diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/debian/chef_install.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/debian/chef_install.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5bb5f6acb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/debian/chef_install.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+require_relative "../../omnibus"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module Chef
+    module Cap
+      module Debian
+        module ChefInstall
+          def self.chef_install(machine, version, prerelease)
+            machine.communicate.sudo("apt-get update -y -qq")
+            machine.communicate.sudo("apt-get install -y -qq curl")
+
+            command = Omnibus.build_command(version, prerelease)
+            machine.communicate.sudo(command)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/linux/chef_installed.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/linux/chef_installed.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa891c541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/linux/chef_installed.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module Chef
+    module Cap
+      module Linux
+        module ChefInstalled
+          # Check if Chef is installed at the given version.
+          # @return [true, false]
+          def self.chef_installed(machine, version)
+            knife = "/opt/chef/bin/knife"
+            command = "test -x #{knife}"
+
+            if version != :latest
+              command << "&& #{knife} --version | grep 'Chef: #{version}'"
+            end
+
+            machine.communicate.test(command, sudo: true)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/redhat/chef_install.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/redhat/chef_install.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49db9bf9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/cap/redhat/chef_install.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+require_relative "../../omnibus"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module Chef
+    module Cap
+      module Redhat
+        module ChefInstall
+          def self.chef_install(machine, version, prerelease)
+            machine.communicate.sudo("yum install -y -q curl")
+
+            command = Omnibus.build_command(version, prerelease)
+            machine.communicate.sudo(command)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base.rb
index 1ee8bca0a..37124ad3f 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         # @return [String, Symbol]
         attr_accessor :log_level
 
+        # Install a prerelease version of Chef.
+        # @return [true, false]
+        attr_accessor :prerelease
+
         # The version of Chef to install. If Chef is already installed on the
         # system, the installed version is compared with the requested version.
         # If they match, no action is taken. If they do not match, version of
@@ -47,19 +51,26 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         def initialize
           super
 
-          @binary_path      = UNSET_VALUE
-          @binary_env       = UNSET_VALUE
-          @install          = UNSET_VALUE
-          @log_level        = UNSET_VALUE
-          @version          = UNSET_VALUE
+          @binary_path = UNSET_VALUE
+          @binary_env  = UNSET_VALUE
+          @install     = UNSET_VALUE
+          @log_level   = UNSET_VALUE
+          @prerelease  = UNSET_VALUE
+          @version     = UNSET_VALUE
         end
 
         def finalize!
-          @binary_path      = nil     if @binary_path == UNSET_VALUE
-          @binary_env       = nil     if @binary_env == UNSET_VALUE
-          @install          = true    if @install == UNSET_VALUE
-          @log_level        = :info   if @log_level == UNSET_VALUE
-          @version          = :latest if @version == UNSET_VALUE
+          @binary_path = nil     if @binary_path == UNSET_VALUE
+          @binary_env  = nil     if @binary_env == UNSET_VALUE
+          @install     = true    if @install == UNSET_VALUE
+          @log_level   = :info   if @log_level == UNSET_VALUE
+          @prerelease  = false   if @prerelease == UNSET_VALUE
+          @version     = :latest if @version == UNSET_VALUE
+
+          # Make sure the install is a symbol if it's not a boolean
+          if @install.respond_to?(:to_sym)
+            @install = @install.to_sym
+          end
 
           # Make sure the version is a symbol if it's not a boolean
           if @version.respond_to?(:to_sym)
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_apply.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_apply.rb
index 8b77394f4..9f313b790 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_apply.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_apply.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+require_relative "base"
+
 module VagrantPlugins
   module Chef
     module Config
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/installer.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/installer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8b08f10d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/installer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module Chef
+    class Installer
+      def initialize(machine, options = {})
+        @machine    = machine
+        @version    = options.fetch(:version, :latest)
+        @prerelease = options.fetch(:prerelease, :latest)
+        @force      = options.fetch(:force, false)
+      end
+
+      # This handles verifying the Chef installation, installing it if it was
+      # requested, and so on. This method will raise exceptions if things are
+      # wrong.
+      def ensure_installed
+        # If the guest cannot check if Chef is installed, just exit printing a
+        # warning...
+        if !@machine.guest.capability?(:chef_installed)
+          @machine.ui.warn(I18n.t("vagrant.chef_cant_detect"))
+          return
+        end
+
+        if !should_install_chef?
+          @machine.ui.info(I18n.t("vagrant.chef_already_installed",
+            version: @version.to_s))
+          return
+        end
+
+        @machine.ui.detail(I18n.t("vagrant.chef_installing",
+          version: @version.to_s))
+        @machine.guest.capability(:chef_install, @version, @prerelease)
+
+        if !@machine.guest.capability(:chef_installed, @version)
+          raise Provisioner::Base::ChefError, :install_failed
+        end
+      end
+
+      # Determine if Chef should be installed. Chef is installed if the "force"
+      # option is given or if the guest does not have Chef installed at the
+      # proper version.
+      def should_install_chef?
+        @force || !@machine.guest.capability(:chef_installed, @version)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..db62b4fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module Chef
+    module Omnibus
+      OMNITRUCK = "https://www.getchef.com/chef/install.sh".freeze
+
+      # Read more about the Omnibus installer here:
+      # https://docs.getchef.com/install_omnibus.html
+      def build_command(version, prerelease = false)
+        command = "curl -sL #{OMNITRUCK} | sudo bash"
+
+        if prerelease || version != :latest
+          command << " -s --"
+        end
+
+        if prerelease
+          command << " -p"
+        end
+
+        if version != :latest
+          command << " -v \"#{version}\""
+        end
+
+        command
+      end
+      module_function :build_command
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/plugin.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/plugin.rb
index 343a82018..b2fb5cef5 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/plugin.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/plugin.rb
@@ -52,6 +52,21 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         require_relative "provisioner/chef_zero"
         Provisioner::ChefZero
       end
+
+      guest_capability(:linux, :chef_installed) do
+        require_relative "cap/linux/chef_installed"
+        Cap::Linux::ChefInstalled
+      end
+
+      guest_capability(:debian, :chef_install) do
+        require_relative "cap/debian/chef_install"
+        Cap::Debian::ChefInstall
+      end
+
+      guest_capability(:redhat, :chef_install) do
+        require_relative "cap/redhat/chef_install"
+        Cap::Redhat::ChefInstall
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/base.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/base.rb
index a891b1251..81f8c6e48 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/base.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/base.rb
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ require 'tempfile'
 
 require "vagrant/util/template_renderer"
 
+require_relative "../installer"
+
 module VagrantPlugins
   module Chef
     module Provisioner
@@ -13,6 +15,24 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           error_namespace("vagrant.provisioners.chef")
         end
 
+        def initialize(machine, config)
+          super
+
+          @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::provisioners::chef")
+        end
+
+        def install_chef
+          return if !config.install
+
+          @logger.info("Checking for Chef installation...")
+          installer = Installer.new(@machine,
+            force:      config.install == :force,
+            version:    config.version,
+            prerelease: config.prerelease,
+          )
+          installer.ensure_installed
+        end
+
         def verify_binary(binary)
           # Checks for the existence of chef binary and error if it
           # doesn't exist.
@@ -20,7 +40,8 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             "which #{binary}",
             error_class: ChefError,
             error_key: :chef_not_detected,
-            binary: binary)
+            binary: binary,
+          )
         end
 
         # This returns the command to run Chef for the given client
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_apply.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_apply.rb
index 04029f1a7..ed857c3b3 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_apply.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_apply.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 require "tempfile"
 
+require_relative "base"
+
 module VagrantPlugins
   module Chef
     module Provisioner
-      class ChefApply < Vagrant.plugin("2", :provisioner)
+      class ChefApply < Base
         def provision
+          install_chef
+          verify_binary(chef_binary_path("chef-apply"))
+
           command = "chef-apply"
-          command << " --log-level #{config.log_level}"
-          command << " #{config.upload_path}"
+          command << " \"#{target_recipe_path}\""
+          command << " --log_level #{config.log_level}"
 
           user = @machine.ssh_info[:username]
 
@@ -18,7 +23,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           # Upload the recipe
           upload_recipe
 
-          @machine.ui.info(I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.chef.running_chef_apply",
+          @machine.ui.info(I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.chef.running_apply",
             script: config.path)
           )
 
@@ -34,6 +39,12 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           end
         end
 
+        # The destination (on the guest) where the recipe will live
+        # @return [String]
+        def target_recipe_path
+          File.join(config.upload_path, "recipe.rb")
+        end
+
         # Write the raw recipe contents to a tempfile and upload that to the
         # machine.
         def upload_recipe
@@ -43,8 +54,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           file.rewind
 
           # Upload the tempfile to the guest
-          destination = File.join(config.upload_path, "recipe.rb")
-          @machine.communicate.upload(file.path, destination)
+          @machine.communicate.upload(file.path, target_recipe_path)
         ensure
           # Delete our template
           file.close
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_client.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_client.rb
index 9b0c2341f..5824f56be 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_client.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_client.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         end
 
         def provision
+          install_chef
           verify_binary(chef_binary_path("chef-client"))
           chown_provisioning_folder
           create_client_key_folder
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
index a8c1e84d3..d05794f18 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         end
 
         def provision
+          install_chef
           # Verify that the proper shared folders exist.
           check = []
           @shared_folders.each do |type, local_path, remote_path|
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index 617cc3b43..81365587d 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ en:
       CFEngine running in "single run" mode. Will execute one file.
     cfengine_single_run_execute: |-
       Executing run file for CFEngine...
+    chef_cant_detect: |-
+      Vagrant does not support detecting whether Chef is installed
+      for the guest OS running in the machine. Vagrant will assume it is
+      installed and attempt to continue.
+    chef_already_installed: |-
+      Detected Chef (%{version}) is already installed
+    chef_installing: |-
+      Installing Chef (%{version})...
     chef_client_cleanup_failed: |-
       Cleaning up the '%{deletable}' for Chef failed. The stdout and
       stderr are shown below. Vagrant will continue destroying the machine,
@@ -1754,6 +1762,16 @@ en:
           "The cookbook path '%{path}' doesn't exist. Ignoring..."
         json: "Generating chef JSON and uploading..."
         client_key_folder: "Creating folder to hold client key..."
+        install_failed: |-
+          Vagrant could not detect Chef on the guest! Even after Vagrant
+          attempted to install Chef, it could still not find Chef on the system.
+          Please make sure you are connected to the Internet and can access
+          Chef's package distribution servers. If you already have Chef
+          installed on this guest, you can disable the automatic Chef detection
+          by setting the 'install' option in the Chef configuration section of
+          your Vagrantfile:
+
+              chef.install = false
         log_level_empty: |-
           The Chef provisioner requires a log level. If you did not set a
           log level, this is probably a bug and should be reported.
@@ -1765,7 +1783,7 @@ en:
           guest.
         running_client: "Running chef-client..."
         running_client_again: "Running chef-client again (failed to converge)..."
-        running_client_apply: "Running chef-apply..."
+        running_apply: "Running chef-apply..."
         running_solo: "Running chef-solo..."
         running_solo_again: "Running chef-solo again (failed to converge)..."
         missing_shared_folders: |-
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base_test.rb
index 6ca27ba08..2355f28cd 100644
--- a/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/base_test.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::Chef::Config::Base do
       subject.finalize!
       expect(subject.install).to be(true)
     end
+
+    it "is converted to a symbol" do
+      subject.install = "force"
+      subject.finalize!
+      expect(subject.install).to eq(:force)
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#log_level" do
@@ -43,6 +49,13 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::Chef::Config::Base do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#prerelease" do
+    it "defaults to true" do
+      subject.finalize!
+      expect(subject.prerelease).to be(false)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#version" do
     it "defaults to :latest" do
       subject.finalize!
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c42df1cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+require_relative "../../../base"
+
+require Vagrant.source_root.join("plugins/provisioners/chef/omnibus")
+
+describe VagrantPlugins::Chef::Omnibus, :focus do
+  let(:prefix) { "curl -sL #{described_class.const_get(:OMNITRUCK)}" }
+
+  let(:version) { :latest }
+  let(:prerelease) { false }
+
+  let(:build_command) { described_class.build_command(version, prerelease) }
+
+  context "when prerelease is given" do
+    let(:prerelease) { true }
+
+    it "returns the correct command" do
+      expect(build_command).to eq("#{prefix} | sudo bash -s -- -p")
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "when version is :latest" do
+    let(:version) { :latest }
+
+    it "returns the correct command" do
+      expect(build_command).to eq("#{prefix} | sudo bash")
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "when version is a string" do
+    let(:version) { "1.2.3" }
+
+    it "returns the correct command" do
+      expect(build_command).to eq("#{prefix} | sudo bash -s -- -v \"1.2.3\"")
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "when prerelease and version are given" do
+    let(:version) { "1.2.3" }
+    let(:prerelease) { true }
+
+    it "returns the correct command" do
+      expect(build_command).to eq("#{prefix} | sudo bash -s -- -p -v \"1.2.3\"")
+    end
+  end
+end