Hungryroot vs. Blue Apron (I Tried Both): Who Wins In 2025?

When it comes to meal delivery services, Blue Apron and Hungryroot take different approaches to solving the same problem: making healthy, convenient meals more accessible. After testing both services extensively, I’ve got the scoop on how they stack up against each other.

Both services promise to simplify your meal planning, but they cater to different cooking styles and lifestyles.

Blue Apron leans into the traditional meal kit experience with chef-inspired recipes, while Hungryroot blends grocery delivery with quick meal solutions. Let’s dive into how these two services compare across all the key factors that matter.

Quick Verdict

Feature	Winner
Customization	Hungryroot
Meal Kits and Variety	Blue Apron
Taste and Quality	Blue Apron
Packaging	Blue Apron
User Reviews	Draw
Cancelation Process	Draw
Price	Blue Apron

What Is Blue Apron?

Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that launched in 2012 and helped kickstart the meal kit trend in the United States.

The company focuses on bringing chef-inspired meals and culinary creativity to your home, encouraging users to fully immerse themselves in the cooking process rather than just prioritizing convenience.

At its core, Blue Apron delivers pre-portioned ingredients with step-by-step recipe cards right to your door.

The service emphasizes seasonal produce and takes a farm-to-table approach, sourcing ingredients responsibly with a focus on sustainability. They offer around 16 recipes per week, pulling from global cuisines to keep things interesting.

Blue Apron takes an educational approach to cooking. The detailed recipe cards teach techniques like searing or spice blending, making it feel like a mini cooking class.

Whether you’re looking for high-protein options, carb-conscious meals, or family-friendly dinners, Blue Apron provides choices to suit various needs.

The service also offers Prepared & Ready meals for those times when you need something fast, plus add-ons like appetizers and desserts to round out your meal experience. My Blue Apron review goes into detail about my experience.

What Is Hungryroot?

Hungryroot is a unique hybrid that combines meal kit delivery with online grocery shopping, designed to streamline meal preparation while promoting healthy eating habits.

Unlike traditional meal kits that provide pre-portioned meals, Hungryroot delivers full-size grocery items paired with personalized recipe suggestions, creating a two-in-one solution for meal planning and grocery shopping.

The service starts with a detailed questionnaire about your dietary preferences, restrictions, and weekly meal goals. Whether you follow gluten-free, vegan, keto, or omnivorous diets, Hungryroot customizes both recipes and ingredients to align with your needs.

Once you complete the quiz, the platform generates a curated grocery list with recipe suggestions.

Hungryroot focuses on clean, minimally processed ingredients and provides recipes that typically take 10-15 minutes to prepare.

With over 1,000 recipe options available and a rotating selection of 100+ meal combinations weekly, variety is a key strength.

The service draws from 46 grocery staples, including specialty sauces and plant-based proteins, to keep meals interesting.

The best feature of Hungryroot is its flexibility. You’re not locked into rigid recipes for the week. If you don’t feel like making a suggested dish, you can use the groceries however you want.

The service also provides clear nutritional information for each recipe, making it easy to align meals with specific health or fitness goals. My Hungryroot review goes into detail about my experience.

Blue Apron vs Hungryroot Main Differences

Customization

Blue Apron offers solid but limited customization options. You can swap proteins or sides on certain recipes each week, like trading chicken for pork chops or upgrading to premium cuts for an extra $3-$9 per serving.

The 45 grams of Protein category often includes customizable options, but only some dishes per week offer these tweaks.

You can mix meal types in a single order, combining classic kits with Prepared & Ready meals, and easily add extras like sides or desserts.

Hungryroot excels in personalization from the start. The comprehensive onboarding quiz captures your dietary preferences, health objectives, and household requirements, ensuring your meal plan aligns with specific needs like high-protein goals.

The platform offers significant flexibility, allowing you to modify your cart by swapping ingredients or adding extra items to meet nutritional goals.

You can adjust based on dietary preferences like vegan, gluten-free, or keto through both the initial quiz and weekly order editing.

The key difference is that Blue Apron’s customization works within a preset framework of chef-designed recipes, while Hungryroot builds your entire grocery and meal selection around your personal profile. If you want extensive control over every aspect of your meals, Hungryroot wins.

If you prefer curated options with some flexibility, Blue Apron’s approach reduces decision fatigue while still offering meaningful choices.

Meal Variety, Kits and Recipes

Blue Apron delivers impressive variety with around 16 recipes per week, pulling from global cuisines like Japanese-inspired miso pork chops or Moroccan-spiced beef tagine.

The service offers about 30 prepared meals weekly, plus 10-15 add-ons, including sides, breakfasts, and desserts.

Recipe categories include 45 grams of Protein, Carb Conscious, 600 Calories or Less, and vegetarian options, though vegan choices are limited to 3-4 weekly selections.

Hungryroot provides even more variety with over 1,000 recipe options available and a rotating selection of 100+ meal combinations weekly.

The platform suggests meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with options ranging from simple avocado toast combos to elaborate pasta bowls with roasted vegetables.

All recipes are designed to take 10-15 minutes to prepare, focusing on quick assembly rather than complex cooking techniques.

The fundamental difference lies in approach: Blue Apron emphasizes chef-crafted, restaurant-quality meals that take 35-45 minutes to prepare and teach cooking skills.

Hungryroot prioritizes speed and convenience with grocery-style ingredients that can be used flexibly.

For cooking enthusiasts who enjoy the process, Blue Apron offers more culinary depth. For busy individuals who want healthy options fast, Hungryroot’s quick-prep approach wins.

Taste & Quality

Blue Apron consistently delivers high-quality, restaurant-worthy flavors with fresh, well-sourced ingredients.

The meats arrive without funky smells or questionable textures, and vegetables stay crisp and firm. Recipes emphasize bold, layered flavors using ingredients like togarashi spice, Calabrian chile paste, and fresh herbs that elevate meals beyond basic seasonings.

The commitment to non-GMO ingredients and responsibly sourced proteins, such as hormone-free meats and sustainable seafood, gives it a premium edge.

Hungryroot focuses on fresh, clean ingredients with minimally processed foods. Proteins like grilled chicken strips and lean ground beef arrive well-packaged and stay fresh, while vegetables are crisp, and sauces provide good flavor balance without feeling artificial.

The meals are simple yet satisfying, with dishes like spicy chicken stir-fry with quinoa standing out for both taste and convenience.

The key difference is complexity versus simplicity. Blue Apron’s flavors are more sophisticated and restaurant-inspired, requiring more cooking time but delivering gourmet results.

Hungryroot’s approach prioritizes clean, straightforward flavors that work well for quick preparation. Both services maintain high ingredient quality, but Blue Apron’s chef-designed recipes create more memorable flavor experiences.

Packaging

Blue Apron uses sturdy, refrigerated boxes with insulation and gel packs to maintain freshness. Ingredients are neatly organized with meats sealed separately below ice packs and vegetables, spices, and sauces in recyclable bags above.

Over 85% of packaging is recyclable by weight, partnering with How2Recycle for clear disposal guidance. The recipe cards are durable, full-color, and step-by-step, surviving kitchen splashes well.

Hungryroot’s packaging focuses on practicality while maintaining freshness. Ingredients arrive well-packaged with proper temperature control, and the grocery-style approach means you receive full-size packages rather than pre-portioned amounts.

While largely recyclable, the service relies on single-use plastics, which detracts from eco-friendliness despite sustainable intentions.

Both services handle packaging competently, but Blue Apron shows more attention to organization and sustainability messaging.

The main difference is that Blue Apron’s packaging is designed around specific recipes with precise portioning, while Hungryroot packages full grocery items that offer more flexibility.

Price

Meal Delivery Service	Plan Type	Servings	Price per Serving	Weekly Total (with shipping)
Blue Apron	2-Serving Kits	4	$11.99	$47.95
	4-Serving Kits	8	$8.99	$71.92
	Prepared & Ready	1	$9.99-$12.99	$20.98-$23.98
Hungryroot	Smallest Plan	6	$11.39	$76.99
	Largest Plan	16	$9.69	$155.00
	Grocery Add-ons	Varies	$5-$15 per item	Varies

Blue Apron’s pricing ranges from $7.99-$12.49 per serving plus $10.99 shipping, with costs decreasing as you order more servings.

Premium upgrades add $3-$9 per serving. Hungryroot uses a credit system with pricing from $9.69-$11.39 per serving, with weekly plans typically ranging from $70-$240 depending on meal and grocery selections.

Hungryroot tends to be slightly more expensive overall, especially when adding grocery items, but offers more flexibility in what you receive.

Blue Apron provides more predictable pricing with clear per-serving costs. Both services offer first-time user discounts, and neither locks you into long-term contracts.

For pure meal kit value, Blue Apron edges out Hungryroot, but Hungryroot’s grocery hybrid model provides different value through ingredient flexibility.

Cancellation Process

Blue Apron makes cancellation simple and convenient. Everything is handled online through your account in the “Manage Subscription” section. After clicking “Cancel Subscription,” you’ll encounter a few prompts asking why you’re leaving, with options to pause instead of fully canceling.

The process takes under a minute and is confirmed via email. You must cancel before the weekly cutoff (five days before your next delivery) to avoid being charged for the next box.

Hungryroot offers similarly straightforward cancellation with good timing flexibility. You can cancel anytime by accessing “Account Details” under “Settings” and selecting “Cancel Account.”

The key timing requirement is canceling before a set time on Monday or Thursday, depending on your delivery schedule.

The service also offers an optional pause feature for up to 8 weeks. New customers wanting to cancel before their first delivery can contact Customer Care directly.

Both services make cancellation hassle-free with no fees or long-term contracts. Blue Apron’s five-day window provides more flexibility than Hungryroot’s specific Monday/Thursday deadlines.

However, Hungryroot’s pause option adds useful flexibility for temporary breaks. Neither service traps you in phone tag or hidden fees, making both consumer-friendly options for trying without major commitment.

User Reviews

Blue Apron receives generally positive feedback with users praising the bold flavors and variety that introduce them to dishes they wouldn’t normally try. Many appreciate the pre-portioned ingredients that reduce waste and eliminate grocery shopping.

The educational aspect gets frequent mentions, with users feeling like they’re developing cooking skills. However, delivery issues appear frequently in reviews, including late arrivals and damaged ingredients.

Some users find portions too small and question the value at $10+ per serving compared to basic groceries.

Hungryroot maintains a 4.3-star average on Trustpilot with users highlighting the variety of recipes and grocery items catering to different dietary needs. The quick preparation time and pre-chopped vegetables receive consistent praise.

Users appreciate the user-friendly interface and simplified meal planning process. Common complaints include missing or incorrect items in deliveries and portion sizes that feel too small for the price. The higher cost compared to traditional grocery shopping is frequently mentioned as a drawback.

Both services face similar challenges with delivery logistics and pricing concerns. Blue Apron’s reviews focus more on the cooking experience and flavor complexity, while Hungryroot’s reviews emphasize convenience and speed.

Blue Apron seems to satisfy users seeking culinary adventure, while Hungryroot appeals to those prioritizing time-saving and simplicity.

Both services show strong customer satisfaction when deliveries arrive correctly, and expectations align with the service model.

My Experience With Blue Apron And Hungryroot

After putting both services through their paces, I found that each excels in different areas, catering to distinct cooking styles and lifestyle needs.

My experience with Blue Apron centered around their high-protein options, particularly the 45 grams of Protein category that aligned with my active lifestyle and training regimen.

The service impressed me with its culinary depth and educational value. The seared steak with garlic butter from their high-protein lineup was a standout, delivering restaurant-quality flavors that felt rewarding to create.

The recipe cards taught me techniques I wouldn’t have bothered learning otherwise, like proper searing methods and how to build complex sauce flavors.

Even when I branched out to their Carb Conscious options, the taste remained consistently sophisticated.

The 35-45 minute preparation time felt worthwhile when the results tasted like they could have come from a decent restaurant.

However, Blue Apron’s limitations became apparent in its dietary flexibility. While the customization options were functional, I found myself wishing for more protein-focused choices and macro precision.

The service works best when you’re willing to work within their chef-designed framework rather than demanding extensive modifications.

Hungryroot took a completely different approach that initially appealed to my busy schedule. The 10-15 minute preparation time was genuinely convenient, and the spicy chicken stir-fry with quinoa became a reliable go-to for hectic weekdays.

The personalization quiz did a solid job of tailoring suggestions to my high-protein goals, and I appreciated being able to modify my cart weekly based on changing needs.

Where Hungryroot shone was in its flexibility and transparency. The grocery-style approach meant I could use ingredients beyond the suggested recipes, and the clear nutritional information made it easy to track macros. The clean, minimally processed ingredients consistently arrived fresh and well-packaged.

However, Hungryroot’s portion sizes proved problematic for my higher calorie demands. The beef and black bean bowl left me reaching for extra rice to feel satisfied, and I found myself supplementing meals more often than expected.

While the convenience was undeniable, the simplicity sometimes felt limiting compared to Blue Apron’s more sophisticated flavor profiles.

Both services deliver on their core promises and clearly reveal their target audiences. Blue Apron suited my more adventurous cooking moods and desire for culinary education, while Hungryroot excelled during busy periods when I needed healthy fuel fast.

Neither service perfectly matched my specific needs for high-protein, performance-focused nutrition, which led me to explore more specialized options designed for athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts.

Should You Pick Blue Apron Or Hungryroot?

The choice between Blue Apron and Hungryroot ultimately depends on your cooking style, time availability, and what you value most in a meal service.

Blue Apron is the clear winner if you enjoy cooking as a creative outlet and want to develop your culinary skills.

The service excels at delivering restaurant-quality flavors through chef-designed recipes that teach useful techniques. It’s perfect for adventurous eaters who don’t mind spending 35-45 minutes creating something special, especially couples or individuals who view cooking as a relaxing ritual rather than a chore.

Hungryroot takes the crown for pure convenience and dietary flexibility. If you’re juggling a packed schedule and need healthy meals in 10-15 minutes, this service delivers.

It’s ideal for goal-driven eaters following specific dietary plans like vegan, keto, or high-protein lifestyles, thanks to its comprehensive customization options.

The grocery-style approach also provides more flexibility in how you use ingredients, making it perfect for those who want to maintain control over their meal planning while still getting the convenience of delivery.

However, after testing both services extensively, I found that neither fully addresses the needs of serious athletes or fitness enthusiasts seeking optimal nutrition without compromise.

That’s where Trifecta Nutrition comes in as the superior choice for anyone serious about their fitness and nutrition goals. Trifecta delivers fully prepared, organic meals specifically designed for athletic performance.

With options providing 50+ grams of protein per meal and macro-balanced nutrition tailored for muscle recovery, Trifecta eliminates the guesswork and prep time entirely

For the average consumer looking for convenient, tasty meals, both Blue Apron and Hungryroot offer value. But for athletes, wrestlers, bodybuilders, or anyone whose nutrition directly impacts their performance, Trifecta Nutrition provides the specialized, no-compromise approach that delivers results.