For the past four years, I have been a faithful customer and a big advocate for Blue Apron. I genuinely love every box that arrives. My boyfriend always gets excited when I tell him that we have a box for the weekend. I feel good about spending my money on the boxes because you get so much for your money. If I were to buy all the ingredients at the grocery store, it would cost so much more. I love that the Blue Apron gives you exactly what you need (and farm-fresh), so you don’t have any wasted ingredients laying around. Blue Apron has made me a better cook in the kitchen, and it always get’s me out of the cooking rut.
My boyfriend and I made fifteen Blue Apron recipes in the past 30 days! I’m sure some of you recognize some of the meals below if you also get a Blue Apron box, but we loved every single one of them.
This may seem silly, but cuddling up on the couch with a Blue Apron meal and watching a movie on Friday night is one of our favorite things to do together. And sometimes, we end up doing the same exact thing on Saturday night.
Just when I think Blue Apron can’t get any better, it does. We loved our recent meals!
Ordering Blue Apron boxes have been a blast, and we love skipping out on the restaurants, or boring repetitive meals. If you want to try out Blue Apron, my first 25 readers will get $40 off their first two weeks of Blue Apron! Click here to redeem this offer!
15 BLUE APRON MEALS WE MADE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS
1. Parmesan-Crusted Steaks with Mashed Potatoes & Broccoli
2. Spicy Sweet Potato Chili with White Beans & Cheddar Quesadillas.
3. Harissa-Glazed Chicken Drumsticks with Potato Wedges & Zucchini
4. Salmon & Dukkah-Spiced Vegetables with Orange & Endive
5. Korean Chicken Tacos with Furikake Sweet Potatoes
6. Spicy Fettuccine & Beef Bolognese with Zucchini
7. Strip Steak & Potatoes with Spicy Maple Collard Greens
8. Spicy Chicken & Stir-Fried Vegetables with Jasmine Rice
9. Ancho Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes & Avocado
10. Steaks & Warm Lemon Salsa Verde with Roasted Broccoli & Sweet Potato
11. Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas with Lime Crema
12. Orange-Glazed Meatballs with Bok Choy & Jasmine Rice
13. Tuscan-Spiced Chicken & Fregola Sarda with Warm Citrus Vinaigrette
14. Seared Salmon & Harissa Vegetables with Roasted Red Onion Vinaigrette
15. Mushroom & Swiss Cheeseburgers with Roasted Potato Wedges
I took some photos of the meals we made. I was going to share all of them, but you’d be here all day reading this post.
Whenever I start a Blue Apron, I gather all the ingredients listed on the recipe card and transfer them to my cutting board. I always begin washing the produce and then chopping as directed. This is when I turn on a good playlist and get into the cooking zone.
Above is the Korean Chicken Tacos with Furikake Sweet Potatoes. I had no idea I was going to love them! I’m usually a traditional loose meat taco person, but of course, these were incredible.
What did I learn? Pickled cabbage is so easy to make, and needs to become a staple in my life! Adding vinegar, salt, pepper, and avocado oil changes up the flavor of cabbage. We had a lot left over, so I added it to my salads all weekend long.
The Ancho Chicken Chili. If you ever come across this, or any chili that Blue Apron has on the menu, ALWAYS add it to your box. This may be my favorite recipe (I say that every time I get a new box), but it’s so good.
This recipe was a part of the Whole30 partnership. I was amazed.
I have been cooking at home and choosing healthier options this past year, and I feel 100% better. I love to fuel my body with nutritious food, and I always feel good about the Blue Apron meals. It’s helped me stick to those resolutions the past year, and now this year. I mean, why go to a restaurant when you can have fun creating chef-designed recipes at home?
It’s hard to compare any traditional chili recipe to my dad’s, so I’m glad this one was unique. It was like nothing I’ve ever had before. It was made without the beans, included delicious Mexican spices, fresh orange juice (who would have thought of that), ancho chili paste, and cabbage. Whoever created this recipe, hats off to you! I wish I could have this in my box every single week.
We didn’t add any salt or pepper to this recipe, and it still turned out extremely flavorful!
What did I learn? Adding cabbage, sweet potatoes, and orange juice to chili is a must. Blue Apron just hooked me on cabbage.
We had our chili for lunch with kale salad. I’ll be dreaming of this recipe over and over again.
When I go out of town, I always leave my dogs out at my parent’s house. Even though you can cancel and skip your subscription box at any time, I never do! I always pass along the box to my parent’s because they love making the meals. They make great gifts, and I always pass it along as a way of saying “thank you.” If you aren’t home when the box is delivered, you don’t have to worry. They are delivered in a refrigerated box, so ingredients stay fresh even if you’re not at home.
I made the Spicy Chicken & Stir-Fried Vegetables during the week when Kyle wasn’t here. I had no intentions of sharing this meal. It was delicious.
What did I learn? Adding rice flour to chicken before cooking helps the sauce stick, and it creates the perfect glazed and crunchy coat. I’ll be using this technique now! Oh, and purple cabbage is so much better cooked!
Don’t let the word “spicy” throw you off if you see it in the titles. You have control over the spice by adding as much of the sauce as you’d like. My preference? Spicier the better!
I get asked about choosing the meals. (Yes, it’s hard.)
It’s not like in elementary school where you only get one item on the menu. You have eight meals to choose from! It’s actually hard deciding which ones to make because they all sound good.
I love that you can customize meals and leave out ingredients since you’re making them yourself. I’ll usually leave out anything with olives and mushrooms.
We had one more meal leftover a couple Sundays ago, and I made it for Kyle’s weekly meal prep. Who doesn’t love Spicy Fettuccine & Beef Bolognese with Zucchini as a good carb source?
Look how easy it is to make? Restaurant-Style right at home.
I used some of the meat sauce with my spaghetti squash, and it was delicious! I loved the added spice.
What did I learn? Adding spice to pasta sauce is a game changer. I typically go for a sweeter sauce, but I think I’m converted.
This past Saturday, Kyle and I made the Spicy Sweet Potato Chili with White Beans and Cheddar Quesadillas.I had leftover ground turkey and extra sweet potatoes laying around, so I added those to the chili as well. It’s fun to get creative and add your own personal touch if you want to. I had the idea of adding ground chicken because of the last Blue Apron chili I had. I was so excited when I saw another chili recipe on the Blue Apron menu. Remember what I said…”NEVER PASS UP ON A BLUE APRON CHILI.” It was so good! We had a lot leftover, and I hid it in the back of the fridge for myself 🙂
What did I learn? All Blue Apron Chili recipes are incredible.
Another meal we never pass up on? Blue Apron steak. We’ve loved every steak recipe as well. I never thought I’d enjoy a pan-fried steak the way I enjoy Blue Apron pan-fried steaks.
We had the Strip Steak & Potatoes last week, and it was the perfect date-night meal. Instead of cooking the kale, we had it with salad dressing on the side. I feel like I’m so repetitive when I keep saying how good these meals are, but I’m being 100% genuinely honest. THEY ARE SO GOOD! 🙂 If they weren’t, I’d never pay for them each week, but I do because I love them. It’s something we truly look forward to.
What did I learn? Honey Mustard and Worcestershire (don’t ask me to pronounce it) sauce pair perfectly with the steak.
This past Sunday, we got creative with our steak dish. Instead of adding the parmesan and breadcrumbs to the Parmesan Crusted Steak meal, we added them to the mashed potatoes and then cooked the steak the same way as the previous Blue Apron recipes instead. It was a success. We used all the ingredient provided, but switched it up a bit! 🙂
What did I learn? You don’t have to stick to the books.
If you want to try out Blue Apron and make more meals at home, I highly recommend it! The first 25 readers will get $40 off their first two weeks of Blue Apron by visiting this link!
Questions for you!
- What is your favorite Blue Apron meal?
- Will you be keeping an eye out for the chili?
- Have you been contemplating on trying out Blue Apron?
This post was sponsored by Blue Apron, & ALL opinions are my own.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Your Blue Apron meals look scrumptious! I think the best thing about meal plans is that they’re so diverse in terms of food choices – it’s hard to do that when you’re grocery shopping yourself! 🙂 Hope you had a great time cooking up a storm! ❤️❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi, Charmaine!
Thanks so much. We LOVE getting our boxes! 😀
Lauren says
I’ve heard you and Lauryn Evarts from The Skinny Confidential talk about Blue Apron a number of times and I want to try them out so bad! It’s such a shame they don’t have a UK site…the photos make the food look amazing!
Taralynn McNitt says
Awwwww Love Lauryn! 😀
I wish they had it in UK too!! lol
Jacky says
Hi Taralynn,
I am guessing Blue Apron is only available in the US? I am in Canada and when I went to the site with your link, I went to sign up and my postal code wouldn’t work when signing up because it’s not 5 digits. 🙁
Otherwise yes I have been contemplating trying Blue Apron and was actually going to take the plunge today after your post. Oh well….
Taralynn McNitt says
Unfortunately, yes!
:/
Carrie this fit chick says
These meals look delicious! And SO vibrant. I really like the taco and tater meal combo– going to make that myself!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks so much!!
Julie says
I’ve never used Blue Apron or any other meal subscription service because of the price, but I have started using their recipes. I can appreciate the benefits of Blue Apron, but the cost is certainly not one of them.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi, Julie!
I think the cost is actually pretty reasonable for what you get. If you were to go to the store and buy all of the ingredients you get in the box it would be sooooooooo much more. It’s great because you get exactly what you need for the recipes and don’t have to purchase more. 🙂 If you break it down, you’re actually saving money 🙂
Caitlin says
I think I save money by getting it, but mostly because I have to go grocery shopping much less so I avoid temptations.
Kristy-lynn Bakke says
Would love to try but they aren’t able to accommodate Food Allergies. Maybe some day.
Taralynn McNitt says
Not sure what kind of food allergies you have, but the whole30 partnership was awesome! I hope they do that again!
Kristy-lynn Bakke says
Peanuts and multiple treenuts. They have a warning on their website for cross contamination.
Taralynn McNitt says
Ahhh yes, then I don’t blame you!
Coco says
What do you mean by “Loose meat”? do you mean ground beef…?
Taralynn McNitt says
Yup! lol I think the term “loose meat” is from my midwestern roots haha
Haley says
Chili recipe please! 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
It’ll be up soon!!
Linda @ the Fitty says
How do you like your steak cooked?
Taralynn McNitt says
medium is fine
Alli says
Hi, Taralynn! Love, Love, Love your weekly recaps and just bought all of the ingredients to make your birthday cake for my husband this weekend! Fingers crossed it turns out like yours 🙂
PS: Was curious about what type of camera you use and your lens? Your pictures always turn out amazing!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks so much, Ali!!
Most of the time I just use my phone or my Canon Rebel. I have ZERO fancy camera equipment. I’d just focus on editing to sharpen/brighten/saturate!
Anonymous says
All of your photos look professional. What do you use to edit?
Taralynn McNitt says
Wow! that is so nice! lol
I just use lightroom!
Sharni says
The Korean tacos look SO YUM.
Sharni | http://www.agirlandgrey.com
Taralynn McNitt says
They are amazing!!
Dawn says
We love Blue Apron in our house, too! We had the chicken tacos a few weeks ago and they were incredible. I think tonight we’re doing the jalapeño burgers :). I’m looking forward to your granola bar recipe.
Taralynn McNitt says
Oh, yum!!!!!! Let me know how those are!
Amber says
We love Blue Apron. Its simply amazing. I always get at least a couple boxes each month. It makes cooking so much fun and easy! I love trying new recipes, especially ones that throw in ingredients that I would never think to mix together. Can’t wait to get my box today 🙂 Hope you’re having a great Friday!
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes!!! I 100000000000% agree, Amber!
Have a great day! 🙂
Gemy says
All that looks so healthy! Yummy too!
Can I ask, what camera do you use to get the photos. They look so colorful and clean and well lit.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi, Gemy!
To be honest (i need to upgrade like asap) I use a really crummy camera. A canon rebel but it’s all about editing! Focus on sharpness/brightness/saturation!
Caitlin says
I love blue apron! I’m actually eating the Caribbean chick pea curry right now. We both commute one hour or more each way to work, so we don’t always have a ton of time to cook, but I’ve found that the vegetarian meals last a lot longer and you can couple them with your own meat. Or I freeze the meat right when we get it. Also, using canned minced garlic and ground ginger instead of what they send saves a ton of time. Do you get yours on Fridays and if so do you like getting them for the weekend?
Taralynn McNitt says
Yum! That is actually a great idea 🙂 I’ll have to try that next time. They give you so much and there is ALWAYS leftovers! We also freeze the meat when we get it. I like to change up the delivery. If I’m going to be out of town, I’ll switch my delivery to Wednesday. If I’m going to be home, I’ll do Friday and Kyle and I eat the meals during the weekend instead of dinging out 🙂 Sometimes we’ll add the meals to meal preps.