Dinnerly Review: The Cheapest Meal Kit, Honestly Reviewed

What Is Dinnerly?

Dinnerly is a budget meal kit delivery service owned by Marley Spoon. They position themselves as the affordable alternative to premium kits like HelloFresh and Blue Apron — simpler recipes, fewer ingredients, lower prices. Meals start at $4.99/serving with a 2-person or 4-person box.

What You Actually Get

What Dinnerly Gets Right

• Price. At $4.99-6.99 per serving, Dinnerly is genuinely the cheapest national meal kit. For a family of four eating 4 meals per week, that's $80-112/week — competitive with grocery shopping for many households.
• Simplicity. Recipes use 6-8 ingredients and take 20-30 minutes. No obscure techniques or specialty equipment. If you can chop vegetables and follow basic instructions, you can cook Dinnerly meals.
• Variety. 25+ weekly options including vegetarian, low-calorie, and family-friendly picks. The menu rotates seasonally.
• Portion sizes. Generally adequate — not huge, but not skimpy. Expect a normal dinner serving, not restaurant-sized portions.

Where They Cut Corners (Literally)

• Digital-only recipe cards. You'll need your phone or tablet in the kitchen. No printed cards to keep. Some people find this inconvenient — others prefer less paper waste.
• No meal-by-meal bagging. HelloFresh packages each meal's ingredients in a labeled paper bag. Dinnerly groups everything loosely in the box. You'll spend 2-3 minutes sorting ingredients before cooking.
• Simpler recipes. Fewer ingredients means less complex flavors. Dinnerly meals are good — not restaurant-quality. Think "solid weeknight dinner" not "date night experience."
• You supply pantry basics. Salt, pepper, oil, butter, sugar — these are not included. You'll need a basic pantry to cook Dinnerly meals. Most people already have these, but it's worth noting.

Who Dinnerly Is Best For

• Families on a budget who want home-cooked meals without the grocery store hassle
• Beginner cooks who want simple, foolproof recipes
• People who don't mind digital recipe cards
• Anyone comparing "meal kit vs grocery shopping" costs — Dinnerly often comes out even or ahead

Who Should Skip

• Foodies who want complex, multi-step gourmet recipes
• People who strongly prefer printed recipe cards
• Those with specific dietary needs beyond vegetarian/low-calorie

Availability and ZIP-Code Pricing

Dinnerly pricing can change by delivery area, box size, shipping, and first-box promotions. Before treating any advertised price as final, enter your ZIP code and compare the weekly total after shipping. This matters most for budget shoppers because a low per-serving price can move once delivery fees and local availability are included.

• Best check: compare the weekly total for your actual household size, not only the headline per-serving price.
• Budget filter: look for meals that stay under your target after shipping, especially for 2-person boxes.
• Flexibility: confirm skip/cancel options before ordering so a trial box does not become an unwanted recurring expense.