The “Seriously Delicious” Meal Kit Subscription That Replaced My Sad Desk Lunches

Although I was a latchkey kid who practically grew up on microwave dinners, meal kit services never particularly appealed to me. I didn’t see how they were any different from microwave dinners, and after two of my neighbors forgot their deliveries in the package room for weeks at a time (you can imagine the stench) I was even more put off. It wasn’t until I heard about CookUnity that the concept seemed intriguing. In case you’re not familiar with CookUnity, one of our contributors wrote a detailed review of how the meal subscription works. But what piqued my interest was the brand’s recent partnership with Tasty, Buzzfeed’s food media platform.

This past summer, the two launched a collaboration that delivers some of Tasty’s most popular internet recipes to your front door. I opted to try the subscription and was seriously impressed — not only with the quality of the meals, but also with how easy they were to prepare, considering they weren’t my go-to ramen noodles or bodega sandwiches. I was basically eating chef-made lunches — in a way — without having to be a skilled chef.

What sets CookUnity apart from other meal kit delivery services is that it employs thousands of chefs across the country to create its meals. The chefs whose recipes you get to try come from your region, so you’re helping to support local culinary innovators with each delivery. Typically, CookUnity’s list of available dishes change on a weekly basis. But when it partnered with Tasty, the two platforms came up with eight meals, all selected based on what has been popular with Tasty’s audience. They include Tasty’s beloved garlic herb-stuffed pork, creamy chicken piccata, grilled bang bang shrimp cakes, Mexican-style pork tacos, and more. 

What’s also great about CookUnity is that it caters to a variety of dietary restrictions, so if you’re vegan or gluten-free, for example, you can specify that online and see what’s available for you. You can try Tasty’s meals individually for $14.99 per meal or try a CookUnity subscription for $73.74 per shipment for a six-meal plan. That being said, there are regular deals for first-time subscribers. If you want, you can also sign up for a four-, eight-, 12-, or 16-meal-per-week subscription. Each meal is a single-portion heat-and-eat serving that you can prepare in the microwave or oven or on the stove.

Considering how sad my work-from-home lunches usually are, CookUnity was a serious step up. I’m vegetarian, so I wasn’t able to try all of the original Tasty recipes; instead, I received meat-free versions of some of them. Instead of the pork tacos, for instance, I got tacos with a vegan protein that were sumptuous and flavorful. Instead of Tasty’s layered lasagna, I tried a white vegetable lasagna that blew my typical frozen lasagna out of the water. But by far my favorite meal was Tasty’s pesto pasta bake. As someone who frequently cooks pasta on the stove, I found the pesto pasta to be even creamier than freshly made pasta — and because it bakes in the oven, the top gets a little crispy, and the ingredients all melt together perfectly.

Every meal I tried I was able to prepare on the stove or in the oven in no more than 15 minutes. The dishes all varied, both from one another and in terms of their ingredients and flavor profiles. When I usually stop to eat between tasks and meetings, I prepare the same boring instant noodles or grab a cheese sandwich from the corner store. Afterward, I feel tired and sluggish. The relatively nutritious CookUnity meals were a welcome change, and making them didn’t take up a significant chunk of my time. The only gripe I have is that the portions are kind of small; I’d say the average person won’t be full after one meal. I found myself supplementing my tacos with a side of beans or snacking shortly after the other recipes, so that’s something to note (and I feel like it’s a common problem with many meal kit brands). Every other aspect of the service I’d score a 10 out of 10, though. That goes for delivery (my meals were left right in front of my door inside an insulated tote with ice packs), convenience, and taste.

In short, the Tasty x CookUnity meals aren’t quite as good as a freshly prepared meal that you’d cook from scratch in your kitchen, which likely comes as no surprise. But they are much better than your average freezer aisle meal or fast-food pickup. If you frequently find yourself short on time and lacking the nutritious meals you crave, give the service a try. There are so many cool recipes to discover!

Buy: Tasty x CookUnity Meal Delivery Kit, 6-Meal Plan, $36.87 (normally $73.74)