In today’s fast-paced world, juggling work, family, and personal time with meal planning and preparation can often feel overwhelming. Enter Marley Spoon, a meal delivery service that promises to simplify dinner time with farm-fresh ingredients and easy-to-cook meal kit recipes curated by Martha Stewart. Marley Spoon offers a solution that caters to the needs of busy families by removing the pressures of meal planning and grocery shopping.
Planning and shopping for meals takes time and can leave you feeling stressed, which can tempt you to choose convenient fast food instead of homemade meals. Studies have found that choosing fast food over homemade meals can lead to poor physical and mental health. For families with hectic schedules, Marley Spoon’s convenience and quality can reduce the daily stress associated with meal prep, making for more relaxed mealtimes where families can connect.
Our Handbook Team tested Marley Spoon over the span of a week and rated its meal kits on price, ingredient freshness, convenience, taste, portion size, and family-friendliness. Read on for our thorough Marley Spoon review to learn about the pros and cons of this popular meal delivery service.
Marley Spoon overview
Our expert opinion on Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon scored high in ingredient freshness, convenience, taste, and family-friendliness, making it a great option for busy families. Plus, it offers “picky eater approved” meals, so you’re sure to find recipes that the whole family will love. They also offer low-calorie meals that are appropriate for people following a weight loss program. However, our testers found that the box the ingredients were delivered in was large and heavy, so you may need two people to move it. While Marley Spoon indicates that sustainability is one of their top priorities, our testers found that there were a lot of packing materials in the box.
Our testers ordered the following meal kits:
- Vegan Jerk Black Beans and Rice with Mango.
- Black Bean Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries and Dijonnaise.
- Quick Sweet and Sour Chicken.
- Mustard Glazed Salmon with Sugar Snap Pea Salad.
Each recipe came with a large 8.5 x 11-inch recipe card. While the font was on the smaller side, our testers had no problems reading the card while cooking. Plus, the Marley Spoon app has step-by-step instructions that people can use if the recipe card font is too small.
Our testers found that the meal kits were quick to prepare, usually taking 30 minutes or less. Meals are beginner-friendly, and our testers feel that most beginners should have no problems preparing the recipes. They also noted that the produce was high quality and fresh. However, the mango provided for one of the recipes did not ripen in time. Our tester substituted corn for the mango, but found that this detracted from the overall quality and taste of the meal.
Who may like Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon is ideal for busy families thanks to its variety of dietary options, including picky eater-approved meals. Plus, most meals take 30 minutes or less to prepare—perfect for busy days when food needs to be on the table fast.
From our tester
“For our family of four, this was definitely family-friendly. The kids liked most of the meals we prepared, and we all had enough to eat at the end of the meal. Also, none of the meals took longer than 30–35 minutes to prepare, which is nice during soccer season and other busy times!”
Marley Spoon is also a good choice for people trying to lose weight. It offers low-calorie and low-carb meals that are appropriate for people using weight loss apps like Noom and Weight Watchers.
With over 100 recipes each week, Marley Spoon is also ideal for people looking for variety or to try new meals. Some of their offerings include:
- Seared Steak & Rosemary-Garlic Pan Sauce.
- Martha’s Best Lemon-Marinated Grilled Pork.
- Arroz Caldo: Filipino Chicken & Rice.
- Berbere-Spiced Red Lentil Stew.
“What is great about Marley Spoon is the variety,” says Alyssa Smolen, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN, CDN) in private practice in New Jersey and New York. “There are meat, fish, and veggie options, which is wonderful for many different eating patterns. This can help people switch up their meals and even introduce them to new flavors. Plus, each meal has a detailed description that can help people choose which meals they want depending on their individual needs.”
With so many different cuisines and flavor profiles to choose from, Marley Spoon allows you to explore new flavors without having to invest in large containers of sauces and spices that you may not use again if you don’t enjoy the meal.
Who may want to avoid Marley Spoon
One downside of Marley Spoon is the size and weight of the delivery box. For those who are ordering meals for four people, the box contains a lot of ingredients and is subsequently very heavy. It may be better to have ingredients separated over two boxes for larger orders. However, we recognize that this is not ideal from a sustainability perspective, so we can understand why Marley Spoon packages all the meals in one box. People with limited strength or restricted mobility may struggle to move the delivery box.
In addition, our testers noted that there was a lot of excess packaging, so they were throwing away a lot of waste from the meal kits. Another potential downside is that many of the recipes require a lot of chopping and food preparation, which is not ideal for beginner chefs. Individuals with dexterity issues may also find the packaging difficult to open and the amount of chopping difficult to manage.
How does Marley Spoon work?
To get started with Marley Spoon, you first need to sign up on its website. Here, you’ll select your meal preferences to create personalized recipe recommendations. You will still have access to the entire catalog of recipes, so you don’t need to worry that selecting a certain meal preference will eliminate certain meals.
When signing up, you will select how many people you want meals for (choices are two or four people) and how many recipes per week you’d like to receive (choices range from two to six recipes per week). The price per serving changes based on the number of portions you’ll receive. The price per serving starts at $8.69 per serving when ordering a box of six recipes for four people.
Once you’ve made your selections, you’ll be prompted to enter your zip code and email address. Then, you will need to provide delivery information and select your delivery date and time. Delivery is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., depending on your region. To see which delivery days and times are available in your area, click on “Sign up” at the top of the home page, select a plan, and then enter your zip code and email address. Our tester placed their order on Thursday and received their delivery on Monday at noon.
After providing your delivery preferences, you will be prompted to provide your payment details.
Once your payment details are confirmed, you will choose your meals. While Marley Spoon will provide meal recommendations based on the meal plan you select at the beginning of the sign-up process, you can switch these meals if you would prefer something else based on the meal descriptions. You will also have the option to add “Ready to Heat” prepared meals to your box, though Marley Spoon only offers two prepared meal recipes per week, so you’ll find more variety with the meal kit offerings.
Your Marley Spoon order will arrive in a large, insulated box on your requested delivery date. Our tester found that their box was very heavy (about 20–30 pounds) and large, making it awkward to lift. However, they ordered four meals for four people, so those ordering smaller quantities of food may not struggle as much with the box size and weight.
The box your meals arrive in will contain ice packs and insulated liners to keep ingredients fresh. Our tester found that there was a lot of packaging, but most of it was recyclable. For example, the ice packs can be cut open and drained, and the plastic can be recycled at a location where flexible films are accepted for recycling.
Each recipe arrives in its own paper bag, with the protein packaged in a separate layer at the bottom of the box for better cooling. Ingredients are clearly labeled, and the large 8.5 x 11-inch recipe cards clearly list the ingredients you will need for each meal. Our tester found that the instructions were generally easy to follow, with recipes turning out as intended.
Marley Spoon also has an app. If the font of the recipe cards is too small, you can use the app for step-by-step instructions. The app also allows you to track your meal kit and order more meals right from the app.
Meal plan options
Marley Spoon offers several different meal plans, including:
- Everyday Variety: This plan is best for those looking to try new recipes and don’t have any dietary requirements.
- Gluten-Free Friendly: These recipes are made without gluten-containing ingredients. However, they may contain ingredients with cross-contact risks.
- Low Calorie: These meals contain 650 calories or less per serving.
- Low Carb: These meals contain 40 grams of total carbs or less per serving.
- Picky Eater Approved: These recipes feature ingredients that are familiar and not spicy.
- Quick & Easy: These meals are ready in 30 minutes or less.
- Vegetarian: These meals cater to vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based diets.
Handbook tip #1
Many meal delivery services that offer “gluten-free” or “dairy-free” options are not always safe for people who have celiac disease or other allergies. For example, it’s common for meal delivery services to say they have options that are “gluten-free friendly,” but then have a small disclaimer on the recipe card or website that states, “Meals are crafted in kitchens where gluten, dairy, and other allergens are present.”
Before ordering from a meal delivery service, check to see if it is “certified gluten-free” or states that it follows strict protocols to reduce cross-contamination.
No matter which plan you choose, you will still have access to the entire selection of over 100 recipes offered each week. Once you’ve provided your delivery and payment details, you can select your weekly recipes.
How much do Marley Spoon meal plans cost?
| Recipes/meals per week | Price per serving for two people | Price per serving for four people |
|---|---|---|
| Two | $12.99 | $10.49 |
| Three | $10.99 | $9.99 |
| Four | $10.49 | $9.99 |
| Six | $9.99 | $8.69 |
Marley Spoon offers a variety of serving sizes, making it easy to customize based on the number of people you’re feeding and how many meals you’d like to receive per week. The price per serving starts at $8.69 for six meals per week for a family of four.
Marley Spoon supports a variety of payment methods, including major credit cards (American Express, Discover Card, Mastercard, and Visa), PayPal, and Apple Pay. To update your payment details, log in to your account and go to the “User Information” tab. Click “Edit Billing Details,” and choose your preferred payment method.
Marley Spoon also offers a Community Heroes Discount Program for medical providers, first responders, teachers, military, and government employees. People employed in these positions are eligible to receive 50 percent off their first order and free shipping once they have verified their identity using ID.me.
Our testing experience
Our Handbook Team tests the top meal delivery programs by signing up as mystery shoppers to try the service and meals for one week each. So far, we have tested 26 of the top meal delivery platforms. During that time, we do the following:
Sign up for the service as a new member.
Select one week’s worth of meals.
Evaluate the program for dietary and food allergy options.
Place an order for the meals and set a delivery date.
Track and evaluate the delivery.
Unbox package when it arrives and document the condition and quality of all items.
Prepare meals throughout the week following instructions and recipes.
Evaluate each meal for taste, convenience, portion size, and freshness.
Contact customer support with questions.
Cancel subscription.
We become familiar with each meal delivery service to learn how they work, the types of meals they offer, and how much effort it takes to prepare each meal. We specifically ask each tester to evaluate each meal delivery service based on the following criteria:
- Ordering: How easy is it to order? Are there multiple available delivery options? Does it allow you to pause for a week if you are away?
- Packaging: Were the ingredients well-protected? Is the packaging environmentally conscious? Was the package easy to move and open?
- App: Is the app easy to use? What helpful features does it offer?
- Instructions: Are the instructions simple and easy to follow? Is the font large enough to be easy to read?
- Freshness: How did the ingredients look when the box first arrived? How are the ingredients sourced?
- Convenience: How easy was it to prepare the recipes? How long did it take?
- Taste: Did the meals taste good?
- Portion Size: Were the portion sizes accurate and adequate?
- Family-Friendliness: Were the meals appropriate for families?
Testers also note the types of meals the brands offer, whether they deliver the ingredients and recipes for meal kits, or if they deliver prepared meals that you heat in the stove or microwave oven. If the platform gives you the ingredients to prepare, we look to see if they offer meals for different cooking skill levels.
We also surveyed 600 meal delivery service users to learn more about their experiences. We use these survey results, our testing data, and insights from nutrition experts to develop a thorough perspective on each meal delivery service we review.
How we test Marley Spoon meals
Ingredient freshness: 5/5
Our testers felt that the Marley Spoon ingredients were exceptionally fresh, with nothing damaged or spoiled. The packaged meats and dairy products had expiration dates, which was useful for planning when to prepare each meal. Overall, if you’re looking for high-quality, fresh ingredients, Marley Spoon is an excellent choice.
Convenience 4/5
Our testers rated Marley Spoon high for convenience. Meals generally took 30 minutes or less to prepare, and testers felt that most of the meals were beginner-friendly. Recipe cards were large, clear, and easy to follow. Overall, our testers liked the simplicity of the recipes and how easy clean-up was.
Taste: 4/5
Our testers enjoyed most of the Marley Spoon meals they received, especially the Mustard Glazed Salmon and Black Bean Burgers. Unfortunately, the mango provided for the Vegan Jerk Black Beans and Rice did not ripen in time, so they were unable to use it, which made the meal somewhat bland overall.
Accurate portion sizes: Yes
Our testers found that the portion sizes were appropriate for a family of four. In some cases, kits included bread or another vegetable to supplement the food provided (e.g., the warmed-up tortillas to eat with the Vegan Jerk Black Beans and Rice dish).
Family-friendliness: 4.5/5
Our testers rated Marley Spoon high for family-friendliness. They found that their children enjoyed most of the meals, and the portion sizes provided were sufficient for everyone. They also liked that meals took no longer than 30–35 minutes to prepare, which was perfect for busy days.
Other factors we considered
When evaluating meal delivery services like Marley Spoon, we also consider factors like ease of ordering, flexibility of the delivery service, customer service, shipping times, packaging quality, order customization, and menu variety. We also look at if the service caters to a multitude of dietary restrictions, such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free.
Overall, ordering meals from Marley Spoon was simple, and you can skip weeks if you don’t like the recipes or if you’ll be away. If you do have questions or run into trouble, the best way to reach someone is to call the customer service line at 866-228-4513.
[TOC: Compare meal delivery services]
Compare Marley Spoon with other top meal delivery services
| Price per serving | Starting at $8.69 | Starting at $9.99 | Starting at $7.99 | Starting at $4.99 | Starting at $11.49 |
| Meal kit or prepared? | Meal kit and prepared meals | Meal kit | Meal kits and prepared meals | Meal kit | Meal kits and prepared meals |
| Meals per week | Two to six | Two to six | Two to five | Three to five | Two to five |
| Delivery Area | Most of the contiguous United States | All locations in the contiguous United States, as well as some zip codes in Hawaii and Alaska | All locations in the contiguous United States | Most of the contiguous United States | United States, excluding AK, HI, MT, ND, and parts of NM |
Our final verdict on Marley Spoon
Overall, our Marley Spoon review was a positive experience. With over 100 recipes to choose from each week, there truly is something for every dietary requirement and taste preference. Our testers rated Marley Spoon meal kits high for ingredient freshness, convenience, portion size accuracy, and family-friendliness. If you’re looking for a meal kit service that delivers on taste and convenience, Marley Spoon is an excellent choice.
Our favorite things
One of our favorite things about Marley Spoon was the quality of the ingredients. The produce was exceptionally fresh, and other perishable items like meat and dairy products were clearly labeled with expiration dates.
Another huge plus of Marley Spoon was the ease and speed of meal preparation. Our testers noted that most meals took 30 minutes or less to prepare. Also, the recipes were beginner-friendly, and clean-up was quick and easy, making these meal kits perfect for busy families on the go.
Our complaints
One downside of Marley Spoon, particularly if you’re ordering for a family of four, was the size and weight of the delivery box. Our testers found that the delivery box for a family of four receiving four recipes was extremely heavy and difficult to move. This could be a problem for people who are home alone when the box arrives.
Another downside of the Marley Spoon meal kits was how much packaging was used in the delivery box. Our testers noted that there was a lot of cardboard as filler and padding. Also, almost everything was wrapped in plastic or came in a plastic bag or container. While Marley Spoon lists sustainable packaging as one of its priorities, our testers felt that there was too much packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Marley Spoon was founded by Fabien Siegel in 2014. Martha Stewart did not launch Marley Spoon and is not the CEO, but the options on the menu each week are recipes from Martha Stewart.
The cost of Marley Spoon depends on the number of people you’re feeding and the number of recipes you want each week. For a box including six recipes for four people, the cost is $8.69 per serving.
Marley Spoon has three fulfillment centers in New Jersey, Texas, and California.
- Widener, M.J., Ren, L., Astbury, C.C., Smith, L.G., & Penney, T.L. (2021). An exploration of how meal preparation activities relate to self-rated time pressure, stress, and health in Canada: A time use approach. SSM Population Health. Link
- Fuhrman, J. (2018). The hidden dangers of fast and processed food. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Link
- Utter, J., Denny, S., Peiris-John, R., Moselen, E., Dyson, B., & Clark, T. (2017). Family meals and adolescent emotional well-being: Findings from a national study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(1), 67-72.e1. Link