Green Chef Review 2025: I Tested the Meal Kit On Picky Eaters

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.

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.

Original photo from Neha Tandon testing The Green Chef Subscription

Original photo from Neha Tandon testing The Green Chef Subscription

Original photo from Neha Tandon testing The Green Chef Subscription

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