How to Make Money Selling Home-Cooked Meals (2026)
If you love cooking and often find yourself with extra food, you might be sitting on an untapped income stream. More people than ever are looking for alternatives to expensive takeout and processed meals, creating a perfect opportunity for talented home cooks.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time
The food landscape has shifted dramatically. Delivery app fees have skyrocketed, restaurant prices have increased, and more people are working from home and craving the comfort of home-cooked meals. Meanwhile, grocery costs have made cooking for one or two people inefficient.
This creates a perfect opportunity: home cooks can make full recipes without waste, while neighbors get affordable, delicious meals.
Ways to Make Money From Your Cooking
The easiest entry point is platforms like SplitDinner that connect home cooks with neighbors. You simply:
- List what you're already cooking
- Set a fair price per portion
- Let neighbors order and pick up
- you're already cooking anyway
- Cottage Food Sales
- Personal Chef Services
- requires dedicated cooking time
- Meal Prep Services
- typically one or two full prep days
- Use your existing kitchen
- Only make what's ordered or share your extras
- Cook when you want, list when you want
- Your neighbors are your market
- Identify your signature dishes
- What do people always compliment? 2. Calculate your costs
- Know your ingredient costs per portion 3. Set fair prices
- Cover costs plus a reasonable margin 4. Take appetizing photos
- Good lighting makes a huge difference 5. Start small
- List one or two meals to test the waters
- Your actual results depend on your location, pricing, and how often you cook.
- Regular listings build a following
- Good communication builds trust
- Social proof attracts new buyers
- Being known for specific cuisines helps you stand out
- Rotate offerings to keep things interesting
- Meal-sharing platforms like SplitDinner operate as cost-sharing arrangements, not commercial food sales. Always check your local regulations.
- Follow the same practices you'd use for feeding your family. Keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and maintain a clean kitchen.
- Start by sharing with people you know. Word of mouth in neighborhoods spreads quickly when the food is good.
- it's about offsetting your grocery costs while sharing food you're already making. The extra income is a bonus; the real reward is connecting with your community over good food.
Earning potential: $50-200+ per week, depending on how often you cook
Time investment: Minimal
Many regions allow selling certain homemade foods (baked goods, jams, etc.) directly to consumers under cottage food laws. This requires more setup but offers more independence.
Earning potential: Varies widely, $100-1000+ monthly
Time investment: Moderate to high
For those with professional skills, offering personal chef services to busy families can be lucrative.
Earning potential: $200-500+ per client per week
Time investment: High
Preparing weekly meal prep containers for clients who want healthy, portioned meals.
Earning potential: $300-800+ per week with regular clients
Time investment: High
Getting Started With Meal Sharing
If you're new to selling food, meal sharing is the lowest-barrier option. Here's why:
No special equipment needed
No inventory risk
Flexible schedule
Built-in customer base
Your First Steps
Realistic Income Expectations
Let's be honest about what you can expect:
Casual seller (2-3 meals/week): $100-300/month
Regular seller (4-5 meals/week): $400-800/month
Dedicated seller (daily listings): $1000+/month
These numbers assume average portion prices of $8-
Tips for Success
Consistency matters
Respond quickly
Ask for reviews
Specialize
Seasonal menus
Common Concerns Addressed
"Is it legal?"
"What about food safety?"
"What if no one orders?"
The Bottom Line
Selling home-cooked meals isn't about replacing your job
Ready to get started? Your neighbors are hungry, and your kitchen is calling.