YouTube Keyword Strategies for Recipe Video Success

Creating tasty recipes for YouTube takes serious effort. You spend hours planning, shopping, cooking, and filming – but what if nobody finds your videos? That’s where smart keyword research comes in.

Finding and using the right keywords helps your cooking videos reach hungry viewers who are searching for exactly what you’re making. Whether you’re showing quick weeknight dinners or complex baking techniques, understanding keyword research makes your content more discoverable.

In this guide, you’ll learn practical ways to identify valuable keywords and use them effectively in your cooking channel. We’ll explore the following topics: 

• Keyword research for cooking channels.
• Understanding search intent.
• Optimizing your video titles and descriptions.
• Extending your reach through recipe websites. 

You’ll discover proven strategies to help more people find your cooking videos while keeping your unique style and authentic voice. 

Let’s dive into the ingredients of a successful YouTube cooking channel strategy.

Guide to choosing the right keywords for your cooking channel

Finding the right keywords for your cooking videos doesn’t need to be complicated – after all, you already have the most important tool – your industry knowledge. Using that and some handy tools, you can learn which strategies work best and how to spot opportunities other creators might miss.

How to use keyword research and platform analytics tools 

Start your keyword research with free tools like Google Trends – it’s perfect for spotting seasonal recipe interests and trending food topics. Type in basic terms like “vegan recipes” or “quick dinner ideas” to see when these topics peak throughout the year and if there are any terms that are rising in popularity. 

This helps you plan content that matches what people want to watch. You can also use the Google Keyword Planner – it’s technically for paid ads, but you can use it for anything. 

Besides these, YouTube Analytics offers valuable insights right from your channel dashboard. Head to the Audience section to discover:

• Which recipes keep viewers watching the longest.
• What other cooking channels does your audience enjoy.
• The specific recipe terms your viewers search for.
• Geographic data that shows where your viewers live (helpful for targeting regional recipes).

For deeper insights, tools like Ahrefs or Semrush show exact search volumes and competition levels for cooking-related keywords. These paid tools help you find specific opportunities – like “15-minute Mediterranean dinner” instead of just “dinner recipes”.

YouTube‘s search bar is another simple but powerful tool. Start typing “how to cook” and watch the suggestions appear. 

These autocomplete results show you exactly what recipes people are actively searching for right now.

Understanding high-competition vs low-competition keywords

With millions of cooking videos already online, targeting low-competition keywords gives your content the best chance to stand out. This strategy involves understanding two different types of keywords: Short-tail and long-tail.

Short-tail keywords are brief phrases like “pasta recipe” or “how to bake”. While these terms get lots of searches, they’re extremely competitive. You’ll compete with thousands of established channels and websites for attention.

Long-tail keywords, however, target specific niches with phrases of three or more words. Instead of “chocolate chip cookies”, you might target “one-bowl vegan chocolate chip cookies”. These longer phrases are valuable because they:

• Draw in viewers with clear intent.
• Face less competition from other creators.
• Convert better since viewers find exactly what they want.
• Attract viewers ready to try your recipe.

For example, compare “chocolate cake recipe” with “vegan chocolate zucchini cake recipe”. The second option targets a specific audience interested in plant-based baking and creative ingredients. Look for similar opportunities in dietary needs (gluten-free, keto), cooking methods (air fryer, instant pot), or seasonal ingredients (fresh summer berries). 

How to understand the search intent behind keywords

Finding good keywords is just step one – you need to match what viewers actually want when they search those terms. Here’s how to decode viewer intent:

Watch the top-ranking videos for your target keyword. Notice:

• Video length: Quick recipe searches often want simple, short videos.
• Style: Some searches want basic instructions, while others expect detailed techniques.
• Experience level: “Easy chocolate chip cookies” will need different content from “professional pastry techniques”.

Match your content to these expectations:

• For “quick dinner ideas”, keep videos under 5 minutes.
• When covering complex techniques like bread-making, include detailed steps and troubleshooting tips.
• If viewers search “beginner-friendly recipes”, avoid assuming prior cooking knowledge.
• For “authentic Thai curry”, show traditional methods and ingredients.

Understanding search intent helps you create videos that truly answer viewers’ questions, leading to better engagement and rankings.

Optimizing your cooking channel: From titles to tags

Now that you’ve found your target keywords, let’s walk through exactly where to place them in your YouTube cooking channel. This section shows you how to optimize every part of your channel – from the main settings to individual video details. 

How to select and add channel keywords to your YouTube channel

Channel keywords tell YouTube what type of cooking content you create. These keywords help the platform suggest your videos to the right viewers. Here’s how to choose and add them effectively:

First, pick 5-7 specific keywords that describe your channel’s focus. Instead of broad terms like “cooking” and “recipes”, use more targeted phrases:

• “Weeknight dinner recipes”
• “Vegetarian meal prep”
• “Budget-friendly cooking”
• “Asian home cooking”

To add these keywords:

1. Go to YouTube Studio.

2. Click Settings > Channel, and in the “Basic Info” tab, add your channel keywords.

3. Use quotes for multi-word phrases (“quick meals”).

Optimizing your video title and description

Your video titles and descriptions need to catch both viewers’ attention and YouTube’s algorithm. Here’s how to optimize them:

For titles:

• Place your main keyword near the start: “One-Pan Chicken Fajitas (Ready in 20 Minutes)”.
• Keep titles under 60 characters to prevent cutting off in search results.
• Include specific details that make your recipe unique.
• Avoid clickbait – be honest about what viewers will learn.
• Test different formats: “How to Make” vs ingredient-first titles.

For descriptions:

• Put the most important information in the first 2-3 lines.
• List all ingredients with timestamps for each recipe step.
• Include related recipes from your channel.
• Add links to any special equipment or ingredients you use.
• Naturally work in relevant keywords without stuffing.
• Mention any substitutions or variations viewers can try.
• Include dietary information (gluten-free, vegan, etc.).
• Add relevant recipe categories like “quick weeknight dinner” or “holiday baking”.
• Link to your social media profiles where viewers can find more recipes.

Here’s an example video description by Divas Can Cook, which ticks all the boxes! 

Selecting video tags

Video tags help YouTube understand and categorize your cooking content. For each recipe video, combine broad cooking terms with specific details about your dish. Think of tags as descriptive labels that capture different aspects of your recipe.

Start with the main ingredients and cooking methods: “chicken”, “baking”, “stir-fry”. Then add more specific tags: “weeknight dinner recipes”, “easy chicken dishes”, “family meals”. Include variations of your recipe name – if you’re making butter chicken, use tags like “Indian curry”, “butter chicken recipe”, and “creamy chicken curry”.

Remember to add dietary tags when relevant: “gluten-free”, “vegetarian”, “low-carb”. Also, consider seasonal tags like “summer grilling” or “Christmas cookies” when appropriate. Aim for 5-8 well-chosen tags per video, placing the most important ones first.

Here’s an example by Honest and Tasty showcasing different areas where you can put description video tags. 

Other best practices to help your cooking videos rank

Success on YouTube goes beyond keywords and tags, so here are some extra strategies you can employ immediately: 

• Test different thumbnail styles. These can significantly impact your click-through rates. For example, thumbnails that show both the finished dish and key preparation steps give viewers a clear idea of what they’ll learn.
• Be strategic about the video length. Structure shorter videos (5-7 minutes) for simple recipes, while complex dishes might need 10-15 minutes to cover all steps thoroughly. Always include chapter markers in your videos to help viewers find specific steps quickly.
• Include transcriptions to help searchability and be more accessible. Add accurate captions that include ingredient names and cooking terms. This helps YouTube better understand your content and makes videos accessible to more viewers.

Cross-platform keyword optimization: Syncing YouTube and website content

Here’s something many cooking content creators miss: You can double your reach by smartly connecting your YouTube videos with your recipe website. While lots of cooking YouTubers focus only on video content, the clever ones are quietly building a strong presence on both platforms.

“I often tell food bloggers to think of it as ‘cook once, serve twice.’ When you’re filming your recipe videos, take photos and document the process for your blog at the same time. This smart approach not only saves time but helps establish your authority across platforms. Our most successful WP Recipe Maker users consistently do this.” 

Birthe Vandermeeren

Cofounder of Bootstrapped Ventures

• WordPress
• Instagram
• Mail

Think about it – when someone searches for “homemade pizza dough”, they might want to watch a video OR read a detailed recipe. Why not offer both? Here’s how to make it work:

Match your keywords across platforms

Before creating content, check if your target keyword (like “easy chocolate chip cookies”) performs well on both YouTube and Google. Use tools like Google Trends to see search patterns – sometimes a topic might be more popular in video format than written, or vice versa.

Turn successful videos into blog posts (and vice versa)

Did your cinnamon roll video take off on YouTube? Write a detailed blog post using the same recipe! Include your video in the post and add helpful extras like:

• Printable recipe cards.
• Step-by-step photos.
• Detailed tips and variations.
• Common troubleshooting advice.

Use video descriptions strategically: Your YouTube video description is valuable real estate. Include:

• A link to the full written recipe.
• A clear call-to-action (“Get the printable recipe on my website!”).
• The complete ingredient list.
• Basic instructions.

Make your recipe posts work harder with WP Recipe Maker 

Using a plugin like WP Recipe Maker helps format your recipes perfectly for Google Search. With it, you can add:

• Structured recipe data so that your recipes appear in Google’s recipe carousel.
• Organized ingredient lists with measurements to make shopping easier for readers.
• Numbered step-by-step instructions to improve user experience and SEO.
• Clear cooking times to help readers plan their meal prep.
• Detailed nutritional information that answers common reader questions.
• Seamless YouTube video embeds to keep visitors on your page longer.

Become a cross-platform cooking content creator! 

Let’s pull all these strategies together to maximize your cooking content’s visibility:

• Start by checking your YouTube Analytics to spot your highest-performing recipes. Which videos are getting the most views and engagement? These topics should guide your blog post creation. When writing these posts, make sure your recipe schema markup matches the keywords and descriptions from your successful videos.
• Build content clusters around your popular recipes. For example, if your pizza dough video is doing well, create blog posts about variations, troubleshooting tips, and different toppings – all linking back to your main recipe post and video.
• Set up a simple tracking system to monitor how your keywords perform on both platforms. A basic spreadsheet tracking monthly views for each recipe (both video and blog post) can help you spot winning patterns.

Ready to boost your recipe content? Try WP Recipe Maker to format your recipes with proper schema markup, making them more visible in Google Search while perfectly complementing your YouTube content. Get started today and transform your cooking videos into comprehensive recipe posts that readers (and Google) will love.