Dinnerly | The Meal Kit that promises Simplicity (But does it deliver?)

If you’re tired of staring at your fridge wondering how to turn half a pepper, some wilted spinach and leftover pasta into dinner, Dinnerly might be exactly what you need. It’s one of the most affordable meal kits on the market, designed to give you fast, unfussy meals without draining your bank account.

But here’s the real question: is Dinnerly actually good? Does the Dinnerly menu give enough variety to keep your family from getting bored? And does the simplicity come at the cost of flavor? I tried it myself and in this deep review, I’ll share what worked, what didn’t and what genuinely surprised me.

Disclaimer: At no additional cost to you, I may gain an extra commission from purchases made through the links on the this page.

Check the latest Dinnerly menu and pricing 

So here are the facts about Dinnerly…

• Price. Dinnerly is the most budget-friendly meal kit in the U.S., starting at around $4.99 per serving.
• Recipes. Simpler than other meal kits. Fewer ingredients, fewer steps, faster to cook.
• Menu variety. Comfort classics, global flavors, family-friendly dishes.
• Pros. Affordability, convenience, flexible weekly plans, fast prep.
• Cons. No printed recipe cards, simpler dishes, packaging can be excessive.
• My verdict. Perfect if you want fast, cheap, decent meals but not if you want gourmet experiences.

My experience with Dinnerly

I first tried Dinnerly during a chaotic week while visiting the States. Work deadlines were piling up, kids’ schedules were full of family visits and the idea of meal planning felt exhausting. I’ve experimented with other meal kits before. 

Some were excellent but expensive, others overpromised and left me hungry. Dinnerly stood out for one reason: price. It claimed I could feed my family for less than half the cost of its competitors.

When the first box arrived on a Tuesday afternoon, my first impression was: this looks different. Fewer ingredients than other kits. No glossy printed recipe cards tucked neatly into the box. 

Instead, Dinnerly instructs you to log into your account to view recipes digitally. At first, I rolled my eyes. Cooking with my phone on the counter sounded inconvenient.

Once I started cooking though, the system clicked. The recipes were streamlined, with clear steps. Because the ingredient lists were shorter, there was less chopping, peeling and fuss. I could throw together a pasta with creamy tomato sauce in under 20 minutes. The next night, I made a teriyaki chicken dish that required only a handful of pantry staples plus the ingredients provided.

The real test was my kids. They are professional food critics in the sense that they reject almost anything green. But to my surprise, they devoured a Dinnerly flatbread pizza topped with mozzarella and caramelized onions. For the first time in weeks, dinner didn’t feel like a battle.

What struck me most was that the food wasn’t Instagram-worthy. It wasn’t special occasion kind of cooking. It was just good, solid, tasty meals that fit into a weeknight without stress. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

What exactly is Dinnerly?

Dinnerly is a meal kit subscription service that delivers pre-portioned ingredients and recipes each week. It was launched in 2017 by Marley Spoon. The same company behind Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon, a premium meal kit brand. Dinnerly is essentially the budget sibling.

Price point. Starting at $4.99 per serving.

Plans. 2-person or 4-person boxes. You can choose between 3 and 6 meals per week.

Ordering. You log into your account and select meals from that week’s rotating menu of over 100 options.

Delivery. Ingredients are shipped chilled, with proteins packed in ice packs.

What’s different? Dinnerly cuts costs by simplifying. Digital-only recipes. Fewer ingredients per dish. Less packaging design.

The philosophy is “less frill, more function.”

The Dinnerly Menu: What’s on offer?

Dinnerly’s menu rotates weekly and includes more than 100 recipes. That number is larger than many competitors, though the recipes themselves are pared down.

Categories you’ll see regularly include:

1. Comfort classics

Spaghetti Bolognese

Chicken Parmesan

Beef Tacos

2. Global flavors

Thai Green Curry

Mexican Enchiladas

Mediterranean Grain Bowls

3. Family friendly meals

Cheeseburgers with Oven Fries

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Pasta Bake with Three Cheeses

4. Vegetarian options

Veggie Stir Fry

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Chickpea Tikka Masala

5. Quick and easy recipes

Many meals clock in under 30 minutes.

6. Premium upgrades

For an additional cost, you can add steak, salmon or fancier proteins.

Dinnerly doesn’t try to wow you with exotic or hard-to-find ingredients. Instead, it aims for familiar flavors with small twists.

Ingredient quality: What to expect

As Dinnerly is budget-friendly, you should adjust expectations.

Produce. Generally fresh but not always perfect. A carrot might look less than picture-ready. Most of the time, produce quality was solid but not as pristine as high-end kits.

Proteins. Comparable to what you’d find in a mid-range grocery store. Chicken breasts, ground beef and pork chops were decent. Seafood is available but not as common.

Dry goods. Things like pasta, rice or tortillas are standard grocery-store quality.

The upside: as ingredients are pre-portioned, there’s less waste. The downside: if you’re used to organic-only, farmer’s market-style quality, Dinnerly might feel basic.

Dinnerly reviews | What customers are saying

I looked through hundreds of Dinnerly reviews across Trustpilot, Reddit and Facebook. Here’s the consensus:

The Good:

Families love the price point.

Busy professionals love how recipes don’t take over the evening.

Parents say it has helped expand kids’ palates.

The Not-so-good:

The lack of printed recipe cards frustrates some customers.

Recipes can feel repetitive after a few months.

Packaging is functional but not very eco-friendly.

Ratings:

Trustpilot average: 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Reddit threads: Generally positive especially from parents juggling work and kids.

Pros and cons of Dinnerly

Pros

Lowest price per serving in the industry.

Large weekly menu with 100+ recipes.

Many meals under 30 minutes.

Flexible subscription options (pause, skip, cancel anytime).

Digital recipes reduce paper waste.

Approachable, family-friendly flavors.

Cons

Recipes are basic and can get repetitive.

No printed recipe cards (some find cooking off a phone inconvenient).

Ingredient quality is good but not premium.

Packaging is plastic-heavy.

Limited diet-specific plans (no keto, paleo, etc.).

Who is Dinnerly best for?

Dinnerly is ideal for:

Families on a budget who need quick dinners.

Beginner cooks who want simple instructions.

Busy professionals who don’t want to meal-plan.

Picky eaters who like familiar flavors.

Dinnerly might not work for:

Foodies who want complex flavors or rare ingredients.

Eco-conscious shoppers who dislike excess packaging.

People on strict diets (keto, paleo, gluten-free).

Cooks who love experimenting with advanced techniques.

Hidden downsides you only notice after subscribing

Every meal kit has quirks you don’t see in the marketing. With Dinnerly, I noticed:

Repetitive ingredients. Lots of meals use tortillas, pasta or rice as a base.

Extra pantry needs. You’re expected to have basics like flour, vinegar and eggs on hand.

Digital recipe hassle. Cooking from your phone or tablet can be annoying when your hands are messy.

Basic flavor profiles. If you love spice or bold seasoning, you may find recipes underwhelming unless you doctor them up.

How Dinnerly compares to other meal kits

Dinnerly vs HelloFresh. Dinnerly is cheaper, simpler and faster. HelloFresh recipes are more polished with nicer presentation.

READ: A Brutally honest HelloFresh recipes review

Dinnerly vs Blue Apron. Blue Apron is more gourmet, with wine-pairing options. Dinnerly is better for families who want straightforward meals.

Dinnerly vs EveryPlate. EveryPlate is also budget-friendly but offers fewer weekly options (around 20–25). Dinnerly has 100+.

Dinnerly vs Marley Spoon. Marley Spoon is its premium sibling, with Martha Stewart-inspired recipes. Dinnerly costs less than half.

Dinnerly vs Green Chef. Green Chef is diet-specific (organic, keto, paleo). Dinnerly is general, affordable and family-oriented.

Unique tips for getting the most from Dinnerly

Add fresh herbs or spices. Dinnerly meals are simple. A sprinkle of cilantro, basil or smoked paprika can transform them.

Upgrade sides. Add a quick salad, roasted veggies or bread to round out meals.

Save the digital recipes. Over time, you’ll build a collection of easy go-to dinners.

Batch cook. Double recipes to cover lunches or freezer meals.

Choose “build-your-own” meals. Tacos, pizzas and bowls are great for picky eaters because everyone customizes their plate.

Sustainability and packaging

This is where Dinnerly faces the most criticism. While digital recipe cards save paper, the food packaging is plastic-heavy.

Proteins. Individually sealed in plastic.

Produce. Sometimes wrapped unnecessarily.

Cooling materials. Gel packs and liners can be hard to recycle.

If sustainability is a top concern, you may prefer Green Chef or Sunbasket, which focus more on eco-friendly packaging.

The Rise of Budget Meal kits

The global meal kit industry is booming. According to Statista, it’s projected to reach $64.4 billion by 2030. While early growth was led by premium kits, much of today’s momentum comes from budget-friendly options like Dinnerly and EveryPlate.

Why?

• Families are cost-conscious.
• People want to reduce food waste.
• Time savings outweigh gourmet aspirations.

Dinnerly fits neatly into this shift, appealing to households who want practicality over perfection.

My Final Verdict on Dinnerly

Dinnerly isn’t glamorous. It won’t teach you how to cook restaurant-quality meals. What it will do is solve one of the most persistent problems in daily life: getting affordable, decent meals on the table without stress.

For weeks when life feels overwhelming, Dinnerly lightens the load.

Is it perfect? No. But for the price, it delivers more than enough value.

Check the latest Dinnerly menu and pricing HERE.

FAQs about Dinnerly

Is Dinnerly the cheapest meal kit?
Yes. At around $4.99 per serving, it’s the most affordable compared to HelloFresh, Blue Apron and others.

What’s included in the Dinnerly menu?
Over 100 rotating recipes weekly, with family, vegetarian and quick options.

Do you get recipe cards?
No. Dinnerly uses digital only recipes to save costs.

Are Dinnerly reviews positive?
Yes. Most customers praise affordability and convenience, though some criticize simplicity and packaging.

Does Dinnerly work for kids?
Yes. Many meals are kid-friendly, like pasta, tacos and pizza.

Does Dinnerly offer specialty diets?
Only vegetarian. It does not cater specifically to keto, paleo or gluten-free.

To conclude…

Dinnerly is best for people who want affordable, no-stress meals that get the job done. If you care more about feeding your family quickly than wowing them with gourmet creativity, Dinnerly is the most practical choice on the market.

Check the latest Dinnerly menu & pricing HERE.