What Is the Keto Diet?

The ketogenic — aka "keto" — diet was introduced by physicians during the early 1900s as a way to treat epilepsy. When studying the keto diet, researchers discovered weight loss resulted from following it. The main object of the keto diet is to get the body to be in ketosis, where it burns ketones from fat for fuel instead of glucose from carbohydrates. In order to enable this shift, you must consume a very low-carb, moderate protein, high-fat diet.

Is the Keto Diet Safe for Weight Loss?

The ketogenic diet is very restrictive. It can cause gastrointestinal distress, as the diet tends to be low in fiber , and there's also the risk of not consuming adequate amounts of nutrients. And although many people find it helpful for weight loss, there is often rebound weight gain once you transition off of the diet. If you're considering following a keto diet, it's best to work with a professional.

What Types of Food Can You Eat On the Keto Diet?

Most of the food included in a keto diet plan is high in fat. Carbs are kept to a minimum, and you'll usually eat no more than 20 grams per day. Fish, poultry, beef, full-fat cheeses, plain Greek yogurt, and eggs are all options for protein, and non-starchy vegetables can be eaten as well. However, fruits should be eaten sparingly, with berries as the best choice for the keto diet.

How Do Keto Meal Delivery Services Work?

The process of ordering keto meal deliveries varies by company. In general, however, you'll choose how many meals you want to be delivered each week, as well as the number of servings for each meal. Most meal delivery services are subscription-based, and you can often skip weeks or cancel your account anytime.

Best Keto Meal Delivery Services of 2023

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

If you're following the ketogenic, aka "keto," eating style, you may find that dining out can be a challenge. Not only are meals at restaurants more expensive than at home, but your menu options may be limited, as well. Most of your meals will need to be very low in carbs, high in fat, and contain moderate amounts of protein — which can be difficult to score when dining out. That said, keto-friendly, home-cooked meals can be difficult to pull together if you're a newbie in the kitchen or if you simply lack the time to prep and cook. Luckily, keto meal delivery services are here to help.

The best keto meal delivery services are those that are affordable and delicious, with well-thought-out nutritional content and plenty of dish variety to keep your taste buds interested. Ideally, these services should also cater to various dietary needs or preferences, such as organic ingredients or allergy-friendly options. The selection process may seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. With this list of top-rated keto-friendly meal delivery services, you're sure to find one that's right for you.

Best Keto Meal Delivery Services of 2023

Best Overall: Factor
Best Value: Fresh 'n Lean
Best Organic: Trifecta
Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity
Best Variety: BistroMD
Best for Families: Hungryroot
Best Allergy-Friendly: The Good Kitchen

Best Overall : Factor

Factor

Key Specs

Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Factor's hearty and low-carb meals are the perfect way to enjoy your favorite foods while on the keto diet — and, best of all, they're ready to eat in just two minutes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Menus are rotated weekly
Meals are prepared and shipped fresh, never frozen
Changes can be made after an order is placed

Cons

Pricier starting cost per serving
Limited plant-based options

Overview

Factor specializes in ready-to-heat, single-serving recipes made with fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients. Most of the meals on the rotating weekly menu are low-carb and keto-friendly and deliver on taste, texture, and overall quality. Choose from mouthwatering entrées, such as chorizo chili, jalapeño cheddar chicken, or blackened salmon, along with tasty add-on items, including juices, desserts, shakes, and snacks.

Factor's hearty and low-carb meals are the perfect way to enjoy your favorite foods while on the keto diet — and, best of all, they're ready to eat in just two minutes.

Meals We Tried

Mango salsa salmon with coconut rice and black beans
Creamy parmesan chicken with broccoli and tomatoes
Vegetable ratatouille with mascarpone polenta
Smoked tofu almond stir-fry with edamame succotash
Menus are rotated weekly
Meals are prepared and shipped fresh, never frozen
Changes can be made after an order is placed
Pricier starting cost per serving
Limited plant-based options

Best Value : Fresh 'n Lean

Fresh n Lean

Key Specs

Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Fresh n' Lean's affordable, gluten-free prepared meals cater to multiple dietary preferences, including keto, low-carb, and high-protein eating styles.

Pros and Cons

Pros

All meals are gluten-free and made with organic ingredients
Free shipping within the contiguous United States
Menu changes weekly

Cons

Cannot leave delivery instructions for your order
Shipping costs extra for deliveries to Alaska or Hawaii

Overview

Fresh 'n Lean makes following a keto diet easy and nutritious. The company offers fresh, ready-to-heat meals for seven different meal plans, including Keto, Paleo, Protein+, Vegan Standard, Vegan Low-Carb, Whole30- Approved, and Mediterranean Diet. Meals are gluten-free and made with organic ingredients, and shipping is free within the contiguous U.S. (If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, however, the shipping fee is $40.) You can choose to receive your meals five or seven days each week, with the option to order breakfast, lunch, and dinner in any combination you prefer.

Meals We Tried

Grilled shrimp with caper dill aioli and roasted winter squash
Moroccan mint grass-fed steak with spiced cauliflower and brown rice
Tikka chicken with turmeric-roasted cauliflower and quinoa
BBQ turkey meatballs with white beans
Cajun salmon with Yukon potato and tomato rice

Best Organic : Trifecta

Trifecta

Key Specs

Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Offering multiple meal programs for keto, paleo, and vegan eaters, Trifecta crafts macro-balanced weekly menus using organic ingredients whenever possible.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with your order
Ingredient substitutions allowed
Organic ingredients and sustainably-sourced proteins

Cons

Shipping costs extra, and it's a steep $50 for Alaska and Hawaii
Cannot choose your own meals

Overview

Trifecta prides itself on being the most sustainable meal delivery service on the market. With the company's focus on organic ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, plus its "zero food waste" philosophy, you can feel good about purchasing meals from Trifecta. Choose from six different meal plans, including keto, paleo, Whole30, vegan, vegetarian, and "clean," each featuring a chef-selected rotating weekly menu of macro-balanced meals.

Meals We Tried

Kung pao grilled chicken with broccoli and roasted sweet potato
Beef skillet with roasted sweet potato and marinated cabbage
Herb roasted cod with walnut basil pesto and vegetables
Slow-cooked rosemary thyme beef with root vegetables
Salmon Mexican bowl with tomato salsa and vegetables
Ginger shrimp with herb marinated sweet potato
Cajun chicken andouille sausage and roasted vegetables

Best Prepared Meals : CookUnity

Key Specs

Starting Price: $10 per serving
Delivery Area: 45 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

If you want a gourmet prepared meal experience, turn to CookUnity. The company offers a wide variety of flavorful prepared meals crafted by award-winning chefs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Meals are designed by award-winning chefs
Packaging is compostable and recyclable
Local, organic, or sustainably-grown ingredients are prioritized

Cons

Does not deliver nationwide
Single servings only

Overview

CookUnity is one of the first and only meal delivery services that has meals crafted by world-renowned chefs, including Esther Choi, Jose Garces, and Akhtar Nawab. CookUnity teams up with these chefs to create an extensive menu of diverse, globally inspired dishes, such as bulgogi ramen, lamb kebabs, carnitas tacos, and chicken adobo. Creativity, flavor, and ingredient integrity are all core values of CookUnity, and you can find nutrition facts and macronutrient information listed for every dish. And the best part? All you have to do is heat these fully prepared meals in the microwave or oven before digging in.

Meals We Tried

Coconut lime hanger steak
Carnitas street tacos
Butternut squash ravioli
Chili roasted shrimp

Best Variety : BistroMD

Bistro MD

Key Specs

Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen

Why You Should Try It

Featuring a dedicated Keto Flex meal program with more than seven dozen items on the menu, bistroMD's doctor-approved prepared meals make it easy to adhere to a keto diet.

Pros and Cons

Pros

More than 85 meals on the menu
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options available
Registered dietitians are on staff

Cons

Shipping is expensive
Few customization options

Overview

BistroMD is a physician-designed meal delivery service geared toward individuals looking to lose weight. BistroMD's Keto Flex program contains more than 85 nutritionally-balanced meals to choose from, and each one is pre-cooked and frozen in single-serving trays that you thaw, reheat, and eat. You can get personalized support through one-on-one consultations with dietitians, and additional tools and resources are available on bistroMD's website.

Meals We Tried

Chicken, rice and cheddar casserole
Salmon with dill mustard sauce
Turkey breaks with cranberry apple chutney
Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce
Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage
Meatloaf with honey bourbon glaze
Mojo pork with black beans and rice
Chicken pad thai
Grilled salmon with creamy pesto
Lasagna with garden marinara

Best for Families : Hungryroot

Hungry Root

Key Specs

Starting Price: $10 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Operating as both a meal delivery and online grocery service, Hungryroot offers a wide selection of nutritious, multi-serving meal kits along with produce, pantry staples, snacks, and more.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Options to feed two people as well as a family
Customers can choose their delivery date
Meals can be made in less than 10 minutes

Cons

There is no specific "keto plan"
Shipping costs extra for orders under $70

Overview

Hungryroot delivers both meal kits and groceries right to your doorstep, making it a great choice for busy adults and families. When signing up for a subscription, you'll answer a set of questions so Hungryroot can get to know your taste preferences. Then, Hungryroot builds a customized box that includes high-quality ingredients and tasty meal recipes. While there is no specific "keto plan," you can find keto-friendly products on the menu and in the online grocery selection. Shipping is $7, but if your order is more than $70, Hungryroot waives the shipping fee.

Meals We Tried

Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni
Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels
Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos
Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry

Best Allergy-Friendly : The Good Kitchen

The Good Kitchen

Key Specs

Starting Price: $12 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

If you suffer from food allergies, the Good Kitchen provides a variety of keto-friendly meals that exclude common allergens, including dairy, eggs, shellfish, and tree nuts.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Sustainably sourced ingredients, including grass-fed beef and local produce
Store credits are offered if you are unsatisfied with your meals
All meals are 100% gluten-, peanut- and soy-free

Cons

Shipping costs extra
Must order a minimum of six meals each week

Overview

The Good Kitchen's mission is to make nutritious, tasty, and sustainably sourced prepared meals easily accessible to everyone. The company's online menu allows you to filter meals by allergies, proteins, and aversions, making it easy to find dishes that are safe for you to enjoy. The Good Kitchen's website states that "extreme precautions and sanitization practices are taken" to ensure food safety, and you can find a list of ingredients and allergens for every meal.

Meals We Tried

Beef shepherd's pie
Bison and beef sloppy joe with potato leek gratin
Chicken satay with cilantro rice and broccoli
Chili lime chicken with fajita vegetables and cilantro cauliflower rice
Miso glazed wild boar meatballs and hibachi zucchini
Tomato, asparagus, and spinach frittata with Yukon potato hash

Final Verdict

With its affordability, freshly prepared meals, and nationwide delivery, Factor stands out as the best overall choice for keto meal delivery services. In order to make keto diets consistently interesting, it's important to have variety, and Factor's weekly menu rotation is excellent. You can choose up to 18 meals every week, and you can skip deliveries whenever you need, making this one of the most flexible keto meal delivery services out there.

Compare the Best Keto Meal Delivery Services

Company	Starting Price	Delivery Area	Products Arrive	Can Customers Choose Delivery Date?	Free Shipping
Factor Best Overall	$11 per serving	50 states	Fresh	Yes	No
Fresh 'n Lean Best Value	$11 per serving	50 states	Fresh	No	Yes
Trifecta Best Organic	$11 per serving	50 states	Fresh	No	No
Cookunity Best Prepared Meals	$10 per serving	45 states	Fresh	Yes	No
BistroMD Best Variety	$11 per serving	48 states	Frozen	No	No
Hungryroot Best for Families	$10 per serving	48 states	Fresh	Yes	For orders over $70
The Good Kitchen Best Allergy-Friendly	$12 per serving	50 states	Fresh	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Keto Diet?

The ketogenic — aka "keto" — diet was introduced by physicians during the early 1900s as a way to treat epilepsy. When studying the keto diet, researchers discovered weight loss resulted from following it. The main object of the keto diet is to get the body to be in ketosis, where it burns ketones from fat for fuel instead of glucose from carbohydrates. In order to enable this shift, you must consume a very low-carb, moderate protein, high-fat diet.
Is the Keto Diet Safe for Weight Loss?

The ketogenic diet is very restrictive. It can cause gastrointestinal distress, as the diet tends to be low in fiber, and there's also the risk of not consuming adequate amounts of nutrients. And although many people find it helpful for weight loss, there is often rebound weight gain once you transition off of the diet. If you're considering following a keto diet, it's best to work with a professional.
What Types of Food Can You Eat On the Keto Diet?

Most of the food included in a keto diet plan is high in fat. Carbs are kept to a minimum, and you'll usually eat no more than 20 grams per day. Fish, poultry, beef, full-fat cheeses, plain Greek yogurt, and eggs are all options for protein, and non-starchy vegetables can be eaten as well. However, fruits should be eaten sparingly, with berries as the best choice for the keto diet.
How Do Keto Meal Delivery Services Work?

The process of ordering keto meal deliveries varies by company. In general, however, you'll choose how many meals you want to be delivered each week, as well as the number of servings for each meal. Most meal delivery services are subscription-based, and you can often skip weeks or cancel your account anytime.

Methodology

Shape's testers sampled 40 different meal delivery services for this article. Companies were evaluated based on price, ease of delivery, meal plan options, level of sustainability, and of course, taste. Testers also considered the ability to modify meals for dietary preferences or allergies. These factors are all important for helping customers stick to a keto meal plan long-term.