Quick start
- Add ingredients to your pantry list
- Choose "See what you can make", or use the search box
- Browse results ranked by match percentage
- Click any recipe to open it
Step-by-step guide
1. Add your pantry items
Type each ingredient into the pantry input and press Enter or click Add. Your pantry is saved in your browser's local storage, so you don't need to re-enter items on each visit.
Be specific where it matters:
- "Greek yogurt" matches better than "yogurt"
- "Chicken thighs" matches better than "chicken"
Oil, salt, pepper, and water are included automatically and don't need to be added.
2. Search or discover
Two ways to find recipes:
- See what you can make: Returns recipes ranked by your pantry contents alone. Use this when you don't have a specific dish in mind.
- Search box: Type a dish or ingredient (e.g., "pasta", "chicken curry"). Results are still ranked by your pantry, so high-match recipes appear first.
3. Read match percentages
Each recipe shows a match percentage:
| Match | What it means |
|---|---|
| 90-100% | You likely have everything. Check for minor missing items you can skip or substitute. |
| 70-89% | A solid match. You may need one or two items from the shops. |
| 50-69% | Partial match. Consider whether missing ingredients are essential. |
| Below 50% | You'll probably need to shop, but still useful for meal planning. |
Recipes with a "?" don't have complete ingredient data available, so a percentage can't be calculated.
4. Apply filters
On the search page, use the filter row to narrow by cuisine, dietary requirements or dish type. Cuisine and dish type require a matching classification; dietary options remove recipes only when the ingredient list clearly conflicts with your choice.
5. View the full recipe
Click any recipe card to open it. Most recipes, those from the Wikibooks Cookbook, are published here in full with ingredients and method. A smaller number from TheMealDB and Spoonacular show the ingredients and pantry match here, and link to the original publisher for the method.
How matching works
Pantry Recipe Finder uses ranking rather than filtering. Here's why and how.
The matching logic
- For each recipe in the database, the tool reads the ingredient list
- It compares that list to your saved pantry items
- It calculates a match percentage based on overlap
- Results are sorted with highest matches at the top
Why ranking, not filtering
- Variety is useful. A high-match recipe isn't always the best option. Sometimes you want a recipe with one missing ingredient because the rest of the dish appeals.
- Ingredient data is imperfect. Different sources describe the same ingredient differently. Strict filtering would hide recipes that are actually a match.
- Substitution is common. If you're missing one item, you can often substitute or skip it. Filtering removes that option from view.
What gets matched
The tool matches your pantry items against recipe ingredient lists using exact and partial matching. Common synonyms are handled (e.g., "spring onion" and "scallion"). Pantry staples (oil, salt, pepper, water) are assumed present in every kitchen and don't need to be added.
Features
Surprise me
Opens a random recipe with a photo from the Wikibooks Cookbook. Press it again to discover another recipe.
Save favourites
Click the heart on any recipe card to save it. Saved recipes are stored in your browser, not on our servers. Open them from the Favorites link in the top menu, which appears once you have saved a recipe.
Missing ingredients
Once you have added pantry items, recipe cards show how many ingredients you already have, for example 4 of 7. Open a recipe to see the ones you don't have, listed under "You'll need". Use this to plan a shop around the recipes you want to make.
Cuisine and dietary filters
Search offers cuisine and dish-type controls, plus 7 dietary options (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Carb, Keto, and Pescatarian). Dietary exclusions are best-efforts; always check the recipe's ingredient list for strict requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pantry Recipe Finder free?
Yes. The tool is free and supported by advertising.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Your pantry and favourites are saved in your browser, not stored on our servers or tied to an account. When you use /pantry to find recipes, pantry ingredients are sent to our server in a request to calculate matches; we do not save them there.
Where do the recipes come from?
Most come from the Wikibooks Cookbook, a volunteer-written collection published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Around 3,700 of those are published here in full, with a link to the Wikibooks original and the licence on every page. A smaller set comes from TheMealDB and Spoonacular, which show the title, ingredients and pantry match here and link to the original publisher for the method. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons and are credited individually.
Why is my match percentage showing "?"
Some recipes don't have complete ingredient data. When this happens, the tool shows "?" instead of an inaccurate percentage. The recipe is still viewable.
Why don't you hide recipes I can't fully make?
Because pantry cooking often involves substitutions, and ingredient data is incomplete. Hiding would remove options you could realistically cook.
Do you store my pantry items on your servers?
No. Your pantry is saved in your browser, not stored on our servers or tied to an account. When you use /pantry to find recipes, pantry ingredients are sent to our server in a request to calculate matches across the full collection; we do not save them there.
Does the tool work offline?
The pantry list is stored locally, so it's available offline. But recipe search requires an internet connection to query the recipe database.
Can I export my pantry or favourites?
Not currently. Pantry items and favourites are saved in browser local storage but there's no export feature yet.