---
title: ToolRouter — Tool Detail
description: Detailed documentation for a ToolRouter tool including skills, parameters, and examples.
url: https://toolrouter.com/tools/recipe-finder
---
# Recipe Finder

Search thousands of recipes by dish name, ingredients on hand, cuisine, or category. Browse trending recipes from 12+ food blogs updated daily. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions, ingredient quantities, thumbnails, and optional video links.

- **Version:** 0.05
- **Categories:** data, productivity

## Skills (9)

### Search Recipes (`search_recipes`)

Search recipes by name or keyword. Returns matching recipes with full details including name, category, cuisine, instructions, ingredients with measurements, thumbnail image, and optional YouTube link.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `query` | string | Yes | Recipe name or keyword to search for (e.g. "chicken", "pasta carbonara", "chocolate cake") |

**Returns:** Matching recipes with name, category, cuisine, full instructions, ingredients with measurements, thumbnail, and optional YouTube/source links

**Examples:**

*Search for chicken recipes:*

```json
{
  "query": "chicken"
}
```

*Find a specific recipe by name:*

```json
{
  "query": "pasta carbonara"
}
```

### Random Recipe (`random_recipe`)

Get a random recipe for meal inspiration. Returns a single recipe with full details including name, category, cuisine, cooking instructions, ingredients with measurements, thumbnail image, and video link.

**Returns:** A single random recipe with full details including name, category, cuisine, instructions, ingredients, thumbnail, and optional YouTube link

**Examples:**

*Get a random meal idea:*

```json
{}
```

*Random recipe for dinner inspiration:*

```json
{}
```

### Filter by Ingredient (`filter_by_ingredient`)

Find recipes that use a specific ingredient. Returns matching recipe names, IDs, and thumbnail images. Use search_recipes with the recipe name to get full details and instructions.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `ingredient` | string | Yes | Ingredient to filter by (e.g. "chicken_breast", "salmon", "garlic"). Use underscores for multi-word ingredients. |

**Returns:** List of recipe names, IDs, and thumbnails that use the specified ingredient (simplified data — use search_recipes for full details)

**Examples:**

*Find recipes using chicken breast:*

```json
{
  "ingredient": "chicken_breast"
}
```

*Find recipes with salmon:*

```json
{
  "ingredient": "salmon"
}
```

### Filter by Cuisine (`filter_by_cuisine`)

Find recipes from a specific cuisine or region. Returns matching recipe names, IDs, and thumbnail images. Use search_recipes with the recipe name to get full cooking instructions and ingredients.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `cuisine` | string | Yes | Cuisine or area to filter by (e.g. "Italian", "Japanese", "Mexican", "Indian", "French", "Chinese") |

**Returns:** List of recipe names, IDs, and thumbnails from the specified cuisine (simplified data — use search_recipes for full details)

**Examples:**

*Find Italian recipes:*

```json
{
  "cuisine": "Italian"
}
```

*Browse Japanese meals:*

```json
{
  "cuisine": "Japanese"
}
```

### Filter by Category (`filter_by_category`)

Find recipes in a specific category like Vegetarian, Dessert, Breakfast, Seafood, or Pasta. Returns matching recipe names, IDs, and thumbnail images. Use list_categories to see all available options.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `category` | string | Yes | Recipe category like 'Vegetarian', 'Dessert', 'Breakfast', 'Seafood', 'Pasta' — use list_categories to see all available options |

**Returns:** List of recipe names, IDs, and thumbnails in the specified category (simplified data — use search_recipes for full details)

**Examples:**

*Find vegetarian recipes:*

```json
{
  "category": "Vegetarian"
}
```

*Browse dessert recipes:*

```json
{
  "category": "Dessert"
}
```

### List Categories (`list_categories`)

List all available recipe categories with descriptions and thumbnail images. Useful for browsing what types of recipes are available before filtering.

**Returns:** All recipe categories with names, descriptions, and thumbnail images

**Examples:**

*See all recipe categories:*

```json
{}
```

*Browse available meal types:*

```json
{}
```

### Search by Ingredients (`search_by_ingredients`)

Find recipes from raw ingredients you have on hand. Pass up to 5 comma-separated ingredients and get recipes that use them — with full details including instructions, measurements, and images. Smart partial matching returns the best recipes even when no single recipe uses all ingredients together.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `ingredients` | string | Yes | Comma-separated list of ingredients you have (e.g. "chicken, garlic, rice" or "salmon, lemon, dill"). Max 5 ingredients. |

**Returns:** Recipes matching the given ingredients with full details (instructions, measurements, images). Shows exact matches when possible, ranked partial matches otherwise.

**Examples:**

*Find recipes with chicken, garlic, and rice:*

```json
{
  "ingredients": "chicken, garlic, rice"
}
```

*What can I make with salmon and lemon?:*

```json
{
  "ingredients": "salmon, lemon"
}
```

*Recipes using potatoes and cheese:*

```json
{
  "ingredients": "potatoes, cheese"
}
```

### Trending Recipes (`trending_recipes`)

Discover the latest recipes from 12 top food blogs updated daily. Aggregates fresh content from Pinch of Yum, Minimalist Baker, Smitten Kitchen, Budget Bytes, Serious Eats, RecipeTin Eats, and more. Optionally filter by cuisine keyword.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `limit` | number | No | Number of recipes to return (1-50, default 20) |
| `cuisine` | string | No | Optional cuisine keyword to filter results (e.g. "thai", "italian", "korean") |

**Returns:** Fresh recipes from top food blogs with title, link, description, publication date, and source. Updated daily from 12+ blogs.

**Examples:**

*Get latest trending recipes:*

```json
{}
```

*Trending Korean recipes:*

```json
{
  "cuisine": "korean"
}
```

*Top 5 latest recipes:*

```json
{
  "limit": 5
}
```

### Recipe of the Day (`recipe_of_the_day`)

Get a featured recipe of the day, freshly picked from top food blogs. Changes daily — same recipe for everyone on the same day. Includes 3 runner-up suggestions from different blogs.

**Returns:** Featured recipe of the day with title, link, description, and source, plus 3 runner-up recipes from different blogs

**Examples:**

*What should I cook today?:*

```json
{}
```

*Get the recipe of the day:*

```json
{}
```

## Quick Start

```bash
# Via CLI
TOOLROUTER_API_KEY=tr_live_xxx npx -y toolrouter-mcp call recipe-finder search_recipes --query chicken

# Via REST API
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer tr_live_xxx" \
     -d '{"tool":"recipe-finder","skill":"search_recipes","input":{"query":"chicken"}}' \
     https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/call
```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Should I search by dish name or ingredients?

Use dish search when you know what you want to cook, and ingredient search when you are working with what is already in the kitchen.

### Can I browse by cuisine or category?

Yes. The tool can filter by cuisine, ingredient, category, and even list categories first if you want to browse before you narrow the search.

### Where do the trending recipes come from?

Trending recipes are pulled from a set of food blogs that update daily, so it is a good way to find what is getting attention right now.

### Can I get a random idea when I do not know what to cook?

Yes. `random_recipe` and `recipe_of_the_day` are both useful when you want a quick decision instead of a targeted search.

---

## Get Started with ToolRouter

**Already connected?** Call any tool with `use_tool({ tool, skill, input })`. Browse tools with `discover` or visit https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt

**New to ToolRouter?** Connect with one command (no API key needed — auto-provisions on first use):

```bash
# MCP (Claude Code, Codex CLI)
claude mcp add toolrouter -- npx -y toolrouter-mcp

# MCP (Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, VS Code, Gemini CLI, Claude Desktop)
{"mcpServers":{"toolrouter":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","toolrouter-mcp"]}}}

# Claude Chat / Claude Cowork / Claude Mobile — add as a connector:
# Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# ChatGPT — add as an app:
# Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → enable Developer mode → Create app → MCP Server URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# CLI (works instantly, no restart needed)
npx -y toolrouter-mcp tools                    # browse all tools
npx -y toolrouter-mcp search "seo"             # search by keyword
npx -y toolrouter-mcp call seo analyze_page --url https://example.com
```

Free tools work immediately. For paid tools, visit https://toolrouter.com/claim to add credits.

All platforms: https://toolrouter.com/connect | Full catalog: https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt | Docs: https://toolrouter.com/docs