8 tasty meal delivery services in Charlotte to try if you’re tired of cooking

Even if you’re working from home for the foreseeable future, making creative meals can feel overwhelming, especially during a stressful time. When you’re ready to eat something tasty with minimal effort on your part, here are 8 chef-driven dinners to try, in no particular order.

(1) Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

In-person cooking classes have officially resumed at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, but if you’d rather let someone else do the work, opt for their family table meals. Choose from a hot meal to serve that night or a cold dish to refrigerate and enjoy up to seven days later. Each family meal pack comes with four entrees, two sides, rolls, and a salad — or you can order a la carte.

Price: It varies depending on which menu items you choose, but expect to spend around $45 for a family meal pack that feeds four. Dessert is a little extra, but trust me, you need their salted caramel brownies in your life.

How to order: Click here to place your order. Order by 11 a.m. for same-day service. The delivery fee is $25.

[Related Agenda guide: See inside the new Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen in Lower South End]

(2) Table & Twine

If you’ve been to a wedding in Charlotte, you’ve probably enjoyed food from Best Impressions before you hit the dance floor. Earlier this year, the company launched a takeout meal concept Table & Twine with chefs AJ Donner, Caleb Stockner, Joe Pantano, and pastry chef Cassi Cardwell at the helm.

You’ll find a rotating menu of fresh entrees, sides, kids’ meals, desserts, craft cocktail mixes, and more. Meals come almost entirely prepared, requiring less than 15 minutes of work on your end. Items are offered a la carte right now, but look for subscription boxes and memberships coming soon. Table & Twine offers contactless delivery to the Charlotte metro area, or choose free curbside pickup.

Price: Entrees start at $15 per serving. They’re offering first-time Agenda customers 25 percent off with the code AGENDA25!

How to order: Click here to place your order. Don’t forget to order by 1 p.m. two days before your desired pickup or delivery date.

(3) Your Farms, Your Table

The meal delivery service is the latest venture from chef Sam Diminich, who was previously the executive chef at the now-closed Upstream. He’s also a Beat Bobby Flay winner. Diminich posts a few hints about that day’s selections on his Instagram, but you won’t know the full menu until it shows up at your door, which makes the experience unique. If you’re curious about what you can expect, check out a few sample menus here.

Price: Meals start at $30, and delivery is available anywhere within I-485. Addresses within five miles outside of 485 require a two-meal minimum to receive delivery.

How to order: Click here to place your order.

[Related Agenda story: Eric and Colleen chat for 3 hours during the Agenda’s first virtual date. They have dinner delivered by Chef Diminich!]

(4) Chop and Chisel

Chop and Chisel’s ordering system makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for based on family size. You can order by pound, by item, or by meal pack. They also offer a subscription service. If you’ve got decision fatigue, you’ll love the chef pack. It comes with five, 10, or 14 entrees. Choose from standard or vegetarian meals, and they’ll pick the specific meals you receive, like the Tuscan salmon or caulimac. Chef Joe Simmons just revamped the menu, so give it a look.

In normal, non-Covid times, Chop and Chisel has three brick and mortar locations. Right now only the Carillon Tower and Edison Square locations are open. You’ll find a full-service cafe at the Carillon Tower location, plus grab and go options.

Price: Chef packs featuring five entrees start at $52.50.

How to order: Online orders placed by Thursday will arrive on Sunday afternoon. Click here to order.

(5) Nourish

Chef Julia Simon’s plant-based, gluten-free meals are health-focused. Menus open for orders on Fridays and close the following Thursday afternoon. Menu offerings change weekly, though you’ll always find the Nourish Standard menu options available. There are a bunch of plans to choose from, like the just lunches plan or the family plan. Menu items include choices like butternut mac and cheese, sesame noodles, and lasagna with lentil-walnut sausage.

Price: Plans start at $53.55 for five lunches.

How to order: Place your order by noon on Thursday before your desired delivery date. Deliveries are on Mondays and Tuesdays. Click here to verify that they deliver to your address. Order here.

(6) Fit You Fresh Meals

Maria and J.P. Veloz are the husband and wife team behind Fit You. They’re focused on making it easy for Charlotteans to enjoy healthy, organic meals. Choose your preferred plan (they offer packs with anywhere from seven to 20 meals) including any sides or extra proteins, then select your desired delivery day. Menu items include choices like bourbon chicken, beef lasagna, and lemon dijon salmon.

Click here to take a peek at the rest of the menu, and read up on their new Covid protocol. Starting at the end of October, they’ll be delivering individual meals vacuum-sealed to increase the quality of packing and ensure food arrives as tasty as possible. Fun fact: They also own Bunch Of Fruits, a fruit bouquet company like Edible Arrangements.

Price: Meal packs start at $79.95 for seven meals.

How to order: Orders must be placed by Saturday at 8 a.m. for delivery the following Sunday or Monday. Click here to place yours.

(7) Switchin’ Kitchens

Rachel Basile and her team do most of the work, so all you have to do to get dinner ready is thaw and cook the dish. You can typically have dinners on the table in 30 minutes. Their Ardrey Kell location also offers a freezer for you to pick up last-minute items, like appetizers or desserts. Check out the menu here. You’ll find entrees like apricot chicken, pecan-crusted tilapia, and sweet chili salmon pockets.

Price: Meals are a la carte, but you can expect to spend between $22.99 and $39.99 for a full entree (serves 4-6 people), or between $12.99 and $19.99 for a half (serves 2-3 people).

(8) The Blossoming Kitchen

Owner and Executive Chef Katrina Bearer created The Blossoming Kitchen to merge convenience and clean eating. Menus change weekly and feature fresh ingredients from local farmers. Choose your favorites, wait for your delivery (on Sundays or Mondays), then just heat it up and serve. Check out the menu here. It’s updated on Tuesdays.

Price: Meals are $12 and desserts are $8.

How to order: Click here to start your order. Delivery in the Charlotte area is free over $60.

Feature photo by Critsey Rowe Photography.

Want to do the cooking yourself? Try baking Kindred’s famous milk bread or get inspired with reader-submitted recipes.