aid: mealdb
name: TheMealDB
description: >-
  TheMealDB is an open, crowd-sourced database of recipes from around the world offering a free REST API
  with 669 meals, 927 ingredients, 300+ recipes complete with ingredients, step-by-step cooking
  instructions, categories, area cuisines, and meal images. The API and site will always remain free
  at point of access; a lifetime supporter upgrade unlocks premium V2 endpoints including multi-ingredient
  filtering, random sets, latest meals, and the ability to add custom meals and images.
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/mealdb/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
specificationVersion: '0.19'
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
x-source: public-apis/public-apis
x-category: Food & Drink
x-type: open
x-tier: 2
x-tier-reason: free-open-api-with-premium-upgrade
tags:
  - Food
  - Recipes
  - Meals
  - Cooking
  - Ingredients
  - Cuisine
  - Open Data
apis:
  - name: TheMealDB Recipe API
    description: >-
      REST API providing search, lookup, filtering, and browsing of 669 meals across categories, areas,
      and ingredients. Free V1 access uses the public test key "1" in the URL path. Premium V2 access
      unlocks multi-ingredient filters, random sets, latest meals, and custom meal upload for lifetime
      supporters (£10 one-time).
    humanURL: https://www.themealdb.com/api.php
    baseURL: https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1
    tags:
      - Recipes
      - Meals
      - Food
      - Ingredients
      - Cuisine
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://www.themealdb.com/api.php
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://www.themealdb.com/docs_api_guide.php
      - type: OpenAPI
        url: openapi/openapi.json
common:
  - type: Website
    url: https://www.themealdb.com
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.themealdb.com/api.php
  - type: Pricing
    url: https://www.themealdb.com/api.php
  - type: TermsOfService
    url: https://www.themealdb.com/terms_of_use.php
  - type: PrivacyPolicy
    url: https://www.themealdb.com/privacy_policy.php
  - type: Plans
    url: plans/mealdb-plans-pricing.yml
  - type: RateLimits
    url: rate-limits/mealdb-rate-limits.yml
  - type: FinOps
    url: finops/mealdb-finops.yml
  - type: X
    url: https://twitter.com/TheAudioDB
  - type: Facebook
    url: https://www.facebook.com/TheDataDB/
  - type: Discord
    url: https://discord.com/invite/pFvgaXV
features:
  - name: Meal Search by Name
    description: Search for meals by full or partial name and return full recipe details including ingredients and instructions.
  - name: Browse by First Letter
    description: List all meals beginning with a specified letter for alphabetical browsing.
  - name: Meal Lookup by ID
    description: Retrieve full recipe details for a specific meal using its unique numeric ID.
  - name: Random Meal
    description: Fetch a single random meal with complete recipe data; useful for "surprise me" features.
  - name: Category Browsing
    description: Retrieve all meal categories (Beef, Chicken, Dessert, Pasta, Seafood, etc.) with thumbnail images.
  - name: Filter by Ingredient
    description: Return a list of meals containing a specified main ingredient.
  - name: Filter by Category
    description: Return a list of meals belonging to a specific category.
  - name: Filter by Area / Cuisine
    description: Return a list of meals from a specific geographic cuisine area (Italian, Japanese, Mexican, etc.).
  - name: Ingredient Catalog
    description: List all known ingredients with descriptions and images.
  - name: Meal Images
    description: Meal and ingredient thumbnails with small, medium, and large size variants appended to the base image URL.
  - name: Premium Multi-Ingredient Filter
    description: Filter meals by multiple ingredients simultaneously (V2, supporter key required).
  - name: Premium Random Set
    description: Fetch 10 random meals in a single call (V2, supporter key required).
  - name: Premium Latest Meals
    description: Retrieve the 10 most recently added meals (V2, supporter key required).
useCases:
  - name: Recipe Discovery App
    description: Power a mobile or web recipe finder that lets users search, filter, and browse meals by name, category, or cuisine.
  - name: Meal Planning Tool
    description: Build a weekly meal planner that suggests random meals and allows filtering by dietary category or ingredient.
  - name: Cooking Education Platform
    description: Provide step-by-step instructions and ingredient lists for culinary learning apps and cooking courses.
  - name: Grocery List Generator
    description: Extract ingredient lists from meal lookups to automatically populate grocery shopping lists.
  - name: Cuisine Explorer
    description: Let users discover meals from specific world cuisines and learn about regional cooking traditions.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com