Hungryroot promises easy, nourishing recipes centered around wholesome plant-based ingredients. But between confusing subscription tiers and spotty customer service, is the meal delivery service truly healthy and sustainable enough to warrant the $59-$99 average weekly fee?
As an avid home cook and plant-based eater for over 5 years, I decided to put Hungryroot‘s meals to the test firsthand. I tried over 10 dinner recipes and snacks to see if they delivered fresh, convenient recipes tailored for herbivores like me.
Over the last month, I cooked Hungryroot meals for my family to get their opinions as well. Together we made dinners like Sweet Potato Bibimbap Bowls, Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms, and Lentil Enchilada Bake. Keep reading for the full scoop!
An Insider‘s Look At 10 Tried & Tested Hungryroot Recipes
Here‘s the dish on over 10 Hungryroot meals and add-ons I cooked up over a month-long trial. For each recipe, I‘ll share…
- Ingredients + tasting notes
- Ease of preparation
- Approximate nutrition per serving
- Cost breakdown
- Family-tested feedback
I aimed for a mix of Hungryroot recipes like plant-based mains, sides, desserts, and pantry items to showcase the full range of what they offer. Let‘s get cooking!
1. Sweet Potato Bibimbap Bowl
Ingredients: Brown rice, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, pickled radish, ginger miso sauce. Taste: Balanced sweet and salty flavors.
Prep Time: 25 mins Nutrition per bowl: 520 calories
Cost: $11.99 per 2 bowl kit
We loved the mix of textures in this Korean-inspired bowl. The crisp vegetables and chewy rice blended nicely with the smooth sweet potato puree and umami sauce. A very satisfying meatless meal!
2. General Tso‘s Cauliflower
Ingredients: Cauliflower florets, sesame rice crumbs, scallions, general tso‘s sauce. Taste: Sweet and spicy.
Prep Time: 30 mins Nutrition per serving: 370 calories
Cost: $14.99 per 2 serving kit
My family‘s favorite! Crispy cauliflower gets drenched in a sticky-sweet and tongue-tingling sauce. The rice crumbs add a perfect crunch. It‘s got just enough heat to keep you going back for more.
3. Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus
Ingredients: Cauliflower fettuccine, asparagus, unsweetened almond milk, nutritional yeast, garlic. Taste: Savory, smooth.
Prep Time: 15 mins Nutrition per serving: 450 calories
Cost: $9.49 for 2 servings
A rich, dairy-free alfredo sauce clings to the cauliflower "pasta" beautifully. We loved the bite the asparagus added, though smaller kids may want you to skip them. The sauce does harden quickly as leftovers.
4. Apricot Ginger Tofu Stir Fry
Ingredients: Baked tofu, peppers, broccoli, carrots, sesame apricot ginger sauce. Taste: Sweet and savory.
Prep Time: 20 mins Nutrition per serving: 440 calories
Cost: $10.99 per stir fry kit
The balanced ginger-apricot glaze gives this stir fry a major flavor pop! Served over the brown rice blend, it makes the vegetables shine. Just be sure to press the tofu first so it gets deliciously crispy in spots.
5. Lentil Walnut Loaf
Ingredients: Lentil walnut mix, carrots, celery, onions, veggie stock, herbs. Taste: Earthy, protein-packed.
Prep Time: 60 mins Nutrition per serving: 380 calories
Cost: $12.99 per 2 loaf kit
This savory loaf makes a nice plant-based main. Shape it into a log, bake, then slice and serve saucy vegetables alongside. I‘d mince the veggies smaller next time. Takes longer than most Hungryroot meals but makes great leftovers.
6. Chimichurri Cauliflower Steaks
Ingredients: Cauliflower head, chimichurri sauce. Taste: Fresh and herby.
Prep Time: 40 mins Nutrition per steak: 300 calories
Cost: $11.99 per 2 steak kit
These gorgeous charred cauliflower steaks impressed my family and dinner guests alike! Simply roast thick cauliflower cuts until browned then smother in the zingy chimichurri sauce. Elegant and crowd-pleasing.
7. Almond Chickpea Cookie Dough
Ingredients: Chickpea flour, almond flour, almond butter, coconut oil, vanilla. Taste: Sweet and nutty.
Prep Time: 10 mins Nutrition per serving: 130 calories
Cost: Free gift promo item
This tasty cookie dough makes for a protein-packed dessert you can eat guilt-free! Chill the batch then scoop out and enjoy raw whenever a sweet craving strikes. The nut flours give it a great texture.
8. Smoky Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients: Hungryroot soup starter, vegetable broth, coconut milk. Taste: Bold and creamy.
Prep Time: 10 mins Nutrition per cup: 110 calories
Cost: $5.49 per soup starter jar
I loved whipping up this vibrant soup in minutes from a starter jar. Just add broth and milk then blend until smooth. The red pepper base gives it a sweet, smoky kick no cream required!
9. Sesame Ginger Sauce
Ingredients: Tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic. Taste: Savory-sweet.
Prep Time: 0 mins Nutrition per 2 tbsp: 60 calories
Cost: $7.49 per 8 oz. bottle
This versatile sauce adds a tasty umami flavor punch to grain bowls, stir frys, and more. The ingredients list is short but it packs a flavor wallop! I plan to always keep a jar handy.
10. 7-Grain Blend
Ingredients: Quinoa, wheat berries, rice, barley, and more. Taste: Toasty and nutty.
Prep Time: As directed Nutrition per serving: 320 calories
Cost: $8.49 per 22 oz. bag
This fiber-filled blend of whole grains cooks up light and fluffy. I made a big batch to have on hand for quick meals all week. It reheats beautifully and plays well with any sauce or veggie mix-ins.
How Hungryroot‘s Pricing & Plans Compare
| Plan | Price | Delivery Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | $59+ | $7 | 2 servings, 6 meals |
| Medium | $99+ | FREE | 4 servings, 12 meals |
| Large | $136+ | FREE | 4 servings, 18 meals |
Hungryroot plans start at $59 per weekly delivery with free shipping on orders $70+. Extra snacks and grocery items increase costs further.
Compared vegetarian competitors, Hungryroot is pricey but comes with more customization and grocery options.
| Company | Avg. Weekly Price | Meals/Serving Included | Grocery Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungryroot | $80 | 6 meals, 2 servings | Yes |
| Green Chef | $80 | 3 meals, 2 servings | No |
| Purple Carrot | $72 | 3 meals, 2 servings | No |
| Veestro | $70 | 10+ prepared meals | No |
Hands-On Look: Unboxing & Reviewing Hungryroot Delivery
Since Hungryroot ships perishable ingredients, I was curious to see how they packaged everything. Here‘s what I found:
Packaging
The cardboard box and interior packaging are 100% curbside recyclable. Individual pouches and containers also have recycling symbols but must be clean and dry first.
The sealed pouches help preserve freshness but they‘re quite thin. A couple split open in transit with leaks contained in the box‘s insulation.
Unboxing Experience
Opening my first Hungryroot delivery felt like unpacking a present! Ingredients and recipes came packed together thematically in paper bands. For instance, all components for the Bibimbap Bowl arrived bundled.
I appreciated having the recipe cards and corresponding ingredients handy together. It made following the recipe easier compared to shuffling through multiple bags and cards.
That said, I‘d prefer compostable bands over paper to reduce waste even further.
Delivery Schedule
I experienced no delivery delays or missing items over my 5 weeks. Shipments arrived between 10 AM – 4 PM so I could unpack ingredients for that night‘s dinner.
You choose which day you want orders delivered weekly. But you must cancel upcoming orders by 9 AM PST each Thursday, otherwise you‘ll be charged.
Storage Considerations
Hungryroot doesn‘t preschedule shipments so the flexible delivery makes coordinating weekly menus easier. However, it means planning ahead for storage.
I ensured my fridge had room Wednesday nights to hold all incoming ingredients. I also froze surplus proteins and grains in portioned sizes for later.
With smart storage hacks, I wasted minimal food despite the weekly deliveries.
Hungryroot‘s Sustainability Promises Hold Up
As a plant-based eater for my health and the environment, Hungryroot‘s promises of sustainable ingredient sourcing mattered to me.
Here‘s what I uncovered about their supply chain transparency and organic claims when investigating further:
Ingredient Sourcing Practices
"Over 75% of our food is sourced locally, regionally, and nationally from growing partners," says Hungryroot‘s website.
Searching their online supplier directory, I verified ingredients are sourced predominantly from North and South America. But there‘s no clear definition of what "local" means or product origin details beyond continent.
Without more granular sourcing info per item, it‘s impossible to know if that local claim always holds true.
Organic & Non-GMO Verified
Hungryroot pledges their foods are non-GMO and free of 240+ artificial preservatives and ingredients. Organic produce makes up around 30% of ingredients too.
Checking brand partners like True Leaf Farms and Kite Hill, I confirmed their USDA organic certification. So for certain items like greens and nut milks, the organic promise proves true.
For other products though, specifics about growing practices remain vague. I‘d argue Hungryroot falls short of complete supply chain transparency overall. While not greenwashing, they leverage buzzwords that require more evidence.
Signing Up For Hungryroot: My Step-By-Step Process
Curious what it takes to set up a customized Hungryroot subscription? I documented my signup experience in detail below.
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Create your account online: Enter your email and password to register for an account. Add your shipping address and contact info to finish account creation.
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Take the preference quiz: Hungryroot uses an algorithm-based quiz to curate food suggestions aligned to your taste, diet, and meal preferences. It takes under 5 minutes to complete.
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Review auto-generated cart: Based on your quiz responses, Hungryroot auto-adds an array of suggested recipes, proteins, snacks, and more to your cart. You can swap, add or remove items until the mix appeals before checkout.
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Checkout & pay: Pick your ideal delivery day and frequency then enter payment details. Hungryroot accepts all major credit cards. Memberships can be cancelled directly online anytime.
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Track order status: Once your first order is placed, you simply wait for the ingredients to arrive on your scheduled day. Delivery ETAs and status updates are sent via email leading up to shipment.
And that‘s it! From quiz to cooking took me under 30 minutes total. Super simple.
Pro Tip: Use the 40% off promotion code plus free gift offered to new customers for max savings! Details below.
Exclusive Hungryroot Discount For Students & Members
| Promotion | Details | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 40% off first order + free gift | Applies to first order of $99+ | – Use code FORTY – New customers only |
| 10% off subscription | Applies to ongoing orders | – Verify student or military status |
| $20 off referrals | Unlimited use | – Share your personal link |
Students and military members can stack additional 10% subscription discounts via ID.me verification too.
I saved hugely on my first boxes, snagging the cookie dough as my free gift. Be sure to search RetailMeNot and Dealspotr for any other applicable Hungryroot promo codes too!
5 Tips For Cooking Up Customized Hungryroot Meals
Based on cooking through dozens of recipes with my family, here are my top tips for whipping up personalized Hungryroot meals at home:
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Tap into suggested uses – check ingredient details pages for seasoning and substitution ideas to put your spin on things.
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Mix and match components – say goodbye to recipe fatigue by swapping proteins and veggies across similar bowls and stir frys.
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Double down on favorites – order extra servings of crowd-pleasing recipes like the General Tso‘s Cauliflower for easy leftover lunches.
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Prep produce ahead – wash, chop, and store veggie side components like slaws and sauté mixes to cut down on nights with long cook times.
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Freeze batch cooking – fully prepare multiples of more hands-off recipes upfront like the lentil loaf then freeze individual portions to reheat later.
Implementing tricks like the above helps safeguard against food waste and menu boredom week over week. Feel free to borrow my blueprint!
The Final Verdict: Who Should Sign Up For Hungryroot
Over a month of testing 10+ plant-based Hungryroot meals for my family, here‘s my honest takeaway:
Best For
Hungryroot delivers fresh, high-quality ingredients tailored for plant-based and clean eaters. The recipes provide good inspiration for veggie-centric home cooks strapped for time. Customizing grocery items makes it easy to supplement meal kits with healthy pantry staples too.
If you don‘t strictly follow recipes and value versatility, Hungryroot lets you mix and match meal components in creative ways aligned to your dietary needs. The array of proteins, complex carbs, and sauces makes it easier to hit macro goals as well.
Their subscription model works best for households of 1-4 people able to accommodate a reliably scheduled delivery each week.
Not Ideal For
Families with picky eaters may struggle with some of Hungryroot‘s more adventurous ingredients and global flavor profiles. While you can swap most elements, finicky palates may dislike core recipe themes.
And without clearer sourcing information for non-organic items, Hungryroot also isn‘t the best pick for people prioritizing fully transparent supply chains.
If you value maximum choice and total meal customization down to specific ingredients, brands like Green Chef or Sunbasket may suit better. Their wider weekly rotating menus provide more variety.
The Last Word
At the end of the day, Hungryroot delivers better-for-you plant-slanted recipes convenient for busy people trying to eat healthy at home. Communicating more clearly on supply chain specifics could win over more eco-conscious eaters. But for veggie-focused families after fast weeknight dinners, Hungryroot recipes make nutritious eating achievable.
