From veganfoodandliving.com
From fully vegan recipe boxes to plant-based dinners from the UK's most popular meal kit brands, we've put them to the test to find the very best
Life gets busy, and with our weeks full of school runs, work, errands, housework, and life admin, it can be hard to find the energy to plan and cook healthy family meals each day. That’s where recipe boxes come in.
These wholesome meal kits are delivered to your door, containing pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. They really take the hard work out of meal planning, and make weekday dinner prep a breeze. Sure, they can be more expensive than just buying the ingredients at your local supermarket. But the time and effort saved can be well worth the extra spend, not to mention the reduced food waste.
Luckily for us, there are now plenty of plant-based recipes available in meal kits, and even a few fully vegan recipe boxes to order. But too much choice can mean picking the right one feels like yet another chore to do.
So, the team at Vegan Food & Living have tested the biggest names in home-delivered meal kits and shared their experiences to help you find the best vegan recipe box for you. Here’s what they thought.
1. Grubby – Best vegan recipe box for healthy, vibrant dinners
From £48.50 for 4 meals that serve 2, with offers available | grubby.co.uk
Overall score: 5/5
I’m a huge fan of the Grubby recipe boxes. Not only is the company fully vegan, but the recipes are so vibrant and creative, they’ve really helped elevate my cooking.
I tested a box containing Sweet Mustard Pulled ‘Pork’ Buns, Chips & Red Cabbage Slaw, Miso Aubergine, Sticky Coconut Rice, Lime Avo & Steamed Kale, and Brothy Thai-Style Peanut & Broccoli Udon Soup. All of these came with recipe cards and even a scannable playlist to entertain you while you cook.
They were quick to prepare, generously portioned and high in fibre and protein. The depth of flavour was incredible and I loved the use of mushrooms to get that meaty feel. I kept the recipe cards to add to my repertoire of dishes, and I’ll be adapting them to make again.
I’d love to cook these meals for non-vegans, as you really don’t feel like you’re eating healthy, plant-based dishes.
Tester: Holly Johnson
2. Planthood – Best for restaurant quality dinners
From £60 for 4 meals that serve 2, with offers available | planthood.co.uk
Overall score: 5/5
I have never cooked with a meal kit before, so imagine my excitement when a bundle of fresh ingredients arrived at the door with very clear step by step instructions – perfect for a lazy cook like me! You just scan the QR code provided for the recipe.
My meal kit for the week came with garlic galette, a butternut squash bowl and – the main star of the show – a delicious tofu butter ‘chicken’ recipe. This included a mild but richly spiced creamy sauce, spinach, a block of tofu and some incredibly fresh naan bread. The meal was really elevated beyond ready meal or jar standard by some flaked almonds which I toasted in a dry frying pan and sprinkled on the top of the dish, adding a delicious nutty crunch.
I expected this to be not much better than a supermarket-bought meal but it was actually more like restaurant standard. Everything tasted so fresh and flavourful.
To complete the package and add further value for money, there were a couple of freshly pressed fruit juices and a couple of oat and fruit pots included, which make a great breakfast or dessert.
I couldn’t fault this experience and loved the fact that all the dishes were plant-based, so there’s no room for error or confusion when choosing your meals.
Tester: Jenny Davies
3. Gousto – Best for mixed-diet households
From £42 for 4 meals that serve 2, with offers available | gousto.co.uk
Overall score: 4/5
Gousto offers a wide range of dietary options, with plenty of dishes for vegans (which can easily be found under the ‘Plant-Based’ category when browsing the website menu). While they’re not a fully vegan company, they are B Corp-certified and use plenty of recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging. And there are plenty of plant-based options, including veg-forward dishes, great meat alternatives, and even kid-friendly meals. A significant amount of the vegan dishes do appear to be spicy, but Gousto’s recipe instructions usually suggest ways to reduce the heat.
I tried a tomato linguine dish, featuring plant-based ‘nduja by Belazu. I found the instructions easy to follow, and liked how the instructions are easily adapted for different portion sizes. The portions were generous, and the ingredients were still fresh after being stored at home for a few days.
The box included more than one recipe, and the ingredients weren’t separated or labelled by recipe (cutting down on packaging), so it did take a little time to sort out which were needed. However, they were well-portioned and labelled, so cooking a delicious, wholesome meal didn’t require too much weighing or measuring.
Tester: Helen Greaves
4. Green Chef – Best for trying something new
From £56 for 4 meals that serve 2, with offers available | greenchef.co.uk
Overall score: 4/5
With a name like Green Chef, I presumed that this was an all-vegan recipe box, but Green Chef also provide meat and fish options. However, they have a good selection of vegan recipes.
A standout recipe was the Hoisin Duck-less Shredded Fable Mushroom Wraps with Cucumber, Spring Onion and Sesame Seeds. I loved the zingy flavours and the portions were good. The Fable mushrooms (made from pulled shiitake) were definitely the star of the show.
I also tried the Spicy Maple Gochujang Tofu with Lime Miso Pearl Couscous, Smacked Cucumber & Peanuts and the Smoky Mushroom Shawarma Skewers with Tomato and Cucumber Bulgur Wheat. All of these were dishes I’d not tried cooking before, so it was fun trying something new.
I did find that a few of the ingredients weren’t quite as fresh as they could be; the cucumbers were quite small and a little wilted. Other than that the whole kit was faultless. If you’re new to plant-based eating, this is a great one to try.
Tester: Holly Johnson
5. Mindful Chef – Best for high protein options
From £69 for 4 meals that serve 2, with offers available | mindfulchef.com
Overall score 4/5
The box that arrived was carefully packed with all the ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, including a magazine with all of the recipes for spring 2026. We tried the Vegan L*mb Ragu, the Sticky Teriyaki Tofu and the Thai Yellow Lentil Curry, all of which were really tasty and easy to cook. I loved trying some new recipes that I wouldn’t usually think of making, and the flavours were incredible.
I like the fact that Mindful Chef focuses on healthy, gluten-free and refined-carb-free meal options and the quality of ingredients is second to none. While it sits at a premium price point, it offers excellent restaurant-quality variety. It is not fully vegan, but there are a few good options to choose from.
It uses organic vegetables that taste noticeably fresher and premium compared to standard supermarket offerings. The company is carbon-neutral and operates a ‘One Feeds Two’ charity program, donating a school meal to a child in poverty for every box purchased.
The portion sizes are generous, often leaving enough for lunch the following day. There seems to be a lot of packaging, but most of it is recyclable.
Tester: Debra Butler
6. Riverford – Best for seasonal ingredients
From £15 for a recipe box that serves 2 | riverford.co.uk
Overall score: 4/5
As with the majority of recipe boxes, you can choose from a selection of recipes each week with Riverford, and we tested the Spring Tofu Larb. The box was made to celebrate lettuces, which are a highlight of the season, but it was also packed with other fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, cucumber, chillies and limes, plus a good quality brand of marinated tofu.
The box was designed to cater for two people, and it was the perfect size, giving both people a good sized portion. The flavours had been given a lot of thought as there was a sweetness from the sauce that balanced perfectly with the zing of the onions and the refreshing hit of the cucumber. The brown rice made sure it was filling, as well as adding texture.
The instructions were easy to follow, and this is a perfect one for anyone who doesn’t cook with tofu often. You don’t need to do much with it, but the texture and flavour ends up spot on. It’s a fun one to eat as well, with all the ingredients in little bowls that you can then assemble at the dining table.
I was really impressed with the recipe and result, but I do think it’s a bit more expensive than some other recipe boxes.
Tester: Sally FitzGerald
How we test our products:
The Vegan Food & Living team sample offerings from various brands – both new launches and established products – rating them on visual appeal, taste, texture, packaging and health credentials. The overall rating awarded is based on all of these factors.
Trying to eat more fibre? Try these easy, high-fibre vegan recipes
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/products/best-vegan-recipe-boxes/
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