Purple Carrot Review: The 100% Vegan Meal Kit Service, Now With More Protein

8.6 / 10

Score

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Purple Carrot vegan meal kits

Buy at Purple Carrot

Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie

Recipes per week 8

Type Meal kits

Pricing Starts at $11/serving

Score Breakdown

Taste/results 9/10Value 7/10Ease of recipes 8/10Recipe variety 9/10Healthiness 10/10

Pros

• Super fresh ingredients and healthy, flavorful recipes
• Simple meal plan and meal selection
• Great way to learn plant-based cooking
• No unhealthy fake meats

Cons

• Nutrition information wasn't as easy to decipher as other services
• It's on the expensive side
• Meals take longer than other services
• One of the recipes I made was bland

If you're looking for a vegan meal kit service, the first company to appear in your search will likely be Purple Carrot. Offering meal kits, prepared meals and grocery items, Purple Carrot stands out from the crowd with its solely vegan offerings, making forgoing meat and eating plant-based a breeze.

To see if Purple Carrot is as good as it sounds, and how it compares to other healthy meal delivery services, I put it to the test and enlisted the help of two other CNET meal kit testers: one who's newer to cooking and our wellness editor, a vegetarian of over 20 years who often eats vegan meals.

Like other meal kit services, Purple Carrot is releasing limited-time collections. Most recently, it teamed up with Head Peloton Instructor Robin Arzón on four "Eat To Hustle" high-protein meal kits, each including a free copy of Arzón's new cookbook of the same name. This is particularly notable because eating high-protein foods can be more complicated for vegans. Our vegan wellness editor tested these meal kits and hopes to see more collaborations like this in the future.

Here's our firsthand review of the 100% vegan meal kit service and everything you need to know about Purple Carrot.

How Purple Carrot works

Purple Carrot works like many other meal kit companies: It sends ingredients and instructions for making breakfast, lunch or dinner recipes at home. Because it's all vegan, plant-based cuisine, you don't have to choose from a slate of meal plans since there's only one option: vegan. Purple Carrot is a subscription service, meaning meal kits will arrive every week. You're free to cancel or pause at any time with no penalty, so don't be deterred from trying it out.

Purple Carrot also offers prepared meals in addition to meal kits, making meal planning even simpler.

When you visit the Purple Carrot website, you can immediately begin shopping for meal kits, prepared meals and even vegan grocery items such as cheese, snacks and oatmeal. Each meal kit comes with two servings; to add more, simply click the plus sign to add another kit to your cart. As for the prepared meals, there's one serving per item.

Once you go to check out, you'll be asked to sign up, enter your shipping information, select which notifications you'd like and then pay. At this point, you'll have to agree to a subscription, and Purple Carrot will choose a plan for you based on the items in your cart. There are currently three plans:

• Meal Kit: $13.25 to $14.25 per serving, offered in three two-servingor two four-serving options. Preferences include chef’s choice, gluten-free, less prep and high protein.
• Ready to Eat (RTE): $13 to $18 each for six single-serve meals. Preferences include chef’s choice and jumpstart. The latter is a four-week meal plan, including 12 ready-to-eat meals per week: four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners crafted by Purple Carrot's dietitians and culinary team.
• Mix and Match: Combines meal kits, ready-to-eat meals and grocery items. Preferences include chef’s choice, gluten-free, high fiber and high protein.

When making changes to an order, there is a $50 minimum. Shipping is $12, but orders over $100 ship free. However, a $15 shipping surcharge may apply to select ZIP codes; you'll see it in your cart if it does.

You'll be charged for your order each Wednesday. To cancel or change your subscription, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. EST on the Tuesday of the week before your next scheduled delivery.

Unlike some meal kit services, Purple Carrot picks your shipping day based on your proximity to fulfillment centers. Ingredients arrive in a box with cooler packs. For meal kits, Purple Carrot recommends preparing them within three to five days of delivery. Ready-to-eat meals stay fresh for up to seven days after arrival.

What are Purple Carrot meals like?

Purple Carrot meals are 100% vegan and fairly healthy, although not necessarily low-carb or low-calorie. However, there is an option to select meals under 600 calories when shopping. You can also select gluten-free, high-protein and high-fiber recipes. Most dishes are centered on whole foods and vegetables, with no meat, dairy or any other animal products.

Expect lots of hearty bowls filled with grains, nuts and veggies from Purple Carrot. Plus, wraps and burritos, pasta dishes, salads and even burgers made with Actual Veggies Black Bean Burgers

There's often a plant-based taco recipe or sandwich option to choose from. While some meal kit companies play it safe with familiar flavors, Purple Carrot takes some big swings with flavorful curries, sauces and spice mixes, adding welcome pizazz to its vegan recipes. In addition to being fully vegan, many of the dishes are also gluten-free.

Best Vegan Meal Delivery for 2026 See at Cnet

Is Purple Carrot healthy?

Our wellness editor, Anna Gragert, notes that just because meals are plant-based and vegan, it doesn't automatically mean they're healthy. While Purple Carrot does include basic nutrition facts on the back of its recipe pamphlets, it doesn't list everything -- including the daily value percentage, which can provide a helpful reference point of what you're meant to consume each day. As a result, she recommends checking the full nutrition label online to see exactly what you're eating and whether it's in line with your daily values.

For instance, for the Marry-Me Cauliflower recipe she made, the back of the pamphlet reads "37g of fat." However, when you view the full nutrition label online, you'll see that it includes 97% of your daily value of saturated fat, which likely comes from the coconut milk.

In terms of ingredients, Purple Carrot offers a nice variety of greens, veggies, healthy grains, beans and vegan and plant-based proteins, which are among the healthiest foods everyone should have in their daily rotation.

Meal add-ons: Breakfast, lunch and snacks

In addition to the weekly meal kits, Purple Carrot has groceries you can add to your delivery à la carte. A six-pack of Mylk Labs Blueberry Maple Oatmeal, for instance, costs $21 or about $3.50 per serving. For a 5-oz block of Rebel Cheese's Smoked Cheddar Cheese, it's $12 ($2.40 per ounce), while Blackbird Foods's Texas BBQ Wings are $9 ($0.75 per ounce).

Anna was sent the $9 Seven Sundays maple sea salt sunflower cereal (a gluten-free, seven-ingredient cereal made of upcycled sunflower protein) and $9 Táche pistachio milk. She loved them both and now plans to buy them herself.

How easy are Purple Carrot meal kits to prepare?

One thing to note about Purple Carrot is that its meal kits are, on average, more difficult to prepare and take longer to cook than those from other services. There is, however, the option to choice meals that take 30 minutes or less to prepare. Purple Carrot meals don't require high levels of cooking skill, but they require a good deal of prep, and the recipes contain more directions and steps than competitors like Blue Apron and HelloFresh. 

Most Purple Carrot meal kits take about 30 to 40 minutes, while others take longer, sometimes up to 50 minutes. The cooking times are all listed on the menu each week, so you can always select the quicker meals if you don't think there will be time for a longer session that week.

Our flex editor -- and self-proclaimed novice cook -- Corin Cesaric noted that these recipes took her longer to make than the other meal kits she has tested. She also felt like the steps weren't as detailed as others. For example, for a pasta dish she made, two of the ingredients read, "1 lemon, zested and juiced (divided) and 0.5 oz basil, roughly chopped." Because of the wording, she thought this meant these steps were already done, but in fact, the produce still needed to be prepped, and this wasn't detailed anywhere in the instructions.

For someone new to cooking or meal kits, this could be confusing if you simply start at step one, which involves boiling pasta and making a breadcrumb topping. However, these are fairly easy hurdles to overcome, so it's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it's something to keep in mind when you start using this service.

Our wellness editor liked that some packaged ingredients had cut lines, making them easy to open, and that the amounts were listed on some ingredients for easy identification. However, not all ingredients had this. She also appreciated that some of the ingredients were pre-diced, which would be great for someone who struggles with chopping.

What we cooked and how it went

• Red lentil soup with parsnip ribbons and tamarind sauce: The whole dish worked but the sweet roasted parsnip ribbons were my favorite part of this meal. 

• Black pepper tofu with brown rice and chard: This was as good as restaurant takeout and took less than 30 minutes to make. It was my favorite of the bunch, although it wasn't the healthiest meal I made.

• Cauliflower steak with red lentil skordalia and garlic green beans: This meal took a while to prepare but was tasty in the end. Cauliflower steak is always a bit of a letdown but the red lentil skordalia more than made up for it.

• Green curry lentils with brown rice and vegetables: I had to psych myself up for this one since I like lentils but would be lying if I said they excite me. But it was so, so good. Amazing balance of sweetness and heat and a big portion. I joyfully finished the leftovers for lunch the next day. 

• Butternut squash gnocchi: This one was also tasty and filling, and it's a good fall or winter meal. It was easy to prepare and had excellent flavor throughout.
• Peanut and avocado Buddha bowl: This one was good but not very exciting. It was the only one I finished eating, considered the price and then thought to myself, "Was this worth the money?"

• Marry-me cauliflower: This took our wellness editor 35 minutes to make and while she enjoyed the taste, she did note that the dish is higher in saturated fat (19 grams) than some other options, because of the coconut milk. Sodium is 1,150mg (50% of your recommended daily value), but you get 13g of protein, 12g of fiber and calcium, iron and potassium. She enjoyed cooking with tarragon (an herb she doesn't normally use) and also liked the vegan Parmesan cheese. However, she did not have vegetable oil on hand to brown the cauliflower and used olive oil instead.

• Miso-leek pasta: Our wellness editor also enjoyed this dish and was pleasantly surprised to find Treeline Cheese, a popular vegan cheese brand, in her meal kit. Again, she got to cook with an ingredient she doesn't normally use, leeks, so she appreciated the variety. She noted that the calories may be slightly high for some, at 740 per serving.

• Crispy lemon chick'n: While our wellness editor enjoyed the brown rice and gai lan (also known as "Chinese broccoli"), she didn't like the lemon chick'n. This may be because she didn't have vegetable oil for frying, so she used olive oil instead. She also chose to reduce the amount of sugar in the lemon sauce, but she found the chick'n wasn't tasty enough for her to finish. She was also careful about the amount of salt added, since it contains 1,300mg (56% of your daily value). Calories may also be high for some at 730. In the end, she also had leftover lemon zest, despite using the recommended amount.

  Our flex editor also received this meal and liked it a bit more. She was especially happy with the tofu's texture and how it crisped up nicely thanks to the cornstarch coating. The microwaved brown rice also exceeded her expectations. Her one complaint is that she would have appreciated it if the recipe had specified a more precise amount of lemon juice for the sauce. She used the juice of a whole lemon as the recipe said, but it felt like way too much and made the flavor overly tangy. Luckily, the gai lan did balance it out, but she understands why this dish wouldn't be everyone's favorite.

• Puerto Rican rice and beans: The adobo-roasted tofu had our wellness editor wanting more from this dish. The tofu block was simply cut in half and rubbed with the spice mixture, which didn't achieve the right balance of spice to tofu. Instead, she wishes the tofu were cut into cubes or that the spice mixture were a marinade that could better penetrate the tofu. She also ended up with leftover turmeric, which she will use, but which defeats the purpose of a meal kit that isn't supposed to have ingredients go to waste.

Our flex editor tried the same meal and agrees that the tofu would have probably been better if it were cut into cubes. But for two servings, she had plenty of spice mixture for her tofu block after it was cut in half, so it still boasted a good flavor. She also really liked the bean and squash mixture and could have eaten that as a meal on its own.

• Penne pesto alla Trapanese: This was the easiest dish for our flex editor to make, and it was tasty. She liked the vegan cheese and gluten-free breadcrumbs, and they complemented each other well.

• Vibrant falafel bowl: This premade meal was our flex editor's surprise favorite. The falafel was delicious and the orzo and veggies were tender and perfectly flavored. It had an almost sweet flavor, and she said she would happily order it again.

Seven Sundays sunflower cereal and Táche unsweetened pistachio milk: This was added into our flex editor's box and she's grateful it was. The cereal will now be a welcomed addition to her weekly grocery run. It was her first time having pistachio milk and as an oat-milk enthusiast, she's still unsure about it, but that comes down to personal preference. Overall, she's impressed with the grocery options at Purple Carrot and thinks it's one of the main draws to trying the service.

Tofu hand rolls: This is one of Anna's favorite Purple Carrot x Robin Arzón recipes, as it was fresh, crunchy and only took 30 minutes to make. However, she felt the ingredient portions were off and was left with more carrot than cucumber, so she had to run out to buy more. She could have also used more of the tofu marinade and later added her own low-sodium soy sauce. While she enjoyed the sriracha mayo made with tofu, she thinks it could have been more flavorful, and she ended up with way too much leftover that she couldn't finish.

Chorizo burrito bowl: Anna loved this high-protein (28g per serving) and high-fiber (17g per serving) dish, created in collaboration with Arzón. The Impossible Meat and black beans seasoned with smoked paprika, oregano and cumin were particularly flavorful, while the shredded cabbage added a lovely crunch, and the tomatillo-avocado salsa provided a necessary tang. The only issue Anna had was that she ended up with leftover spices that she already had stocked in her kitchen.

Creamy mac and cheese: With a whopping 42g of protein and 28g of fiber per serving, Robin Arzón's mac and cheese reminded Anna of one of her favorite vegan pasta sauces made of carrots and miso. However, the carrot included was smaller than what she'd normally use. While she did enjoy the included jalapeño, Anna wishes there was something else added for more texture, like the peas in Arzón's original recipe, which are mentioned at the bottom of this Purple Carrot recipe but not included.

Chickpea pozole: Another Arzón creation packed with 19g of protein and 18g of fiber, Anna enjoyed this recipe filled with zucchini, chickpeas, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, radish, pepitas and avocado. The recipe was also supposed to include chopped green cabbage, but it went bad by the time Anna got to it -- an important reminder to prioritize making your meal kits, as the ingredients don't last forever.

Purple Carrot support materials 

There's nothing extraordinarily good or bad about the recipe cards. They're mostly clear and concise, with some helpful footnotes for beginners and helpful cooking tips I may not have considered otherwise. I also appreciated the quick little explainers for any unusual recipes. 

Our wellness editor also liked that the box her meal kits came in provided information about the produce country of origin. She also appreciated that she was able to see the brands for items such as the vegan cheese, beans and coconut milk.

Who should try Purple Carrot?

These meal kits are great for existing vegans or folks trying to incorporate more plant-based cooking into their diet. For me, it was a good way to learn to cook vegan staples and work with ingredients I'm not as familiar with cooking such as lentils, nori, parsnips and butternut squash. 

Our wellness editor would also recommend Purple Carrot for people concerned about allergens, since the brand includes allergen information on both the recipe pamphlets and ingredients.

Who should not try Purple Carrot?

Besides the obvious answer, meat eaters, Purple Carrot is also not great for those trying to keep to specific diet plans like keto, paleo, the Mediterranean diet or others. There aren't tons of weekly choices and, despite being healthy overall, many of them contain a substantial amount of carbs, calories or both. It is also on the expensive side, though not the priciest we've tried, so that also might take it out of the running for some.

If you're looking for a truly budget-friendly meal kit, see our list of the best cheap meal delivery services. 

How much do Purple Carrot meal kits cost?

Purple Carrot meals cost $4.50 to $15 per serving, depending on whether you order breakfast, lunch or dinner, and whether you choose meal kits or prepared meals.

Best Meal Delivery Deals Right Now See at CNET

Most meal kit services offer a trial discount for new customers and Purple Carrot is no exception. If you're new to the plant-based meal delivery service, it'll knock $25 off your first four weeks ($100 off your first month).

Purple Carrot packaging and environmental friendliness

Purple Carrot is not too much better or worse than other meal kit services when it comes to packaging. The meals were each separated in plastic bags. (Some companies use paper.) According to the company, its box and TemperPack Climacell liners are recyclable. For everything else, check with your recycling provider to see what they accept.

Our wellness editor does appreciate that the brand provides a full recycling breakdown, but like with the other meal kits she's tested, she does wish there was a way to send back the ice packs or donate them for reuse. Otherwise, you'll have to reuse them yourself or trash the contents and see if your recycling provider accepts the #4 plastic packaging.

Many of the Purple Carrot ingredients come in little plastic jars and bottles, which some communities recycle curbside, but our wellness editor thinks they're nice enough quality to keep on hand for storing smaller amounts.

Changing, skipping or canceling a Purple Carrot order

You can add, change or cancel meals easily through the app or the website. You can also skip a week's delivery or cancel at any time before the weekly cut-off.

Final verdict on Purple Carrot 

While some meal kits drive home the value proposition and others lean into the speedy convenient aspect of meal kits, Purple Carrot has kept a consistent ethos over the years. A plant-based diet can do wonders for your health and Purple Carrot is committed to authentic vegan recipes without compromising on quality. 

I found most of the meals I made to be healthy but still surprisingly craveable. The portions were also bigger than most services: A recipe meant for two often yielded more like three or four servings. Plus, the ingredients were super fresh and much of it was organic.

As someone who still enjoys meat and has no plans to dice it out of my diet completely, I'm not sure I'd want to cook Purple Carrot meals every night. But since you can skip weekly shipments whenever you want, I love the idea of having recipes and ingredients for interesting vegan meals showing up semi-regularly. 

While our wellness editor enjoyed Purple Carrot overall and appreciates that it's 100% vegan, she found certain components of the recipes lacking. Mainly, she wishes the proteins, like the tofu and chick'n, had better flavor and would have preferred having no leftover ingredients. However, she loved the add-ons included in her box and likes that Purple Carrot offers that option.

If you want a weekly stream of meal kits but don't want to commit to eating 100% vegan, try Sunbasket or Blue Apron, which have excellent recipes with and without meat. If it's mostly meatless food you're looking to cook, you won't find a service that teaches you more important vegan cooking skills than Purple Carrot.