Recipe Finder by Ingredient
Enter ingredients you have on hand and discover delicious recipes instantly. Search by name, browse by category, or get a random meal suggestion — completely free and private.
Enter main ingredients (e.g. chicken, beef, salmon, pasta, potato) — not seasonings like oil or salt:
Select a category to browse:
How Recipe Finder Works
This recipe finder tool uses TheMealDB, a free and open recipe database with over 300 meals from 27 culinary categories and dozens of regional cuisines. Enter up to three ingredients you have available — such as chicken, tomato, and pasta — and the tool searches the database in real time to return matching meal ideas. Each result includes a full ingredient list with measurements, step-by-step cooking instructions, and an optional YouTube video for visual guidance. Based on 2026 data, TheMealDB serves millions of recipe lookups monthly with no authentication required.
Finding Recipes by Ingredient
The ingredient search mode queries TheMealDB's filter endpoint for each ingredient separately, then finds meals that appear across multiple searches. This approach surfaces recipes where your key ingredients play a starring role rather than being incidental additions. For best results, search with main protein or staple ingredients — chicken, beef, pasta, rice, potatoes — rather than seasonings like salt or pepper, which rarely serve as the primary identifier in recipe databases. The tool displays each meal's name, photo, cuisine origin, and category to help you choose the right dish quickly.
Halal-Friendly Recipe Browsing
This tool automatically filters out recipes containing wine, beer, or other alcoholic ingredients from displayed results, making it easier to find halal-suitable meal ideas. For the broadest selection, focus on the Chicken, Seafood, Vegetarian, Beef, Lamb, and Pasta categories. Always review the full ingredient list before cooking to verify suitability for your dietary needs. The Miscellaneous and Side categories also contain many vegetable-based dishes that are naturally halal-friendly.
Saving and Organising Favourite Recipes
Click the heart icon on any recipe card to save it to your favourites list. Favourites are stored locally in your browser using localStorage, meaning they persist between visits without requiring an account or internet connection after the initial load. Access your saved recipes anytime via the Favourites tab. This is ideal for building a personal recipe library of dishes you enjoy or want to cook again. To remove a recipe from your favourites, click the heart icon again on the recipe card or within the detail view.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the recipe finder work?
Enter up to 3 ingredients you have on hand, and the tool searches TheMealDB's free recipe database for meals that feature those ingredients. It returns matching meals with images, category, origin, full ingredient lists, and step-by-step instructions.
Is this recipe finder completely free?
Yes, completely free. It uses TheMealDB's free public API — no account required, no subscription, and no hidden costs. All recipes are available instantly with full instructions and ingredient lists.
Can I save my favourite recipes?
Yes. Click the heart icon on any recipe card to save it to your favourites. Favourites are stored in your browser's local storage, so they persist between visits on the same device without requiring an account.
Are the recipes halal-friendly?
The tool filters out recipes that contain alcohol-based ingredients such as wine or beer. Focus on the Chicken, Seafood, Vegetarian, and Beef categories for the widest selection of halal-suitable recipes. Always verify individual recipe ingredients before cooking.
What if no recipes are found for my ingredients?
Try searching with a single, common ingredient first (e.g. chicken, pasta, or tomato). The database works best with individual main ingredients rather than spice names. You can also switch to "Search by Name" mode and type a cuisine or dish name directly.
How many recipes are in the database?
TheMealDB contains over 300 meals spanning 27 categories and dozens of regional cuisines from around the world, including British, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and many more. New recipes are added regularly.