EveryPlate or Dinnerly for small families?

If you are feeding two or three people, choosing a meal kit can be tricky. You want enough food without paying for meals you do not need. You also want simple recipes, reasonable shipping costs, and enough variety to keep dinner from feeling repetitive.

For many small families, EveryPlate is the better all-around choice, especially if you want more flexible serving sizes, a broad menu, and printed recipe cards. Dinnerly can be the better fit if your top priorities are simple recipes and a 2- or 4-person plan. The best choice depends on how many people you feed, how often you cook, and how much convenience matters to you.

EveryPlate vs. Dinnerly for Small Families

Both EveryPlate and Dinnerly focus on affordable meal kits with simple recipes. The biggest difference for a small family is how each service handles serving sizes, menu choice, recipe instructions, and the total cost of a smaller weekly order.

EveryPlate currently offers plans for 2, 4, or 6 people, with 3–5 meals per week. Its official site lists plans starting at $5.99 per serving, plus a $10.99 shipping fee per box.

Dinnerly offers 2-person and 4-person plans, with 3–6 meals per week. Dinnerly says its meals start at $5.99 per serving, and recipes can be viewed digitally or printed from your account.

Factor	EveryPlate	Dinnerly
Best fit	Small families wanting flexibility	Small families wanting simple meals
Smallest plan	2 people	2 people
Larger plan	4 or 6 people	4 people
Weekly meals	3–5	3–6
Starting price	$5.99/serving	$5.99/serving
Shipping	$10.99/box	Check current checkout price
Recipe format	Printed recipe cards	Digital recipes that can be printed
Menu style	Simple, family-friendly meals	Simple, low-fuss meals
Vegetarian choices	Available	Available
Best advantage	Flexibility and menu variety	Simplicity and meal frequency

Prices and promotions can change, so the checkout price is more useful than an old review when comparing your exact order.

Which Is Better for a Family of Two?

For two adults, EveryPlate gets the edge if you want flexibility and a wider range of meal choices.

EveryPlate’s current menu advertises 35+ weekly recipes, with categories such as Meat & Veggies, Quick & Easy, Family Friendly, Vegetarian, Premium, and Calorie Smart.

Dinnerly is also a strong option for two people. Its 2-person plan is designed specifically for smaller households, and you can choose 3–6 meals each week.

The bigger question is how often you want to cook.

If you only want three planned dinners each week, either service can work. If you want meal kits for most of the week, Dinnerly’s ability to go up to six meals per week gives it an advantage.

A practical example

Imagine a couple that wants meal kits for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but cooks leftovers or eats out on other nights.

A 2-person, 3-meal plan makes more sense than paying for a larger box. In this situation, compare the total weekly checkout price, not just the advertised price per serving. A flat shipping fee has a bigger effect when you order fewer servings.

Which Is Better for a Family of Three?

A family of three needs a little more thought.

Neither service is built around a three-person box. EveryPlate’s official plans are based on 2, 4, or 6 people, while Dinnerly offers 2- or 4-person plans.

That means a family of three will usually need to choose a four-serving meal and handle the extra serving as a leftover.

For many families, that is not a problem. The extra portion can become lunch the next day or another small meal.

EveryPlate has an advantage here because it also offers a 6-person option, which gives it more room to scale if your household sometimes includes an extra guest or family member.

Dinnerly may still make sense if you want more meals during the week and prefer its simpler recipe style.

Price Matters More for Small Families Than You Might Expect

The advertised per-serving price is only part of your meal-kit budget.

For a small household, shipping can have a noticeable effect because you are spreading the box fee over fewer servings. EveryPlate currently lists a $10.99 shipping fee per box.

For example, suppose a hypothetical order contains six servings at $5.99 each:

• Food cost: $35.94
• Shipping: $10.99
• Total: $46.93
• Effective cost: about $7.82 per serving

That is why comparing the headline “$5.99 per serving” alone can give you the wrong idea about what your weekly order actually costs.

Promotional prices can also make the first box look much cheaper than later deliveries. EveryPlate currently advertises a new-customer offer, but its terms say the discount varies by plan and that shipping, upgrades, add-ons, and taxes are not included in the promotional meal price.

Expert tip: Before choosing either service, create the same type of order on both websites and compare the final checkout totals. That gives you a much better small-family comparison than comparing advertised prices.

EveryPlate Has the Edge for Menu Variety and Flexibility

EveryPlate currently promotes more than 35 weekly recipes. Its menu also includes different categories, such as vegetarian, family-friendly, quick, and premium choices.

That matters for a small family because two people may have very different food preferences.

For example, one person may want chicken, while the other wants a vegetarian dinner. Having more choices makes it easier to build a box that works for everyone.

Dinnerly also offers a range of recipes and is designed around straightforward weeknight cooking. But its biggest selling point is not complicated cooking. It is keeping meals simple and affordable.

If you enjoy trying different meals each week, EveryPlate may feel more flexible.

If you would rather pick a few easy meals and get dinner done, Dinnerly may be enough.

Dinnerly Is a Strong Choice If You Want Simple Cooking

Dinnerly’s approach is built around uncomplicated weeknight meals. The company describes its service as focused on simple recipes and affordable cooking.

That can be useful for a small family with busy evenings.

You still have to cook the meal, but the meal kit handles much of the planning and ingredient shopping. That can remove one of the hardest parts of weeknight dinner: deciding what to make and buying every ingredient.

Dinnerly recipes are available digitally, and customers can print them from their account.

EveryPlate, by comparison, says its meal kits include easy recipe cards and that most meals take about 30 minutes to prepare.

So the difference is less about whether either service is beginner-friendly and more about which recipe experience you prefer.

What About Portions?

Portions are especially important for small families because you do not want to pay for food that goes unused.

For a two-person household, a 2-person plan is the obvious starting point with either service. For a three-person household, a 4-person plan can provide useful leftovers.

However, do not assume that every recipe will leave the same amount of food. Meals can differ based on the ingredients, side dishes, and serving style.

If your family has bigger appetites, check the ingredients and serving information for individual recipes before ordering.

If leftovers are important to you, look for meals built around foods your family enjoys reheating, such as pasta, rice bowls, tacos, or skillet meals.

Which One Is Better for Picky Eaters?

Small families often include picky eaters, especially when children are involved.

EveryPlate specifically describes its meals as suitable for families and picky eaters, and it offers a Family Friendly category.

Dinnerly also describes its meals as picky-eater approved.

Neither statement means every meal will work for every child.

A better strategy is to review the weekly menu before ordering. Look for familiar proteins, simple sides, and meals where ingredients can be served separately.

A practical example

Suppose a family has two adults and one child who dislikes mixed vegetables.

A meal where vegetables are mixed into a sauce may create a problem. A meal with chicken, potatoes, and a separate vegetable gives the family more control.

For picky eaters, the recipe itself can matter more than which company delivers it.

Dietary Needs and Allergies Need Extra Attention

EveryPlate says it provides ingredient and allergen information for its recipes, but also warns that meals are prepared in facilities that handle common allergens.

This matters if someone in your household has a serious food allergy.

Do not choose a meal kit based only on a menu label. Read the complete ingredient and allergen information for each meal you plan to order.

For strict medical dietary needs, a meal kit designed specifically around those needs may be a better fit than a general budget service.

Which One Is Easier for Busy Weeknights?

Both can save time compared with planning meals and shopping for every ingredient yourself.

EveryPlate says its recipes generally take around 30 minutes and use six simple steps.

Dinnerly is also designed around quick weeknight cooking, and its plan allows up to six meals per week.

For a busy family, the real time savings come from reducing planning and grocery trips. You still need to chop, cook, clean, and sometimes use basic pantry ingredients.

If you want a meal that requires almost no cooking, neither service is the right category. These are meal kits, not fully prepared dinners.

EveryPlate vs. Dinnerly: Which Should a Small Family Choose?

The easiest way to decide is to match the service to your household.

Choose EveryPlate if:

• You want more flexibility in household size.
• You like having a broad weekly menu.
• You want printed recipe cards.
• You want family-friendly and quick-meal categories.
• You have a three-person household and want four-serving meals with leftovers.
• You want the option to scale up to six servings.

Choose Dinnerly if:

• You want a 2- or 4-person plan.
• You want the option of 3–6 meals per week.
• You prefer simple, low-fuss weeknight recipes.
• You are comfortable using recipes digitally or printing them yourself.
• Your main goal is affordable meal planning rather than a more feature-rich cooking experience.

The Best Choice Depends on Your Family Size

For a two-person household, I would lean toward EveryPlate when menu variety and flexibility matter most. Dinnerly is a good alternative if simple recipes and more weekly meal choices are your priority.

For a three-person household, EveryPlate has a useful advantage because its 4-person plan can provide an extra serving for leftovers, while Dinnerly also offers a 4-person plan.

For a small family that cooks frequently, Dinnerly’s option to select up to six meals per week can be useful.

For a small family that wants more menu flexibility, EveryPlate is the stronger overall pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EveryPlate or Dinnerly cheaper for a family of two?

Both currently advertise starting prices around $5.99 per serving, but your final cost depends on the plan, meals, promotions, shipping, and any upgrades. Compare the final checkout total for the same number of servings rather than relying only on the starting price.

Can a family of three use EveryPlate or Dinnerly?

Yes. Neither service has a standard three-person plan, so a family of three would generally choose a 4-person plan and use the extra serving as leftovers. EveryPlate also offers a 6-person plan, while Dinnerly’s larger standard plan is for four people.

Is Dinnerly better than EveryPlate for picky eaters?

Dinnerly can be a good choice for picky eaters because its meals focus on simple, familiar weeknight cooking. EveryPlate also has a Family Friendly category, so the better choice often comes down to which specific recipes your family will actually eat.

Final Takeaway

For most small families, EveryPlate is the safer all-around pick, especially when you want menu variety, flexible serving sizes, and an easy recipe-card experience. Dinnerly makes more sense when simple cooking and the ability to order more meals per week are higher priorities.

My practical tip: do not choose based on the advertised price alone. Pick three meals your family would actually eat, build the same-size order on both services, and compare the final total after shipping and any upgrades. That is the fairest way to decide which meal kit fits your household.