New customers can try Home Chef for as low as $5 per serving with code CNET499. The promotion includes 50% off your first box (up to $41 off) and 17% off your next four boxes (up to $14 off each). Home Chef is our favorite meal kit for busy people, so if dinner planning usually means last-minute takeout or random fridge combos, this is a lower-cost way to see if meal kits actually fit your routine.
Home Chef runs as a weekly subscription. You'll sign up online or in the app and take a quick quiz to set preferences and flag ingredients you'd rather avoid. You can choose two to six recipes per week and pick two, four or six servings per meal. You're free to skip weeks anytime and can add extra meals or servings as needed.
The fine print is fairly straightforward. This deal is for new customers only and is limited to one per household. Unused box discounts expire 10 weeks after signup. You'll get one free eligible extra per box while your subscription is active, but shipping applies after the first delivery. If you skip six weeks in a row, pause or cancel, the extra offer ends and doesn't restart. This offer also cannot be combined with other offers and is not applicable in all states, so you'll need to check availability. Be sure to read the fine print for other disclaimers before you commit.
When we tested Home Chef, the ordering process felt clear and intuitive. Our experts appreciated the ability to swap out proteins in most recipes, choosing from steak cuts, chicken, shrimp, scallops, mahi mahi or Impossible meat. Some premium swaps cost a little more. Meals range from quick 15-minute options to more involved 45-minute recipes.
Why this deal matters
For busy people or families who want flexibility without defaulting to takeout, this deal offers a structured meal plan while keeping control over what shows up at your door. It's especially appealing if you like having options but don't want to spend your Sunday meal-prepping or grocery shopping.
