Sunbasket Review 2022: An Easy, Healthy Meal Delivery Service

Pretty much every meal delivery service claims to be an easy experience; not all of them follow through, especially when you find yourself pulling out a second cutting board or looking up a word on Google. (What’s the difference between julienne and chiffonade, anyway?) But Sunbasket actually delivers—I spent no more than 25 minutes on each meal, and the most intense task was cubing a cucumber.

Better yet, each meal left me feeling completely satisfied but not overfull. It’s a balancing act that I have difficulty achieving when I’m cooking for myself or ordering at a restaurant. Here’s a breakdown of my experience, recipe by recipe.

Rainbow Quinoa–Black Bean Tacos

My first Sunbasket meal was also the easiest. The entire thing took less than 10 minutes, and most of that was simply microwaving the quinoa-bean filling, which came precooked. Partially because the recipe was vegan, the tacos didn’t have the quintessential taco flavor you’d expect from ground beef. But the result—complete with juicy tomatoes, bright, acidic slaw, and surprisingly great premade guacamole—was a welcome change. And although it was a two-person serving, there was plenty to feed three people. Not a bad way to start.

Roasted Salmon and Fennel

In the past, fennel has always let me down. But the veggie was so good here (alongside perfectly baked salmon and crispy zucchini) that I’m a newly minted fennel stan. While cooking this meal, I started to appreciate all the thoughtful details I had missed during the first recipe: easy-open plastic bags, clearly labeled ingredients, and parchment paper included in the bag. I only had to supply salt, pepper, and oil, and I got through all of the prep work in less than 10 minutes. I finished everything on my plate almost as soon as I sat down to eat, and I discovered a new way to cook salmon in the process. Good on you, Sunbasket!

Smoky Tempeh Nachos

Vegan cheese is a tricky subject. When it’s done well (which, honestly, is not often) it’s a miracle; when it’s done poorly (which is most of the time), it’s a goopy mess that makes you question your diet in the first place. But praise be: Sunbasket’s dairy-free take on nachos is actually delicious, and it took just a little chopping to make. Well-seasoned tempeh, fresh cucumber-grape salsa, pickled jalapeños, and amazingly great “cheesy” cashew sauce make a great meal when piled on top of chips. It’s also a summer-friendly recipe, considering I didn’t even need to turn my oven on. I’m now a Sunbasket believer.

Is Sunbasket worth it?

If you’re hoping to cook at home more, looking out for your health, or following a specialized diet, Sunbasket can help. I had zero issues, and every meal materialized with minimal effort in less than half an hour; it was so good I’m even reconsidering my animosity toward recipes.

The service isn’t exactly cheap, and you should consider how (or if) it’ll fit into your food budget before you start planning your weeks around it. But for people like me, who regularly spend more per serving on takeout and find themselves in cooking ruts, Sunbasket is like an investment in myself—a promise that I’ll eat a healthier, home-cooked recipe instead of a greasy delivery meal or the same old plate of pasta week after week. In the end, this delicious, healthy food lives up to the price tag, and it’s more than worth a try.