Import Recipes Using a CSV File
You can import hundreds of recipes into Foodzilla using a CSV file. Follow these steps to get started.
Prepare the CSV File
- Download the Template: Begin by downloading our CSV template file.
- Fill in Recipe Data: Enter your recipe data following the format below.
❗Important
- The fields "Title" and "Ingredients" are the only required fields.
- Ensure you do not change the field names or add new ones.
- Nutrition information must be entered for a 100-gram measurement.
- Nutrition information for imported recipes can't be adjusted automatically after import but can be edited manually.
Field Descriptions:
| Field Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Title | The title of the recipe | Chicken Soup |
| TotalCalories | The total number of calories (KCal) | 450 |
| Servings | The total number of servings | 6 |
| CookingAndPrepTime | Total time to prepare and cook (minutes) | 30 |
| TotalWeight | Total weight of the recipe (grams) | 75 |
| TotalFat | Total fat content (grams) | 32.5 |
| TotalSodium | Total sodium content (milligrams) | 13 |
| TotalProtein | Total protein content (grams) | 35 |
| TotalFiber | Total fiber content (grams) | 5 |
| TotalCarbs | Total carbohydrate content (grams) | 35 |
| Ingredients | Ingredients in the format: name quantity unit, name quantity unit... | Green Apple 2 Servings, Cauliflower 1 Bunch, Chicken Breast (Grilled) 5.5 oz |
| CookingSteps | Cooking directions, separated by new lines | Sauté the olive oil, garlic, and onion... |
| DietLabels | List of diet labels, separated by commas | No Sugar, No Added Oil |
| Author | Name of the recipe author (optional) | Jane Doe |
| RecipeWebsite | Website link for the recipe (optional) | https://foodzilla.com |
| SuitableFor | Category or meal type (optional) | Breakfast |
| HealthLabels | Similar to DietLabels (optional) | Balanced |
| CookingTips | Cooking tips (optional) | You can swap Potato with Kumara. |
| Description | Recipe description (optional) | This recipe is easy to follow and full of nutrients... |
Common Issues and Fixes
Ensure the correct format for each field. Incorrect formats will result in errors during import.
Correct Format:
Each ingredient should follow this pattern: name amount unit
✅ Correct: Green Apple 2 Servings, Cauliflower 1 Bunch, Chicken Breast (Grilled) 5.5 oz
❌ Incorrect:
- 1 Green Apple, 1 Orange (quantity comes before the ingredient name)
- Shredded chicken 50g (quantity and unit are not separated by a space)
- Navel Orange 2 (should include unit, e.g., "navel oranges 2 piece")
-
Quinoa rinsed drained 135 g,
water 330 ml (If you have more than one ingredient, separate them with a comma on the same line—do not use a new line.)
Import Recipes
- Upload the CSV File:
- Go to the Recipes tab.
- Click on the Import button.
- Go to the CSV file tab.
- Upload your prepared CSV file and click "Import Recipes".
- Notification: After the import, you will receive a popup notification indicating the number of recipes imported. You can view them under Recipes -> My Recipes.
Avoid refreshing the page during recipe creation or import to prevent data loss.
Bulk imports skip ingredient matching — recipes are imported as-is with their original ingredients and nutrition and they can't be used for meal plan auto generation. If you want imported recipes to work with the meal plan generator, import them one at a time using Paste Text or Web Link, which automatically matches the ingredients to the Foodzilla database.
That's it! You can import hundreds of recipes in seconds. 😉 Contact our support team if you encounter any issues.