For many of us, it’s not summer until the grill is fired up and the protein is smoking. And these days, you’ll find that both the grilling experience and the food have evolved. Along with Wi-Fi-connected thermometers?and pellet grills that make harnessing the savory power of smoke easier than ever, the meat itself is better than ever — which makes the newest cabal of meat-based delivery kits a true joy.
“People have been branching out from burgers and hot dogs for a long time,” says Steve Raichlin, author of “The Barbecue Bible,” host of TV show “Planet Barbecue” and founder of Barbecue University Today, steak on the grill is likely to be dry-aged or a fancy variety like Japanese wagyu, and previously unknown cuts like Denver steak or rib cap are taking over for classics like rib eye. The tomahawk, a beef shank with a long protruding bone that resembles the handle of a hatchet (hence the name), has been having its day for three or four years now, Raichlen says. “You cook it like a brisket.”
If beef isn’t your thing, heirloom and heritage breeds of pork, lamb and pasture-raised chicken are also on the menu — or can be, if you know where to look. “While nothing will ever top forming a relationship with a local butcher, that isn’t an option for everyone, and sourcing more than the basic cuts you can find at your local market can be tough,” says Kita Roberts, founder of Girl Carnivore. Luckily, the proliferation of upscale meat delivery services that do the sourcing for you has made it easy for the home pit master to enjoy food that previously could only be found in Michelin-star restaurants.
Roberts counts variety, transparency and convenience among the benefits of a good meat delivery service. “The first time I ordered meat online, I was very skeptical,” she admits. But she enjoys being able to read the mission and standards that each company upholds itself to — many will list whether meat is halal or the individual farm it is sourced from — and the ability to customize cuts, making meal planning a breeze even when you have picky eaters in the family. Many services also offer a subscription option so you can automatically restock the cuts you love.
While some meat delivery services offer specials and discounts, in general, you won’t save money compared to buying from your local butcher, and you may even experience sticker shock at some of the premium cuts. But you are getting what you pay for in terms of quality and convenience, which makes these services a great splurge for a special occasion or a gift. “Planning for a summer backyard bash? Order a grilling variety box,” Roberts says. “Want to host a holiday meal? Order the roast, shipped right to your front door.”
Ready to elevate your next cookout or dinner party? Here are the meat delivery services experts say you should try.
Best meat delivery services
For day-to-day meat, Roberts, who recently tried 20 different meat delivery services, says this one is her go-to. “The quality is consistent, and I love the clean ingredients in their sausages,” she says. Select from a la carte beef, pork, chicken and sausages, or choose a curated box of favorites.
The OG meat delivery service continues to be a staple for a good reason: They not only offer top-quality steaks and other cuts, they also make it an entire meal, with sides and desserts so you can focus on grilling. Pros including Christie Vanover, an award-winning pitmaster and owner of Girls Can Grill, rave about the quality. “A friend of ours gifts us an Omaha Steak Box every year, and we love it,” she says. Enjoy their summer bestsellers bundle, or go wild with burgers made from four different cuts of cow (filet, New York strip, sirloin and brisket) in the perfect burger pack.
The selection from this premium purveyor is bar none, because they focus on best-in class products from farmers who care. Choose from 400-plus varieties of top-quality cuts meticulously sourced from midwestern farms, Spain, Australia and Japan (they are one of the largest retailers of Japanese wagyu in the United States). You can also find unique items like dry-aged and alcohol-infused steaks, and picanha, a rich, tender cut that’s a staple in Latin America. While you really can’t go wrong with anything you order, the South American Asado Special brings together all the elements of a Brazilian steakhouse experience — chorizo, flap steak, tri-tip, short ribs and chimichurri sauce — for a one-of-a kind meal. Bonus: This service offers 24-hour delivery across the US (and South Florida residents can get same-day delivery).?
“I’ve been a fan of Snake River Farms for years,” says Roberts, who placed fifth in a world competition with the company’s brisket. While you will pay a bit more for the beef, which is American wagyu, which is highly marbled and flavorful, the quality is evident from the first bite. “For top-tier beef for barbecue, it's hard to beat,” Vanover agrees. Depending on what piques your interest, you can opt for wagyu burger and hot dog bundles, or order a more elaborate BBQ bundle that includes tri-tip, pork shoulder and brisket.
Many meat delivery services proliferated during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, as producers were forced to get creative about ways to connect with buyers. Crown Cow excelled at this, says Raichlen, and was one of the first services to procure super-premium cuts of real wagyu from Japan. The service offers new subscribers free A5 (the top rating) wagyu beef for a year and has a rewards program where regular customers can earn points and free shipping.
Chicken lovers have options too. This company, started by a former Marine who follows a paleo diet, brings the very best pasture-raised birds to your grill. All cuts are non-GMO and raised without antibiotics, for the healthiest and most humane poultry around. The service offers a custom subscription box where you can choose anything from a whole bird to ground chicken, or just stock up on everyone’s party favorite, wings.?
If you’re a fan of wagyu beef and Berkshire pork, then don’t sleep on Gundagai lamb. This heritage breed is raised in Australia, and though it has very few retailers in the United States, this service is one of them, offering a full box devoted to the meat. Or try a gift box, which has a rack of lamb along with other popular cuts of the company’s ethically and sustainably raised beef and pork.?
Spain has a long history of some of the finest meats for grilling and curing, and this online purveyor delivers them to your doorstep. Choose from free-range Ibérico pork raised on humane family farms or lesser-known cuts like the “secreto,” widely known as the best-kept secret of Spanish butchers. The charcuterie meats and boards are ideal for a party, but there is also a curated BBQ Grillmaster Box that’s perfect for summer entertaining.
Although you can get lamb, veal and game meats here, Allen Brothers is best known for a good classic steak, and their Steak Lovers bundle featuring two each of strip steaks, porterhouse, ribeye and filet is sure to impress any beef aficionado.
This family-owned business is one of just a few Kobe-beef-certified internet butcher shops in the country, and has a host of other ultra-premium meats on offer as well, including Japanese A5 wagyu and Ibérico pork. Their flexible subscription box allows you to change delivery periods and pick from more than 70 cuts of meat and sushi-grade seafood so you can always try something new.?
Not only does this subscription service offer humanely raised beef, chicken and pork, it also offers a Value Grilling Sampler featuring ribs, wings and burgers. For the bargain price of $79 you’ll get nearly 8 pounds of high-quality protein.?Also, this summer, ButcherBox is rolling out a limited-time collaboration with Reynolds Wrap and Emmy Renner of Sophisticated Spreads dubbed BBQterie. Each kit, which retails for $119, includes Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Foil, ButcherBox meat, mouthwatering recipes and simple instructions to create BBQterie boards, an assortment of humanely raised wings, baby back ribs, steak tips, apple chicken sausage and beef hot dogs.
If you want locally sourced, antibiotic-free meat that’s responsibly raised in the United States, look no further than this customizable subscription box. You can nab beef that is 100% grass-fed, USDA Choice and Prime; chicken options, which can be organic and free-range; and pork and seafood you can feel good about. Customize one of three different-sized boxes — up to 14, 28 or 42 pounds — with your choice of steaks, burgers, ribs, chicken, shrimp and more. They also offer side and dessert options.
Through relationships with farms that practice sustainable agriculture, Chop Box is able to deliver humanely raised, high-quality steaks, chicken and pork, as well as lamb, veal, duck and even seafood. Choose from custom or curated boxes, like this all-inclusive BBQ bundle of steaks, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, sausage and ribs. What more could a summer block party need?
If you’re a meat snob, and you want some of the same fancy cuts high-end restaurants serve at home, this new-to-the-scene meat delivery service has you covered. Started by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Saperstein, the service provides custom-cut steaks and chops for restaurants and hotels. In addition to unique selections like umami white dry-aged beef, you can also find marinades and spice blends for making gourmet-tasting grilled meats at home.??
For steaks alone, Roberts is a fan of Chicago Steak Company, which specializes in hand-cut aged USDA Prime steaks. The company has summer grilling packages that mix their renowned steaks with lemon herb chicken breasts and pork chops, for variety. All the meat is flash-frozen and vacuum-sealed for peak freshness, so you receive the same quality you’d get from a high-end steakhouse.?
If you’re partial to game meats like bison, wild boar, elk and venison, this delivery service offers upscale versions of them, like venison tomahawk steaks and bison New York strip. The company focuses on regenerative agriculture, so while you eat well, you can also relax knowing that you’re doing your part for the land. Their Grill Master box features an array of wild game?steaks, so you’re sure to try something brand new.
