Combining a busy travel writerโs and a trained chefโs time-saving and delicious cuisine demands, my meals have to fulfill both these criteria. Getting both of them in meal kits is a struggle that I had to deal with until today. HelloFresh, the best-selling meal kit service in America, has recently added new fast meal options to its offerings, among which some will be ready in only 15 minutes that you can make.
To write this review, I chose HelloFreshโs three quick meal plans, Ready Made Meals, Prep & Bake Meals, and 15-Minute Meals. The slogan of the company is the ability to prepare simple and mostly homemade meals that are fresh, healthy, and time-saving. Letโs find out!
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HelloFreshโs Speedy Meal Categories
1. Ready Made Meals: Just Heat and Eat
If youโre in a hurry and do not have enough time, ready-made meals are the most convenient meal option. They donโt need any prepโonly heating up and eating will take a couple of minutes.
Whatโs Included?
The process of preparation of this dish is very quick and systematic. Here are some of the best ones:
- Beef Bolognese with Rotini
- Udon Stir-Fry with Pulled Pork and Vegetables
- Indian-Inspired Chicken with Turmeric Rice
- Spiced Sweet Potato Curry with Roasted Peppers (Vegetarian)
- Alfredo Truffle Cavatappi (Vegetarian)
All of the meals are designed to be eaten within a week of delivery and were chosen by me for their fresh attributes rather than for a long period of storage being their priority.
My Experience
Stir-Fry Udon with Pulled Pork and Vegetables was the meal I attempted, and it did turn out to be very fresh and flavorful, which was a nice surprise. Heating it up was as easy as it could possibly be; I just nuked it for 2.5 minutes, and it was a perfect mouthful for just me. I have to tell you, the perfection of the dish was worthy of a restaurant mealโthe pork was so tender and the veggies so full-flavored.
What I Liked:
- Fresh ingredients
- No preservatives
- Ready in minutes
- Good portion size for single households
What I Didnโt Like:
- The price factor seems high for the meals that already have pre-packaging.
2. Prep & Bake Meals: Assemble and Go
Prep & Bake Meals are a bit labor-intensive, but most of the work gets done in the oven. You have to spend nearly five minutes assembling the ingredients, and then you must cook the items, and the rest will happen in the oven.
Whatโs Included?
Other than precooked dishes, the beloved pasta, and grains are very much on the list of such meals, along with the sheet-pan meals.
To illustrate, here are the examples:
- Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Garlic Bread
- White Bean Chicken Chili
- Sheet-Pan Balsamic Chicken with Veggies
Each meal comes with pre-cut vegetables, sauces, and a baking tray, which, in turn, makes mise en place a breeze.
My Experience
The Spinach Ricotta Ravioli accompanied by Garlic Bread was my choice. The accompanying pan made it easy to whisk together the sauce, and as the ravioli cooked, the baby spinach sat atop. While the garlic bread was a delightful addition, I was underwhelmed by the dish overall, especially in comparison to the pasta recipes offered by HelloFresh.
What I Liked:
- Minimal prep time
- Easy cleanup
- Pan included
What I Didnโt Like:
- Some meals lacked essence.
3. 15-Minute Meals: Quick Yet Homemade
If you crave rich, fresh, and homemade dishes but are not patient and lazy, then it is time that you discover 15-Minute Meals, which will be your go-to. These dishes are really fast to make; in just 15 minutes, you can have more options as compared to the other fast foods.
Whatโs Included?
The recipes under this header also include the following, aside from pasta, wok, tacos, wraps, soup, and grain bowls: Some of them are:
- Mexican Beef and Skillet Cheese Skillet/One-Pan
- Shrimp and Wonton Salad with Honey-Sesame
- Boiled Bok Choy and Sweet Ponzu Pork Wraps
- Creamy Chicken Sausage and Tortelloni Soup
My Experience
One of the dishes that I had was the Creamy Chicken Sausage and Tortelloni Soup, and it was the best amongst all the three meal types. It tasted like I was eating a traditional HelloFresh meal; it was just that it was a simplified recipe for ease of cooking. I cooked in exactly 15 minutes; even with a little help, I got all the cooking done as fast as I could imagine.
What I Liked:
- Excellent quality of items
- Absolutely homemade
- Fast and easy
Truly wonderful value
What I Didnโt Like:
None of them!
Final Verdict: Which HelloFresh Meal Option is Best?
Ready-made meals could be the easiest choice due to convenience, which is perfect for someone who does not want to wait and is looking for a heat-and-eat option. On the other hand, they may seem high-priced for ready-made meals.
For fans of the lazy day, the new Prep & Bake Meals are more of a one-time job, with only a few minutes of work done by the customer. Nevertheless, although they cut the cooking time and allow easy food preparation, some of them may sound a bit flat.
The undisputed winner among the contestants of the best 15-Minute Mealsโwith the best ratio of quality, freshness, and quickness is 15-Minute Meals. All these meals taste as if made from a scratch kitchen, and they fulfill their promise of fast, delicious food in just 15 minutes, so they are a natural choice.
