How to Choose the Best Recipe Format for Your Audience

Bakers, chefs, and casual home cooks are always searching for new recipes to try. As they browse through different sites, what often stands out first isn’t the recipe itself but how it’s formatted. A recipe’s layout can make or break the experience, determining whether it’s easy to follow and worth returning to. And it’s not just about ease of use – how you present your recipe also affects how easily people can find it online.

We will walk you through the main recipe formats – from the standard setup to more visual approaches – and help you pick the best one for your audience. You’ll learn how to balance great user experience with smart SEO so your recipes aren’t just easy to follow but also easy to find.

Understanding recipe format types: Standard, narrative, and action

There’s more than one way to serve a great recipe, and how you format it can make all the difference. Let’s explore the three main recipe formats – standard, narrative, and action – so you can decide which one works best for your audience and ensures a smooth cooking experience.

Standard format: Simplicity and space efficiency

The standard recipe format is the go-to for a reason – it’s simple, clear, and gets straight to the point. You’ll have a separate ingredient list, followed by step-by-step instructions, making it easy for readers to follow along. It’s a perfect fit for most home cooks and works well for blogs and cookbooks.

This format is a mix of providing enough detail without overwhelming the reader. Plus, it’s great for SEO since it’s so widely used – Google loves this kind of straightforward structure! Just remember that readers may need to glance back and forth between the ingredients and instructions, which could break the flow a bit. But digitally, it’s super easy to scale up servings and print out a handy shopping list.

Narrative format: Engaging storytelling for simple recipes

The narrative recipe format is all about weaving a story into the cooking process. Instead of a list and steps, ingredients are folded right into the instructions, creating a more conversational, engaging experience. This format is great for adding personal touches – like sharing the history of a dish or why it’s special to you – which can really connect with readers.

It works best for simpler recipes where the steps aren’t too complicated. Think of family favorites or dishes with cultural significance that benefit from more explanation. However, it can get a little wordy, and some readers might find it harder to follow if they’re just looking to cook quickly. The digital format, though, offers exciting opportunities, like integrating videos or audio to make the storytelling more immersive and interactive.

Action format: Integrated ingredients and concise instructions

The action format is all about efficiency. Instead of separating ingredients and instructions, it integrates them right into the steps – making it perfect for those who want to get cooking without all the back-and-forth. It’s ideal for busy home cooks, meal kit companies, or experienced chefs who already know their way around the kitchen and just need clear, concise directions.

This format means you’re adding ingredients at the right time without missing a beat. However, it can take up more space and might make it harder to glance at the ingredient list quickly. However, for digital recipes, the action format works great with interactive features like checkboxes or progress tracking to keep things moving smoothly.

Alternative ways to style your recipes: Visual formats

If you’re looking to mix things up, visual recipe formats are a great way to go. They’re perfect for making complex instructions easier to follow and can cater to different learning styles. Take illustrated recipes, for example – cookbooks like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat use drawings and infographics to break down cooking techniques and ingredient relationships in a way that’s super clear. It’s especially handy when you’re introducing new or tricky concepts.

Another cool approach is structured formats, like the ones used by Cooking for Engineers, which lay out recipes as flowcharts or diagrams. These formats are great for showing the steps of a recipe in parallel, making them perfect for multi-step dishes. 

Then there’s the modular style, such as RecipeBlocks, where you can build custom layouts by combining standard, visual, and interactive elements.

⏲️ Just remember: if you’re going the visual route, make sure your format works well on mobile devices and doesn’t slow down your page with heavy images! 

Formatting best practices for recipe writers

Clear instructions

When it comes to writing recipes, clear instructions are super important. Keep things simple by breaking down the steps into easy-to-follow actions. Use precise measurements and cooking times – nobody wants to guess how long to bake something! Be specific with your language and avoid any confusing jargon, especially if beginners are part of your audience.

It’s also helpful to include visual cues, like “bake until golden brown,” so readers know what to look for. Don’t forget to list any necessary equipment for each step, and use numbered lists to keep everything organized and easy to reference.

Include all necessary elements

Every great recipe needs a few essential elements to make sure it’s easy to follow and useful for your readers. Make sure to include a descriptive title, a brief intro or headnote, and details like yield, prep, and cook times. An accurate ingredient list with measurements is a must, along with clear, step-by-step instructions.

Don’t forget to add the equipment needed, nutritional info (if available), and any storage or reheating instructions. Variations or substitutions can also be helpful, along with the recipe category, difficulty level, and author attribution. And, of course, high-quality photos of the finished dish and key steps can make all the difference!

🌶️ Want to add something extra? Think about incorporating a “kitchen confidence” rating system to help readers gauge their skill level against the recipe’s difficulty. This can encourage them to try more challenging dishes over time!

List ingredients in the correct order

Listing ingredients in the order they appear in the instructions is a small but super important detail. It makes the cooking process much easier and more efficient as readers can easily follow along without jumping back and forth.

🍳 Bonus tips: group ingredients by recipe components (like dough or filling), stick to consistent measurements (cups, grams, etc.), and be specific about ingredient prep (e.g., “1 onion, diced”). If temperature matters – like softened butter – mention that too. And always give exact amounts; vague terms like “to taste” can be super frustrating.

Optimize recipes for search engines

To help your recipes rank better on search engines, make sure your titles and descriptions are packed with relevant keywords. Use tags and categories that fit your content, and don’t forget to optimize image file names and alt text.

Add internal links to related recipes or ingredient guides to keep readers (and search engines) engaged. Implement structured data using schema.org/Recipe markup for better visibility, and create simple, clean URLs. Work in long-tail keywords naturally throughout the content, and structure everything with proper header tags (H1, H2, H3). Oh, and don’t forget to make sure your recipes load quickly and look great on mobile! 

Additional elements

To really enhance the user experience, think about adding some interactive features to your recipes. A print recipe button is a kitchen lifesaver, and sharing options – whether for personal recommendations or social media – can boost visibility.

Give readers the ability to save their favorite recipes, and include a “shop ingredients” feature linking to grocery services. Adjustable serving size calculators and unit conversion tools (like metric to imperial) make recipes even more convenient. Plus, user ratings, comments, and related recipe suggestions can keep your audience engaged and coming back for more!

Elevate your recipe presentation with WP Recipe Maker

If you’re looking to level up your recipe presentation, WP Recipe Maker is a must-have tool for WordPress users. It’s designed to help food bloggers and website owners easily manage and organize their recipes, offering customizable layouts and advanced features to ensure your recipes are not only visually appealing but also easy to follow. This, in turn, boosts both user engagement and your site’s visibility online.

One of the best features is the Template Editor, which lets you fully customize the look of your recipe cards. Whether you want a sleek, professional look or something more unique to fit your blog’s style, this flexible tool allows you to experiment with different formats, ensuring your recipe cards stand out while perfectly matching your content.

WP Recipe Maker also integrates images and videos directly into recipe steps. Adding step-by-step visuals enhances the reader’s experience and makes your instructions crystal clear – perfect for intricate recipes or dishes where presentation is key. Given the growing popularity of food photography on social media, these features help your recipes look great across platforms.

On the SEO side, the plugin uses structured data and schema markup (like JSON-LD and schema.org) to optimize your recipes for search engines. This boosts your content’s visibility, helping it perform better in search results, and leading to more traffic. For more details, check out their Recipe Schema feature.

Another handy tool is the adjustable serving size calculator, which lets users modify recipe portions on the fly. WP Recipe Maker recalculates ingredient amounts automatically, giving readers a personalized, functional experience.

For action-format fans, WP Recipe Maker offers two great features: Inline Ingredients and Associating Ingredients with Instructions. With Inline Ingredients, you can place ingredients directly within the instructions, eliminating the need for readers to scroll back and forth. Associating Ingredients with Instructions allows you to clearly link specific ingredients to their corresponding steps. Even better, both features dynamically update quantities when users adjust serving sizes or switch between unit systems.

“One feature that truly bridges the gap between narrative-driven recipe writing and action-oriented formats is the ‘Jump to Recipe’ button. This allows readers who prefer a quicker, more streamlined experience to skip directly to the instructions, without sacrificing the depth and storytelling that many food bloggers value.”

Birthe Vandermeeren

Cofounder of Bootstrapped Ventures

• WordPress
• Instagram
• Mail

With added features like affiliate links, nutrition calculation, and shoppable recipes, WP Recipe Maker is your go-to for creating interactive and engaging recipe content!

Customize your food blog recipe formats today

Why stick with the same old recipe format when you can add your own flavor? Customizing your recipe cards can make all the difference in creating a memorable experience for your readers – and who doesn’t want their blog to stand out?

With WP Recipe Maker, you’ve got everything you need to design a format that’s as unique as your favorite dish. The Template Editor gives you total control, while the SEO tools help your recipes get the attention they deserve. Plus, it works with Gutenberg, Classic Editor, Elementor, and more – it’s got you covered, no matter how you like to build your site.

So, go ahead, mix things up, and create something your readers will love. Explore WP Recipe Maker to see what you can whip up!