TheMealDB Connector for AI agents.
10 live capabilities
Find global recipes and meal plans with a massive culinary database.
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Why people use TheMealDB
TheMealDB Recipe Search for Global Meal Planning
This Connector changes that by letting your AI client do the heavy lifting. You just tell your agent what you're in the mood for or what ingredients you have on hand, and it pulls the full recipes from a massive global database. You get the ingredients and the instructions immediately, letting you spend less time searching and more time actually cooking.
What Vinkius changes
You get instant access to a global recipe database without the manual searching.
Use it from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or another AI client you already have.
One account · 5,900+ Connectors
- Real-world use case 01
Cooking with leftovers
You have chicken and peppers.
- Real-world use case 02
Planning a themed dinner
You want to host an Italian night.
- Real-world use case 03
Finding a random dessert
You're craving something sweet but don't know what.
Complete set · 10capabilities
The complete TheMealDB capability set.
These are the exact actions your AI can choose when you ask it to work with TheMealDB.
01—04
4 capabilities in this set.
Part of 10 available through TheMealDB.
- 01 Capability
Filter by ingredient
Find meals that feature a specific main ingredient. This helps when you're trying to use up what's left in your pantry.
- 02 Capability
Get random meal
Get a completely random meal suggestion. Use this when you have zero ideas and just want to cook something new.
- 03 Capability
Filter by area
Filter recipes by a specific geographic region. Find authentic dishes from Italy, Mexico, or India instantly.
- 04 Capability
Filter by category
Filter meals by a specific food type. Quickly find all the seafood or vegetarian options in the database.
05—07
3 capabilities in this set.
Part of 10 available through TheMealDB.
- 05 Capability
List ingredients
Browse every ingredient available in the database. Use this to see the full scope of what you can cook.
- 06 Capability
List areas
See a full list of all available cuisine areas. This is great for exploring different global flavors.
- 07 Capability
List categories
Get a list of all meal categories like Beef, Chicken, or Dessert. Use this to narrow down your search.
08—10
3 capabilities in this set.
Part of 10 available through TheMealDB.
- 08 Capability
Lookup meal
Get the complete details for a specific meal using its ID. This retrieves the full recipe and instructions.
- 09 Capability
Search by letter
Find meals starting with a specific letter. This is a quick way to browse the database alphabetically.
- 10 Capability
Search meals
Search for meals by name and get up to 100 results. Use this for broad searches when you have a general idea of what you want.
Set up in minutes
One URL. Then ask TheMealDB to work.
Claude and ChatGPT only need the Connector URL. Copy it once, add it in settings, and use TheMealDB from the conversation.
Choose your client
Live previewAdvanced clients IDE · CLI
Claude · Web + desktop
Connector URL · ready to paste
Streamable HTTPhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp - Step 01
Open Connectors
In Claude Web or Claude Desktop, open Settings and choose Connectors.
- Step 02
Add the URL
Choose Add custom connector, name it TheMealDB, and paste the URL above.
- Step 03
Turn it on in chat
Select +, open Connectors, and enable TheMealDB for the conversation.
ChatGPT · Web + desktop
Connector URL · ready to paste
Streamable HTTPhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp - Step 01
Open MCP settings
On desktop, open Settings and MCP servers. On web, open your workspace app or connector settings.
- Step 02
Add the URL
Choose Add server with Streamable HTTP, or create a custom MCP app, then paste the TheMealDB URL.
- Step 03
Save and start
Save the connection and enable TheMealDB in your conversation. Desktop may ask you to restart once.
Cursor · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"themealdb-alternative": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp"
}
}
} - Step 01
Open MCP Settings
Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"
- Step 02
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens
- Step 03
Save the file
Cursor will automatically detect the new Connector
- Step 04
Start using TheMealDB
Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using TheMealDB, help me...". 10 tools available
VS Code Copilot · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"themealdb-alternative": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp"
}
}
} - Step 01
Create MCP config
Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root
- Step 02
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above
- Step 03
Enable Agent mode
Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown
- Step 04
Start using TheMealDB
Ask Copilot: "Using TheMealDB, help me...". 10 tools available
Windsurf · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"themealdb-alternative": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp"
}
}
} - Step 01
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
- Step 02
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
- Step 03
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
- Step 04
Start using TheMealDB
Open Cascade and ask: "Using TheMealDB, help me...". 10 tools available
Cline · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"themealdb-alternative": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp"
}
}
} - Step 01
Open Cline MCP Settings
Click the Connectors icon in the Cline sidebar panel
- Step 02
Add remote server
Click "Add Connector" and paste the configuration above
- Step 03
Enable the server
Toggle the server switch to ON
- Step 04
Start using TheMealDB
Ask Cline: "Using TheMealDB, help me...". 10 tools available
Claude Code · Terminal command
Advanced setup
claude mcp add themealdb-alternative --transport http "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_tCC4deQfCpXtEFPQwzeuEnQIGh8ZgwzPFDOG8bNo/mcp" - Step 01
Install Claude Code
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code if not already installed
- Step 02
Add the Connector
Run the command above in your terminal
- Step 03
Verify the connection
Run claude mcp to list connected servers, or type /mcp inside a session
- Step 04
Start using TheMealDB
Ask Claude: "Using TheMealDB, show me...". 10 tools are ready
Where the request belongs
Work TheMealDB can move forward.
TheMealDB is for the home cook who's tired of staring at an empty fridge, the meal planner organizing a weekly menu, or the food blogger researching global cuisines.
Home Cook
Uses the Connector on Tuesday nights to find a quick dinner based on the leftover chicken in the fridge.
Meal Planner
Uses the Connector to build a diverse 7-day meal plan featuring different cuisines like Thai, Greek, and Mexican.
Food Blogger
Uses the Connector to quickly research and list ingredients for various international dishes to create content.
Build the capability set
Add more capabilities.
Each Connector adds new actions and data without changing how you work.
Browse ConnectorsTheMealDB
Search international recipes by name, category, cuisine, or ingredient. with full cooking instructions, measurements, and video tutorials.
Spoonacular
Search recipes, analyze nutrition, and plan meals with AI-powered food data.
BigOven
Access over a million recipes via BigOven. search dishes, read reviews, and explore collections directly from any AI agent.
Edamam
Search over 2.3 million recipes, analyze nutritional data, and access a database of 900,000+ food items directly from your AI agent.
Bring your own AI
Change the model, client or framework. Keep TheMealDB connected.
-
Claude -
ChatGPT -
Gemini -
Cursor -
VS Code -
Windsurf -
ZCode -
Cline -
Zed -
Continue -
Kiro -
Roo Code -
Zencoder -
Goose -
Void -
Augment Code -
Amp -
Qodo -
Tabnine -
Pieces -
Sourcegraph Cody -
JetBrains -
Warp -
Amazon Q -
Antigravity -
BoltAI -
Raycast -
Jan -
LM Studio -
AnythingLLM -
Open WebUI -
Msty -
Cherry Studio -
LibreChat -
TypingMind -
Chorus -
5ire -
n8n -
LangChain -
LlamaIndex -
CrewAI -
Vercel AI SDK
Before you connect
Questions about TheMealDB.
The practical details behind the request, access and result.
Can TheMealDB MCP help me find recipes based on what I have in my fridge?
Yes, it can. You can ask your agent to find meals based on a specific main ingredient, like 'what can I make with salmon?'
Does TheMealDB MCP have recipes from different countries?
Yes, it covers a wide range of global cuisines, including Italian, Indian, Mexican, and many more.
Can I get a random meal idea with TheMealDB MCP?
Absolutely. You can ask for a random meal suggestion whenever you're feeling stuck on what to cook for dinner.
Is it hard to set up TheMealDB MCP?
No, it's very easy. Once you subscribe on Vinkius and connect it to your AI client, you can start searching immediately.
Can I use TheMealDB MCP to find specific meal types like desserts?
Yes, you can browse by category to find specific types of meals, including desserts, seafood, and more.
What happens when I ask for a recipe with TheMealDB MCP?
Your agent will pull the full details for that meal, including a complete list of ingredients and step-by-step cooking instructions.
Do I need an API key to use TheMealDB?
No! TheMealDB is completely free and open. No API key is required to search and retrieve recipes.
Can I get full recipe details with ingredients and instructions?
Yes! Use the lookup_meal capability with a meal ID to retrieve the full recipe including all ingredients with measurements, category, area, and detailed instructions.
How do I find recipes by ingredient?
Use the filter_by_ingredient capability with the ingredient name. It returns all meals that have that ingredient as their main component.
One connection away
Give your agent a direct line to TheMealDB.
Connect TheMealDB once. Keep it beside 5,900+ managed Connectors when the next task needs more.
Explore every Connector No credit card required · Free tier available