Now booking in Kansas City & nearby areas

Your personal chef in Kansas City.

Smart meals for busy lives, one prep day at a time. Weekly meal prep, private dinners, and custom menus, cooked fresh in your own kitchen by Chef Carlos.


5.0 rating from 11 Google reviews

Now Serving

Kansas City β—† Overland Park β—† Leawood β—† Prairie Village β—† Waldo β—† Brookside

HOW IT WORKS

From Consultation to Clean Kitchen

A simple, four-step process so you get fresh, home-cooked meals without lifting a finger.

01

Free consultation

A no-pressure 15-minute call to learn about your lifestyle, food preferences, and goals.

02

Custom menu

Chef Carlos builds a personalized weekly menu and grocery list based on your needs.

03

Shop & cook

We handle the grocery shopping and cook everything fresh right in your kitchen.

04

Stocked & clean

Your fridge is filled with ready-to-eat meals. Your kitchen is left spotless.

High-protein, veggie-forward meals with global flavor. Think Mexican, Mediterranean, and everything in between.

FROM THE KITCHEN

A taste of what we cook

MEAL PREP SERVICES

Pick the plan that fits your week

Every plan is fully custom. Free 15-minute consultation included. Grocery costs billed separately.

01

Free consultation

A no-pressure 15-minute call to learn about your lifestyle, food preferences, and goals.

02

Custom menu

Chef Carlos builds a personalized weekly menu and grocery list based on your needs.

03

Shop & cook

We handle the grocery shopping and cook everything fresh right in your kitchen.

04

Stocked & clean

Your fridge is filled with ready-to-eat meals. Your kitchen is left spotless.

Private Chef Kansas City | The Makeshift Chef

Stress-Free Meals from Your Personal Chef in Kansas City

"The Makeshift Chef is a Kansas City personal chef service founded by Carlos Serrano. We specialize in weekly in-home meal prep, private dinners, and custom menus for busy families and professionals across the Kansas City metro area, including Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Waldo, and Brookside. Chef Carlos handles everything from menu planning and grocery shopping to cooking and full kitchen cleanup."

Why Work With a Personal Chef in Kansas City?

Having a private chef isn’t just about food β€” it’s about reclaiming your time, health, and peace of mind.

  • Save hours each week

  • Enjoy healthy meals that taste amazing

  • Skip the stress of planning, shopping, and cooking

  • Get fully customized menus just for you

  • Achieve better work-life balance

A smiling man with long dark hair and glasses wearing a black shirt and white apron, leaning on a kitchen counter.

Meet Chef Carlos – Personal Chef in Kansas City

Carlos Serrano is a personal chef in Kansas City, MO with a heart for hospitality and a passion for flavorful, nourishing food. His warm, customized approach turns everyday meals into experiences your family looks forward to. Whether you’re gluten-free, dairy-light, low-carb, or just want to eat better, Carlos has you covered β€” with meals that feel like home.

Client Reviews

  • Carlos is an incredible chef. His flavors are always on point and he saves us an extraordinary amount of time with meal planning, all while catering to our dietary restrictions. - E. Baysinger

    Google Reviews

  • Would highly recommend Chef Carlos! His meals were healthy, delicious, on time, and made our life easier! He is open to feedback and gave me options to choose from each week based on our personal preferences. Portion sizes were large too! Five stars! - L. Peterson

    Google Reviews

  • We absolutely loved the meals he prepared for us and he introduced us to so many new dishes. - J. Solar

    Google Reviews

Not in Kansas City? Try Our Digital Meal Prep Guides

Check out our collection of digital meal prep guides, recipe ebooks, and soon-to-launch virtual cooking classes. Perfect for the DIY foodie or anyone outside KC who wants to cook smarter and eat better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about working with The Makeshift Chef.

The Makeshift Chef is a personal chef service based in Kansas City, Missouri, founded by Chef Carlos Serrano. We specialize in weekly in-home meal prep, private dinners, and fully customized menus for busy families and professionals. Carlos handles everything from menu planning and grocery shopping to cooking and full kitchen cleanup. Book a free consultation to get started.
Unlike meal delivery services, The Makeshift Chef cooks fresh meals directly in your home using real ingredients tailored to your dietary needs. There are no pre-packaged or frozen meals. Every dish is made fresh, customized to your household, and ready to enjoy throughout the week. Learn more about our meal prep services in Kansas City.
Our meal prep service typically costs between $300 and $475 per week depending on the number of meals, household size, and dietary requirements. Grocery costs are billed separately. Read our full breakdown of how much a private chef costs or contact us for a free personalized quote.
We serve the greater Kansas City metro area including Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Waldo, Brookside, and surrounding neighborhoods. If you are outside these areas, reach out and we will see what we can arrange.
Absolutely. We specialize in customized meal prep for gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, high-protein, vegetarian, and family-friendly dietary needs. Every menu is built around your specific requirements using whole, fresh ingredients with bold flavors.
No. Many of our clients provide entry instructions and return to a fully prepped fridge and a spotless kitchen. Chef Carlos takes care of everything and leaves your space clean when done. Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ page.

Ready to Ditch the Dinner Stress?

If you’re a busy family or professional in Kansas City, The Makeshift Chef is your solution to healthy, stress-free meals at home. Whether you want weekly in-home prep or downloadable meal guides, we’re here to help you eat well and live better.