Meal planning doesn’t have to be a chore – with the right app, it can actually be a game-changer! Whether you’re trying to save time, eat healthier, or reduce food waste, meal planning apps can make your life so much easier. From creating shopping lists to discovering new recipes, these apps help you stay organized and make the most out of your kitchen time. Let’s dive into the best ones that can help you take your meal prep to the next level!
1. ReciMe
At ReciMe, we believe that cooking should be joyful, not stressful. That’s why we created a tool that brings all your favorite recipes together in one place, making meal planning and grocery shopping easier than ever. ReciMe is available on iOS, so you can access it anytime on your iPhone or iPad and keep your kitchen organized wherever you are. With ReciMe, you can import recipes from Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and various websites, as well as from screenshots or photos.
A built-in nutrition calculator offers insights into each meal’s composition, helping you make informed choices. The app simplifies access to saved recipes and avoids the need to manage scattered notes or bookmarks. Beyond recipe storage, ReciMe includes tools that support the entire cooking process. A weekly meal planner helps build structured menus, and grocery lists grouped by aisle or recipe make shopping more efficient.
Key Highlights:
- Available for iOS with optional web-based access
- Imports recipes from Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, websites
- Generates grocery lists organized by aisle or recipe
- Includes weekly meal planner and nutrition calculator
- Offers recipe scaling, categorization, and export functionality
- Free with optional premium upgrade for advanced features
Who it’s best for:
- iOS users seeking an efficient solution for recipe and meal management
- Home cooks desiring organized access to social media-inspired recipes
- Individuals requiring time-saving tools for grocery shopping and meal preparation
2. Mealime
Mealime is a meal planning app that allows users to create custom meal plans based on dietary preferences, such as vegetarian, gluten-free, or paleo. The app provides a variety of recipes and automatically generates a shopping list based on the chosen meal plan. Mealime’s aim is to streamline the process of meal preparation by offering simple recipes that can be tailored to personal needs. It also supports grocery delivery integration, making it easier for users to get the ingredients they need.
The app is designed to help users organize their meals and save time. With a clean interface, it allows users to create meal plans that fit their schedules and dietary requirements. Mealime also offers options to adjust servings and customize recipes, providing flexibility in meal planning. It can be used on mobile devices, giving users access to their plans and shopping lists wherever they are.
Key Highlights:
- Customizable meal plans based on dietary preferences
- Simple recipes with clear instructions
- Automatically generated shopping lists
- Integration with grocery delivery services
Who it’s best for:
- People who need a flexible way to plan meals based on dietary needs
- Those who want to streamline grocery shopping with a shopping list
- Users who prefer a clean and simple interface for meal planning
3. Plan to Eat
Plan to Eat is a meal planning app that lets users import recipes, organize them, and plan meals. It generates shopping lists based on the selected meals and allows adjustments to portion sizes. The app focuses on offering flexibility by letting users plan meals at their own pace and make changes when needed. It also offers features for sharing meal plans, which may be useful for families or group meal planning.
This app allows users to drag and drop recipes into a weekly plan, making meal organization more straightforward. It supports a wide range of recipe sources, from websites to personal entries, allowing users to manage their meal planning in one place. Plan to Eat’s goal is to simplify the process of planning meals and shopping by providing a centralized tool for organizing recipes and grocery lists.
Key Highlights:
- Import and organize recipes from various sources
- Adjust portion sizes for meals
- Automatically generate shopping lists
- Share meal plans with others
Who it’s best for:
- People who prefer to import recipes from different websites
- Families or groups who want to share meal plans
- Users looking for a flexible app to customize their meal planning
4. Cookpad
Cookpad is a recipe-sharing app where users can plan meals and generate shopping lists based on the recipes they choose. You can also discover, save, and share recipes with others. It allows individuals to explore a wide range of dishes, contributing their own recipes to the platform. Cookpad focuses on fostering a community of home cooks who can share their cooking experiences and ideas.
The app emphasizes social interaction by letting users comment on and ask questions about recipes. It provides a space for users to connect with other home cooks, offering an opportunity for learning and idea-sharing. Cookpad offers a simple layout that helps users organize recipes, making it easier to refer back to them during meal planning.
Key Highlights:
- Community-driven recipe discovery and sharing
- Option to organize recipes and create meal plans
- Ability to comment and interact with other users
- Generate shopping lists based on meal plans
Who it’s best for:
- Users who enjoy discovering and sharing recipes with a community
- People who prefer a more social approach to meal planning
- Home cooks looking for inspiration and interaction with other users
5. Prepear
Prepear is a meal planning app that helps users organize recipes, create meal plans, and generate shopping lists. It allows users to browse recipes, adjust portion sizes, and scale recipes according to their needs. Prepear also offers features for sharing meal plans, making it easier for multiple people to collaborate on meal planning. The app is designed to help users reduce food waste and streamline the process of meal preparation.
The app’s interface is designed for simplicity, allowing users to easily browse, organize, and plan meals. With grocery list integration, Prepear aims to make shopping for ingredients as efficient as possible. The app also provides options to scale recipes to meet different serving sizes, giving users flexibility in their meal preparation.
Key Highlights:
- Browse and organize recipes for easy meal planning
- Generate shopping lists based on meal plans
- Scale recipes to adjust portion sizes
- Share meal plans with family or friends
Who it’s best for:
- Users who want a simple way to organize recipes and meal plans
- Families or groups looking for a collaborative meal planning tool
- People looking to reduce food waste by planning meals effectively
6. Eat This Much
Eat This Much is a meal planning app that generates meal plans based on users’ dietary goals and preferences. Users input their desired calorie count and macronutrient breakdown, and the app creates a personalized meal plan with recipes and a shopping list. It supports various diets, including keto, paleo, and vegan, providing tailored meal plans for different nutritional needs.
The app aims to automate the meal planning process, taking the guesswork out of meal prep. It offers flexibility in adjusting meal portions and serving sizes. Eat This Much also generates shopping lists, making it easier for users to buy the ingredients needed for their meals.
Key Highlights:
- Automated meal plans based on calorie and macronutrient goals
- Customizable meal plans for various dietary preferences
- Recipe suggestions with easy-to-follow instructions
- Integrated shopping list for meal ingredients
Who it’s best for:
- Individuals following specific diets like keto or paleo
- People who prefer an automated approach to meal planning
- Users who want an integrated shopping list for meal preparation
7. BigOven
BigOven is a recipe management and meal planning app that allows users to explore a vast collection of recipes. It helps users organize their recipes, create grocery lists, and plan meals for the week. BigOven also offers a feature that allows users to scan ingredients from their kitchen, giving recipe suggestions based on what they have on hand. The app can also suggest recipes based on dietary restrictions or preferences, helping users find meals that meet their needs.
In addition to meal planning, BigOven allows users to save and organize their favorite recipes, making it easier to return to them when needed. The app includes a social feature, allowing users to share recipes with friends or on social media. With its user-friendly interface, BigOven provides a comprehensive platform for meal planning, grocery shopping, and recipe discovery.
Key Highlights:
- Scan ingredients to get recipe suggestions
- Save and organize favorite recipes
- Social features for sharing recipes
Who it’s best for:
- People looking for a large selection of recipes to choose from
- Users who want to scan their ingredients for recipe suggestions
- Individuals who enjoy sharing recipes with others
8. Tasty
Tasty is a popular recipe app that offers meal planning features, helping users organize their meals for the week and create grocery lists based on the recipes they choose. The app is known for its vast collection of easy-to-follow recipes, complete with video instructions. Tasty focuses on offering simple and delicious meals that can be made at home, and it provides a step-by-step guide to ensure each recipe is easy to follow.
One of the standout features of Tasty is its video tutorials, which provide clear, visual instructions that make cooking more accessible to beginners. Users can save their favorite recipes, get personalized meal recommendations, and share their creations with others. With a user-friendly design, Tasty is a great choice for anyone looking for straightforward recipes and meal planning tools.
Key Highlights:
- Step-by-step video instructions for each recipe
- Personalized meal recommendations
- Save and organize favorite recipes
- Meal planning and grocery list features
Who it’s best for:
- People who prefer video-based cooking tutorials
- Beginners looking for easy-to-follow recipes
- Users who want personalized recipe recommendations
9. FoodPlanner
FoodPlanner is a meal planning app that allows users to plan their meals for the week, create shopping lists, and organize recipes. The app features a large database of recipes, which users can customize based on their preferences. FoodPlanner also includes nutritional information for each recipe, allowing users to make informed decisions about what they eat. It allows users to create a shopping list based on their meal plan, making grocery shopping easier and more efficient.
The app also includes features that enable users to save their favorite recipes, which they can return to at any time. Whether you’re planning meals for a week or just need help organizing your recipes, FoodPlanner helps you stay on track and simplify meal prep.
Key Highlights:
- Large database of customizable recipes
- Nutritional information included for each recipe
- Automatic shopping list generation based on meal plans
- Save and organize favorite recipes
Who it’s best for:
- People who need help organizing their meal plans
- Users looking for a database of customizable recipes
- Individuals interested in tracking nutritional information
10. Paprika Recipe Manager
Paprika Recipe Manager is an app designed for users who want to organize their recipes, create shopping lists, and plan meals. The app allows users to import recipes from any website, manually add their own, and categorize them for easy reference. It offers a built-in grocery list feature, which automatically organizes ingredients based on the user’s meal plan. Paprika also includes a meal planning feature, making it easy to drag and drop recipes into your weekly plan.
Paprika also allows users to scale recipes, adjust serving sizes, and create shopping lists that are tied directly to their meal plans. With its features and design, Paprika is a good option for people looking to take control of their cooking.
Key Highlights:
- Import recipes from any website
- Create grocery lists tied to your meal plan
- Scale recipes and adjust portion sizes
- Categorize and organize recipes for easy access
Who it’s best for:
- Users who need to organize a large collection of recipes
- People looking for a simple way to scale recipes and adjust servings
- Individuals who prefer a customizable grocery list integrated with meal planning
11. KetoDiet
KetoDiet is a meal planning app designed for users following the keto diet. It offers a variety of recipes and meal plans specifically tailored to this high-fat, low-carb lifestyle. The app allows users to track their macros, helping them stay within their desired carb, protein, and fat limits. It also includes a shopping list feature, making it easier to gather all the ingredients needed for the week’s meals.
KetoDiet stands out for its focus on keto-friendly meal options, offering users the flexibility to customize their meal plans based on their preferences. Whether you’re new to the keto diet or a seasoned practitioner, the app provides everything needed to stay on track with your eating goals.
Key Highlights:
- Meal plans specifically designed for the keto diet
- Recipe suggestions that align with keto principles
- Macro tracking to help users stay within carb, protein, and fat limits
- Integrated shopping list for easy meal prep
Who it’s best for:
- Users following the keto diet
- People who want to track their macros for better diet management
- Individuals looking for keto-specific meal plans and recipes
12. Forks Over Knives
Forks Over Knives is a plant-based meal planning app that focuses on whole food, plant-based recipes. It provides a variety of nutritious and easy-to-make recipes that exclude animal products and processed foods. The app helps users plan meals by offering meal plans that include recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, making it easier for those following a plant-based lifestyle to stay on track.
In addition to recipes, Forks Over Knives offers a shopping list feature that allows users to gather ingredients based on the meals they plan to make. The app also offers nutritional information for each recipe, helping users make informed decisions about their meals. With a focus on health and sustainability, the app is ideal for those interested in plant-based eating.
Key Highlights:
- Plant-based, whole food recipes with no animal products
- Offers meal plans for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
- Shopping list feature for organizing meal prep
- Nutritional information provided for each recipe
Who it’s best for:
- Individuals following a plant-based or vegan diet
- Users looking for whole food, nutritious meal options
- Those interested in meal planning with a focus on sustainability and health
13. MealPrepPro
MealPrepPro is a meal planning app that helps users plan and prepare meals for the week, especially for those who prefer meal prepping in advance. The app offers customizable meal plans, with recipes designed to be batch-cooked and stored for later use. MealPrepPro allows users to adjust servings and portion sizes based on their needs and provides a shopping list that corresponds to the planned meals.
The app focuses on efficiency, providing meal prep strategies that help users save time while ensuring they maintain a balanced diet. It is particularly useful for individuals with busy schedules who want to stay organized and ensure they have healthy meals ready to go throughout the week.
Key Highlights:
- Customizable meal plans for weekly meal prep
- Recipes designed for batch cooking and storing
- Adjustable servings and portion sizes
- Integrated shopping list for organized grocery shopping
Who it’s best for:
- People who want to meal prep for the week ahead
- Users looking for customizable meal plans to fit their needs
- Individuals with busy schedules who need healthy meals ready in advance
14. PlateJoy
PlateJoy is a meal planning app designed to provide personalized meal plans based on users’ dietary preferences, health goals, and lifestyle. It allows users to create customized meal plans tailored to factors such as food allergies, fitness goals, and personal taste. The app also generates shopping lists based on the selected meals, streamlining the grocery shopping process.
In addition to its personalized meal planning, PlateJoy integrates with fitness apps to help users align their meals with their exercise routines. While it offers a range of dietary options, including paleo, keto, and low-carb, it emphasizes customization to fit individual needs. PlateJoy aims to make meal planning more manageable for people who have specific dietary requirements and health goals.
Key Highlights:
- Personalized meal plans based on dietary preferences and health goals
- Customizable shopping lists based on meal plans
- Integration with fitness apps for a holistic health approach
- Various dietary options such as paleo, keto, and low-carb
Who it’s best for:
- Users with specific dietary preferences or health goals
- Individuals who want personalized meal plans
- People looking to integrate meal planning with fitness tracking
15. SideChef
SideChef is a recipe and meal planning app that offers users detailed cooking instructions, complete with photos and videos. The app provides a range of meal plans based on dietary preferences and skill levels, and it includes features for grocery list creation and grocery delivery integration. Users can select recipes, and the app generates a shopping list for all the ingredients needed.
SideChef also emphasizes simplicity by breaking down each recipe with step-by-step guidance. This feature makes it useful for people of all cooking abilities. The app aims to streamline meal planning and shopping, with added convenience through its grocery delivery partnerships.
Key Highlights:
- Step-by-step cooking instructions with photos and videos
- Meal plans based on dietary preferences and skill levels
- Grocery list creation and delivery integration
- Provides meal prep tips for easier cooking
Who it’s best for:
- Beginners looking for visual guidance in cooking
- Users who want a streamlined shopping experience
- People who need meal prep assistance to save time
16. Spoonful
Spoonful is a meal planning app aimed at helping families organize meals for the week. It provides a variety of kid-friendly recipes, focusing on simple, nutritious dishes that can be prepared quickly. The app also generates grocery lists based on the selected meals and offers the option to adjust portion sizes based on family needs.
Spoonful is designed to make meal planning for families easier by offering simple recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes. It also includes features for tracking dietary restrictions, making it easier for families with specific food needs to plan meals that are safe and suitable for everyone.
Key Highlights:
- Kid-friendly and nutritious meal recipes
- Grocery list creation based on meal plans
- Option to adjust servings based on family size
- Tracks dietary restrictions for safer meal planning
Who it’s best for:
- Families looking for simple, nutritious meals
- Parents needing kid-friendly recipes
- Users managing meal plans with dietary restrictions
17. Lose It!
Lose It! is a calorie tracking and meal planning app that helps users monitor their food intake in relation to their fitness goals. The app allows users to log their meals and track nutritional information, including calories and macros. It offers meal planning features that align with users’ specific health goals, such as weight loss or maintenance.
While Lose It! is primarily focused on helping users track calories, it also provides personalized recommendations based on their dietary preferences. The app includes a large database of foods and integrates with fitness apps, offering a more comprehensive view of users’ health and progress.
Key Highlights:
- Tracks calories and macros with a large food database
- Personalized meal planning based on health goals
- Integrates with fitness apps for a comprehensive health overview
- Offers recommendations for weight loss, maintenance, or balanced nutrition
Who it’s best for:
- People tracking calories and macros for weight loss
- Users with specific health or nutrition goals
- Those who want to integrate meal planning with fitness tracking
Conclusion
Choosing the right meal planning app can truly transform your time in the kitchen. Whether you’re trying to eat healthier, save time, or reduce food waste, there’s an app out there to help you streamline your cooking routine. From apps that personalize meal plans based on your dietary needs to those that help you organize your shopping lists, these tools are designed to take the stress out of meal prep.
Ultimately, the best app for you depends on your lifestyle and what you’re looking to achieve. If you’re after convenience and simplicity, there are apps that focus on quick and easy meal planning. If you’re focused on a specific diet, like keto or plant-based eating, some apps specialize in providing tailored meal plans to fit those needs. No matter your preferences, the goal is to make cooking easier and more enjoyable – so you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying your meals!