liquid from the veggies made the crust a little soggy (even though I tried to limit any excess liquid that I added and made sure the oven was very hot) and the flavors were too bland for my liking. I actually ended up adding a little sriracha to the top of my flatbread, just to punch up the flavor.

Jamie’s Roasted Chicken with Lemony Bombay Potatoes

Cooking Time: 55 minutes

Calories per Serving: 418

HelloFresh-March-2016-ChickenCard

The following day, I made Jamie Oliver’s Roasted Chicken with Lemony Bombay Potatoes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-ChickenPrep

I began by prepping the veggies, inventorying the ingredients, and par-boiling the potatoes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-ChickenAssembled

I tossed together olive oil, cumin, turmeric, lemon zest, cilantro, bell pepper, lemon juice, and ginger in a large bowl. I then added the potatoes and the chicken. I seasoned the mix and then arranged everything in a baking dish. I transferred it to my 400 degree oven and baked it for about 30 minutes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-ChickenPlated

I really wanted to like this dish, but there was something about it that just didn’t wow me. The flavors were okay (I liked the addition of lemon zest and ginger), but I just didn’t find it that exciting. I suppose I feel like this is the kind of dish I could easily throw together myself.

Chimichurri Steak

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Calories per Serving: 624

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakCard

I ended my week of Hello Fresh meals with Chimichurri Steak.

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakPrep

I collected the ingredients for the dish and prepared the veggies.

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakVeggies

To begin, I roasted a red pepper with some grape tomatoes.

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakSauce

I then made the chimichurri sauce by combining parsley, shallot, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, chili flakes, and salt and pepper. Even though I didn’t use all of the shallot and garlic, my chimichuri still looked a little different than the photo. I considered adding some extra parsley, but I liked the way it tasted, so I left it alone.

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakCousCous

I seared the steak in a pan on the stovetop, and then transferred it to a cutting board. While I let it rest, I soaked couscous in a combination of boiling water, salt, and cumin until it was cooked and then added the veggies and some butter.

When the couscous was ready, I sliced the steak, placed it on top, and finished the dish with chimichuri.

HelloFresh-March-2016-SteakPlated

This dish was a big hit! Both my husband and I thought the chimichurri elevated this dish into something really special (and yummy)! The portion size was very generous, too.

The Verdict: I have mixed feelings about this Hello Fresh box. On the plus side, the recipes were simple and easy to follow, the box was packed very carefully, and I like how the ingredients for each recipe came packed in a different box. (I also love that Hello Fresh has paired up with Jamie Oliver!) For me, though, the dishes were just okay. My husband and I both really enjoyed the steak dish, but I found the chicken a little lackluster and the flatbread to be downright bland. I also wish that Hello Fresh offered a bit more variety. With only 5 meals to choose from each week, I sometimes struggle to find 3 dishes that really excite me. To be fair, I’m still new to Hello Fresh, so I look forward to trying another box soon. It’s entirely possible that I just got a little unlucky with my meals this week.

Do you subscribe to Hello Fresh?

Starting at $56.95
Active Deal
16 Free Meals (Offer is for new subscriptions only across 9 boxes and varies by plan) + First Box Ships Free + 3 Surprise Gifts
Use Coupon Code MSA16HF
Subscribe Now

HelloFresh is a popular meal kit delivery service and subscription that takes the guesswork out of planning and prepping home-cooked meals. Feed your family or just yourself with quality pre-portioned and fresh ingredients, and easy-to-follow recipes that you can choose week by week. No grocery s... read more.

Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse

Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. 


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7 comments

sharon luke

When will Jamie Olivers Foodfresh box be available in Canada?

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Layla

I also found Hello Fresh bland and always have a hard time picking 3 I like with the limited 5 options. I had better meals and options with Plated.

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Renee Ladd

I got a steak with chimichurri meal from Plated and it was really delicious.

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Jen

I would love to see a comparison post (like Birchbox vs Ipsy) of plated, hello fresh, blue apron, etc. These types of subs always intrigue me but I don’t know which is best!

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Andrea

My family loves Hello Fresh. We usually only take a box if there are 3 meals that actually interest us. We’ve only had one meal that we didn’t really care for, we’ve actually enjoyed a few of them so much we made them again. I feel like their portion sizes are really nice, we can usually make the box for 2 work for 3 people.

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Lori

I’ve always seen chimichurri well chopped in a blender/food processor to the consistency of a thick dressing or sauce (not quite a puree).

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Christina

Thanks for your honest opinion. I have my first one coming next week and will be on the lookout for ways I can add a little something extra to the meals so they are not so bland.

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