My Honest Crowd Cow Review: Is It Worth Ordering Meat Online?

I've tried a handful of meat delivery services over the years, and I keep coming back to the same question: is ordering meat online actually worth the extra money?

Groceries are expensive enough as it is, and when you're feeding a family, especially one with growing boys who seem to be hungry approximately 15 minutes after finishing a meal, the grocery bill adds up quickly.

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But I also really value having good-quality food in our house. I cook a lot, and having a freezer stocked with chicken, ground beef, and other basics makes my life infinitely easier. There's something very satisfying about knowing I can pull together dinner without another trip to the grocery store.

So when I decided to give Crowd Cow a try, I wanted to see whether the quality could actually justify the price.

I spent $150 on an order that included organic chicken breasts, burger patties, premium ground beef, and an Everyday Essentials welcome bundle. I purchased everything myself, and I went into the experience with fairly high expectations, especially since I've tried other meat delivery services before.

The short version? I was really impressed with the chicken. Like, really impressed.

But there are a few things I'd consider before placing an order, especially when it comes to the cost.

Here's how my experience went.

What Is Crowd Cow?

Crowd Cow is an online meat delivery service where you can order beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and other proteins and have them delivered directly to your doorstep.

Instead of making a trip to the grocery store or butcher, you can browse their selection online, choose exactly what you want, and have your order shipped frozen.

I like the concept because I tend to buy a lot of the same proteins over and over again. Chicken breasts and ground beef are staples in our house, and I'd much rather have them waiting in the freezer than realize at 4:30 p.m. that I forgot to take something out for dinner.

I also like being able to buy in larger quantities. If I'm going to place an order, I want it to last us more than a couple of meals.

Get $25 off your first Crowd Cow order here

What I Ordered From Crowd Cow

I wasn't looking to order fancy steaks or anything we'd save for a special occasion. I wanted to try the everyday basics that we actually eat.

Here's what I ordered:

• Beef Burger Patties, ⅓ lb: Two pounds total, or six burger patties.
• Organic Chicken Breast Family Pack: Three 3-pound packs, for nine pounds of organic chicken breasts.
• Welcome Offer: Everyday Essentials: One package of bacon, 1.25 pounds of chicken breast, and one pound of ground beef.
• Premium Ground Beef: Two 1-pound packages of ground beef.

My total came to $150 after using a friend's referral code that saved me $25.

For that price, I felt like I got a pretty good variety of meat to stock our freezer. And I especially liked that I could get so much chicken in one order, because we go through a lot of it.

Nine pounds might sound like a lot, but in a house full of boys, it disappears faster than you'd think.

My First Impression: The Packaging Was Excellent

I always get a little nervous ordering perishable food online.

I don't particularly want to spend $150 on meat only to open the box and discover that half of it has thawed during shipping. That's not exactly the kind of surprise anyone wants on their doorstep. Especially because disposing of the spoiled meat is the last thing I want to do.

Thankfully, Crowd Cow did a fantastic job with the packaging.

Everything arrived well packed and completely frozen. I didn't have any concerns about the condition of the meat, which is exactly what I want from a delivery service like this.

It might seem like a small thing, but I think the shipping experience matters a lot when you're ordering frozen food. You should be able to trust that your order will arrive in good condition without having to worry about it.

Crowd Cow definitely delivered on that front.

Crowd Cow Organic Chicken Breast Review: The Best Part of My Order

Okay, let's talk about the chicken, because this was easily the highlight of my entire order.

The organic chicken breasts from Crowd Cow were outstanding.

I've ordered chicken from both Thrive Market and Good Chop in the past, and Crowd Cow's chicken was noticeably better than what I've received from either service.

Their chicken was kind of tough and small whereas Crowd Cow provided substantial, juicy breasts.

I wasn't expecting such a big difference, but color me impressed.

And because chicken breast is something we eat all the time, this matters to me personally more than having access to specialty cuts of meat.

Because chicken is a staple in our house, I can see myself ordering it again and again, especially when I want to stock up for a few weeks.

What About the Ground Beef and Burger Patties?

I also ordered two pounds of premium ground beef and six preformed burger patties.

These are the kinds of things I always like having in the freezer because they make putting together a quick dinner so much easier.

Ground beef is especially useful in our house. Tacos, pasta, casseroles... there are so many ways to use it without having to think too hard about dinner.

And sometimes that's exactly what I need.

I love having burger patties on hand because they make for a quick and easy dinner that can feed a crowd. My oldest son is on a burger kick right now and we loved these.

Get $25 off your first Crowd Cow order here

How Much Does Crowd Cow Cost?

Now for the part that might make you hesitate: the price.

My Crowd Cow order cost $150 after a $25 referral discount. Without that discount, the same order would have been $175.

And yes, I think that's expensive.

When I broke down the order, I received approximately 17 pounds of meat.

My actual cost was around $8.80 per pound. Without the discount, its approximately $10.29 per pound.

Could I buy chicken and ground beef for less at the grocery store? For sure.

Would the quality be the same? Not in my experience.

And that's where I think the decision really comes down to what matters most to you.

I'm not someone who believes you need to buy the most expensive version of everything to eat well. I shop for value just like everyone else, and I don't have an unlimited grocery budget. But I am willing to spend more on certain things when I notice a meaningful difference in quality.

For me, Crowd Cow's chicken 100% falls into that category.

I wouldn't necessarily use Crowd Cow for every single meat purchase, but I can see it becoming one of the places I order from when I want to stock up on chicken and other various cuts of meat like steak.

Crowd Cow vs. Thrive Market and Good Chop

I've tried chicken from both Thrive Market and Good Chop, so I was curious to see how Crowd Cow would compare.

And based on my personal experience, Crowd Cow had the best chicken of the three.

That's probably the biggest takeaway from this entire review.

I've enjoyed the convenience of ordering meat online before, but I haven't always felt like the quality was significantly better than what I could pick up locally, and in some cases it felt worse.

With Crowd Cow, I actually really noticed a difference with how juicy and tender the chicken breasts were.

If you've tried another meat delivery service and weren't particularly impressed, I think Crowd Cow is worth considering for your next order!

Is Crowd Cow Worth It?

I think Crowd Cow is worth it for people who prioritize meat quality and don't mind spending a little more to get it.

It's not the cheapest option, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone whose main goal is cutting their grocery bill as much as possible. However, the quality was outstanding and as of right now, they are my top choice for online meat delivery.

For me, the chicken quality was noticeably better than what I've received from other meat delivery services. The packaging was excellent, everything arrived frozen, and I loved the convenience of stocking our freezer in one order.

Those things add value, even if they don't necessarily show up when you're comparing prices per pound.

I think the biggest question is whether you'll actually notice and appreciate the difference in quality enough to justify spending more.

In my case, the answer was yes.

Get $25 off your first Crowd Cow order here

Final Thoughts: Would I Order From Crowd Cow Again?

Yes, I would absolutely order from Crowd Cow again. In fact, I'm already planning my next order!

I don't think it will replace every meat purchase I make at the grocery store, and I'm definitely going to keep an eye on the pricing when I reorder.

But the organic chicken breasts were good enough that I want to buy them again, which says a lot considering how many different places I've purchased chicken over the years.

I also appreciated that the entire process was easy. The order arrived in great condition, everything was frozen, and I was able to stock our freezer with meats we use regularly. The website is easy to navigate and it's easy to adjust your order.

My verdict: Crowd Cow isn't necessarily the most budget-friendly way to buy meat, but the quality of the organic chicken breasts alone made it worth trying for me.

If you're thinking about placing an order, I'd start with the chicken. That's what convinced me.

Get $25 off your first Crowd Cow order here

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