Mealie MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants to interact with your

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Mealie MCP server?

Mealie MCP server exists for a simple reason — assistants are far more useful when they can act on Mealie directly instead of describing what you should do. A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants to interact with your Mealie recipe database through clients like Claude Desktop.

What the assistant can call

Once Mealie is connected, these are the calls the assistant has available:

  • get_recipes — List/search recipes with advanced filtering
  • get_recipe_detailed — Get complete recipe details
  • get_recipe_concise — Get recipe summary
  • create_recipe — Create new recipe (flat or structured ingredients)
  • create_recipe_full — Create a recipe with full content in one call
  • update_recipe — Update recipe (full replacement)
  • patch_recipe — Update specific fields only
  • duplicate_recipe — Clone a recipe
  • mark_recipe_last_made — Update last made timestamp
  • set_recipe_image_from_url — Set image from URL
  • upload_recipe_image_file — Upload image file
  • upload_recipe_asset_file — Upload document/asset

Setting it up

Run on PyPI is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

Configuration and credentials

You will need 2 environment variables: MEALIE_BASE_URL, MEALIE_API_KEY. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

  • Python 3.12+ - Running Mealie instance with API key - Package manager uv

Choosing this one

Plenty of database access servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Mealie's toolset — get_recipes, get_recipe_detailed, get_recipe_concise and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by rldiao; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Before you rely on it

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Mealie.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the mealie mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
get_recipesList/search recipes with advanced filtering
get_recipe_detailedGet complete recipe details
get_recipe_conciseGet recipe summary
create_recipeCreate new recipe (flat or structured ingredients)
create_recipe_fullCreate a recipe with full content in one call
update_recipeUpdate recipe (full replacement)
patch_recipeUpdate specific fields only
duplicate_recipeClone a recipe
mark_recipe_last_madeUpdate last made timestamp
set_recipe_image_from_urlSet image from URL
upload_recipe_image_fileUpload image file
upload_recipe_asset_fileUpload document/asset
delete_recipeDelete recipe
get_shopping_listsList all shopping lists

How to install the Mealie MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mealie": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["Run"],
      "env": {
        "MEALIE_BASE_URL": "your-value",
        "MEALIE_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • Python 3.12+ - Running Mealie instance with API key - Package manager uv
VariableDescriptionRequired
MEALIE_BASE_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes
MEALIE_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Mealie to get recipes.
  • Use Mealie to get recipe detailed.
  • Use Mealie to get recipe concise.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Mealie to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (get_recipes, get_recipe_detailed, get_recipe_concise, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Mealie directly.