I Don’t Subscribe to Any Meal Kits — But I Always Order This One When I’m on Vacation

I love cooking in a kitchen that’s not my own. It’s novel. It’s fun! It’s often challenging — rental kitchen knives aren’t known for their sharpness — and requires a new level of creativity and innovation. Kitchen scissors may be the best way to mince herbs and alliums, a cast iron pan can be both a piece of cookware and a meat mallet, and last-minute ingredient substitutions (jarred salsa instead of tomato sauce, why not?) aren’t uncommon. 

While making the most of local produce, seafood, and ingredients can be a great way to enjoy cooking on vacation, it can take a few days to get settled into a new space — especially if it’s temporary. For years, I’ve been an advocate of ordering a meal kit, specifically Blue Apron, before traveling to a vacation rental. Almost everything is included to make the recipes (BYO extra-virgin olive oil), so you’ll have every ingredient you need conveniently packaged, and don’t have to buy random quarts of cream, or bottles of vinegar, or boxes of pasta you’ll inevitably toss at the end of the week. 

I’ve tried many meal kits since they launched over a decade ago, and I keep coming back to Blue Apron. The recipe selection feels seasonally appropriate, and the recipes themselves are flavorful and reasonably healthful, often including protein, vegetables, and a starch for balance. The portions are also hearty, and a meal for two can yield leftovers (unlike some meal kits, where I feel hungry after devouring the contents). 

With Blue Apron, the ingredients arrive whole, which is my preference for peak freshness. You dice your own zucchini (rather than opening a package of pre-cut veggies), cook the grains, and sear or roast the meats. The recipes are easy to follow, with every step broken down and peak efficiency in mind. 

A recent shrimp and veggie couscous dish took less than half an hour to prepare and dirtied just one pan and one pot — and the leftovers were an excellent side dish. The recipe was also versatile enough that I could have grilled the shrimp or tossed in extra veggies to the couscous. As someone who is picky about my proteins (and most ingredients), I also feel comfortable ordering from Blue Apron knowing that the meat is hormone-free and antibiotic-free and seafood is certified sustainable. 

The assemble-and-bake meals are also great for those who want to do minimal prep and dishes, requiring just mixing ingredients in an oven-safe tin, baking them, and enjoying. The transportable tin can be easily taken outside for a picnic or beach meal, cooked outdoors on the grill, and conveniently used to store any leftovers. 

I’m not a subscriber to Blue Apron (my schedule is too chaotic and unpredictable), so I love the ability to buy one-off meal kits or a week of meal kits, on demand. 

• Consider when you want to stay in to make meals. Is a light lunch or quick dinner best? 
• You don’t need a subscription to order Blue Apron. The online market offers one-off purchases, and à la carte meal kits can also be ordered from the Wonder app. Just remember to order one week in advance.
• Family-style recipes serve up to four adults. Plus, they can be mixed and matched for a bigger meal.
• One-pan meals or ready-to-cook oven trays can make the most of the limited vacation home equipment.

Sign up: Blue Apron

Have you ordered meal kits while vacationing? Tell us about it in the comments below.