Updated on Nov. 21, 2024
The best meat subscription box helps you save time and money by bringing the cows right to your home—literally. Here are our favorite, editor-tested brands.
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A meat subscription box is a smart solution for people who want to keep high-quality cuts of steak, chicken and pork in their freezer at all times, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of grocery shopping. These subscription services ensure you’ll never run out of meat, and they’re often more affordable than purchasing meat products in bulk at the store. Plus, they’ll have you eager to test your newest grilling tools this season. All you have to do is grab your well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and get to cooking.
One of the biggest perks of signing up for a meat subscription box is consistency, says Anthony Lucchino, grilling expert and founder of Grill Smoke Repeat. “We’ve all spent a few shopping trips to the grocery store sorting through the beef section for a quality cut of steak. The in-store selection quality seems to vary on the day and time you get to the store. Sometimes there’s an abundance of perfect steaks then the next day it seems like the shelves have been picked over,” he shares. “All the online subscription services I use have consistent quality over dozens of orders. For someone who values a quality cut of steak every time, this reason alone makes it worth considering.”
We’ve researched and tested the best meat subscription boxes ourselves to find picks for all meat eaters, from the busy parents who can’t make it to the butcher to the carnivore looking for the highest quality cuts. I personally tested some of the options, so I can provide real-life feedback on each one.
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
I knew Omaha Steaks was my top choice for meat subscription boxes when I overcooked a New York strip and it was still buttery, tender and as delicious as a medium-rare steak. That should tell you everything you need to know about this fifth-generation family-owned business that sources all of its meat from Midwest farms.
My shipment included a variety of meats, including some burgers, bacon-wrapped pork, tenderloin steaks and some side dishes. A quick note on the side dishes: You owe it to yourself to try their caramel apple tartlet, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course. The scalloped potatoes—thinly sliced spuds with cream and cheese—are microwaveable and are a tasty and decadent accompaniment to any dish.
There are only two things I didn’t like, one of them being the Styrofoam packaging my delivery came in. This is more of a personal thing, but I’d prefer a more environmentally friendly box than that. The second is that some of my meat had some weird cuts on them, almost as if the butcher started to butterfly cut the meat but stopped about a quarter of the way through.
Omaha Steaks has been in business for more than a century and in the same family for five generations, so they know a thing or two about high-quality steaks. The Nebraska-based meat masters offer countless giftable boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, business events or just to have something nice and juicy to throw on the grill. You could spend hours perusing their selection, which included sirloins for barbecues and skirt steaks for people who prefer meats that take well to marinades. If you want the best-of-the-best, go for their Private Reserve cuts. These handpicked cuts, including dry-aged and Wagyu steaks, are top-of-the-line when it comes to marbling and tenderness.
This brand is a little more expensive than similar services, but the value is unmatched, in my opinion. I recommend checking around major holidays when there are multiple offers and sales to help you save money.
Pros
Cons
On the expensive side
MARY HENN/FAMILY HANDYMAN
Are you just looking for high-quality meat delivered to your door with ease? ButcherBox‘s curated box eliminates analysis paralysis by having you select your favorite cuts of meat, and it does the rest of the work for you. The custom box allows you to personalize each shipment, and I found their selection process was more organized than other websites that make you scan countless pages of options.
Shopping Editor Mary Henn tested the custom box from ButcherBox. “The meat arrived when the outdoor temperature was hovering around 100 degrees, yet remained totally frozen (thanks to dry-ice packaging) and ready to store in my deep freezer,” she says. “The quality and taste of the meats are next-level, too. I love that the custom box subscription not only includes beef, poultry and pork options but also lets you choose from a variety of seafood options.”
ButcherBox is a fan-favorite meat subscription box due to its commitment to delivering grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and wild-caught seafood right to your door. The company works with farms that uphold the strictest animal welfare policies and are regularly inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other agencies. In other words, you can be assured that all animals were raised the way nature intended and are free of antibiotics and steroids.
The curated and custom boxes come in two sizes, classic (up to 14 pounds of meat) or big (up to 26 pounds of meat), and can be delivered at four-, six- or eight-week intervals. ButcherBox regularly has member deals, so look for limited-edition products like burger patties or tomahawk steaks. The brand also regularly runs deals for new members, such as free sirloins in every box for a year (!!!). You choose how often you want your delivery, and you can cancel or skip shipments any time you need.
Want to try ButcherBox without a subscription or send a box as a gift? You can order gift boxes like the Steak Lovers’ Box on the website as a one-time order.
Pros
Cons
Custom box option is pricey, but meat cuts are top-notch (and difficult to find in most grocery stores)
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
For the same price as a dry-aged steak at a fancy restaurant, you can get two dry-aged steaks, two pork chops, 1 pound of bacon, 1 pound of sausage, 1 pound of chorizo and 2 pounds of dry-aged ground beef from Porter Road. And let me tell you: This stuff tastes like it was made by an expert chef in a steakhouse. I could tell this meat was going to be restaurant quality just by looking at the marbling, and my first bite into the buttery and tender meat confirmed my suspicions.
I’ve used the New York strips to create the best steak and eggs breakfast I’ve ever had, the chorizo for taco night and the dry-aged ground beef was the main attraction in a bougie chopped cheese—if you don’t know what that is, it’s the love child of a cheeseburger and a Philly cheese steak.
Dry aging is done in a temperature-controlled room, resulting in chemical changes to the meat and creating a much more tender and “melt in your mouth” texture than conventional steaks. The price is the same whether you’re a one-time purchaser or a subscriber, which is rare to find in a meat subscription box. I appreciate this because it gives people an equal opportunity to try the products without being stuck in a billing cycle or having to go through the hassle of canceling a subscription if they don’t like it.
Don’t want an entire box of meat? Porter Road lets you order individual cuts that are perfect for the smoker or the grill, from dry-aged porterhouse steaks to their beef vs. bacon—a 50/50 mixture of dry-aged ground beef and pasture-raised bacon.
Pros
Cons
No exotic or game meat
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Crowd Cow, like many other meat delivery services, works with farms that adhere to the highest quality assurance standards for fresh and sustainable meat, but that’s not where its commitment to being eco-friendly ends. The brand also use 100% recyclable packaging and biodegradable foam that can be composted or used as a clean-burning kindling during your next campfire.
Speaking of fire, Crowd Cow’s endless options are a great fit for any grill or cooking on a fire pit. I received its Best of Beef package, which includes two 12-ounce New York strips, two 8-ounce sirloins, two 8-ounce tenderloin steaks, two 1-pound packages of ground beef and two 1-pound packages of Wagyu ground beef.
I’m saving the Wagyu ground beef for a special occasion, but everything else has been spectacular. The New York strips fall apart the second your fork touches the meat, and the non-Wagyu ground beef had a decadent flavor you could taste in any application (I used it for bolognese sauce).
Another thing I love about Crowd Cow is it tells you the farm that each cut of meat comes from, which is vital for those looking to trace their meat right to the source. Plus, there are dozens of individual cuts and bundles to choose from, including wild game and seafood.
Pros
Cons
$99 order minimum
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Wagyu is a type of cattle known for its high fat content and exquisite marbling, and if you’re wondering if it’s worth all the hype, the answer is yes, especially if you get it from Meat N’ Bone. My girlfriend and I tried the Wagyu Denver steak, and we agreed it was one of the best steaks we’ve had, and her dog (who, of course, got some scraps) was begging for more before he even swallowed his first bite.
Meat N’ Bone has a wide selection of Wagyu meat, including Wagyu beef tongue, and it offers differing levels of Wagyu meat. Wagyu is graded based on its marbling, or the lining of fat in between the meat, and the service has Wagyu ranging from BMS 8-9 to A5. In English, BMS 8-9 is very high-quality meat with a great amount of marbling, but A5 is the crème de la crème. This allows customers to try Wagyu without going for the most expensive option, which is not something you see in many butcher shops or meat delivery services.
If you know a carnivore or someone who’s obsessed with meat, this is a perfect gift for them. I’d recommend thoroughly reading the brand’s cooking guides to get the best way to cook these meats so you get your money’s worth.
Not a fan of beef? Meat N’ Bone has pork, chicken, duck, seafood and even sells grilling tools and hardware. The ability to order just one or two cuts is another huge plus in our book, especially if you’re just looking to treat yourself to a Wagyu ribeye.
Pros
Cons
Very expensive
ANTHONY O'REILLY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Good Ranchers is a cool fit for families or anyone else who needs to prepare large quantities of food at a time. One of its 2.25-pound bags of chicken breasts (which you get two of if you order the classic bundle) was enough to feed myself and my girlfriend for three days once we marinaded it in spices and turned it into pulled chicken in our pressure cooker.
This is one of the few meat delivery services that doesn’t offer individual cuts. Instead, you’ll pick which bundle you want delivered to your door. Each one comes with enough meat to feed your family or aspiring powerlifter until your next shipment arrives. Your grilling enthusiast will also love using their outdoor cooking gifts on all them, too.
The meat itself is all tender and delicious. Each cut is individually sealed and packed in a resealable bag, so you can defrost what you need and leave whatever you don’t in the freezer for later. Also, the included pumpkin spice bacon was much better than anticipated. Yes, it sounds basic, but if you ever got a package included in your box, please don’t knock it until you try it (it makes for a very good bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich).
Good Ranchers gets bonus points for customer service. My first shipment arrived without any dry ice and the meat smelled funky, and the company was quick to send a replacement that arrived in perfect condition.
Pros
Cons
No choices for individual cuts
VIA MERCHANT
To be honest, I haven’t tried GoldBelly for meat yet, but I’ve used the service multiple times to deliver other food products from restaurants around the country and I’ve never had any problems. After reading through dozens of customer reviews, I’m confident enough to recommend it to people who want a little bit of everything.
You can order burnt ends from Heim Barbecue in Fort Worth, Texas, a rack of ribs from Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis and a pit-smoked ham from the Sheds and Blues Joint in Mississippi—all in one order. The meat is fully cooked and frozen before shipping, and customers say it’s just as good as having it at the restaurant. “Went to cut them and I couldn’t because the meat was literally sloughing off,” Sydney C. of Idaho says of Pappy’s St. Louis ribs. “Incredible.”
You can also find places that offer raw meats, such as Broken Arrow Ranch in Texas, which ships free-range game meat right to your door for your next outdoor barbecue. Not a meat eater? Try ordering seafood from the famous Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle.
It’s a great service for those who miss their hometown restaurants, and it’s an easy way to support small and local businesses.
Pros
Cons
Shipping can get expensive
VIA MERCHANT
I didn’t forget about our pescetarian friends—and neither did Sizzlefish. Although the company does have some land-based options, you’ll want to check out its seemingly endless seafood options. Chilean sea bass, lobster, soft shell crabs, scallops and other seafood can be packed into a custom box or ordered individually. There’s a wide variety of smoked fish, including a pastrami-style smoked salmon and a smoked fish smorgasbord.
The founders have more than 30 years of experience sourcing high-quality seafood for American restaurants, so you can trust the products that come to your door will be nothing short of spectacular. The company promises that everything is sustainably caught and free of any chemicals or dyes that are sometimes found in commercial seafood.
The meat options are somewhat limited compared to other meat subscription boxes, though there are plenty of ways for you to customize your next surf and turf meal.
Pros
Cons
Website may be hard to navigate
ALLISON ROBICELLI FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Filet mignons, Alaskan sockeye salmon and pork ribeyes are just some of the high-quality cuts Good Chop offers. Many meat boxes provide you with a lot of meat in your order, which is good for families or carnivores, but not good if you’re living by yourself or maybe one other person. Good Chop provides a much more reasonable amount of food for those types of people.
Our tester, Allison T.S. Robicelli, a food and recipe writer, has tried over eight mail-order meat services, and says, “Good Chop’s filet mignon was some of the finest I’ve ever tasted.” She also tried its Alaskan sockeye salmon, ribeye steaks, boneless, skinless chicken breasts and party-cut chicken wings. “After reading all the Good Chop reviews and testing it myself, I can honestly say the quality is well worth the price, and I love the customizable options.”
Every box is customized by the customer and new products are added each month to keep things fresh, just like its meat and seafood. This does mean you have to remember to pick new meats each month, though you get to do so from the comfort of your own home. You can choose from a medium box for up to six cuts or a large for a dozen cuts, and each product is sealed tight enough to last in the freezer for up to a year (but I doubt they’ll last that long). If, for whatever reason, you don’t want a shipment of meat arriving at your door, you have until five days before your delivery date to cancel your order.
From St. Louis pork ribs to Alaskan halibut, Good Chop has found America’s best farmers and brought them all to one convenient location: the internet.
Pros
Cons
No provided cooking suggestions
Kevin Turner, a professional pitmaster and longtime cook, says the most important thing to look for in any meat subscription box is that the meat’s source and origin are stated on the company’s website. “Different regions and heritage breeds offer unique flavors,” Turner says. “Transparent information about the source is essential, allowing for informed choices.”
Norah Clark, a chef-turned-food-editor for Boyd Harpers Magazine, adds that companies should state their animal welfare policies and certifications, such as USDA Prime for beef products, and have clear subscription terms. “Navigating the sea of meat subscription options is easier when armed with these criteria,” Clark says. “Remember, a company willing to share detailed information about its products is likely confident in the quality it delivers.”
You’ll probably also prefer that a company offers various meat types and cuts, so keep an eye out for that, too. And don’t forget to look into the companies’ freezing and shipping practices. “Proper freezing ensures meat arrives in top condition, preserving flavor and texture,” Clark says.
I’ll admit it: I’m no Iron Chef, but I am someone who’s been cooking and baking in his home for more than 20 years. I’ve cooked and eaten my fair share of ribeyes, New York strips and chicken breasts over the years, but I still needed help for this piece. That’s why I reached out to professional chefs, pit masters and food industry experts to find out what matters most to them when looking for a meat delivery service. I could’ve judged my picks based on taste, though I know there’s a lot more that goes into that. Their input helped me focus on the companies that provide top-notch service you can depend on year-round.
I consulted Anthony Lucchino, founder of Grill Smoke Repeat, Kevin Turner, a professional pitmaster and longtime cook, and Norah Clark, a chef-turned-food-editor for Boyd Harpers Magazine.
I researched more than a dozen meat delivery companies and narrowed them down to nine by using the criteria recommended by professional chefs: sourcing, fresh delivery and clear subscription terms. I then ordered meat from as many of them as possible and got to testing—or should I say, tasting. To make it fair, I followed the companies’ recommended cooking instructions for each cut. I then brought in my significant other, friends and canine to help us taste test each box before coming up with our final list of the best meat subscription boxes.
Meat subscriptions are worth it for busy people who don’t have time to grocery shop or carnivores who want to try different cuts of meat.
