The market for ready meals has changed beyond recognition in just a few years. Where the choice used to stop at heavily processed frozen dishes from the supermarket, today you choose from fresh, chilled and even restaurant-worthy meals that are on the table within five minutes. Three developments drive that growth: chronic lack of time, the rise of meal prep, and a growing demand for reliable halal food.
But "ready-made" doesn't mean the same everywhere. One provider delivers fresh and never frozen, another works with frozen food, and some "meal solutions" still require you to cook yourself. Below we line up the best-known players on the Dutch market, with short fast facts so you can see at a glance what suits you.
What to look for when choosing?
- Fresh vs. frozen — chilled-fresh preserves flavour and texture; frozen lasts longer but loses out on experience.
- Ready-made vs. cooking yourself — a meal kit is not a ready meal; you still spend around 30 minutes in the kitchen.
- Halal assurance — check whether it's 100% halal certified and how transparent the chain is.
- Delivery & threshold — own cold chain or parcel service, and what the minimum order value is.
1. Yasemin Meals — fresh, authentic Turkish meals (never frozen)
- Type: ready-made, chilled-fresh — never frozen
- Speciality: 60+ authentic Turkish dishes, 100% halal
- Ready in: about 5 minutes of reheating
- Delivery: own cold chain, delivered fresh to your home
- Track record: active since 2018, 80,000+ deliveries
- Strength: restaurant quality and cultural authenticity, without the cooking
- For whom: anyone who wants real Turkish flavour without cooking or freezing
Browse the full menu or start with a classic like the Adana Kebab.
2. Prep The Food — halal meal prep for athletes
- Type: meal prep, fresh plus a frozen discount line
- Speciality: macro-optimised halal sports meals (bulking, cutting, weight loss, carnivore)
- Model: one-off or subscription (standard −15%); minimum order €45
- Price: from about €8.50 per meal
- Known from: RTL, Videoland, 538
- Strength: clear goal-oriented packages with defined macros
- Note: functional "fuel" focus; less culinary, authentic experience
3. YesMeals — frozen prep meals for your fitness goal
- Type: frozen (shock-frozen) prep meals
- Speciality: goal-oriented fitness meals (muscle mass, weight loss, low-carb, carnivore)
- Reviews: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot; 30,000+ customers by their own account
- Extra: build your own box; prepared without seed oils
- Strength: strong conversion/UX and a flexible box builder
- Note: frozen rather than fresh; limited authentic/world-cuisine range
4. Chef Ali — the halal meal kit (cook it yourself)
- Type: meal kit — you cook yourself (around 30 min per recipe)
- Speciality: halal world dishes with fresh ingredients
- Price: from €29 (1 person), €39 (2 people), +€10 p.p.; 3 recipes per box
- Delivery: chilled, every Saturday, free throughout the Netherlands (sustainably by e-bike)
- Strength: the cooking experience and variety for those who like to cook
- Note: not ready-made — expect about 30 minutes of cooking per recipe
5. Sardi — premium halal butcher from Amsterdam
- Type: halal butcher (raw meat) — prepare it yourself
- Speciality: premium meat: Black Angus, picanha, steak, BBQ, lamb and chicken
- Reviews: 4.6 on Google (500+ reviews)
- Delivery: free from €50; order today = at your door the next working day
- Extra: recipes and cooking videos; business deliveries possible
- Strength: top-quality meat for those who like to cook or grill themselves
- Note: no ready meals; you prepare everything yourself
6. Albert Heijn — ready-made halal from the supermarket
- Type: supermarket ready-made (chilled and frozen)
- Speciality: broad, affordable and available everywhere
- Delivery: in store or via delivery/pickup
- Strength: low-threshold and cheap
- Note: often more heavily processed, less freshness and authenticity; limited authentic Turkish halal range
Which ready meal suits you?
In short: if it's about fitness macros, Prep The Food and YesMeals are obvious choices. If you love cooking yourself, Chef Ali (kit) or Sardi (butcher) fit better. If you're looking for fresh, authentic Turkish meals without the cooking and never frozen, Yasemin Meals is built for that.
Browse Yasemin's menu and taste the difference of chilled-fresh, halal and authentic.
Prices and details checked in June 2026. Always check the current information with the relevant provider.
