The 10 best meat delivery services of 2023

Pros: Primal cuts available, different grades of American wagyu and Kurobuta Pork

Cons: Not the widest variety

Snake River Farms offers several premium grades of meat, including American wagyu and Kurobota pork. American wagyu is created by crossing purebred wagyu with Angus cattle breeds to make richly marbled and flavorful meat, while Kurobota pork is a heritage pork from Japan. We chose Snake River Farms as our top place to order the best ham online.

The barbecue options come from Southside Market and Barbecue, the oldest barbecue in Texas. All barbecue packs arrive fully cooked and frozen, so you'll have a legendary cookout ready and waiting.

Snake River Farms has partnered with Sea to Table, one of the best seafood delivery services. Now, you can get the best surf-and-turf packages we've encountered, including flash-frozen, fully traceable seafood down to the vessel, fishing method, and landing date.

There is a $49 order minimum, so ordering from Snake River Farms is best for stocking up on multiple cuts. Everything from this meat delivery service arrives frozen amongst plant-based styrofoam with ample dry ice and tucked inside a reflective-tape-lined tote bag for extra puncture protection.

Read our full Snake River Farms review.

Pros: An exceptionally wide variety of beef, free delivery over $200

Cons: No fresh options

Discerning seafood and meat eaters will find something at Rastelli's, the best meat delivery service for staples. The meat is certified free from antibiotics, steroids, and hormones, and the seafood is wild-caught or sustainably raised. Plus, many options are pre-prepped, like beef Wellington or Parmesan-breaded pork chops, so you can do even less work at dinner while ensuring quality.

Another great feature from Rastelli's is the "Ask the Butcher" section, where you can fill out a questionnaire to curate a box just for your needs, whether ordering for yourself, a small household, or a full-on barbecue.

Everything we've received from Rastelli's has been frozen solid with the brand's ice packs and nowhere near thawing upon arrival. We've tested the brand's packaging by storing it in the freezer for years without any trouble or spoilage. This is an ideal brand for freezer staples at reasonable prices.

Read our full Rastelli's meat delivery review.

Pros: Huge product range, free delivery over $169, frequent sales

Cons: The meats' origins are not clear

Though its name says "Steaks," and its strength is certainly beef, you can shop for your entire dinner here, down to seasonings and specialty desserts. For true indulgence, you can shop huge King Cuts and Custom Cuts. Your order of individually packaged cuts will arrive frozen in an insulated box. 

Whereas the other services are better for personal use, Omaha Steaks is the best for gifting, offering special gift baskets and various combo boxes to give to friends and family. 

The site runs frequent sales on cuts, meals, and sides; some combos ship for free. You can often save more than 50% and stock up on top-quality meat. If you shop the site often, join the free rewards program to earn points on purchases and referrals.

Read our full Omaha Steaks review.

Pros: Excellent packaging, wide variety of beef and pork, holiday offerings

Cons: Shipping can be expensive if spending below $125

Porter Road offers cuts from the familiar to the underrated, allowing you to mix and match the ultimate shopping basket of meat. The site caters to those craving an in-person shopping experience with the convenience of the best meat delivery service.

Like the other brands on this list, we've left Porter Road's products in the freezer for years without a single broken seal or frostbitten piece of meat. Everything comes perfectly frozen and, thanks to ample ice packs, safe to be left on your doorstep before you get home.  

On each product page, you can learn what part of the animal the cut comes from and the best way to cook it. You can filter by cooking time and gear to find the most appropriate cuts if you have specific preferences.

For an automatic meat delivery, try Porter Road's subscription service. Five curated boxes will ship for free on a 2, 4, or 8-week schedule. You can switch boxes anytime, from the Beef Box with included taco seasoning to the rotating selection of Butcher's Choice. 

Check out our full review Porter Road review.

Pros: Great for large groups, flexible subscription delivery

Cons: Can't purchase à la carte, cheapest option is over $100 

ButcherBox is the best meat delivery service for feeding families and large groups. Whether planning dinner for the month or hosting a barbecue, you'll have delicious, quality meat.

There are four different subscription plans: beef and chicken, beef and pork, a mixed box of all three types, and a custom box. All pre-curated boxes contain 8.5 to 11 pounds of meat, while the custom box contains 9 to 14 pounds. If you're planning a big event, upgrade to the large box for a month and get between 16 and 24 pounds of meat.

The best part is that you can change your box assortment, size, and delivery frequency at any time before your next invoice date. Plus, you don't have to go anywhere else for inspiration: ButcherBox offers a collection of recipes to help you make the most of your premium meats.

Read our full ButcherBox review.

Pros: Wide variety of beef, value packs, clearly listed suppliers

Cons: Not always fully stocked

For head-to-tail cooking of traceable meat from small farms, Farmfoods selects partners based on strict standards detailed on each product page. While shopping, you'll get information on what the animal was fed, whether or not it received hormones or antibiotics, whether it was free-ranging, and a note about the farm from which it came.

Farmfoods' offerings are largely beef and pork (everything from steaks, roasts, and ribs to bones, organs, knuckles, and other less common cuts), but you'll also find lamb, poultry, and, on occasion, elk, venison, and fish. If you're interested in ordering in bulk, offerings of up to 100 pounds (and one-sixth of a cow and one-quarter of a pig) will help you save considerably if you have the freezer space.

Farmfoods doesn't dazzle with fancy packaging, but everything is thoroughly sealed and guaranteed frozen upon delivery with a replacement or a refund.

Pros: Outstandingly flavorful pasture-raised Iberico pork shipped from Spain

Cons: Not the widest variety

Based in the United States but rooted in Spain, Campo Grande is a Spanish-owned importer of free-range, heirloom-breed Iberico pork from small Spanish farms. The brand primarily works in pork and boxed assortments of muscle cuts, but you can also opt for the bona fide decadence of an entire ham.

We like the Pork Sampler Box, which includes a rib roast and a few different steaks. While there aren't many other options, it speaks to the brand's dedication to its near-sole purpose: bringing Spanish Iberico pork to the US.

You'll also find beef and the occasional seafood package, but those aren't always in stock, and the pork is where the brand shines. Other brands put high-end pork on this list, but none carry Iberico pork or full legs of jamon.

Pros: DNA-verified, economical cuts are still very flavorful

Cons: Not the widest variety

Vermont Wagyu is one of the very few farms breeding 100% parent-verified, full-blooded wagyu cattle in the United States, and the farm is doing so on grass pastures without antibiotics or hormones.

Finding quality American wagyu can be a tricky proposition. A lot of "wagyu" sold in the United States is so heavily crossbred with the traditionally favored breeds (black angus, charolais) that the marbling is all but missing when you open a box. This isn't to say that heavily crossbred wagyu isn't enjoyable, but you might not be getting quite what you're paying for.

Still, American-raised wagyu tends to be more affordable than Japanese wagyu, even more so if you want to try leaner cuts. A bavette or baseball from the sirloin or even a Denver chuck from the forequarter is going to be almost unrecognizably marbled and tender compared with that of a black angus — and, with each of those cuts in the $30 and under range, relatively affordable, too.

Vermont Wagyu packages everything vacuum-sealed in thick plastic and frozen and ships with three-day air or ground. 

Pros: High-end wagyu that you won't find anywhere else, always fresh and ready to cook

Cons: Not the widest variety, no option for frozen delivery

Pursuit Farms specializes in importing and shipping Japanese wagyu at a flat rate (two-day air). Wagyu is a breed of cattle known for its high fat content and elaborate marbling. The Japanese Hokkaido snow beef and shichiri from Hida prefecture are some of the best examples of wagyu in the world — Pursuit Farms will ship it all right to your door. 

You can also order American and Australian wagyu, grass-fed beef, and lamb from the purveyor, available in small packages and bulk. Specialty items will cost a pretty penny — up to A5 grade with some of the most thorough marbling you'll find anywhere — though maybe not as much as you'd expect if you're familiar with Japanese wagyu.

If you're looking to get a taste of wagyu or don't necessarily care for bacon-esque fat content, look to the cheaper, leaner cuts like picanha or flank steak, which can be surprisingly more flavorful than the same cuts from a standard USDA prime. Everything arrives fresh, not frozen, and ready to eat. 

Pros: Several grades and stages of dry-aged beef available, antibiotic- and hormone-free, delivered fresh

Cons: No option for frozen delivery

From one of the premier dry-aging facilities in the world, Pat LaFrieda Meats serves some of New York City's most fabled restaurants, like Minetta Tavern and the Union Square Cafe, with some of the best-tasting beef available to humanity.

We've tried dry-aged beef from several popular services, but nothing offered the rich nuttiness of the dry-aged ribeyes and tomahawks you'll get from LaFrieda — also the brand behind Shake Shack.

You might find more "traceable" or "sustainable" options around, depending on whom you ask, but this USDA-certified meat is handled, aged, and freshly shipped with meticulous attention. Just remember that while this meat is vacuum-sealed, it exclusively ships fresh, and you'll want to place it in your refrigerator as soon as you receive it.

Offerings: There's a wide variety across the online meat delivery spectrum, and where you shop depends on your specific needs. Some stores prioritize organic and free-range meat, while others focus on variety, and others specialize in subscriptions, bulk (primals), or seasonal offerings. You're not likely to find Japanese-raised wagyu from the same retailer selling American bison or elk, so it's best to shop around.

Price: The cost of an online meat order is based on the cut, breed, and quantity of meat. We've recommended more basic, staple-focused offerings and decadent luxuries for all budgets. A good rule of thumb is that specialty breeds and cuts or more responsibly raised options will cost more than a basic supermarket steak.  

Packaging: Before ordering, check if the product is fresh and ready to eat or frozen to be thawed at your leisure. This affects not only how you prepare the meat but also how it is packaged. Some brands focus more on providing plant-based styrofoam, recipe booklets and/or handling instructions, and dry ice versus freezer packs. 

Shipping: Some of the best meat delivery services offer next-day delivery, others two- to three-day delivery, but it largely depends on your location and whether you're ordering fresh or frozen products. For all perishables, try to schedule your deliveries for when you know someone will be home. 

Is it cheaper to use a meat delivery service? 

Shopping in bulk for "value packs" or "primal cuts" will often save you a lot when ordering through DTC online meat purveyors. For smaller orders, the best meat delivery services tend to be more expensive than going to your local grocery store but are often cheaper than your local butcher.

Should I order fresh or frozen meat? 

Order fresh meat if you're planning to eat it right away or within a few days of delivery. Order frozen meat if you want to stock up and plan a day ahead to thaw meat ahead of cooking it.

What are the benefits of using a meat delivery service? 

Ordering online from one of the best meat delivery service opens up a world of options with no extra effort on your part. You will likely not find Hokkaido snow beef from Japan at your local butcher's shop or grocery store, for instance. It's also a great way to order in bulk, which can save you a lot of money.