CookUnity Prepared Meals Review

Published on August 12, 2020

Last modified on January 21, 2022

For our CookUnity reviews, we were given a sample.  This post contains affiliate links and if you make a purchase we may be compensated.  All opinions are our own.

By Alison Chew     |     Reviewed by Rebecca Housh, MS, RDN

CookUnity

CookUnity delivers freshly made individual meals created from scratch by top chefs, some with Michelin Stars, and holistic nutritionists directly to your door.  Chefs use only high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted local farmers to create naturally healthy ready-to-eat meals.

All meals are non-GMO, organic when possible, include humanely-raised meat, and nothing artificial.  Plus, you can receive weekly advice from a dedicated holistic nutritionist to help design your eating journey, create new habits, and find the right meals for you!  Save 40% now >>

 

What We Like

• Fresh meals crafted by top chefs and nutritionists (plus, sides, drinks, treats, and breakfast items!)
• 200+ choices each week
• Variety of dietary options

 

What We Don’t Like

• Limited delivery area to the North East, parts of the mid-West, and parts of the West
• Some sauces can be too oily
• Portion size varies
• Addons can be hit or miss in terms of value

 

How much does CookUnity cost?

The price of CookUnity plans start at $10.49 per meal.  You can choose to receive 4, 6, 8, 12, 0r 16 meals per week.  Some meals have an additional fee for more premium ingredients like shrimp and the size of meals varies (we saw 400g to over 600g). 

In addition, CookUnity offers sides, treats, drinks, and breakfast items starting at $4.99. 

Delivery is FREE and CookUnity ships to the following states: United States: Southern CA, CT, DE, DC, IL, KY, NC, NH, NJ, NY, Las Vegas (NV), MA, MD, ME, MI, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, WV!  Save 40% now >>

• 16 meals/week: $10.49/ meal or $167.84/ week + FREE shipping
• 12 meals/week: $10.99/ meal or $131.88/ week + FREE shipping
• 8 meals/week: $11.49/ meal or $91.92/ week + FREE shipping
• 6 meals/week: $11.99/ meal or $71.94/ week + FREE shipping
• 4 meals/week: $13.49/ meal or $53.96/ week + FREE shipping
• Save 40% now >>

 

In addition to meals, CookUnity has recently added sides they call “Mix & Match”, Drinks, Treats including dessert items and fruit, and Breakfast items.  Save 40% now >>

• Mix & Match sides: start at $4.99
• Drinks: start at $3.99
• Treats: start at $4.99
• Breakfast: start at $4.99
• Save 40% now >>

 

CookUnity Meal Reviews

We’ve tried CookUnity several times for our CookUnity Prepared Meals Review.  See below for our latest Unboxing Video, with more on our YouTube Channel.  Plus, keep reading for an ongoing list of our Favorites and Misses. Save 40% now >>

Keep in mind when ordering that meals are shipped fresh, not frozen, and are designed to be eaten within 5-7 days.  Meals are super easy to make, just remove them from the fridge and follow the instructions on the packaging.

Meals can be heated in the microwave or conventional oven, with times varying depending upon the dish.  Our meals could be heated in under 5 min in the microwave. Save 40% now >>

CookUnity Prepared Meals: Favorites

• Red Chile Braised Short Rib Chilaquiles were a huge hit and tasted just like a plate of short rib nachos.
• Rosemary Chicken Thigh and Linguine were very filling, I couldn’t finish it all, and tasted amazing.  The chicken thigh was grilled with the bone in and tasted very moist and fresh.  The linguine was in a buttery garlic sauce that filled the house with an amazing smell when in the microwave.  I would definitely order this again, but would only add half the sauce to the pasta as it was a bit oily for me.
• The Grilled Hanger Steak with Asparagus was moist and tender, which is amazing considering we microwaved it and I was sure that it would end up tough, and the Mojo sauce was delicious.  The sides were nice and rounded out the dish.
• BBQ Chicken with Mac and Cheese was not the healthiest meal we’ve tried, but it certainly was one of the tastiest.  The chicken was a full leg and thigh with a wonderful bbq sauce and a hearty helping of mac and cheese.
• Roasted Broccoli side tasted great and could easily serve 3 as a side dish.  I think it was worth the $4.99.
• Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowl was very tasty, especially the salsa,  and good portion size.
• Tangy Parmesan Tilapia was my second favorite dish of the four we ordered.  The broccoli and cauliflower were great and the parmesan sauce complimented the fish nicely.  This time I used half the sauce and it was not too oily.
• Save 40% now >>

 

CookUnity Prepared Meals: (Slight) Misses

• Shrimp Curry with Spicy Tomato Sauce tasted really good and had a nice kick of spice, but the shrimp were rubbery.  I recommend heating any meal with shrimp for the lowest time in the microwave.
• Grilled Pork Chop with Bacon Gremolata: Of the four dishes in our order, the pork was my least favorite.  It was too thick and I didn’t care for the cabbage on the side.  I did like the grilled taste and the gremolata sauce, though.
• Side of Brussels Sprouts with Dill Sauce was just ok and we didn’t love the dill sauce.  The dish also needed salt.
• Side of Broccoli is hit or miss in terms of size.  One week we received a full package and the next week we received half as much.
• Stir-Fried Beef tasted great, but there wasn’t enough beef.  We would love less rice and more beef and egg.
• Las delicias Triple Chocolate Brownie add-on was heavenly, but for the portion size, it was a little overpriced at $4.99.
• Save 40% now >>

We love that the packaging has been thoughtfully selected to keep meals fresh.  The tray and cardboard wrapper can be curbside recycled.

Tips:

-Order what you can comfortably eat in 5-7 days from delivery to cut back on food waste

-When heating in the microwave start with the minimum time so that you don’t overcook your meal (this is especially true with shrimp meals)

-Be careful with the sauce; you may need to remove it before heating and we recommend using half and then adding more as needed

– Save 40% now >>

CookUnity Reviews: Menu

On average, the weekly CookUnity menu features over 200 choices with meals that fit most dietary needs including:

• Under 500 calories: 40+ meals
• Low Carb/Under 35 grams of carbs: 40–50 meals
• Dairy-free: 30–40 meals
• Plant-based: 30-40 meals
• Keto: 30-40 meals
• Paleo: 50-60 meals
• Gluten-Free
• Whole30
• Save 40% now >>

 

New menus are posted every Friday for the upcoming two weeks.  You can easily use the filters to find dishes that meet your preferences.

Check out a sample menu below!

CookUnity Reviews: Bottom Line

CookUnity delivers freshly made individual meals created from scratch by top chefs, some with Michelin Stars, and holistic nutritionists directly to your door.  Chefs use only high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted local farmers to create naturally healthy ready-to-eat meals.

All meals are non-GMO, organic when possible, include humanely-raised meat, and nothing artificial.  Plus, you can receive weekly advice from a dedicated holistic nutritionist to help find the right meals for you!

There are so many things to love about CookUnity!  From their wide selection of weekly meals (over 200!) to their thoughtful environmentally-friendly packaging, they deliver what they promise.  Fresh, healthy-ish meals that taste great.

The only drawback is that, at least for now, CookUnity does not deliver to the entire United States, but is expanding rapidly so check back often.  And while some addons are tasty and worth the cost like the roasted broccoli, we found that the desserts are not a great value for the portion size.

These meals are perfect for days when you don’t want to cook, they make for a quick and easy lunch or dinner for adults or older kids alike, and their diverse menu meets the needs of seniors and those with dietary restrictions. Save 40% now >>

Enjoy!

Looking for more prepared meal services?  Check out our Prepared Meals directory >>

This post has been reviewed and approved by our dietitian Rebecca Housh, MS, RDN, LDN for nutritional accuracy.

Rebecca Housh is a registered dietitian based in Chicago, IL. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology from Boston University and a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois in Chicago. Rebecca is passionate about the idea of food as medicine in both preventative and therapeutic care. Her current professional interests lie in food security, food access, and nutrition for chronic disease.