Let’s explain How to get recipe ideas using artificial intelligence. This will offer you different ways to get ideas and recipes to know what you can cook, whether asking for something concrete that you want to prepare or how to do it based on what you already have in the fridge, or preparing weekly menus.
For most cases, we will utilize commonly known tools, such as ChatGPT, but you can also use tools like Co-Pilot, DeepSeek, Gemini, or others. We will provide you with different ideas to use these tools when asking for recipes. Additionally, at the end, we will include some other applications that may interest you.
Before starting: Things to Consider
Before letting artificial intelligence assist you with your recipes, it’s essential to take a few things into account. Firstly, know your dietary restrictions or those of the people you are cooking for. Be aware of allergies, intolerances, or specific diets, and use tools that consider these factors or specify them to the AI you are using.
It is also vital to know what ingredients and kitchen utensils you have at home. There are functions that will help with ingredients, which we will discuss, but having a general idea of what you have is important. The same goes for kitchen utensils.
Furthermore, keep your goals in mind. Consider whether you want a quick recipe, one with few ingredients, or a more elaborate dish. These preferences will guide your requests to artificial intelligence.
Additionally, one more tip: Don’t fully trust AI-generated recipes, especially regarding quantities and complex dishes, as they may contain errors. However, maintain an open mind, as the AI could suggest creative or uncommon ingredients.
Ask for a Specific Recipe
The simplest way to use AI for recipe ideas is to request a specific dish that you want to cook. You can structure your query to request an ingredient list and step-by-step instructions. For example, you could ask:
I want to cook [your desired dish]. Please provide the best recipe, a step-by-step guide, and a list of necessary ingredients.
By making a simple request like this, tools like ChatGPT can act as a virtual cookbook, guiding you through the entire cooking process efficiently.
Ask for Ideas by Type of Dish
If you’re uncertain about what you want to eat, try asking the AI for suggestions for a type of dish. You can provide specifics to narrow down the options. For example:
I need dinner ideas. Please suggest quick, fresh, healthy dishes that don’t require many ingredients.
In this request, we included four descriptors, which can help the AI generate more tailor-made ideas like a chickpea salad or a zucchini omelette.
List Your Ingredients and Ask for Ideas
Another advanced method for requesting recipes is to inform the AI about the ingredients you already have in your fridge or pantry. For instance:
I have eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, and a bit of chicken. What quick dishes can I prepare for dinner?
With this simple prompt, the AI will generate several different dishes, listing necessary ingredients and preparation steps, including timing for each suggestion.
Teach AI What You Have in the Fridge
Many AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini allow photo recognition. You can upload a photo of your fridge that shows what you have, and then request dinner ideas based on those ingredients.
An example prompt could be: “This is what I have in my fridge; provide me ideas for dinner dishes based on it.” By attaching the photo, the AI will identify available ingredients and offer several suggestions for dishes you can prepare.
Artificial intelligence can also assist you in planning a weekly menu. It can create a shopping list with all the ingredients needed for the week. A good starting point could be:
I need a weekly menu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner that is balanced and healthy, focusing on the Mediterranean diet. Please also provide a list of ingredients for my shopping.
As mentioned, you can specify various parameters in your request—mention specific diets, ingredients to include, or dishes you want to have over the week.
Moreover, you can even ask for the menu to be formatted into a table for easier organization, and request to convert it to a PDF or Word file for easy saving or printing.
Other Requests You Can Make
AI can also assist you with various culinary aspects beyond recipes. You can inquire about the calories in certain foods or ask which is healthier between two products you are considering.
You can even get product labels explained before you shop, or analyze a photo of a product’s nutritional information and ask relevant questions.
Another exciting feature includes ingredient substitution requests for specific recipes. This is incredibly useful if you have dietary intolerances and need suitable alternatives.
Lastly, you can also ask for guidance on culinary techniques to enhance your skills in the kitchen. The AI can explain these techniques step-by-step, allowing for follow-up questions if something isn’t clear.
Explore Third-Party Tools
You can also explore other third-party tools. For instance, you can combine YouTube with ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. AI can summarize a recipe video, analyze its ingredients, or even transcribe the content for you.
There are also specialized apps focused on recipes that utilize AI to generate them. Some interesting options include:
- Foodieprep: An assisting meal planner that helps create custom recipes and manage shopping lists. You can even import your recipes from other websites. Visit: foodieprep.ai
- Digidish: Offers personalized recipes powered by an AI assistant, suitable for both beginners and seasoned cooks. Visit: digidish.net
- AI Recipe Generator: Allows selection of ingredients, quantity, and cuisine type to produce unique recipes. Visit: letsfoodie.com/ai-recipe-generator.
- Dishgen: A kitchen dish generator similar to ChatGPT that responds to user queries. Visit: dishgen.com.
- Chefgpt: An AI that monitors your food intake, counts calories, and helps achieve nutritional goals. Visit: chefgpt.xyz.
- Cookifood: Another platform for generating recipes, providing options to see existing creations or make your own. Visit: cookifood.com.
- Granny Cooks for Me: Generates dish ideas based on available ingredients. Visit: grannycooksfor.me.
- Instadish: This AI offers recipe suggestions based on uploaded photos of your fridge’s contents. Visit: instadish.app.
In Xataka Basics | 22 useful and not-so-well-known free artificial intelligence tools