In this Huel Instant Meal Cups review, I’m going to look at Huel’s newest product. Fun, healthy, and complete instant cup meals that will revolutionize your dinners. Say goodbye to instant pasta and instant noodles, full of chemicals, sugars, MSG… and welcome instant meals with 22g of protein and all the vitamins and minerals.

However, this is not Huel’s first rodeo offering hot healthy meals.

In 2020, they launched their Hot & Savory line, which seemingly has been rebranded to Huel Instant Meals. These were multi-serving bagged meals in which two scoops and a cup of water would equal a complete meal. We rated them very favorably, as they were lived up to the hype of being tasty, complete, and easy to prepare. However, you did need the Huel Pot for the most consistent and repeatable results.

This time, Huel Instant Meal Cups takes away that extra step of needing that accessory, and a quick easy meal is only a cup of water away. Taking cues from other off the shelf, cup of noodles products, Huel Instant Meal Cups are looking to replicate that ease of prep on the go, but replace the high sodium, and usage of artificial flavors and preservatives.

Huel Instant Meal Cups are vegan, and have 22g of protein, 27 vitamins and minerals, and 6g of fiber. There are three launched flavors of Korean BBQ, Chick’n Alfredo, and Spicy Gochujang Noodles.

US Flavors: Korean BBQ Noodles, Chick’n Alfredo Pasta & Spicy Gochujang Noodles

EU Flavors: Katsu Curry & Fiery Chick’n Noodles

---

Soooo…..cup noodles this time, huh Huel? I’m interested in increased convenience, and Huel happens to have a built some good will on how good the former Hot & Savory line was, so I’m onboard.

I anticipate that these will be solid, and honestly, I do feel better about these in the microwave than I did with the plastic Huel Pot.

For those who are unaware, Huel is a complete meal replacement brand that focuses on making healthy plant-based meals that are convenient and affordable.

What I Like

1. Unbeatable convenience. No pot needed. If you can heat water, you’re good to go.

2. Very hearty. Love that they are more like a stew rather than just noodles and broth.

3. Distinguishing flavors. No plain chicken/beef/veg. Each is distinctive which makes for a good line up.

4. Filling. Since they turn out thick and rich, I was full for awhile.

5. Variety box. Sometimes you have to beg companies for a variety selection. Huel has you covered.

6. “Chicken” texture was better than expected. For the record, I don’t think anyone has gotten this quite right yet, but these were decent.

What I Dislike

1. Directions can use some tinkering. Plan on adding a bit more water, cooking a bit longer and giving it more time to stand. Following the instructions literally, led to undone noodles.

2. Variety pack extra cost. Yes, is good they have one, but charge more for the same amount. Either bring the price in line with the others or include another cup.

3. “Chicken” pieces weren’t seasoned. They’re more like filler than an addition. A missed opportunity.

4. Two box minimum order. A Huel practice that I’m still not a fan of.

Improvements

1. Improve the directions by stating ranges for example 1-2min, instead of just 1min.

2. Fix the variety box with suggestions above.

3. Consider doing more with the “chicken”

4. Bring some of the Instant Meal line into the Cup line.

Let’s take a look at what makes Huel Instant Meal Cups a much better choice nutritionally. Below we can see how it compares to other popular, off the shelf, just add water options that most are familiar with.

On the whole, Huel Instant Meals are fully plant based, contain 22g of protein in 400kcal, offer a good source of omega-3, and contain all 27 vitamins and minerals. On top of that, they are rich in fiber.

Huel Instant Meal Cups Overview

Kcal/meal	400
Macros (C/P/F)	45/25/30
Vegan	Yes
Keto	No
Features	Nut Free, Dairy Free
Non-GMO	Yes
Gluten Free	No
Organic	No
Includes Probiotics	No
Artificial Sweeteners	No
Synthetic Additives	Yes
Contains All Micronutrients	Yes
Controversial Ingredients	Soy

Carbs

Per 400kcal serving:

• Total Carbs: 64g, 23% of RI.
• Sugars: 8g, 26% of RI.
• Fiber: 6g, 21% of RI.

These numbers represent the highest amounts found between flavors and exact values will be at that level or below, depending on which flavor.

Keep in mind this is not a low carb product. That’s not the goal here, but it still decent source of fiber.

The Korean BBQ and Spicy both contain noodles made of wheat flour whereas Alfredo uses durum wheat semolina. Also, all flavors include corn maltodextrin as an element of their seasoning mixes.

Korean BBQ also has the most sugar at 8g, while the others only have 5g.

Protein

Per 400kcal serving:

• Total protein: 23g, 46% of RI.
• Protein Source(s): Pea, Fava Bean Protein

Huel’s hallmark is protein, and of course they do not disappoint, offering up to 23g per cup. As per usual, despite containing some soy in form of binder, they don’t add any soy protein to their plant-based meals.

They added the protein into the noodles, chick’n pieces and the seasoning mix. Many vegan meats use soy and is labeled as textured vegetable protein, but not with the Instant Meal Cups, all protein is either pea protein or fava bean protein.

Fats

Per 400kcal serving:

• Total fats: 9g per serving (12% of RI).
• Saturated Fats: 2.5g per serving (13% of RI).
• Omega-3 (ALA): 2g per serving.
• Omega-6 (Linoleic): 2g per serving.

Huel Instant Meal Cups have variety of fat sources, some good, others that I’d prefer left out, but all in all, a well rounded group.

• Canola Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Flaxseed Oil
• Coconut Milk (Alfredo only)

Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and coconut is a great source of MCTs. It is not as great of a DHA and EPA source as algae-based omega-3, but can help you get some valuable omega fatty acids.

Huel always comes correct with healthy fats and are transparent which we love!

Micronutrients

Huel has packed 27 vitamins and minerals into their meal cups, most of which are at least 20% or more of your recommended daily values. As with all products, be sure to follow the storage directions to make sure you maintain the efficacy of the nutrients.

Allergens

All Huel Instant Meal Cups contain gluten. Korean BBQ & Spicy Gochujang also contains soy.

Finally…the good part! Time outline the prep and the taste of these. First, here is an idea of what you can expect from each, and the ingredients you can expect to smell and taste.

Flavor	Spice	Unique Ingredients	Rating
Korean BBQ	Mild	Applewood smoke, chili peppers, spring onions	90%
Chick’n Alfredo	Not Spicy	Coconut milk, garlic, parmesan, black pepper	80%
Spicy Gochujang	Spicy	Spring onions, garlic, sesame, red peppers, hot sauce	90%

How to Prepare Huel Instant Quick Meals

A quick word about how to prepare these. There are two methods:

• Microwave – Add water, microwave, stir, microwave again, let stand
• Boiling Water – Add boiling water, let stand

Here is a quick vid showing the microwave method.

Me using the hot kettle method:

1. Boil water in the kettle or in a pan.
2. Fill in up to the line.
3. Let it sit for 5 minutes with one stir at half time.

Spicy Gochujang Noodles Huel Instant Meal Taste Review

This is the spicy one of the bunch. Even the uncooked powder smells a bit hot.

The first bite was somewhat less than ideal. Between the heat of the temperature and heat of the spice, it hard to grasp the taste. Letting it cool some and it got much better. The noodles were perfect, and the “chicken” was better than expected. I think it helps being in the thick sauce, because vegan chicken usually super spongey.

As for the heat, its up there. Not hurt yourself levels, but definitely a bit of brow sweat. Possibly a bit too hot for those not in that space, but nothing to worry about for the spice chasers.

Chick’n Alfredo Huel Instant Meal Taste Review

Chick’n Alfredo is the non-Asian flavor of the bunch, opting for the super popular comfort food of alfredo. You can definitely smell the parmesan in this, and I have high hopes, as they’ve set the bar pretty high after a great showing with Huel Mac & Cheeze.

This has more flavor than I expected, and sauce really came through. I think the coconut milk worked wonders for the creaminess and mouth feel of this.

Definitely allow for a bit of extra time to cook for this flavor. The noodles are thicker and will take longer to soften.

Korean BBQ Huel Instant Meal Taste Review

With Korean BBQ, you’re greet to gravy-like sauce, and a sweet/smoky flavor. It has smaller noodles similar to Spicy Gochujang, which lends well to cooking all the way through while mostly following instructions.

Summary & Prep Tips

These were all good, and solid options for a quick bite. I enjoyed the sauces, and the flavors of all three. I’d say that Korean BBQ & Spicy Gochujang are an easy 4 out of 5. While Alfredo is also very good, it takes a bit more hand-holding to get it prepared just right, so I’d have that one a 3 out of 5.

Here are few things I learned in preparing these.

• Microwave was better than boiling water. Allows more flexibility
• Shake it up before adding water to mix the settled contents
• Add seasonings before adding water for better mixing
• Don’t completely remove the lid. It’ll come in handy during standing
• STIR! Especially with Alfredo which is most prone to not fulling cooking
• Don’t be afraid to allow for extra time in the microwave if using that method

Huel (Human + Fuel) is nutritionally complete food. This means every Huel meal contains a balance of all 27 essential vitamins and minerals, protein, essential fats, carbs, fiber and phytonutrients in a single product.

It was started by Julian Hearn in June 2015 with a mission:

To make nutritionally complete, convenient, affordable food, with minimal impact on animals and the environment.

Huel also offers other complete meal products including their line of powders, bars and their latest Huel Black RTD. Therefore, if you are looking to upgrade your nutrition, Huel is a great company to start with.

Pricing

Huel Instant Meal Cups are only available via the Huel webpage. The subscription discount is 20% and can be shipped in intervals of 1 to 10 weeks.

Unlike Huel Daily Superblend, this product requires a 2 box minimum per order.

Product	Total Price Non-Sub/Sub	Serving Price Non-Sub/Sub
Single Flavor or Variety (16 servings)	$99/$79.20	$6.19/$4.95

Are Huel Instant Meal Cups Worth It?

You can check a comparison between healthy instant meals in our next section where we compare them to Plenny Pots (similar vegan instant pots), and Vite Ramen, the healthiest instant ramen you can buy.

There’s no way around it. Huel Instant Meal Cups are expensive. If you compare them to traditional unhealthy but handy meal cups, you will be outraged.

However, considering that Huel Instant meals are actually healthy, provide you with plenty of protein, fiber and many other nutrients Americans are deficient in, then price starts becoming more reasonable.

If this is a way to improve your diet, boost your health, and promote healthier habits then it’s a better deal.

Still, if budget is important, Huel Hot & Savory offers a very similar experience for half the price. Almost as convenient.

Shipping

Currently, the product is available in the US, EU, and UK. Also take note that only the US can order the products we reviewed.

Huel ships orders of $65 for for free. Any orders below that will be at least $9. Priority shipping (1-2 days) was also an option for a cost of $14.

Please refer to their FAQ for shipping costs to other regions.

In the nutrition section, we saw how these compare to less than ideal off the shelf products. Now, lets line up Huel with other complete food company’s quick meals in a cup to see where they measure up.

Instant Cups, Instant Meals, Plenny Pots & Vite Ramen

Category	Huel Instant Meal Cups	Huel Instant Meals (H&S)	Plenny Pots	Vite Ramen GO
serving price	$6.19	$4.71	€3.49	$7.66
kcal/serving	400	400	400	450-520
Flavors	3	10	6	6
Protein (g)	22	25	20	31
Sugar (g)	8	8	11	2
Fiber (g)	6	14	12	7
Fats (g)	9	13	14	14
Carbs (g)	64	56	52	67
Vegan	Y	Y	Y	N
Certified Organic	N	N	N	N
Micronutrient	27	27	26	25
Artificial Sweeteners	N	Y	N	N
Synthetic Additives	Y	Y	Y	Y
GMO?	N	N	N	N
Minimum Order	2	3	1	1
Ease of Prep	Very Easy	Easy	Easy	Very Easy
Protein Source	Pea, Fava Bean	Pea	Pea, Soy	Wheat, Quinoa
Availability	US, UK, EU	International	EU only	International

What Is the Best Instant Complete Meal?

Looking at the above, there’s one clear winner:

• Huel Hot & Savory. It’s almost as convenient as the Instant Cup, almost half the price, and nutritionally the same. You have more flavours to choose from, and they are delicious.

Vite Ramen is a great choice if you like ramen and want to support a US-based company that supports fair work.

In Europe, Plenny Pots or YFood Pots are a nice alternative, but not as tasty as Huel H&S.

Huel Instant Meal Cups Review – Verdict

Huel has nailed this category.

While there are a ton of products that offer various recipes or how you can include a product into this dish or that dish, Huel took things to next level and has not looked back.

My lunch while in the office, is never under $10, and most certainly has too much crap I don’t need, and far less of what I do need. So when taking that into account, Huel Instant Meal Cups are a better option on all fronts.

The best part honestly, is the fact that they create a nice, thick sauce. They’ve done well in making the product feel like something you made in a pot on the stove. And products like Vite Ramen are great, and was rated highly by us, but noodles and broth do get old….just like shakes do.

The only downside is the price. But if price is an issue, get the Huel Hot & Savory. Similar product, just as great.

I hope to see the EU flavors make their way to the states, and vice versa…as well as offering some flavors from the Instant Meal bagged line in the cups.

Bottom Line – Huel has cemented itself as the king of complete hot meals. Instant Meal Cups just make that reality more convenient.