Review: Martha & Marley Spoon (Martha Stewart’s Favorite Meals)

Beverly FriedmannMarch 17, 2019Last Updated: April 7, 2019

0 92 4 minutes read

martha & marley spoon martha and quote feature image

Using Martha & Marley’s Spoon service, you can have freshly prepared meals selected and approved by none other than Martha Stewart herself, and we can all safely admit she’s the queen of all kitchen and cooking related endeavors.

Originally just called Marley Spoon, the newly termed Martha & Marley (when Stewart partnered with the company in 2016), offers weekend dinners for couples and families and recipe cards with every box with surprisingly easy to follow instructions and recipes.

So those who are not master chefs need not be intimidated by the name or branding, although this is likely still not the perfect option if you are looking for meals that are ready in 5 minutes.

All of the meals change on a week to week basis to prevent boredom and come with a lot of variety for those with all preferences and on all types of diets, and each meal has pre-packaged ingredients with everything you need to prepare every dish.

The only downside with Martha & Marley Spoon is that while absolutely delicious, in comparison to some of the other meal delivery subscription services we have reviewed thus far, the meal prep times can be a little longer than expected or noted, and clean up times can be a little longer and require more cook wear.

However, if you are searching for something extra special, with added convenience, that feels chef-approved and gourmet and you’re a self-proclaimed “foodie,” this is the perfect meal kit service for you.

We reviewed further to explore who Martha & Marley Spoon is an ideal fit for.

food and box options martha stewart — Image Credit: Martha & Marley Spoon

Martha & Marley Spoon: Food and Recipes

Recipes and meals change every week with Martha & Marley, and you self-select your own options for every box. One of the great parts of this service is you get to view recipes and plans not just for the current week, but for the entire upcoming month (something we have not seen with any service we have reviewed thus far), making it a lot easier to skip a week if you don’t like upcoming dishes, and prepare your monthly menu options in advance. Sort of like bulk grocery shopping, but without any hassle involved.

Dishes and recipes include Garlic Butter-Basted Steaks with Spiced Veggies & Pan Sauce, Lemon & Herb Chicken with Garlicky Yogurt & Green Beans, Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach, Peas & Crispy Panko, Cuban Mojo Pork Chops with Charred Pineapple & Onion Salad, Moroccan Spiced Shrimp with Herbed Bulgur Salad, Mushroom Ragu Pappardelle with Parmesan Garlic Bread and Fish Fry & Spicy Tartar Sauce with Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad.

Martha and marley spoon meal options — Image Credit: Martha & Marley Spoon

The menu options will always specify when options are dairy free, low carb, low calorie, gluten free, ready in under 30 minutes, kid friendly, healthy, and there are always plenty of vegetarian options every week if you are on a plant-based diet, that are full of healthy fresh produce and grains but still not lacking in any taste.

If you are a vegetarian, weekly options include dishes like Cheese-based Crispy Oven-Fried Ravioli with Quick Tomato Sauce & Broccolini, Vegetable Enchiladas with with Black Beans, Corn & Spinach, French Bread White Pizza with Zucchini & Basil Pesto, and Stir-Fried Curry Rice Noodles with Chinese Broccoli & Peanuts.

martha and marley spoon vegetarian options — Image Credit: Martha & Marley Spoon, Vegetarian Options

Martha & Marley Spoon: How It Works

Every week (and you can skip and plan at your leisure), Martha & Marley Spoon sends freshly prepared and pre-portioned ingredients right to your door, with an archive of over 18,000 recipes (many similar to current featured items) to draw inspiration from.

The company works directly with purveyors to deliver fresh seasonal produce, grass-fed beef, or artisanal vinegars and fresh spices to ensure quality and freshness with every box and shipment irrespective of season.

You can select you preferred delivery date, and chilled and insulated boxes will keep foods fresh for when you arrive home if you cannot pick up the package directly.

martha and marley spoon box — Image Credit: Martha & Marley Spoon

Included in every box are easy to follow directions and recipe cards with beautiful high-resolution photos, fresh ingredients that are pre-portioned to prevent food waste, and a chilled box with fresh food bags to sort ingredients for simple grab and go cooking.

Compared to buying the quality of ingredients provided and variety, in addition to convenience, we found Martha & Marley Spoon to actually be a less expensive option than traditional grocery shopping for fresh organic meals per dish.

Martha & Marley Spoon: Prices and Plans

With Martha & Marley Spoon, you can select from a few different 2 or 4 person plan options and then skip or cancel the service at any time for any reason if desired.

With both options, you can select to make your box vegetarian automatically upon request.

With the 2 person menu option, 2 meals per week are $12 per serving ($48 weekly), 3 meals are $10.25 per serving ($61.50 weekly), and 4 meals are $9.50 per serving ($76 weekly).

With the 4 person menu option, 2 meals are priced per week at $76 ($9.50 per dish), 3 meals are $8.90 per serving (106.80 weekly), and 4 meals are $8.20 per serving ($131.20 weekly).

martha and marley spoon meal kit pricing options — Image Credit: Martha & Marley Spoon

Delivery is free to each state within the U.S., and compared to some competitor meal service kits this is one of the most transparent companies to use, in terms of easy to understand interface pricing structures, and plans that are actually easy to skip or cancel without any headaches.

Beverly Friedmann

Editor at My Food Subscriptions | Website

Beverly joined MFS with a diverse breadth of experience in writing and digital marketing. Throughout the years of placing recipes on MFS, I’ve noticed an uptick in the number of “subscription boxes” for the cooking/food market. It was then that I decided to also include my own personal review of these subscriptions on MFS.