This month, I reviewed boxes from two different meal subscriptions companies: Plated and Blue Apron. To get a sense of how the boxes compare, I’ve outlined all of the meals I received below. I’ve assigned each dish a score out of 5, and I’ve averaged the scores from each box together to get a total box score. Read on to see which box came out on top for me this month!
Check out all of our reviews of Meal Delivery Services to see every meal kit subscription box option, and our Best Meal Boxes list to see which ones are your favorites!
Plated – Recipes begin at $12 per plate. 2 recipes (4 plates)= $48 per week (+ $6 shipping). 3 recipes (6 plates)= $72 per week (with free shipping). 4 recipes (8 total plates)= $96 per week (with free shipping).
COUPON: Free dinner for two with purchase of 3-dinners plan ($24 value), no coupon required, just use this link.
Check out the full Plated review here!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Meal #1- Prosciutto Fig Pizza with Fontina and Balsamic Glaze
Calories Per Serving: 750
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Score: 3.5/5 The flavor of this pizza was great, but there was a little too much cheese sauce for my liking. (I also couldn’t get over the fact that the sauce reminded me of macaroni and cheese.)
Meal #2- Chicken Marsala with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Calories per Serving: 710
Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
Score: 5/5 I’ve never made chicken marsala at home before, and I’m so impressed with how this dish turned out! I’d be pleased if I received this meal in a restaurant, so I’m thrilled that I was able to make it at home. The sauce was rich, tangy, and creamy, and the potatoes and chicken were perfectly cooked. I think this is one of the best dishes I’ve ever received from Plated. It was incredible.
Meal #3- Dover Sole with Apple Salad and Roasted Potatoes
Calories: 460
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Score:4/5 This dish was light and flavorful. It felt very French to me, so I served it with some white Bordeaux wine. Delicious!
Overall dish score: 4.17/5
Cost per plate: Meals start at $12 per serving. Dessert is $4 per serving.
Number of meals available to choose from each week: 11 meals + 2 desserts
Blue Apron – $59.94 for 3 recipes on the 2-Person Plan, $69.92 for 2 recipes on the Family Plan, $139.84 for 4 recipes on the Family Plan.
COUPON: 3 Meals Free on Your First Order, no coupon required, just use this link.
Check out the full Blue Apron review here!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Meal #1- Korean Pork Tacos with Spicy Red Cabbage Slaw
Calories: 840 per serving
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-25 minutes
Score: 4.5/5 I first discovered gochujang thanks to a meal subscription box (I can’t remember if it was Plated or Blue Apron…), and it has since become a staple in my kitchen. I love how it adds bold flavor and subtle heat to food, and it worked extremely well in this dish. The tacos were delicious, and the combination of different components all worked together extremely well. The meat was rich and a little spicy, the slaw was crunchy and flavorful, the radishes were fresh and crisp, and the sour cream was cool and creamy. Yum!
Meal #2- Brown Butter & Thyme Gnocchi with Maitake Mushrooms, Corn, & Swiss Chard
Calories: 650 per serving
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-25 minutes
Score: 3/5 I love gnocchi, and I had high hopes for this dish. I liked the mix of veggies and the flavor of the brown butter, but, unfortunately, I thought this dish was missing something.
Meal #3- Blackened Chicken with Zucchini Rice, Corn & Cherry Tomatoes
Calories: 710 per serving
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
Score: 4.5/5 This dish was really tasty. I love blackened chicken, and the combination of rice, veggies, chicken, and lime crema made this dish taste a little like a burrito bowl.
Overall Score: 4/5
Cost per Plate: Blue Apron costs $9.99 per serving.
Number of meals available to choose from each week: 6 meals (Note: meal choice is limited by the fact that not all combinations of meals are available.)
The Verdict: Both Plated and Blue Apron sent me some delicious meals in September, and it’s tricky to pick a favorite box this month. Deferring to the scores, I have to say that Plated takes the crown (though, it was certainly a close call). The Chicken Marsala was hands down my favorite dish, and I’m getting a little hungry right now just thinking about how good it was!
Favorite box: Plated
Yummiest dish: Plated’s Chicken Marsala
Most fun dish to make: Blue Apron’s Blackened Chicken with Zucchini Rice, Corn & Cherry Tomatoes (I can’t resist a good burrito bowl!)
Do you subscribe to Plated or Blue Apron? What were your favorite September dishes?
Check back next month for a comparison of all four top meal subscription boxes: Plated, Home Chef, Hello Fresh, or Blue Apron!
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