User Experience Best Practices for Recipe Platforms

Why UX Matters More Than Ever for Recipe Sites

User experience (UX) is no longer just a nice-to-have for recipe platforms—it's essential. According to Progressive Grocer, 89% of consumers use digital recipes. 

Poor UX also comes with a cost. A recent report shows that 88% of users are unlikely to return after a bad experience, and 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load, according to a UX statistics roundup.

Food content is inherently task-based. Users visit recipe sites with a clear goal: to find, follow, and complete a recipe efficiently. That makes clarity, speed, and intuitive navigation essential. Great UX not only drives longer time on site and higher ad revenue, it also builds brand trust and repeat engagement. 

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Prioritize Mobile-First Design

With mobile traffic dominating food content consumption, mobile-first design is no longer optional—it’s essential. On SideChef’s recipe platforms, 80–90% of users access content via mobile devices. More broadly, over 75% of shoppers research e-commerce content on their phones, and 63% of all U.S. search traffic originates from mobile.

Mobile isn’t just where your users start—it’s where they cook, shop, and decide. For example, over 75% of consumers look up recipes on their phones while grocery shopping, and nearly 60% of adults aged 25–34 use their mobile devices as cooking companions.

When designing your recipe platform, start with mobile because that’s where your audience already is. Key design considerations include:

• Thumb-friendly buttons: Ensure all tappable elements are large enough and spaced properly for easy one-handed use—especially important when hands are messy in the kitchen.
  
  
• Collapsible instructions: Let users expand steps as needed, reducing screen clutter and helping them stay focused on the task at hand.
  
  
• Fixed navigation bars: Keep navigation anchored for quick access to search, shopping lists, or timers without having to scroll.
  
  
• Optimized loading performance: Minimize in-view Largest Contentful Paint by lazy-loading below-the-fold assets and optimizing images for mobile bandwidth.

Prioritizing these elements creates a smoother, more intuitive experience—one that meets users where they are, both physically and digitally.

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Core UX Elements Every Recipe Platform Needs

A clean layout makes recipes easier to navigate—especially when ingredients are placed at the top or clearly marked for quick reference. Step-by-step formatting with visual breaks, numbered instructions, and optional timers helps users follow along without friction, whether they’re prepping, cooking, or shopping.

Equally important are core utilities that enhance usability and encourage repeat engagement. Users expect to:

• Bookmark favorites: Allow easy saving of recipes to personal collections or profiles, helping users build a go-to library for meal planning.
  
  
• Print recipes cleanly: Offer a clutter-free, print-friendly version with legible fonts and well-structured content for kitchen use.
  
  
• Share instantly: Include intuitive share buttons for platforms like Pinterest, WhatsApp, or email, so users can recommend recipes with a single tap.
  
  
• See key recipe info at a glance: Highlight quick facts—such as total cook time, estimated cost, difficulty level, and number of ingredients—at the top of the page to help users quickly decide if the recipe fits their needs.
  
  

These features should be easy to locate, typically near the top or bottom of the page, but never interfere with the core recipe content.

Visual hierarchy also plays a critical role. Strategic use of typography, spacing, and color contrast ensures content is both accessible and comfortable to consume. For strong examples of well-structured layouts, explore how SideChef’s recipe platform delivers a seamless experience across both mobile and desktop environments.

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10 Additional Essential Layout Elements for a Recipe Page

1. Hero Image or Video:
   A high-quality image or short video of the finished dish immediately grabs attention, sets expectations, and inspires users to cook.
   
   
2. Ratings and Reviews:
   Display average star ratings and real user reviews to build trust and help users evaluate the recipe before committing.
   
   
3. Author or Chef Info:
   Include a short bio or link to the recipe creator’s profile to humanize the content and give users a way to explore more of their work.
   
   
4. Serving Size and Adjuster:
   Allow users to scale ingredient quantities up or down based on the number of servings they need, with real-time adjustments.
   
   
5. Nutrition Facts Panel:
   Include a breakdown of calories, macros (protein, fat, carbs), and other key nutrients—especially valuable for health-conscious users.
   
   
6. "Jump to Recipe" Button:
   Offer a button that skips introductory content and scrolls users directly to the recipe, improving usability for return visitors or users in a hurry.
   
   
7. Ingredient Checkboxes:
   Let users mark off ingredients as they gather or use them, helping with shopping and reducing the chance of missing a step.
   
   
8. Step-by-Step Photos or GIFs:
   Visuals for key steps help clarify techniques and boost confidence, especially for beginner cooks.
   
   
9. Helpful Tips or Substitutions:
   Add expandable sections with cooking tips, ingredient swaps, or common mistakes to avoid—enhancing value and usability.
   
   
10. Related or Suggested Recipes:
    Show similar recipes based on user interest or seasonality to encourage further exploration and increase session time.

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Ad Placement That Doesn’t Ruin the Experience

We’ve all been there: clicking into a recipe only to be bombarded with pop-ups, autoplay videos, and 10+ ads before even seeing the actual recipe. This kind of clutter not only frustrates users but also erodes trust and negatively impacts engagement.

While ads are essential for monetization, how and where they appear makes all the difference. Instead of overwhelming users at the top of the page, aim for strategic, low-friction placements, such as:

• Between the ingredient list and instructions
  
  
• At the end of the recipe post

For a smarter, user-friendly approach, consider contextual formats like SideChef’s In-Recipe Ads. This solution allows specific ingredients to be sponsored, with a discreet, native-style ad shown directly below the sponsored item in the list. This keeps the experience clean while still delivering high-value brand exposure where it makes sense.

Native ads and affiliate links perform best when they feel integrated into the content and useful to the user. Sticky banners, if used, should be minimal, mobile-optimized, and non-intrusive.

Ultimately, building long-term trust and providing a seamless cooking experience should outweigh short-term revenue gains from overly aggressive ad tactics. A well-balanced monetization strategy leads to higher retention, stronger brand loyalty, and better performance over time.

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Enhancing Navigation and Discovery

Helping users find what they need quickly is key. Well-structured filters for dietary preferences, cooking times, or skill levels allow for more personalized discovery. Internal linking and related recipe suggestions can extend the journey and reduce bounce rates, while curated content collections or seasonal features keep things fresh.

A strong search feature also makes a difference. Key elements of effective search UX include:

• Predictive search
• Ingredient-specific queries
• Smart filtering

These UX details collectively support session length, repeat visits, and overall satisfaction.

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Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. Screen readers must be able to interpret ingredients, instructions, and image descriptions. Font sizes should be adjustable, and color contrast should meet visibility standards to support users with low vision.

Designing for keyboard navigation and optimizing tap targets improves usability not just for users with disabilities, but for everyone. Inclusive UX is good UX—it expands your audience and boosts loyalty.

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Tools to Measure UX Continuously—Not Just During Design

Designing a great user experience is only half the battle—ongoing monitoring is critical to ensure your platform continues to perform as users interact with it in real time. Use these tools and services to stay informed and make data-driven improvements:

• Implement Heatmaps (e.g., Hotjar):
  Visualize user behavior, scroll depth, and click patterns to understand which elements draw attention—and which ones get ignored or cause friction.
  
  
• Conduct A/B Testing (e.g., Optimizely):
  Experiment with different layouts, CTAs, content formats, or ad placements to see what leads to higher engagement, conversions, or time on page.
  
  
• Monitor Page Speed (e.g., Google PageSpeed Insights):
  Ensure your site is fast and responsive by identifying performance bottlenecks like large images, unoptimized scripts, or excessive third-party tags.

Fast, stable pages aren’t just better for users—they’re essential for SEO and retention. Pairing smart design with consistent UX monitoring helps keep your recipe platform both competitive and user-friendly.

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Case Studies: UX That Drives Results

Let’s look at how top brands apply UX best practices to real-world platforms—both with and without SideChef support.

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Case Study #1: Mixlab Cocktail Platform by Bacardi

When Bacardi partnered with SideChef to create Mixlab, a premium cocktail discovery and shopping experience, they partnered with SideChef to bring their vision to life. The Mixlab site combines editorial storytelling with shoppable recipes and features:

• Curated cocktail collections based on occasion, mood, or spirit
  
  
• Seamless add-to-cart functionality for ingredients via local retailers
  
  
• Custom brand integrations for Bacardi’s portfolio of spirits
  
  

By blending sleek design with SideChef’s in-recipe commerce tools, Mixlab transforms at-home mixology into an accessible, on-demand experience. It serves as a digital brand destination that drives both engagement and conversion. Learn more in the Mixlab by Bacardi case study.

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Case Study #2: V-Kitchen Cooking Hub by V-ZUG

When Swiss appliance brand V-ZUG launched its “V-Kitchen” app and website, they partnered with SideChef to deliver a localized, recipe-rich experience. The platform features:

• Over 2,000 fully translated recipes
• A curated home feed and advanced categorization
• Grocery integration with local retailer Farmy for regional delivery

Thanks to intuitive discovery tools and seamless UX design, V-ZUG positioned V-Kitchen as one of Germany’s leading home-cooking apps. Learn more in the V-Kitchen by V-ZUG case study. 

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Case Study #3: LG ThinQ Recipe Hub

LG integrated a recipe platform powered by SideChef directly into its ThinQ smart home app. Key features include:

• 20,000+ shoppable, guided recipes
• Grocery ordering from Walmart, Target, Amazon Fresh, and Instacart
• Built-in appliance guidance within the cooking experience

LG credits SideChef for delivering a complete and convenient user experience across its network of smart kitchen appliances. Explore how it works in the LG ThinQ Recipe Hub case study.

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Case Study #4: Perfect Recipes App (External)

UX/UI studio Tubik analyzed the Perfect Recipes app to showcase how thoughtful design can streamline cooking and shopping experiences. Highlights include:

• Integrated recipe and shopping list functionality that simplifies meal planning
• Clean, intuitive typography and layout to improve day-to-day usability
• Smart personalization filters that help users cook with what they already have on hand

This case demonstrates how tight visual hierarchy and functional UX elevate the recipe experience—even outside SideChef’s ecosystem. See design insights in the Perfect Recipes UX case study.

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Common UX Pitfalls for Recipe Sites to Avoid

Even the most content-rich platforms can suffer if common UX issues go unaddressed. Here are a few mistakes to avoid:

• Ads that interrupt the recipe flow or distract users
• Fonts or colors that reduce readability
• Poor search functionality or lack of ingredient-based filtering
• Inconsistent design between mobile and desktop, or not optimized for mobile devices
• Lack of interactive features in the ingredient section, such as adjustable serving sizes or the ability to switch between metric and imperial units.
• Lack of visuals elements (step image or step video) within the instructions section

Avoiding these pitfalls protects the user journey and builds long-term loyalty.

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Final Thoughts: Great UX is a Recipe for Retention

In the crowded world of online cooking content, recipe platforms with great UX win. Intuitive, inclusive, and mobile-first design improves engagement, boosts SEO, and increases monetization potential.

Ready to improve your UX?‍

Partner with SideChef for a personalized UX audit and strategy tailored to your recipe platform. Discover how SideChef builds scalable recipe platforms by combining intuitive design with powerful backend tools, like a dynamic Recipe CMS and shoppable recipe widgets.

Looking to grow your platform? Explore our turn-key recipe platform solutions—designed to streamline everything from mobile-first UX to integrated product experiences.