Free Recipe API

Free Recipe API Support
The API and site will always remain free at point of access.

AI Agent & Developer Resources

Use these public, machine-readable resources to understand or integrate TheMealDB. The OpenAPI files contain placeholders only and do not expose API keys; supply your own key when making requests.

AI Agent Guide Capabilities, API workflow, response fields, attribution, and responsible-use guidance. /AGENTS.md AI Skill Reusable instructions for finding, checking, and presenting meal data accurately. /SKILL.md OpenAPI V1 Swagger-compatible specification for the stable V1 JSON endpoints. /api/spec/openapi-v1.yaml OpenAPI V2 Swagger-compatible specification for the V2 JSON endpoints and discovery methods. /api/spec/openapi-v2.yaml

Test API Keys
You can use the test API key "1" during development of your app or for educational use (see test links below).
However you must become a supporter if releasing publicly on an appstore.

API Production Key Upgrade
All supporters have access to the beta version of the API which allows mutiple ingredient filters.
You also get access to adding your own meals and images. You can also list the full database rather than limited to 100 items.
Please sign up on Paypal and we will email you the upgraded API key.

Contact
Email: thedatadb (at) gmail.com

V1 API

API Methods using the developer test key '1' in the URL

Search meal by name

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/search.php?s=Arrabiata

List all meals by first letter

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/search.php?f=a

Lookup full meal details by id

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/lookup.php?i=52772

Lookup a single random meal

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/random.php

Lookup a selection of 10 random meals

*Premium API Only
www.themealdb.com/api/json/v2/1/randomselection.php

List all meal categories

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/categories.php

Latest Meals

*Premium API Only
www.themealdb.com/api/json/v2/1/latest.php

List all Categories, Area, Ingredients

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/list.php?c=list
www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/list.php?a=list
www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/list.php?i=list

Filter by main ingredient

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php?i=chicken_breast

Filter by Ingredient

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php?i=chicken_breast

Filter by Multi-Ingredient

*Premium API Only
www.themealdb.com/api/json/v2/1/filter.php?i=chicken_breast,garlic,salt

Filter by Category

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php?c=Seafood

Filter by Area

www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php?a=Canadian

Meal Thumbnail Images

Add /preview to the end of the meal image URL
/images/media/meals/llcbn01574260722.jpg/small
/images/media/meals/llcbn01574260722.jpg/medium
/images/media/meals/llcbn01574260722.jpg/large

Ingredient Thumbnail Images

*URL's match the ingredient name with an underscore for any spaces.

www.themealdb.com/images/ingredients/lime.png
www.themealdb.com/images/ingredients/lime-small.png
www.themealdb.com/images/ingredients/lime-medium.png
www.themealdb.com/images/ingredients/lime-large.png