ButcherBox Is at Target—Here’s How It Compares to the Subscription, from Someone Who Had It

ButcherBox, the premium meat subscription known for responsibly sourced, high‑quality cuts, is now at Target. What does this mean? Why should you care? Well, as someone who’s actually had a ButcherBox subscription in the past (yes, I personally paid for it), let me walk you through it. 

What kind of ButcherBox products are coming to Target? 

I’ve perused ButcherBox’s full selection of meat, fish, and more on their website many times, because I ordered from them every three months for a little under a year. They offer a ton of products, from staples like ground beef to premium steak cuts that almost scare me to cook. (I am simply not enough of a chef to buy a sirloin cap; sorry, BB.) They also have a handful of frozen pre-cooked products like frozen chicken tenders and meatballs. The one thing that ties every product together? They meet at least one of these fairly rigorous humane certifications: Certified Humane, Animal Welfare Approved (AWA), or GAP certifications (typically the higher levels of 4 or 5). 

Target will not have the full ButcherBox product selection by any means. This first launch seems to only include their most popular classics, like ground beef, New York strip steaks, ribeyes, and sirloins. If it goes well, I can definitely see them expanding, though. 

Ariana, why did you have a subscription to ButcherBox? Could you afford it? Do you recommend it?

I’ll be honest: I was not in a position to afford this subscription (more on prices below), but, well, I have a problem. I’ve touched on it before, in my article about how to grocery shop with anxiety. I’m an overthinker with a guilt complex and decision paralysis. And one thing that has always caused me decision paralysis when buying groceries is that pesky little label called Certified Humane. Because it’s nearly impossible to find. 

Meat, poultry, and seafood brands love to get away with labels like “farm-raised” and “free-range” that don’t really mean anything. AWA, Certified Humane, and the higher levels of GAP certification are the only ones I really trust. And I was getting really tired of just how limited my options were for buying humanely sourced products at my regular old Ralphs. 

I toyed around with getting this subscription for months and finally bit the bullet last year. I don’t regret it. The value is pretty good—especially compared to pricier Certified Humane brands I was already buying at the store. 

Still, I decided not to commit longterm. My overall take is that it’s slightly too pricey for the mixed results people have reported in the past (you can peruse the official reddit to read some). I didn’t have a bad experience, but I would rather find a local butcher to support and cook fresh instead of frozen cuts.

It’s cool we can find ButcherBox at Target now, but are the prices going to be astronomical? 

A quick look at my local Target shows these price points, which might differ by location:

• ButcherBox Ground Beef 90/10 (1lb): $8.49
• ButcherBox Ground Beef 85/15 (1lb): $7.99
• ButcherBox New York Strip Loin Steak (10oz): $13.99
• ButcherBox Ribeye Steak (10oz): $13.99

So, you know, definitely more expensive than your average brand—but right on par I would say with anything Certified Humane or better. And the upside is you can test out one or two products before committing to any kind of subscription. 

How does this compare to a ButcherBox subscription? 

Depending on the box you choose, you can expect to pay around $129–$149 for a standard box (roughly 8-11 pounds of meat) or $159–$189 for a larger box (12-16+ pounds). That works out to about $8–$11 per pound, which might feel pricey on the surface, but when you compare it to Certified Humane cuts at your local supermarket, the price is pretty competitive. 

It is REALLY worth noting: 

• You do not have to pay for a subscription every month. You can delay your box for as long as you want, and you only pay when you order. It’s really more of a meat delivery service than a monthly subscription. Just don’t forget about it, or you’ll find a box at your door and a charge on your card that you may not have wanted!
• You’ll typically get a promotion for your first year (free steak, free fish, etc.) that really increases the value of your box at no extra cost. I don’t think I would have committed without this, personally!

You can do what I did for months and check out their products, build a box, and leave before committing. Or you can buy one box, try it out, see if you like it. Or, thanks to Target, you can test out their most popular products without your bank account judging you. Or you can just write “buy the cheap meat, we’re all going to hell anyway” in the comments and be on your merry way.