NBC Select picks the best meat delivery services for 2026
NBC Select chose Butcherbox, Omaha Steaks and Lobsterboys among top meat delivery services after editor testing and expert guidance.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
3 min read
BBQ season has a new shortcut: NBC Select has named its best meat delivery services 2026 picks, with Butcherbox taking the top overall spot after editor testing.
The shopping team said meat delivery services can save time and open up access to cuts and proteins that may not be available at a nearby grocery store. NBC Select says it independently chooses products it covers and may earn a commission when readers buy through its links.
What are the best meat delivery services in 2026?
NBC Select’s top picks include Butcherbox as best overall, Omaha Steaks for best selection and Lobsterboys for seafood. The team also highlighted Porter Road, which sells beef, pork, chicken, lamb, seafood and market items such as beef tallow and BBQ tools.
Butcherbox runs on a subscription model and ships to the United States except Alaska and Hawaii, according to NBC Select. The service offers beef, pork, chicken and seafood, with box prices listed from $179 to $319. NBC Select said the brand’s lineup includes more than 80 core and specialty cuts, according to Butcherbox.
NBC Select reported that Butcherbox’s beef options include grass-fed, pasture-raised, grain-finished and free-range choices. The brand sources most meat in the U.S., while its grass-fed and grass-finished beef comes from Australia, according to NBC Select’s account of the company’s sourcing.
Omaha Steaks was singled out for range. NBC Select said the company ships throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and offers beef and pork along with sides and desserts. Shipping is free on orders over $129, while smaller orders carry a $24.99 delivery charge, according to the guide.
Porter Road sources meat from U.S. farmers and hand-cuts it at a Kentucky facility, according to the brand information cited by NBC Select. Its delivery fees vary by location, from free to $55, and it does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For lobster fans, NBC Select picked Lobsterboys as the seafood standout. The company ships live North Atlantic lobsters across the U.S., including Hawaii and Puerto Rico, according to the guide. Prices listed in the report run from $18.77 for a chick lobster to $127.12 for a jumbo lobster.
How should you choose a meat delivery service?
NBC Select said its editors weighed meat variety, pricing model, shipping and packaging. A meat delivery service is an online seller that sends proteins to a customer’s home, typically frozen, chilled or, in the case of live lobster, packed for short-term survival during transit.
Coco Pierrel, a certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow, told NBC Select that shoppers should look beyond fancy-sounding labels. She said terms such as “premium” and “natural” do not have legal definitions, while labels including grass-fed, pasture-raised and USDA Organic have more specific meanings.
Pierrel also told NBC Select that avoiding antibiotics and added hormones should be a priority. She said third-party checks, including the USDA Process Verified shield, can help shoppers confirm a company’s claims.
Dr. Susan Kais, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist and IBD specialist at UC Health, was also consulted for the guide. NBC Select said packaging and shipping safety were part of its testing, including whether meat stayed cold or frozen and whether services offered scheduled or expedited delivery.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.