+ perfect timing for me! Meet the new Blue Apron with more flexibility and an a la carte model that is so convenient! This post is sponsored by Blue Apron. Use the code KATHEATS to get 50% off your first two orders
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’ve used Blue Apron on and off since 2020. Over the years, it’s been one of those services I come back to during especially busy seasons or when a need to delegate meal planning to someone else’s brain! We were regular subscribers for years, and I’ve always loved Blue Apron as the best balance of gourmet, portion size, and recipe types. With my recent life change, I paused my subscription and have been winging dinners a bit more – until recently when I learned about a la carte ordering!
What’s Changed with the New Blue Apron?
Last year Blue Apron quietly rolled out a major re-brand — and honestly, the timing couldn’t be better for my life right now. The biggest change? Blue Apron is no longer subscription only!
Can You Order Blue Apron Without a Subscription?
Instead of having to sign up for weekly boxes, you can now order meals à la carte, whenever you want them. That means no pressure to get a box every single week — you can order for the weeks you actually need help with dinner.
For me, this is huge. Cooking for one looks very different than cooking for a family, and my weeks aren’t always predictable. The weeks when I have the boys all weekend, we definitely consume much more food! Mazen and I have started cooking together more, and Blue Apron recipes are so easy for us both to follow. When I’m alone, I tend to have more simple dinners. Unless I’m having friends over, and then Blue Apron made cooking for four using an Assemble & Bake recipe so easy!
You Can Still Save by Subscribing
If you do like the rhythm of a subscription, Blue Apron still offers one — and you’ll get a discount when you subscribe, which makes the meals cheaper overall.
I appreciate that this is now optional instead of required. You can:
- Order one-off meals when you need flexibility
- Or set up a subscription for months you know will be busy and save money doing it
It feels much more customizable than it used to be.
More Meal Options (and Less Prep When You Want It)
Another thing that’s changed with the re-brand is the variety of meals available. Blue Apron has expanded well beyond the classic “cook-from-scratch” meal kits.
Now you’ll find:
- Traditional Meal Kits – pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes
- Assemble & Bake meals – recipes that come together quickly with very little prep (MY FAVORITE TYPE!)
- Dish – prepared meals that are ready to heat and enjoy for nights when cooking just isn’t happening
I love being able to mix and match depending on my week. Some nights I want to cook and unwind in the kitchen; other nights I want dinner for one on the table fast.
How I’m Using the New Blue Apron Right Now
One of the first times I really appreciated this new flexibility was when I hosted a friend dinner. I ordered Blue Apron for that specific week so I didn’t have to stress about how many portions to plan, a gamble with a recipe, or add more grocery shopping. The Assemble & Bake meals are so great, and I just did some easy prep and put them in the oven when guests arrived.
A Few of My Past Blue Apron Posts
- Becoming a Better Cook: Blue Apron Review
An early look at how Blue Apron helped me grow more confident in the kitchen and try new flavors and techniques. - Blue Apron on the Menu
How Blue Apron fit into our weekly routine during a particularly busy season of life. - Blue Apron Review: Five Years Later
A long-term perspective on using Blue Apron on and off since 2020 and how it’s evolved alongside my needs. - Blue Apron 15-Minute Meals + Harissa Chickpea Grain Bowls
Highlighting quicker, streamlined recipes for nights when I wanted something balanced without spending a lot of time cooking. - Meal Prep by Blue Apron
A look at how Blue Apron recipes can be used for simple meal prep and planning ahead.
Final Thoughts
If you tried Blue Apron years ago and bounced off because the subscription felt like too much, this new version is worth another look. The recipes still feel thoughtful and elevated, but the way you order is much more relaxed and realistic.
For where I am in life right now — cooking for one, balancing flexibility with convenience — this re-brand feels like exactly what I need. And I love that I can keep it in my back pocket for the weeks when I want dinner to be just a little easier.
Want to Try the New Blue Apron?
If you’re curious to try Blue Apron’s new, more flexible approach, you can use the code KATHEATS to get 50% off your first two orders. It’s a great way to test out a few meals — whether that’s for a busy workweek, a hosting event, or just to try something new — without committing to anything long-term.
Sarah says
It’s funny – I guess I always “subscribed” to BA but you can skip any week you want so it never felt like a subscription? I only paid for when I wanted BA, and sometimes that was less than once a month!
I like the new BA + plan where you pay $100/year for free shipping. The shipping fees really added up with the previous plan, and now you don’t have to pay for shipping if you pay that fee upfront, which makes sense if you order BA at least once a month. I also love that each meal is now individually priced instead of a flat fee, so if you are getting vegetarian meals they cost less than steak, for example.
Started doing BA in 2020 because of you, and still am a regular user! Thank you!
Kath Younger says
That is true, but you always had to be on top of making sure you remembered to either skip the week or choose your meals (unless you let them auto select). I love that we now have both options : )