EveryPlate or Dinnerly for first-time meal kit users?
Trying a meal kit for the first time can feel a little confusing. You are not only choosing food. You are also choosing how much cooking, prep, menu planning, and cleanup you want to handle each week.
For most first-time users, Dinnerly is the better pick if your main goal is the simplest possible cooking experience. EveryPlate is a better choice if you want a more traditional meal-kit experience with printed recipe cards and a wider mix of easy dinner choices. Both focus on affordable home cooking, and current base pricing starts at $5.99 per serving before shipping or other charges.
EveryPlate vs. Dinnerly for a First Meal Kit
If you have never ordered a meal kit before, the most useful question is not simply which service is cheaper. It is which one will make your first few meals feel easy and manageable?
Both EveryPlate and Dinnerly are designed around affordable, cook-at-home meals. You select meals online, receive ingredients at your home, and follow the recipe to prepare dinner.
The biggest difference for a beginner is the cooking experience:
| Factor | EveryPlate | Dinnerly |
|---|---|---|
| Best for first-time users who want | A more traditional meal-kit experience | Very simple, no-fuss cooking |
| Recipe access | Printed recipe cards are included | Recipes are available digitally |
| Cooking style | Easy, but some recipes can involve more prep | Focuses heavily on simple meals |
| Menu | Large rotating selection | Large rotating selection |
| Current starting price | $5.99/serving | $5.99/person |
| Shipping | $10.99 per box | Check your current checkout price |
| Good choice for | Beginners who like printed instructions | Beginners who want fewer cooking steps |
Prices, menus, promotions, and shipping charges can change, so check the current checkout page before placing your first order. EveryPlate currently lists $5.99 per serving as its starting plan price, while Dinnerly lists meals starting at $5.99 per person.
Why Dinnerly May Be Easier for a Complete Beginner
Dinnerly puts a lot of attention on keeping cooking simple. Its current site describes the service as an affordable meal kit with simple meals and a streamlined ordering process.
That can matter when you are standing in the kitchen for the first time with a box of ingredients.
A beginner may not want a recipe that requires several sauces, multiple pans, or a long list of preparation steps. A simpler dinner can make the whole experience feel less intimidating.
Dinnerly also provides recipes digitally rather than sending printed recipe cards. That can be a plus if you already like using your phone while cooking. It can be less convenient if you would rather keep a recipe next to your cutting board without using your phone.
Older independent comparisons have also found Dinnerly recipes to be particularly simple, while EveryPlate tends to offer a somewhat more involved cooking experience. Because menus change, however, the specific meals you select matter more than a general brand label.
When Dinnerly makes the most sense
Dinnerly may be the better first meal kit if you:
- Have limited cooking experience
- Want straightforward recipes
- Prefer using your phone for instructions
- Do not need printed recipe cards
- Want to keep the cooking process as simple as possible
- Are comfortable doing basic chopping and cooking yourself
The key is to choose meals marked or described as easy when you place your first order. Do not pick the most interesting-looking recipe if it also happens to require techniques you have never used.
Why EveryPlate May Be Better for Your First Meal Kit
EveryPlate is also built around easy home cooking. Its current site specifically positions the service around easy-to-cook recipes and says it is suitable for people who are new to meal kits.
One feature that can help a first-time customer is the printed recipe card. You can place it on the counter and work through the instructions without repeatedly unlocking your phone.
EveryPlate currently advertises more than 35 weekly recipes, although the exact menu and available choices can change.
That variety can also help beginners because you can look for familiar foods instead of forcing yourself to learn a new cooking style right away.
When EveryPlate makes the most sense
EveryPlate may be the better choice if you:
- Have never used a meal kit before
- Prefer printed cooking instructions
- Want a more traditional meal-kit experience
- Like having many dinner choices
- Want familiar comfort-food-style meals
- Do not mind a little extra chopping or preparation
For a first box, familiar meals can be a smart choice. If you already know how to make tacos, burgers, pasta, or simple chicken dinners, a meal kit built around those foods can help you learn the ordering and cooking process without adding unnecessary difficulty.
Which Is Easier to Cook: EveryPlate or Dinnerly?
Dinnerly has a slight edge if your only goal is minimizing cooking complexity. EveryPlate is still beginner-friendly, but some meals can involve more preparation.
That does not mean Dinnerly meals are automatically faster or that every EveryPlate recipe is difficult. Meal difficulty depends heavily on the recipe you choose.
For example, imagine a first-time cook choosing between two meals:
Example 1: A beginner wants the least stressful option
They work late, rarely cook, and mainly want dinner without having to think about what to buy. A simple Dinnerly recipe with familiar ingredients may be the better starting point.
Example 2: A beginner wants to learn basic cooking
They are comfortable following directions and want to understand how a meal kit works. EveryPlate may be more appealing because the printed recipe card provides a physical guide while they cook.
The best first box is not necessarily the service with the shortest recipe. It is the one that matches your comfort level.
The Recipe Card Difference Matters More Than It Sounds
For experienced cooks, printed versus digital recipes may seem like a small detail.
For a first-time meal-kit user, it can make a noticeable difference.
EveryPlate includes printed recipe cards, while Dinnerly uses digital recipes.
With EveryPlate, you can:
- Take the recipe card out of the box.
- Put it on your counter.
- Gather the ingredients.
- Follow each step as you cook.
With Dinnerly, you will normally use your phone or another device to view the recipe.
Neither approach is wrong. Think about how you already cook.
If you regularly follow recipes on your phone, Dinnerly’s digital format may feel normal. If you find a phone screen distracting while cooking, EveryPlate may be easier.
What About Price for a First-Time User?
Price is one reason both services attract beginners, but do not judge the cost by the advertised per-serving number alone.
EveryPlate currently lists plans starting at $5.99 per serving, plus a $10.99 shipping fee per box. Dinnerly currently advertises meals starting at $5.99 per person. Promotional offers can reduce the first-box price, but offers and their terms can change.
Your real cost depends on:
- Number of people
- Number of meals
- Plan size
- Shipping
- Premium meals
- Add-ons
- Current introductory promotion
- Taxes or other applicable charges
A simple way to compare two offers is to calculate the total amount charged for the box, then divide that number by the number of servings you will actually receive.
That gives you a more useful first-week comparison than looking only at the promotional price.
What Should a First-Time User Look for When Picking Meals?
Your first box is not the time to prove that you can cook a complicated dish.
Choose meals that remove as much uncertainty as possible.
Look for:
- Familiar proteins
- Simple side dishes
- Short ingredient lists
- Basic cooking methods
- Meals you already know your household will eat
- Recipes with reasonable preparation and cooking times
Avoid choosing several unfamiliar recipes at once.
If you order three meals, for example, you could choose one meal you already know you will like, one slightly different meal, and one meal that teaches you a basic cooking skill.
That gives you a chance to learn how the service works without making every dinner a cooking experiment.
What Beginners Often Forget About Meal Kits
A meal kit does not mean that dinner requires zero work.
You still need to:
- Store ingredients properly when the box arrives
- Read the recipe before starting
- Wash or prepare certain ingredients when instructed
- Cook the food
- Clean your cookware
- Have basic kitchen equipment available
You may also need a few common pantry ingredients depending on the recipe.
That is why a meal kit is different from a fully prepared meal delivery service. A meal kit saves much of the meal-planning and grocery-shopping work, but you still cook the meal yourself.
Which One Is Better for Families Trying Meal Kits for the First Time?
For a family, the answer depends heavily on the family’s cooking habits.
Dinnerly can be a good starting point for families that want familiar, simple dinners and do not mind using digital recipes. Its current site also emphasizes family-friendly flavors and picky-eater appeal.
EveryPlate may be a better fit when the adults want more choice and prefer having printed instructions available in the kitchen.
For families with children, there is another practical issue: portion expectations. A listed serving is not necessarily enough for every household member, especially if you have teenagers or adults with larger appetites.
Before ordering, look at the serving size and choose your plan based on the people who will actually eat the food.
EveryPlate or Dinnerly: Which Should a First-Time User Choose?
If you want the simplest possible starting point, Dinnerly gets the edge.
If you want printed recipe cards and a more traditional meal-kit experience, EveryPlate gets the edge.
Here is the simplest way to decide:
- Choose Dinnerly if cooking simplicity and digital recipes matter most.
- Choose EveryPlate if printed instructions and menu variety matter most.
- Choose either one if your main goal is affordable home cooking and you are comfortable doing basic preparation yourself.
There is no need to choose based on brand reputation alone. Look at the actual meals available to you that week. A very easy EveryPlate meal may be a better first experience than a more involved Dinnerly recipe, and the reverse can also be true.
A Simple First-Box Strategy
If this is your first meal kit ever, keep your first order small enough that you can learn the process without feeling overwhelmed.Before ordering, check three things:
First, check the total price. Look at the final checkout amount, including shipping and any upgrades.Second, check the recipes. Pick meals that sound familiar and have cooking steps you understand.
Third, check the delivery schedule. Make sure someone can bring the box inside soon after delivery and that you have enough refrigerator space.
When the box arrives, read one recipe from beginning to end before cooking. This small habit can prevent surprises halfway through dinner.
What If You Are a Very Nervous Beginner?
If you rarely cook at all, do not assume you need the “best” meal kit.You need the one that feels easiest to understand.
For that type of user, Dinnerly’s simple approach may reduce the learning curve. But if following instructions from a printed card feels much easier than using a phone, EveryPlate may actually be less stressful.
Your comfort with the cooking process matters more than a small difference between the brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dinnerly or EveryPlate better for someone who has never used a meal kit?
Dinnerly is a strong choice for a complete beginner who wants simple cooking and does not mind digital recipes. EveryPlate is also beginner-friendly and may be easier for people who prefer printed recipe cards and a more traditional meal-kit format.
Do EveryPlate and Dinnerly require cooking?
Yes. Both are meal kit services, so you receive ingredients and prepare the meal yourself. They can reduce grocery shopping and meal planning, but you still need basic kitchen tools and enough time to cook.
Should I choose the cheapest meal kit for my first order?
Not necessarily. Compare the final box price, shipping, meal choices, recipe difficulty, serving size, and the type of instructions you prefer. A slightly different price is usually less important than choosing a service you will actually enjoy using.
The Bottom Line
For EveryPlate or Dinnerly for first-time meal kit users, the decision comes down to how you want your first cooking experience to feel.
Dinnerly is the better starting point for maximum simplicity. EveryPlate is the better starting point if printed recipes and a traditional meal-kit experience are important to you.
One practical tip: before ordering, open both current menus and choose three meals you would genuinely enjoy cooking. The service with the easier-looking recipes is often the better first box, regardless of which brand sounds better on paper.
