WhichMealKitHome Chef vs Tempo
Whether you cook decides it: Home Chef’s boxes are mostly kits for two or more, Tempo’s are single meals to heat, and one account can switch between them.
Three dinners for two, food only: from $47.94 at Home Chef; $80.88 at Tempo. The pages we read do not give Home Chef’s shipping, and its $50.95 minimum order includes it; Tempo adds $10.99 shipping, $91.87 in all.
Tempo is part of Home Chef; its help center says you can switch from one plan to the other under Subscription in your account settings. Both belong to Kroger.
Home Chef
3 recipes for 2 · 6 portions
Tempo
6 single meals · 6 portions
Choose by what you need
Choose Home Chef if
You want to cook most nights for two or more, with oven-ready trays when you are short of time.
Choose Tempo if
You want single meals to heat for one person, with nothing to cook and no pans to wash.
Side by side
| Detail | Home Chef | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Price for three dinners for two | From $47.94 $7.99 a serving, before shipping Home Chef’s stated $7.99 a serving × 6, before shipping and tax; $7.99 is its lowest advertised dinner price; its homepage gives $9.99 as the Standard average, its help page says Standard meals start at $9.99, and meal types vary in price; its $50.95 minimum order includes shipping, so you pay at least that · checked 8 Oct 2026 | $91.87 $15.31 a meal $80.88 food + $10.99 shipping, before tax · checked 17 Oct 2026 |
| Your box | 3 recipes for 2: 6 portions | 6 single meals: 6 portions |
| Format | Meal kits and prepared meals | Prepared meals |
| Cooking | Chop and cook | Heat and eat |
| Smallest box | 2 recipes for 2 (4 portions) | 4 single meals (4 portions) |
| Order once | No, weekly plan | No, a plan: weekly, every two weeks or monthly |
| Breaks | Pause, which cancels, with an optional restart date | Pause, which cancels, with an optional restart date |
| Cutoff | 12:00 PM Central on Friday for the upcoming menu | 12 PM Central on the Wednesday before the delivery week |
| After the cutoff | The upcoming order is fixed after the menu closes. | Once the Wednesday cutoff has passed, the order is final and is charged; Tempo does not cancel or refund it. |
| Menu labels | Vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, keto, low-carb, high-protein, low-calorie, Mediterranean | Pescatarian, low-carb, high-protein, low-calorie |
| Order minimum | $50.95 | No dollar minimum published |
| Delivers to | 98% of the US, by its own count | 98% of the United States; not PO boxes or campgrounds |
| Next step | Home Chef details See Home Chef’s menu | Tempo details See Tempo’s menu |
Neither fits? Also look at Blue Apron, Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Factor or CookUnity. See every box that fits your household.