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Recipe importing guide

How to import recipes from Instagram and other social media

Last reviewed 30 July 2026 · 6 minute guide

Copy or share a public recipe link from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or a recipe website. Broccolicious turns the available recipe information into a clear, searchable recipe while keeping the original source attached.

The short answer

  1. Copy or share the recipe link

    Open the public post or video, choose Share, and copy its link. On supported phones, you can share the link directly to Broccolicious.

  2. Import and review the recipe

    Paste the URL into Recipes and choose Import recipe. Check the ingredients, quantities, timings, ordered steps, warnings, and original source before cooking.

  3. Arrange it in your recipe library

    Search saved recipes, filter by useful tags, and sort by newest or most cooked so a saved reel becomes something you can find again.

  4. Turn the recipe into action

    Select the ingredients you need and add them to your shopping list. Broccolicious keeps each shopping item connected to its recipe.

Supported recipe sources

Broccolicious currently recognizes public links from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and recipe websites. A social post works best when its caption, description, transcript, or linked creator page contains real recipe information.

A beautiful food video is not always a complete recipe. If the source leaves out quantities or steps, Broccolicious may show a warning or decline the import rather than quietly presenting uncertain information as fact.

How Broccolicious organizes saved social recipes

Bookmarks remember where a post lives. Broccolicious turns the usable information in that post into a recipe record: title, description, ingredients, ordered steps, timings, servings, tags, source, confidence, and warnings where available.

  • Search the library by recipe name, source, or ingredient.
  • Use tags to bring similar meals together.
  • Sort by newest or most cooked.
  • Open the original creator or website whenever you need to verify a detail.
  • Choose recipe ingredients for a source-aware shopping list.

The current beta focuses on recipe importing, the saved library, cooking, and shopping. Weekly planning is part of the Broccolicious product direction, and its availability may change during the beta.

When an import cannot work

Broccolicious does not bypass privacy or access controls. An import may fail when:

  • the post or account is private;
  • the recipe exists only in hidden comments or a direct message;
  • the recipe is behind a paywall or members-only page;
  • the video, caption, and linked pages do not expose enough recipe detail; or
  • the source platform temporarily blocks access to the public post.

If a creator asks you to comment for the recipe, request it from the creator, open the public recipe link they send, and import that link instead.

Questions about importing social recipes

Which recipe links can Broccolicious import?

Broccolicious accepts public recipe links from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and recipe websites. The source must expose enough recipe detail in a caption, description, transcript, or accessible linked recipe page.

Can Broccolicious read private posts, comments, or direct messages?

No. Broccolicious does not bypass privacy controls, paywalls, or members-only access, and it cannot reliably read hidden comments or direct messages.

What if an Instagram post asks me to comment for the recipe?

Comment on the original post, open the recipe link the creator sends you, and import that public recipe URL. Broccolicious cannot access a recipe delivered only through a direct message.

Does Broccolicious keep the original recipe source?

Yes. Broccolicious keeps the original source attached so you can return to the creator or website and check important details.

Is every AI-extracted recipe guaranteed to be accurate?

No. Extraction can be incomplete or wrong. Broccolicious preserves source attribution and shows confidence information and warnings where available, but you should check important quantities, allergies, food-safety details, and inferred steps against the original source.