Blue Apron or Dinnerly for easy dinners?

If your main goal is to get dinner on the table with less work, Dinnerly is usually the better choice for easy dinners. Its meals are designed around five simple steps, and its current menu includes many 10–30 minute recipes. Blue Apron offers more structured and chef-style cooking, plus 15- and 20-minute options, but some standard recipes involve more prep and cooking steps.

The better pick depends on what you mean by “easy.” If easy means cheap, simple, and low-effort, Dinnerly has the edge. If you want easy meals that still feel more like a cooking project, Blue Apron may suit you better.

Feature	Blue Apron	Dinnerly
Best for	More involved but convenient home cooking	Simple weeknight dinners
Fast meal options	Yes, including 15- and 20-minute meals	Yes, many 10–30 minute meals
Recipe style	Chef-designed, step-by-step meals	Simple recipes with fewer steps
Ready-to-cook options	Yes	Yes
Typical cooking effort	Low to moderate	Low
Menu variety	Broad	100+ recipes weekly
Price position	Generally higher	Generally more budget-focused
Best choice for beginners	Good	Better for very simple cooking

Dinnerly Is the Better Pick for the Easiest Dinners

Dinnerly is built around the idea of making home cooking simpler. Its current site says its recipes use five simple steps, while its menu includes many meals that take 10–30 minutes.

That makes it a strong fit for someone who does not want to spend a lot of time chopping, cooking several parts of a meal, and cleaning up afterward.

Dinnerly’s current menu also has a dedicated Fast & Easy filter. Examples include Lebanese beef bowls listed at 10–15 minutes, chicken and broccoli stir-fry at 15–20 minutes, and many other dinners in the 20–30 minute range.

Another advantage is the large weekly menu. Dinnerly currently advertises more than 100 recipes each week, giving shoppers plenty of ways to pick meals based on cook time, protein, diet, and other preferences.

For someone who gets home tired and wants to make dinner without thinking too much, that simplicity matters.

Why Dinnerly feels easier

The main advantage is not just cooking time. It is the amount of work you need to think about.

Dinnerly focuses on:

• Simple recipes
• Fewer cooking steps
• Many 10–30 minute meals
• Familiar family-style dishes
• Easy-to-filter menus
• Budget-friendly meal options
• Ready-to-heat choices and other Market items

Dinnerly also says its recipes are designed to be made in five steps and take no more than 30 minutes on its current promotional page.

That combination makes it particularly appealing for busy households, beginner cooks, and anyone who sees meal kits mainly as a way to remove dinner-time stress.

Blue Apron Can Still Be Very Easy

Choosing Dinnerly does not mean Blue Apron is difficult.

Blue Apron currently offers several ways to reduce cooking time. Its site highlights meals with 20 minutes of prep or less and total cooking times of 20 minutes for some dishes. It also offers Ready to Cook recipes that use pre-chopped ingredients and a baking tray to make preparation and cleanup easier.

For example, Blue Apron’s current 15-Min Shrimp & Orange-Chili Noodles uses pre-cooked grains and easy-to-prep ingredients and is designed to be ready in about 15 minutes.

So if you choose the right Blue Apron category, you can get a genuinely quick dinner.

The difference is that Blue Apron also has standard recipes that require more active cooking. One current recipe, for example, involves preparing potatoes, carrots, scallions, sauce, and chicken through several separate steps.

That can still be manageable, but it is not the same kind of simplicity as a five-step, 15–20 minute Dinnerly recipe.

Which Has Less Prep Work?

Dinnerly generally wins for prep work.

This is one of the biggest differences between the two services.

With Dinnerly, the recipes are intentionally designed to keep the process simple. Many dishes use familiar ingredients and straightforward cooking methods. The service also promotes easy-cleanup meals and simple recipes.

Blue Apron tends to put more emphasis on the cooking experience. Even when a recipe is quick, you may still need to prepare ingredients, make a sauce, cook separate components, and finish the dish.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. Someone who enjoys cooking may actually prefer it.

But if your question is simply “Which one lets me get dinner done with less effort?”, Dinnerly has the advantage.

Which Is Better for 15- to 30-Minute Dinners?

Both services can work well, but Dinnerly has the more consistent advantage for this specific need.

Dinnerly’s current menu contains many meals in the 10–15, 15–20, and 20–30 minute ranges.

Blue Apron also has fast meals. Its current menu and recipe collection include 20-minute meals, while its newer 15-Min meals are specifically designed around faster preparation.

The difference is how much of the menu is built around easy weeknight cooking.

Dinnerly makes simplicity a central part of its offering. Blue Apron gives you easy options alongside meals that require more traditional meal-kit preparation.

So if you want to browse a menu and quickly find several simple dinners, Dinnerly is the easier choice.

Which Has Better Options for Busy Families?

Dinnerly is a particularly strong fit for busy families.

Its menu includes familiar meals such as burgers, tacos, pasta, chicken dishes, rice bowls, and other family-friendly recipes. The current menu also labels many dishes as kid-friendly.

That can make dinner planning easier when different people in the household have different tastes.

For example, imagine a parent gets home at 6:00 p.m. and wants dinner ready before the evening gets busy. A 15–20 minute Dinnerly recipe can fit that schedule without turning dinner into a large cooking project.

Blue Apron can work for the same family, especially if they enjoy trying different flavors. But some recipes may require more attention, making them a better fit for nights when you have a little extra time.

Which Is Better for Beginner Cooks?

For a beginner who wants the least stressful introduction to meal kits, Dinnerly is the easier starting point.

The recipes are designed to be simple, and the service emphasizes five-step cooking.

A beginner can start with a meal that takes 15–20 minutes, learn a few basic cooking skills, and gradually move to recipes that require more work.

Blue Apron is also beginner-friendly because its recipes provide step-by-step instructions. But some recipes teach more cooking techniques along the way, which can mean more work.

That makes Blue Apron a good option if “easy” means guided cooking, while Dinnerly is better if “easy” means minimal effort.

What About Cleanup?

Cleanup is easy to overlook when comparing meal kits.

Dinnerly has an advantage when you choose recipes designed for easy cleanup. Its current service messaging specifically highlights easy-cleanup meals.

Blue Apron is also making cleanup easier with its Ready to Cook meals. These recipes can use pre-chopped ingredients and a recyclable baking tin, so you can assemble, bake, and serve without using as many dishes.

So the winner depends on the meal you select.

For simple everyday cleanup: Dinnerly gets the edge.

For convenient oven-based cooking: Blue Apron’s Ready to Cook options can be very useful.

Which One Is Better for Someone Who Wants Cheap Easy Dinners?

Dinnerly is the stronger choice if price is part of your definition of “easy.”

Dinnerly currently markets itself as an affordable meal kit and advertises meals starting at $5.99 per person on its main site. Promotional offers can be lower, so the price you actually pay may depend on the offer, plan, delivery, and order size.

Blue Apron generally sits at a higher price point for many of its meals. Its current menu shows individual meal-kit prices that vary by recipe, with examples around $11–$13 per serving and some meals priced higher.

Because meal-kit prices and promotions can change, it is better to compare the final weekly checkout total rather than only the advertised starting price.

When Blue Apron Makes More Sense

Dinnerly is the easier choice overall, but there are good reasons to choose Blue Apron.

Blue Apron may be better if you:

• Enjoy cooking but want the shopping done for you
• Want more chef-style recipes
• Like trying different flavors
• Want fast meal categories without giving up more involved recipes
• Prefer options such as Ready to Cook meals
• Want a meal kit that can feel closer to a guided cooking experience

Blue Apron’s recipe collection includes meals with different cooking times, including 15-, 20-, 25-, 35-, and 45-minute options.

For example, a person who enjoys cooking on Sunday but needs a quick meal on Tuesday could choose a more involved Blue Apron recipe for one night and a 15- or 20-minute option for another.

When Dinnerly Makes More Sense

Dinnerly is the better match if your main concern is getting food on the table without a lot of work.

Choose Dinnerly if you:

• Want simple weeknight meals
• Have limited time after work or school
• Are new to cooking
• Prefer familiar meals
• Want many quick recipes to choose from
• Care about keeping meal-kit costs lower
• Do not want complicated preparation

Its current menu gives you plenty of ways to filter for quick meals, while its five-step recipe approach keeps the cooking process straightforward.

Blue Apron vs. Dinnerly for Easy Dinners: The Final Choice

For easy dinners, Dinnerly is the better overall pick because its service is more focused on simple recipes, short cooking times, fewer steps, and affordable everyday meals.

Blue Apron is the better choice if you want easy meals but still enjoy spending some time cooking and learning new recipes. Its 15- and 20-minute options mean you do not have to choose between speed and variety.

A simple way to decide is:

Choose Dinnerly for minimum effort. Choose Blue Apron for a more guided cooking experience.

For example, if you regularly have only 20–30 minutes to make dinner, start by browsing Dinnerly’s Fast & Easy choices. If you enjoy cooking and want more interesting recipes, look at Blue Apron’s 15- and 20-minute meals first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dinnerly easier than Blue Apron?

Yes, Dinnerly is generally easier if your priority is fewer steps and less cooking effort. Its recipes are designed around five steps, and its menu includes many meals that take 10–30 minutes.

Does Blue Apron have quick and easy meals?

Yes. Blue Apron currently offers 15-minute meals, 20-minute meals, and Ready to Cook recipes that use pre-chopped ingredients to reduce preparation and cleanup.

Should beginners choose Dinnerly or Blue Apron?

Dinnerly is usually the better choice for beginners who want the simplest cooking experience. Blue Apron is also suitable for beginners, but it can be a better fit for someone who wants to learn more cooking techniques while following guided recipes.

The Bottom Line

If your biggest goal is easy dinners with as little effort as possible, go with Dinnerly. Its simple five-step recipes, large weekly menu, and many 10–30 minute options make it a strong fit for busy weeknights.