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I love to cook. I also love not having to meal plan, grocery shop, or chop vegetables after a long day. That’s why I’ve always been curious about meal kits—and after putting Green Chef through the wringer with my family’s long list of dietary restrictions, I’m here to deliver a very honest Green Chef review. As a lactose-intolerant pescatarian with gluten-free family members and a tiny NYC kitchen, I wanted to see if this meal delivery service could actually work for real-life (read: chaotic) home cooks. Spoiler: I was pleasantly surprised—though not totally without complaints.
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How I tested
Green Chef sent me three meals total, designed for two servings each (though portions were not the most generous). I chose meals that aligned with my and my family’s pescatarian, gluten-free preferences. I got teriyaki salmon, a tilapia coconut curry, and a spicy shrimp dish with a bacon surprise (womp womp). I was a bit disappointed that I only received seafood-centric meals. It would have been nice to mix things up with a plant-based option. My sister said she was a bit seafooded-out by the end of the few days we tested these meals. I prepared each meal on a different afternoon or night, cooking for myself or with family, to get a good sense of ease, prep, and flavor.
My honest Green Chef review
The box arrived well-insulated. I was impressed by how organized it was—each meal had its own brown paper bag (very cute) with every item labeled clearly. One small gripe: while most proteins were cold and secure, the fish wasn’t quite up to my standards. I’m a bit of a seafood snob (wild-caught only, please), and Green Chef’s was all farm-raised. Still, it got the job done.
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Pros:
- Dietary customization that actually (mostly) works
Green Chef gets major points for being one of the more inclusive kits I’ve seen. Whether you're keto, vegan, gluten-free, or just trying to sneak more veggies into your life, there’s a plan for you. As a pescatarian with dairy sensitivity, I loved being able to plug in my preferences and get a curated menu that didn’t make me feel like an afterthought. Though there wasn’t a place for me to leave out dairy, it wasn’t too difficult for me to leave those ingredients out of my dishes so that my other family members could still enjoy their cheese and cream.
- So easy my can’t-boil-water dad could do it
My dad, who only recently discovered how to make avocado toast, has taken up cooking as a retirement hobby. And even he found the instructions easy to follow. The recipes are broken down clearly, with numbered steps, photos, and bolded ingredients that make skimming a breeze.
- Restaurant vibes without restaurant effort
Aside from an onion and the occasional few herbs, all the veggies came pre-chopped, and the sauces were ready to go. Everything came together quickly and plated beautifully—I truly felt like I was serving a dish I could’ve paid $28 for at a trendy restaurant in Tribeca.
Cons:
- It wants you to use every single pan you own
One recipe asked me to use three separate pans. For one meal. I was cooking in my parents’ large, fully equipped kitchen in the suburbs, so I could roll with it—but in my tiny NYC apartment where I barely have room for one skillet and a pot, this would’ve been a dishwashing nightmare, especially since I’m usually just cooking for myself.
- A sneaky bacon slip-up
Despite selecting a pescatarian plan, one of my meals included bacon. I caught it before cooking, but for someone with stricter dietary rules or allergies, that could’ve been a real issue.
- Trust your gut, not just the card
While the recipes are foolproof on paper, I wish I’d listened to my instincts. I followed the timing for cooking white rice exactly and ended up with a mushy mess. Meanwhile, my onions were still basically sweating instead of caramelizing. TL;DR: Read the card, but don’t shut your brain off.
Is it worth the price?
At around $13 per serving, Green Chef is definitely a splurge over grocery shopping. But for the convenience, ease, great taste, and variety—especially if you have a tricky diet—it feels worth it. Would I use this every week? Probably not. But if I have a busy month and need to save time or get out of a dinner rut? Absolutely. Especially if I don’t want to chop vegetables or scroll Pinterest for “gluten-free dairy-free pescatarian dinner ideas” for the hundredth time. I think it’d be a supercute way to mix up a dinner date at home with your partner, too.
So, who is it best for? Green Chef feels perfect for families with dietary restrictions (like mine), busy professionals who want to eat well without starting from scratch, beginner cooks who want to feel like pros, and anyone with a functioning dishwasher or disdain for grocery stores. If you’re just learning to cook, it’s a great way to dip your toes in. Learn how to make basics like rice or salmon, and then keep the recipe cards to make the dishes on your own once you’re ready to do it without extra help. It’s probably less ideal for solo city dwellers with no counter space, unless you’re okay washing multiple pans in your bathtub (no judgment).
Final thoughts
Overall, I really liked my Green Chef experience. The meals were healthy and delicious (even the shrimp—and I’m not a shrimp person), the process was clear, and it felt like a treat. It won’t replace my everyday cooking routine, but it was a welcome break from grocery store chaos. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to eat well with less planning and more flair or if you're looking for a subscription food gift to send to new parents or the foodie in your life.