TheMealDB

How to Use This API

1. Get a Random Meal

Returns a random recipe from the database:

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

2. Search by Name

https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/search.php?s=chicken

3. Search by Main Ingredient

https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php?i=salmon

4. JavaScript — Random Meal Generator

fetch('https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/random.php')
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(data => {
    const meal = data.meals[0];
    console.log(`🍽 ${meal.strMeal} (${meal.strArea})`);
    console.log(`Category: ${meal.strCategory}`);
    console.log(`Tags: ${meal.strTags || 'none'}`);
    console.log(`\nIngredients:`);
    for (let i = 1; i <= 20; i++) {
      const ing = meal[`strIngredient${i}`];
      const measure = meal[`strMeasure${i}`];
      if (ing && ing.trim()) console.log(`  • ${measure} ${ing}`);
    }
    console.log(`\nImage: ${meal.strMealThumb}`);
    console.log(`Source: ${meal.strSource || 'N/A'}`);
  });

5. Python — Find Recipes with Common Ingredients

import requests

# Find recipes using chicken and rice
chicken = requests.get(
    'https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php',
    params={'i': 'chicken'}
).json()
rice = requests.get(
    'https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/filter.php',
    params={'i': 'rice'}
).json()

chicken_ids = {m['idMeal'] for m in chicken['meals']}
rice_ids = {m['idMeal'] for m in rice['meals']}
both = chicken_ids & rice_ids

print(f"Recipes with both chicken and rice: {len(both)}")
for meal_id in list(both)[:5]:
    detail = requests.get(
        f'https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/1/lookup.php?i={meal_id}'
    ).json()
    meal = detail['meals'][0]
    print(f"  • {meal['strMeal']} ({meal['strArea']})")

6. List All Categories

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