Availability: Nationwide

Price: $9-$10 per serving for dinner only; $15/bottle for optional wine plan

Good for: Impressing dinner guests and getting yourself out of a recipe rut

Pros: 24/7 support line, excellent wine pairings and healthy meals everyone will eat

Cons: Unless you're a professional chef, the meals take longer to prepare than the instructions say

Tester's Notes: If you're looking for a meal kit that will satisfy everyone at your table, this one is one to consider. You pick the meals you want to make and can choose from classic, vegetarian or family recipes. With meals like Barbecue Chicken Tenders With Sweet Potatoes and Sugar Snap Peas, even your toddler will eat without protest. The family-friendly sides were simple enough to make, even if they did feel a little basic.

Of the dishes our taster tried, the vegetarian Patatas Bravas and Crispy Artichokes with Garlicky Aioli was the surprise standout meal. "It was an unexpected dish I never would have discovered on my own -- and the flavors were incredible," said our taster, who served it at a dinner party. "Everyone demolished it and then asked for the recipe."

Like all of the other "we shop, you cook" services we tried, this, too, took longer than the estimated 30-40 minutes advertised -- unless you rope in others to help.

And about that wine pairing: "Impeccable," said our taster. It adds something extra to a meal kit for a great value, and takes the hassle out of pacing the wine aisle at your local Trader Joe's. Having your own personal sommelier to pick out a wine that goes with your meal takes out a lot of guesswork, especially if you frequently cook for others.

Image via @hellofresh

Availability: Nationwide

Price: Starting at $10.49 per meal

Good for: The at-home chef worried about sustainability of meal kit ingredients

Pros: Sustainably sourced, ability to customize meals based on preference, tasty

Cons: Took longer than 30 minutes to make

Tester's Notes The sustainability practices of this meal kit really put the "green" in Green Chef. Everything is responsibly sourced and certified USDA organic, and they even encourage you to recycle the packaging. The meals themselves are fairly customizable, with the option to select a carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, paleo or gluten-free meal plan. The menu options feel relatively high-class and varied, with meals like North African inspired Hanout Steak and Chickpeas. This meal delivery service gets extra points for interesting flavors from lots of different cultural cuisines. All nutrition facts are available, which is helpful if you're tracking your meals.

While Green Chef does cut out a lot of prep for the at-home chef, our taster said this meal took slightly longer than the promised half-hour to cook -- more like 45 minutes. Some of the elements were pre-prepped, like diced carrots, but others are up to the consumer -- like shelling and dicing pistachios.

Image via @greenchef