Skip to content

Recipe Schema Generator

Create Recipe JSON-LD structured data with ingredients, steps, and nutrition

Getting into Google's Recipe Carousel with Schema

Recipe rich results are among the most visually prominent features in Google Search. Our recipe schema generator creates valid JSON-LD markup with ingredients, step-by-step instructions, cooking times, and nutrition — enabling your recipes to appear in Google's recipe carousel, recipe cards, and voice search results.

The Recipe Carousel Advantage

Google's recipe carousel appears at the top of recipe-related searches, showing large photo cards with cooking time, calorie count, and star ratings. Appearing in this carousel drives massive traffic — it is the first thing users see and interact with. Recipe rich results require valid Recipe schema, a high-quality image, and complete structured data to be eligible for carousel placement.

Image Requirements for Recipes

Images are critical for recipe rich results. Google recommends images at least 1200px wide in 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1 aspect ratios. The image should show the finished dish, be well-lit, and appetizing. Low-quality or irrelevant images can prevent your recipe from appearing in the carousel. Every recipe page should have at least one high-quality food photo.

Structuring Ingredients and Instructions

List each ingredient as a separate string in the recipeIngredient array, including quantities and measurements. Instructions should be individual HowToStep items with clear, actionable text. Google may display these steps individually in search results and voice responses, so each step should make sense on its own without requiring context from other steps.

Time and Nutrition Data

Accurate cooking times help users filter recipes by how long they take. Use ISO 8601 duration format — PT30M for 30 minutes, PT1H15M for 1 hour 15 minutes. The totalTime should equal prepTime plus cookTime. Nutrition information, especially calories per serving, is displayed in recipe structured data rich results and helps health-conscious users choose recipes.

Recipe Schema and Voice Search

Google Assistant uses Recipe schema to provide step-by-step cooking guidance through smart speakers and displays. When a user asks their Google Home to help them cook, it reads the recipeInstructions step by step. This makes clear, concise instruction steps even more important — your recipe might be read aloud to someone cooking in their kitchen.

$ faq

What is Recipe schema markup? ▸
Recipe schema markup is structured data that describes a recipe with ingredients, cooking instructions, times, nutrition info, and images. Google uses this data to display recipe rich results with photos, ratings, cooking time, and calorie counts — powering the Google recipe carousel and individual recipe cards in search results.
What fields are required for Recipe rich results? ▸
Google requires the recipe name and at least one of image or datePublished. For full rich results, include image, author, prepTime, cookTime, recipeIngredient (ingredient list), and recipeInstructions (step-by-step directions). Ratings, nutrition, and yield are optional but improve the rich result display.
How should I format cooking times? ▸
Cooking times use ISO 8601 duration format. PT30M means 30 minutes, PT1H means 1 hour, PT1H30M means 1 hour 30 minutes. Include prepTime (preparation), cookTime (cooking), and totalTime (total). Google displays the total time in recipe rich results, so ensure it is accurate.
How do I format recipe instructions? ▸
Each instruction step should be a separate HowToStep with a text property describing that step. Number your steps logically and keep each step focused on one action. Google may display individual steps in the recipe rich result, so clear and concise steps improve the user experience.
Can I include nutrition information? ▸
Yes, use the NutritionInformation type to include calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and other nutritional data per serving. Calories are the most commonly displayed nutrition field in recipe rich results. Ensure nutrition data is accurate and corresponds to the recipe yield specified.
How do recipe rich results appear in Google? ▸
Recipe rich results can appear as individual cards with a photo, star rating, cooking time, and calorie count, or as part of the recipe carousel at the top of search results. They also appear in Google Images and Google Assistant voice results for recipe queries. High-quality images significantly improve your chances of appearing in the carousel.