Best Meat Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Goldbelly Best Restaurant-Quality Meat: DeBragga Best Farm-to-Table: Snake River Farms Best for Pork: Porter Road Best for Exotic Meats: iGourmet Best for Charcuterie: Carnivore Club Best for Gift-Giving: Hickory Farms
Why You Should Try It: Goldbelly stands apart because it brings renowned dishes from chefs and restaurants directly to the customer. The pricing can be a bit high, but Goldbelly orders are perfect for when you want a standout entree for a special occasion. ProsUnique foods from world-class restaurantsRegional favorites packaged for partiesGreat recipe walkthroughs on its TV service ConsPricing is high Most kits are for four to six people; larger groups may require an additional order Goldbelly is unique in that it allows you to order popular dishes from some of the best restaurants in the country. Once your order arrives, simply reheat it or do some basic cooking for a restaurant-quality treat! GoldBelly is also celebrated for its curated regional food packages. It serves as a one-stop shop for everything from a selection of brisket and burnt ends from Joe’s KC BBQ to andouille and boudin sausages from Louisiana’s own Couchon Butcher. GoldBelly shipments are shipped fresh or frozen depending on the order and users report excellent customer service. Why You Should Try It: If you crave special steakhouse-style cuts, but don’t want to venture out to a restaurant, DeBragga offers the perfect solution. With this meat delivery service, prime grade butcher cuts that are normally kept just for the best restaurants can be made right in your own kitchen. ProsMeat delivered fresh and at its primeTruly unique options like wagyu and dry-aged beefWeekly specials and sales ConsNo free shippingSome cuts may require extra knowledge to prepare The DeBragga butcher company has been around for nearly 100 years as a signature meat provider for the New York City area. It now offers shipping services so you can order its restaurant-grade cuts delivered to your home. DeBragga specializes in beef, with an impressive selection that includes Wagyu, grass-fed, prime beef, and dry-aged. DeBragga also offers a large variety of cuts, from porterhouses and t-bones to filets, rib chops, and even burgers and hot dogs. You can also choose from a smaller selection of pork cuts, lamb, veal, and even some charcuterie options. Why You Should Try It: Snake River Farms specializes in beef and pork that has been raised on small farms, mostly in the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington areas. They butcher American wagyu beef that has been exclusively grass-fed and humanely raised. Snake River Farms controls its entire supply chain from pasturing to processing to ensure quality at every step. ProsAmerican wagyu beef selection is exceptionalFocus on animal well-being and humane, smaller production cattle and porkOffers hard-to-find Kurobuta pork ConsProteins limited to beef and porkNo free shipping Snake River Farms started during the 1980s with the goal of bringing wagyu beef to American tables. Having developed its practices over the past 40 years, Snake River Farms is able to control the entire supply chain for its beef and pork supply, ensuring strict standards from how the animals are raised to the butchering process. The two items in the Snake River Farms site that really stand out are its American wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork, both of which are hard to find from other vendors and almost impossible to purchase from local butchers and grocery stores. Receiving these farm-to-table, unique cuts shipped straight to your door is a treat, and Snake River Farms has perfected that process. Why You Should Try It: Porter Road offers high-quality meats and market items but is most notable for its impressive array of pork products. The company also has curated boxes built from customer favorites that make excellent gifts. ProsCustomizable boxesWide variety of beef, pork, chicken, sausage, and market itemsGreat gift options ConsNo seafood offeringsHigher price point for some items Porter Road is the brainchild of two Nashville chefs who started sourcing high-quality meats in 2010. While it used to be just a local butchery, the founders brought the concept online in 2017 and now ship to 48 states. While Porter Road prides itself on excellent sourcing, using local farms to ensure high-quality meats, what really sets it apart are offerings like beautiful bone-in chops and uncured pork belly. If you find it too hard to choose, they also offer a variety of curated boxes with an excellent sampling of customer favorites. Why You Should Try It: iGourmet brings the unusual and exotic to your table, minus the hunting expedition. If you are looking for something beyond your standard steak and pork chop offerings, iGourmet probably has it. ProsLuxury items and unique offeringsExcellent range of products, from cheeses to meats to sweetsOption for small orders to try items ConsNo Monday or Tuesday deliveryNo free delivery Beginning as an importer of exotic foods during the 1990s, iGourmet brought its services online and now ships wild game and exotic meats straight to the consumer. iGourmet offers a wide range of unusual meats that are hard to find elsewhere, like bison, elk, venison, rabbit, and wild boar. iGourmet’s catalog goes well beyond game meats; you can add cheeses or sweets to your order that you probably can’t find at your local shops. iGourmet has an easy-to-use site, and its products would make unique gifts or just spice up an at-home meal with a taste of the unusual. Why You Should Try It: If you are a fan of jerky and charcuterie, the offerings can get a bit limited at the grocery store. Carnivore Club delivers a variety of cured meats minus the search through the cheese and meat aisle at your local store. ProsReasonable price point for charcuterie productsRotating a variety of offeringsStrong customer base ConsLimited offerings outside of cured productsNo background on sourcing or animal welfare standards A meat delivery service just for cured meats? Yes, please. Carnivore Club offers a few options, ranging from about $20 to $50 per shipment, or you can set up a subscription for the boxes, which can save some money on a monthly delivery. You can also order some items à la carte, but the boxes are by far the most popular items that Carnivore Club offers. Carnivore Club has a strong online following, and for good reason: The selection is impressive, and prices are lower than other meat subscription services. Beyond the boxes, Carnivore Club encourages gifting its products. With accessories like cutting boards and knives, Carnivore Club provides everything you need to assemble an impressive charcuterie board. Why You Should Try It: Hickory Farms has been crafting custom, delicious gift boxes for many years now, offering an easy solution to gift-giving. After all, who doesn’t love getting snacks in the mail? ProsWide assortment of gift boxes spanning all sizes and budgetsBaskets can include wine, candy, or even fruitOptions for business or corporate gifts ConsNo free shippingNo info on animal welfare standards Since 1951, Hickory Farms has been selling cheeses and cured meats. Over the years, it has acquired butchers and even cupcake bakers to build a full spectrum of delicious, deliverable food items. Hickory Farms is an easy win for gifts if you know the recipient likes meats, cheeses, desserts, and even wine. There is a wide number of gift options to choose from; there are general appreciation boxes as well as subject-specific options (like “game day”).
How Do Meat Delivery Services Work?
At their most basic level, meat delivery services let you select from a variety of meat offerings, usually beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, that will be packaged and sent to your door. Depending on the company, your meats will either be shipped frozen or fresh, and price varies depending on cut and quality.
Where Can You Buy Meat in Bulk Online?
Many meat delivery services offer wholesale deals or bundles where you can get a large amount of meat for less than individual cuts. These bulk orders will most likely arrive frozen, so be sure you have freezer space.
How Much Do Meat Delivery Services Cost?
Depending on the site and the order, cost can vary from $20 up to hundreds of dollars. Some luxury cuts of beef can cost upwards of $50 per pound to be shipped to your door, but those are cuts that you wouldn’t otherwise find at your local grocer and you would pay many times that at a restaurant.
Is It Cheaper to Buy Meat Through a Meat Delivery Service Versus the Grocery Store?
In general, it is probably slightly cheaper to purchase meat at the grocery store, but meat delivery services often offer better cuts and a higher quality product. In addition, some of the more exotic cuts will not be available from your local butcher or grocery store.
Methodology
We researched 33 meat delivery companies and considered the products offered, pricing, and customer reviews. Packaging, shipping costs, and sustainability were also taken into account before we pared down the options to the companies on our list.
