I love to cook. It's a creative outlet, and it's satisfying that something so cup-filling for me also meets the need of feeding my family. But when my inspiration wanes, my people still need to eat. It was in a creative drought that I first turned to EveryPlate. Now we're co-conspirators.
Starting at $4.99 per serving, the cost of this meal subscription is less than a meal I might put on the table using groceries I bought, prepped, and put together the old-fashioned way—actually, it's more than 25% cheaper. The same cannot be said for most meal kits out there. 🤑 As for the recipes, they have tons of solid classic meals that I can choose knowing confidently that my family of four, with our varied tastes, will eat and enjoy.
The Basics
EveryPlate is notorious for being one of the most budget-friendly meal kit subscriptions on the scene. You can sign up for meal subscription plans for 2 or 4 people and receive 3-6 meals per week. During sign-up, you'll also select whether you want your meals to include Meat & Veggies, be Vegetarian, focus on Family Faves, be especially Quick & Easy, or Nutrish & Delish.
You can choose from 26 delicious & affordable recipes that change weekly and there are also 22 add-on options spanning proteins (meat, seafood, and plant-based options), plus sides, snacks, and desserts.
You'd think a meal kit so affordable would limit customization, but that's not so! Certain recipes offer the opportunity to swap proteins and sides or add a protein to a vegetarian dish each week. This was part of what sealed the deal for me when I was exploring meal kits to try.
I also appreciate that pretty much all of EveryPlate's packaging materials are curbside recyclable in my area. There are some small seasoning and sauce packages that get tossed in the trash, but that's true of some items I source myself anyway.
It's EveryPlate's Turn Tonight
In my neighborhood, there's this iconic family, and among those who are old enough to take command of the kitchen, each takes a turn cooking dinner throughout the week. In my home, it's me and EveryPlate taking turns. Fine by me! Honestly, my greatest challenge in the kitchen is conjuring up the idea of what to make, so EveryPlate's rotating menu of 26 weekly recipes lightens that mental load significantly. The 26 meals cater to different diets (Meat & Veggie, Veggie, and others) and styles (American, Mexican, and more), so any possibility of decision fatigue is alleviated.
As for actually cooking EveryPlate meals, each recipe comes together in 6 steps, which add up to 30 minutes or less. There are also some 15-minute meal options to choose from, with super easy-to-prep ingredients provided. Hallelujah! It won't surprise you to know that when the moment is right, I love digging into a complex recipe with all its marinades and sauces and appliances, but man is that an undertaking. In addition to pre-portioned ingredients streamlining the process, it's not uncommon for the various elements of these dinners to share one sheet pan, meaning even clean-up is quicker than usual.
Plus, not having to go to the grocery store earlier in the day to put dinner on the table that night saves me literally hours. Perfect for living up summer; just as perfect for winter hibernation.
Drool Over These Meals With Me
While EveryPlate touts having lots of family-friendly options, it's not all kid food. There are certainly simple meals that would satisfy uncomplicated palates, but there are also interesting menu items that are delightfully complex-tasting. Here are a few examples:
1 of 3 | Sweet Potato & Pepper Quesadillas with Fresh Salsa & Chipotle Sour Cream
These Sweet Potato & Pepper Quesadillas are a great crowd-pleaser in my house, and really easy to customize for each person. I was provided all the ingredients to make a veggie-filled and deliciously drizzled version for the adults in the household. But it was also easy-peasy to pare some down to only the familiar and "safe" foods for my two young kids.
My kids are passionate about mac 'n' cheese, and I typically make it for them weekly. While my husband and I look forward to stealing a few bites off their plates, we use it as the night we have salads for dinner. If you're thinking a salad seems like a silly thing to choose from a meal kit, you might need to up your salad game! To make a truly filling salad that's satisfying as a main course, it takes imaginativeness and effort. I've picked up some great ideas through EveryPlate's salads like this Zesty Southwest Steak Salad.
Finally, my eye was caught by this Hearty Chicken Sausage & Kale Soup because it's not like anything I've ever made before. I love a summer soup. It's a no-brainer to toss some crusty bread on the table alongside this hearty one-pot meal, which contains potatoes that appeal to my kids and sausage and kale that appeals to me and my husband.
Final Thoughts
Even when I've got my ducks in a row and I'm on a streak of great creative vision in the kitchen, I still keep EveryPlate in the rotation. It works for my family so well because it's affordable, the meals are accessible, and the portions are big enough to ensure every belly is full. On top of that, though, it's become my best tool to avoid burnout as I cook for my family nightly, as well as a reliable time-saver in the realms of both food shopping and dinner prep. Is this a love letter to EveryPlate? Apparently, it is—putting my thoughts down in writing is showing me just how helpful this meal subscription has been for me each week as someone whose love language is expressing themselves through food!
