This post is sponsored by Plated // All opinions are mine.

Christmas was a little different this year when it came to dinner: I did not spend hours in the kitchen prepping and cooking a huge meal and it felt great! When Plated reached out to me I went to their website to look through their weekly recipes, which is updated weekly with new menu items. For the week I selected my recipe, I choose Herb-Roasted Chicken Thighs and Soy Steak Tacos for our family.

Plated is the meal kit for foodies by foodies that allows you to express your creativity through cooking. They believe that food is an experience that should be shared with the people you love. Each week, the menu refreshes with new and exciting menu items to try, allowing you to entirely customize a meal plan based on your tastes.

I’ve partnered with Plated to give you 50% off first box: GET YOUR FIRST PLATED.

I received the box just shortly after selecting my meal preferences on Plated.com.

The box arrived at my door with all the fresh ingredients needed to make a complete meal, including the ice pack to keep them fresh. The ingredients were labeled to go with each meal item, which made it easy to know what ingredient goes with what meal. Also, the recipe cards that came with each meal was clearly printed with step-by-step instructions (with key ingredients in bold fonts), can’t mess it up.

In just six easy steps and 30 minutes, I was able to pull together a delicious Christmas Eve dinner for my family. To keep your food fresh and cold throughout its journey to your door, they use jute, a compostable liner made of 100% recycled materials. The box is also packed with non-toxic, non-hazardous gel packs, and the fresh ingredients are individually packaged to ensure freshness at delivery.

Soy Steak Tacos (with Asian Pear and Cabbage Slaw) –Christmas eve dinner, we made the Soy Steak Tacos. The Asian pears, also called apple pears for their firm and crunchy texture, have a milder flavor and sweetness than other pear varieties. For our Christmas Eve fusion tacos, the pear adds extra juicy crunch to red cabbage tossed in honey, sesame, and scallion, creating a vibrant slaw for piling into toasted tortillas with soy- and Sriracha-infused steak.

How Plated Works.

With signup and placement of your first order, you will become a Plated subscriber and will have recipes suggested for your shipments each week. You can select meals for 2 servings per night, 3 servings per night, or 4 servings per night. You can always change plans, skip weeks, or cancel anytime. Each serving is enough for 1 adult or 1-2 children.

You may skip weeks up to noon local time 6 days before your box is set to arrive or call into our Customer Experience team if you have a last-minute emergency or request. Your shipment preferences, including number of dinners per box and preferred delivery day, may be viewed and modified on the subscription tab of your account page.

Plated is completely flexible: You can swap the suggested recipe selections by clicking the Change Recipe. You can update your box to arrive on any delivery day that’s available in your area. And, you can manage your upcoming orders, view or rate your past recipes, change your subscription, and more on the iPhone/iPad App!

I LOVED the crunchiness of the Asian pear + sesame seeds–I was pleasantly surprised that I love fruit in my taco (first for me!)

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Plated saved my life this holiday. I have heard about food subscription services, but never tried any of them and I’m glad I did not because my first experience has set the bar so high. Perusing through their weekly menus instantly makes me super hungry. Their recipes look so delicious that it’s hard to resist with their chef-designed recipes. It is perfect for busy families, couples, yet perfect for small gatherings. I will admit I was skeptical about the freshness of the ingredients, but I was pleasantly surprised by Plated’s selection. I cannot wait to make the Herb-Roasted Chicken Thighs.

Thank you, Plated! We are very happy with our meals!

I’ve partnered with Plated to give you 50% off first box: GET YOUR FIRST PLATED.

Have your tried a meal subscription service? Would you try Plated?