I admit it. Whenever I look for a recipe online, I get annoyed that I have to scroll, scroll, scroll. Listen, I know your grandma had the best chocolate chip cookies, and chicken soup healed your soul back in 1997. I just want the recipe.
Bright idea: Copy the recipe’s URL into Just The Recipe to strip away the junk. It’ll give you just the ingredients and steps you need. Even easier: On a PC, hit Ctrl + F and type “Print” to go right to the recipe. On a Mac, it’s Command + F.
But what if you have no idea what to cook in the first place? Let’s get you out of tastebud boredom.
AI can do that for you
- Type what’s in the fridge into LetsFoodie and it’ll pop out an AI-generated recipe.
- ChefGPT does the same. For $2.99 a month, you can unlock premium features like macronutrient and calorie planning to make sure you hit your health goals.
- With SuperCook, click everything in your pantry to get a huge list of recipes. Meal planning made easy!
And, of course, there’s an app or 1,000 for that.
Tell me what I want: After a whole day of making decisions, sometimes you can’t do it anymore. Tasty recommends meal plans and recipes based on your preferences. The community is super active, so if everyone thinks a recipe has too much salt, you’ll know.
▶️ Download for iPhone or Android
As seen on TV: Cook like a celebrity! OK, maybe not. But Food Network Kitchen has recipes from your favorite cooking show hosts, plus videos and tutorials if you need a refresher on how to, say, chiffonade basil. I want to make Ina Garten’s lentil soup.
▶️ Download for iPhone or Android
The spinach is slimy: How many times have you started making dinner and realized you forgot something or an ingredient has gone bad? Use Substitutions to find alternatives. No more last-minute trips to the store … or takeout. Great for folks with allergies, too, or when your kid goes vegan (again).
▶️ This one is iPhone only
Final recipe pro tip
Always scan the comments! If there are none … not a great sign. If a bunch of people say the chicken needs longer in the oven, they might be onto something. And if Diane is complaining because her eight substitutions didn’t work, ignore her.
Speaking of … A food critic was stealing pie recipes under the guise of rating and reviewing various bakeries. Turns out, she was pie-rating. (Oh yeah, I’m giving myself five stars for that one!)