Guest Post Guidelines That Food Blogs Actually Want

Ready to get your guest posts accepted by food blogs? 

If you’re trying to get your recipes published, here’s a simple tip: make it easy for hosts to import your recipe without having to spend hours reformatting it.

And if you run a food blog and want to start accepting guest posts, we’ll show you how to set up a simple system using WP Recipe Maker that brings in quality contributors without the hassle.

Here’s the thing, guest posting often falls apart because contributors don’t realize that hosts don’t reject your recipes – they’re just avoiding the time-consuming technical cleanup.

We’ll walk through everything both sides need to know – how to get your recipe accepted as a guest contributor and how to make submissions easy to manage if you run a food blog. Plus, you’ll see how WP Recipe Maker keeps formatting and schema consistent, so no one has to spend hours re-entering recipes.

Best practices for increasing your guest post acceptance rate

What food blogs actually want

Food blogs that accept guest posts usually have a few things in common. They’re looking for original recipes with tried-and-tested ingredients, clear step-by-step photos, and a personal story that resonates with their audience.

Here’s what you’ll need to include:

• Recipe title and a brief description.
• Ingredient list with exact measurements.
• Step-by-step instructions.
• Prep, cook and total times.
• Serving size.
• Equipment list (e.g. blender, baking dish, etc.).
• Dietary tags (like vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free).
• At least 3-5 high-quality photos.
• A 300-500-word introduction that explains the recipe’s background.

Make sure your submission matches the host’s existing content style. If their posts are laid-back and conversational, don’t submit something that reads like a formal cookbook. If they focus on quick meals, don’t pitch a complicated, time-consuming recipe.

Before you pitch, always do your research. Many food blogs have dedicated submission pages that list all their specific requirements. Following these guidelines to the letter shows that you respect their time and process!

Content preparation standards

To increase your chances of getting accepted, make sure your content is ready to go from the moment you hit submit. You’ll need everything ready:

• Images: Provide high-resolution photos (at least 1200px wide) and make sure you have written permission for the host to use them. Don’t forget to include alt text suggestions for accessibility!
• Recipe completeness: Include all the essential components like ingredients with measurements, numbered instructions, prep and cook times, serving size, and nutritional information if you have it.
• Technical testing: Check that your recipe looks great on mobile devices before submitting. A lot of food blog traffic comes from mobile users, so this step is crucial.
• Attribution: Include your author bio (50-100 words) and specify how you’d like to be credited. Don’t forget to add links to your website and social profiles!

Skip the techy details about schema and APIs – hosts can deal with that. Focus on providing clean, complete content that they can publish quickly.

✨Our secret tip: make your recipe importable

Here’s something most contributors don’t know: food blogs use recipe card plugins that can import content directly from other platforms. 

Before you submit, ask the site owner which recipe plugin they use. Then, check if that plugin can import content from one you already have access to.

Instead of sending a Word document that needs to be manually reformatted, create your recipe on a platform the host can import easily. Most food blogs use WP Recipe Maker, which supports imports from 20+ recipe plugins and websites, including popular options like Tasty Recipes, Create by Mediavine, Yummly, and BigOven. It even recognizes most recipes that use JSON-LD structured data, so your formatting and schema stay intact.

Once you know which plugin they use, create the recipe in that plugin or a compatible format. If they use WP Recipe Maker, you can export it as a JSON file and send it straight over – they just import, review, and publish. You’ve just removed their biggest time-consuming hurdle! 

This works because hosts often spend hours reformatting submissions. When you solve that problem, you become their favorite contributor.

Finding right-fit opportunities

Finding the right blog for your guest post can completely change the game for you. Here’s how to spot the best opportunities:

• Scour food blogging communities: Head over to places like r/FoodBlogging where hosts are actively looking for contributors. Just make sure your expertise matches what they’re looking for!
• Check the plugin back-end: Before diving into a pitch, peek at the source code for the recipe plugins they use, like WP Recipe Maker, Tasty Recipes, or Create. 
• Look at roundup posts: Food blogs that regularly feature recipe roundups are your best bet. These blogs welcome fresh content and often have room for new contributors. It’s like finding a blog that already loves your style and is ready for more!
• Facebook groups are your friend: Many hosts post specific requests in food blogger Facebook groups. They’ll mention exactly what kind of recipes or cuisines they’re looking for, making it easy to match your specialty with their needs.
• Set your response expectations: Established blogs can take 2-4 weeks to get back to you – this is normal. Their editorial process takes time, so don’t stress if you don’t hear back right away.

Why you should enable guest posting on your food blog

Content benefits

Opening your food blog to guest posts can bring so many benefits, both to your content and your workflow:

• Fresh perspectives, no travel required: Bring in new cultural flavors and regional recipes without leaving your kitchen. Guest posts let you share diverse content without the travel or research costs!
• Keep your content flow steady: With quality guest contributors, you can maintain a regular posting schedule without the pressure of constantly creating new content yourself.
• Fill those busy content gaps: During peak seasons when you’re swamped, guest posts can fill your content calendar, letting you keep up without sacrificing quality.
• Get expert insights: Whether it’s baking tips, dietary restrictions, or global cuisine, guest contributors can offer specialized knowledge that might take you months to master on your own.
• Keep your audience engaged: Mixing up your content with different voices prevents the blog from feeling repetitive. A variety of contributors keeps your readers hooked, making them excited for what’s next.

Strategic benefits for contributors

With guest posting, you’ll get so many perks for contributing, too! Such as: 

• Instant exposure to a larger audience: By contributing to an established blog, writers get direct access to a bigger audience, helping them see real traffic gains without waiting for months to build their own readership.
• Build a strong portfolio: Guest posts on reputable platforms give contributors live examples of their work, making it easier to show off their skills to potential future clients or employers.
• Credibility boost: A published guest post acts as tangible proof of writing ability, helping contributors secure future opportunities or collaborations in the food blogging world.
• Test new ideas: It’s the perfect way to experiment with new recipes or concepts before committing them to a cookbook or product line. Real audience feedback can help refine their ideas.
• Get valuable feedback without the commitment: Contributors get meaningful audience insights without having to take on the full responsibility of managing a blog themselves.
• Build lasting relationships: Guest posting opens the door to repeat invitations and ongoing collaborations, creating long-term opportunities for both the contributor and the host blog.

Community building

Guest posting helps you build valuable relationships with other food creators, strengthening the entire blogging community. By collaborating with complementary blogs, you can share audiences for mutual growth and boost your credibility through association with trusted platforms. These connections create a supportive network where everyone benefits, creating opportunities for ongoing collaboration and expanding your reach!

How WP Recipe Maker helps guest posting happen

Features for guest post hosts

Ready to make guest posting easy on your food blog? WP Recipe Maker has all the features you need to make the process better, save you time, and make your contributors feel great! 

Here’s how:

• Recipe Submission Form: Contributors can submit their recipes directly via a user-friendly front-end form – no WordPress access required! You can place the form anywhere on your site using the [wprm-recipe-submission] shortcode, making it super easy for contributors to get involved.

• Author Link: Say goodbye to manual author attributions. With WP Recipe Maker, every recipe submission automatically includes a backlink to the contributor’s website. Instant value for them and a win for you – everyone’s happy!
• Custom Recipe Fields: Get the flexibility you need. With the Pro Bundle, you can create custom fields to match your editorial standards – whether it’s focus keywords, image alt text, or brand taxonomies. Keep things organized and on-brand with zero effort.
• Import Capabilities: WP Recipe Maker makes it easy to accept recipes from other major plugins like Tasty Recipes, Yummly, and Meal Planner Pro – but only if those plugins are installed on the same site. For guest submissions, you can still streamline the process using the JSON import feature. Simply create your recipe, export it as a JSON file, and send it over. Your contributors can import, review, and publish the recipe right away, no format mismatches required. 
• Manage Page Workflow: Stay organized with WP Recipe Maker’s intuitive submission workflow. Use custom tags like “Awaiting Review” or “Approved” to track submission statuses and manage your content easily.
• Recipe Version Control: Thanks to WordPress’s revision system, your team can track and manage recipe edits without any issues. No more “who edited what?” – it’s all tracked for you.

“Our goal with WP Recipe Maker is to remove the friction that typically holds back both hosts and contributors. The smoother the process, the more collaborative and enjoyable the experience becomes for everyone involved.”

Brecht Vandersmissen

Founder of Bootstrapped Ventures

• WordPress
• Mail

Attracting quality contributors

To bring in the best contributors, make the process simple, valuable, and transparent:

• Clear submission guidelines: Set clear expectations on image resolution (1200px wide), word count, and required schema fields. This helps contributors submit content that’s ready to publish and avoids unnecessary edits.
• State supported plugins and formats: List the recipe plugins and formats you accept (e.g., WP Recipe Maker, Tasty Recipes). This means that everything is always compatible, saving you time when reviewing submissions.
• Streamlined process: Clearly outline your accepted recipe formats and plugins to reduce guesswork and technical barriers, encouraging more submissions.
• Active outreach: Don’t wait for submissions – actively seek contributors by posting requests in food blogging communities like r/FoodBlogging or Facebook groups. Be specific to attract the right talent.
• Offer value: Show contributors what’s in it for them, like social media promotion, author bio links, and future collaboration opportunities. This creates a win-win situation.
• Highlight portfolio opportunities: Emphasize how guest posts help contributors build their portfolios and gain exposure, encouraging them to submit high-quality work.
• Set expectations: Be clear about review timelines (typically 2-4 weeks) to avoid unnecessary follow-ups and build trust.

Start accepting guest posts to grow your food blog

Accepting guest posts is a great way to expand your network and boost your credibility.

With WP Recipe Maker, you can make the process even simpler. Automated imports and submission forms save you time on reformatting, so you can focus on sharing amazing recipes!

Quality contributors are looking for blogs that make it easy to share their work. When you simplify the submission process, you’ll attract talented writers who are eager to contribute. Guest posts bring new ideas and fresh recipes to your audience, while also building long-term relationships with other food bloggers. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Start by creating a clear submission page with your requirements and the recipe plugins you accept. It’s that simple to get started.

Ready to open your blog to new contributors? Install WP Recipe Maker today!