EveryPlate or Dinnerly for simple dinners?

If your main goal is to make dinner with less planning, shopping, and kitchen work, both EveryPlate and Dinnerly are strong budget-friendly choices. Dinnerly has a slight edge for the simplest cooking experience, while EveryPlate is a better fit if you want simple meals with a little more variety and more detailed cooking guidance. Both focus on affordable recipes that can usually be made in about 30 minutes.

EveryPlate vs. Dinnerly at a glance

For simple dinners, the biggest difference is not price alone. It is how much work you want to do once the ingredients arrive.

Feature	EveryPlate	Dinnerly
Main focus	Easy, affordable home cooking	Simple, affordable weeknight meals
Current starting price	$5.99 per serving	$5.99 per person
Weekly menu	35+ recipes	100+ recipes
Typical cooking time	About 30 minutes	Many meals take 10–40 minutes
Recipe style	Simple with some global flavors	Familiar, family-friendly meals
Cooking steps	6 simple steps	5 simple steps
Best for	Easy dinners with more variety	Very simple weeknight cooking
Delivery area	Most of the continental U.S.	Contiguous United States

Prices and menus can change, so check the current weekly menu before ordering. EveryPlate currently advertises 35+ weekly recipes and meals that take about 30 minutes, while Dinnerly advertises 100+ weekly recipes and five-step recipes.

Which one is easier for simple dinners?

Dinnerly is the better choice if “simple” means fewer steps and familiar meals. Its current menu includes many dishes that take 10–30 minutes, and the company builds its service around five-step recipes and less complicated weeknight cooking.

Dinnerly’s current menu shows examples such as shrimp Alfredo, tacos, burgers, stir-fries, pasta, rice bowls, and quesadillas. Many are listed in the 15–30 minute range.

EveryPlate is also designed around easy cooking. Its current site says most meals take about 30 minutes and use six simple steps. The service also has a rotating selection of global flavors, so “simple” does not always mean basic.

That makes the choice fairly simple:

• Choose Dinnerly if you want the least complicated weeknight meals.
• Choose EveryPlate if you want easy cooking but also want more variety in flavors.
• Choose either if your main goal is avoiding grocery shopping and meal planning.

Why Dinnerly works well for easy weeknight meals

Dinnerly is built around reducing the work that usually comes before dinner. You choose meals online, receive the ingredients in an insulated box, and follow the recipe at home.

The current Dinnerly menu has a useful Fast & Easy filter, along with cook-time filters. That makes it easier to find meals when you do not want to spend much time in the kitchen.

Dinnerly’s recipes are often familiar

Simple dinners are easier when you already understand the type of food you are making.

Dinnerly’s menu includes foods such as:

• Chicken and rice
• Tacos
• Burgers
• Pasta
• Quesadillas
• Stir-fries
• Meatballs
• Chicken and potatoes
• Rice bowls

The current menu also includes vegetarian, low-carb, kid-friendly, low-calorie, and other labeled choices.

That can be useful if you are cooking for a household where everyone wants something familiar.

Dinnerly can save more than cooking time

A meal kit does more than deliver ingredients. It also removes several small decisions.

You do not have to:

1. Decide what to cook.
2. Make a grocery list.
3. Buy every ingredient separately.
4. Measure most ingredients from full-size packages.
5. Figure out the cooking process from scratch.

Dinnerly says customers can choose from 100+ recipes each week and swap their selections through their account.

For someone who dislikes the planning part of dinner more than the cooking itself, that can be the biggest benefit.

Why EveryPlate is a good choice for simple dinners

EveryPlate takes a similar approach but gives easy meals a slightly different feel.

Its current service offers 35+ weekly recipes, pre-portioned ingredients, and recipes designed to get dinner ready in about 30 minutes.

EveryPlate gives simple meals more flavor variety

EveryPlate is not limited to basic American comfort food. Its current menu messaging highlights tacos, stir-fries, and other international-inspired dishes.

That matters if you want easy dinners but get bored eating the same kinds of meals every week.

A hypothetical example:

If you work or attend school all day and want dinner done quickly, you might choose a simple chicken bowl one night, tacos another night, and a pasta dish later in the week. You still get the convenience of a meal kit without making every dinner feel identical.

EveryPlate keeps the cooking process short

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

That does not mean every meal will take exactly 30 minutes. Some recipes can be faster, while others may require more preparation.

The important point is that EveryPlate is aimed at people who want to cook a real meal without spending a long time planning or preparing it.

Which has the simpler recipes?

If you care only about the number of cooking steps, Dinnerly has the slight advantage based on the companies’ current descriptions: Dinnerly promotes five simple steps, while EveryPlate promotes six.

But step count is not everything.

A five-step recipe can still take longer if one step involves a lot of chopping. A six-step recipe can be easy if each step is quick.

For that reason, check the actual cook time and recipe instructions before choosing a meal.

Dinnerly’s menu currently gives useful cook-time ranges such as 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, and 30–40 minutes.

Which has better choices for fast dinners?

Dinnerly has the advantage in menu size, at least based on the current menus published by both companies.

Dinnerly currently advertises more than 100 recipes each week. EveryPlate currently advertises 35+ weekly recipes.

More choices do not automatically mean easier choices. In fact, a very large menu can sometimes make choosing dinner harder.

If you like having lots of options, Dinnerly is attractive. If you would rather see a smaller list and pick quickly, EveryPlate’s more limited menu may actually feel easier.

Which is better for picky eaters?

Dinnerly is likely the better fit for households with picky eaters because its menu emphasizes familiar flavors and family-friendly meals. The company specifically highlights picky-eater-friendly choices.

EveryPlate also offers meals aimed at families and picky eaters, so it is not a bad choice.

The practical move is to check both menus for the week you plan to order. A service may be a great fit overall, but the available recipes matter more if you already know what foods your household will eat.

What about price?

Both services compete in the budget meal-kit category.

As of August 2026, EveryPlate lists plans starting at $5.99 per serving, while Dinnerly lists meals starting at $5.99 per person. Your final order can cost more because plan size, shipping, premium choices, add-ons, taxes, and promotions can affect the total.

Do not compare only the advertised per-serving price.

Before ordering, look at:

• Number of servings
• Number of meals
• Shipping charge
• Premium meal charges
• Add-ons
• Current introductory discount
• Total amount charged at checkout

A lower advertised price does not always produce the lower weekly bill.

Which one requires less effort after the box arrives?

Both are designed to reduce kitchen work, but there is one detail that is easy to overlook: meal-kit cooking is still cooking.

You may still need to:

• Wash produce
• Chop ingredients
• Heat a pan or oven
• Cook meat thoroughly
• Measure some ingredients
• Clean cookware afterward

Dinnerly’s own recipes show that “five simple steps” can still involve normal cooking tasks such as chopping, boiling, simmering, and combining ingredients.

EveryPlate also expects basic cooking and kitchen tools.

So if by “simple dinner” you mean almost no cooking, neither service is the perfect match. They are better suited to people who want easier cooking rather than no cooking.

A practical choice for two common situations

If you get home tired and want dinner fast

Imagine you have a busy weekday and do not want to spend an hour deciding what to make.

Dinnerly is a strong choice because its menu has many meals in the 10–30 minute range, and you can filter for fast options.

Pick a meal with a short cook-time estimate and avoid recipes that involve several separate cooking methods.

If you want easy food without getting bored

Imagine you enjoy cooking but do not want to plan meals or shop for ingredients.

EveryPlate may be the better fit because its easy recipes include a mix of familiar meals and international-inspired flavors.

You still get the convenience of pre-portioned ingredients while having more variety in the kinds of dinners you can make.

What both services do not solve

It is easy to think a meal kit will remove every dinner problem. It will not.

Both services still require some planning. You need to choose meals, make sure someone can receive the box, store ingredients properly, and actually cook the food.

You should also check the ingredient and allergen information carefully. EveryPlate states that its meals are prepared in facilities that handle common allergens, so people with severe allergies should review the ingredients closely.

Dinnerly also provides ingredient and dietary information through its menu filters.

EveryPlate or Dinnerly for simple dinners: the better pick

For the specific goal of simple dinners, I would give Dinnerly a small edge.

Its five-step cooking approach, large weekly menu, familiar meal choices, and fast-meal filters make it especially appealing when your main concern is getting an uncomplicated dinner on the table.

But EveryPlate may be the better choice if you want simple meals with more variety in flavor and still want a budget-focused meal kit. Its current service emphasizes six-step recipes, about 30-minute cooking times, and a rotating selection of familiar and global-inspired meals.

If you care most about…	Better fit
The simplest cooking process	Dinnerly
Familiar family meals	Dinnerly
Lots of weekly choices	Dinnerly
Fast recipe filtering	Dinnerly
Simple meals with global flavors	EveryPlate
A smaller menu that is easier to scan	EveryPlate
Budget-friendly home cooking	Both

Frequently asked questions

Is Dinnerly easier than EveryPlate for beginners?

Yes, Dinnerly has a slight advantage for beginners who want very simple recipes. Its current recipes are built around five steps, and many menu options have short cook-time estimates.

Does EveryPlate take less time to cook than Dinnerly?

Not consistently. EveryPlate says most meals take about 30 minutes, while Dinnerly’s current menu includes many meals from 10 to 30 minutes, along with some longer options. The specific recipe you choose matters more than the brand’s average.

Should I choose Dinnerly or EveryPlate if I hate meal planning?

Both can help because you choose meals online and receive pre-portioned ingredients at home. Dinnerly is the better choice if you want a larger menu and very simple meal choices, while EveryPlate may suit you better if you prefer a smaller selection with easy recipes and more varied flavors.

Final verdict

If your definition of a simple dinner is few steps, familiar food, and little decision-making, start with Dinnerly. If you want easy cooking but a little more variety in the types of meals you make, EveryPlate is worth considering.

The best practical tip is to check the current weekly menus before signing up. Pick three meals with short cook times that you would actually enjoy eating. That gives you a better test of convenience than comparing brand promises alone.