Keyword Research

Recipe SEO: How to Find Low-Competition Keywords That Actually Rank

15 min read•January 5, 2024

Reality Check: "Chocolate chip cookies" gets 200K monthly searches but you'll never rank for it. "Chewy brown butter chocolate chip cookies" gets 1,200 searches and you can rank in 30 days. This guide shows you how to find the latter.

Why Recipe Keyword Research is Different

The recipe niche is brutally competitive for generic terms. But it's also filled with opportunities if you know where to look. The secret is finding specific, long-tail keywords that:

  • Have search volume (500+ monthly searches minimum)
  • Show low competition (not dominated by major food sites)
  • Have clear search intent (user wants a recipe, not just information)
  • Are specific enough to rank, broad enough to get traffic

Best Keyword Research Tools for Recipes

1. Keywords Everywhere (Recommended for Beginners)

Chrome extension that shows search volume and competition directly in Google search results. Perfect for quick keyword validation.

Cost: $10 for 100,000 credits (lasts months) | Best for: Quick keyword validation

2. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

Industry-leading tool with accurate search volumes and keyword difficulty scores. Essential for serious food bloggers.

Cost: $99/month | Best for: Comprehensive keyword research and competitor analysis

3. AnswerThePublic (Free)

Visualizes questions and phrases people search for. Great for finding unique recipe angles.

Cost: Free (3 searches/day) | Best for: Finding question-based keywords

4. Google Search Console (Free)

Shows which keywords you're already ranking for. Mine this data to find optimization opportunities.

Cost: Free | Best for: Finding keywords you're ranking #11-30 for

The Recipe Keyword Research Framework

Step 1: Start with a Seed Keyword

Begin with your recipe idea in broad terms. Examples:

  • Chocolate chip cookies
  • Chicken pasta
  • Banana bread
  • Vegetarian chili

Step 2: Add Modifiers to Find Long-Tail Variations

Combine your seed keyword with these modifiers to create targetable variations:

Technique Modifiers:
  • • Easy
  • • Quick
  • • No-bake
  • • One-pot
  • • Sheet pan
  • • Slow cooker
  • • Air fryer
Dietary Modifiers:
  • • Vegan
  • • Gluten-free
  • • Keto
  • • Paleo
  • • Dairy-free
  • • Low-carb
  • • Sugar-free
Ingredient Modifiers:
  • • With [ingredient]
  • • Without [ingredient]
  • • Brown butter
  • • Greek yogurt
  • • Almond flour
Outcome Modifiers:
  • • Crispy
  • • Chewy
  • • Fluffy
  • • Moist
  • • Fudgy
  • • Crunchy

Step 3: Analyze Competition

For each keyword, Google it and evaluate the top 10 results:

Green Flags (Easy to Rank):
  • Top 10 has small/medium food blogs
  • Domain authority under 50 (check with Ahrefs or Moz)
  • Content is thin or outdated (published 3+ years ago)
  • Few backlinks to ranking pages
Red Flags (Too Competitive):
  • AllRecipes, Food Network, Bon Appetit dominate results
  • Domain authority over 70
  • Recently published, comprehensive content
  • Hundreds of backlinks to top pages

Real Examples: Good vs. Bad Keywords

❌ Too Competitive
200K searches/mo

Keyword: "chocolate chip cookies"

Why it's bad: Dominated by AllRecipes, NYT Cooking, and Food Network. You'll never crack page 1.

✅ Goldilocks Zone
1.2K searches/mo

Keyword: "chewy brown butter chocolate chip cookies"

Why it's good: Specific enough to rank, enough volume to drive traffic. Top results are medium-sized blogs.

✅ Low-Hanging Fruit
800 searches/mo

Keyword: "almond flour chocolate chip cookies keto"

Why it's good: Combines dietary restriction + outcome modifier. Low competition, engaged audience.

⚠️ Too Niche
40 searches/mo

Keyword: "sugar-free vegan keto chocolate chip cookies with stevia"

Why it's bad: Too many modifiers. Not enough search volume to justify creating content.

Advanced Technique: The "People Also Ask" Method

Google's "People Also Ask" boxes are goldmines for keyword ideas:

  1. Google your seed keyword
  2. Scroll to the "People Also Ask" section
  3. Click each question to expand more related questions
  4. Export all questions to a spreadsheet
  5. Look for patterns (e.g., "how to make X crispy," "why is my X soggy")
  6. Create content that answers these specific questions

Keyword Research Checklist

  • Search volume is 500+ per month
  • Top 10 results have mix of small/medium blogs
  • Keyword difficulty score under 40 (if using Ahrefs)
  • Search intent is clearly recipe-focused
  • Can create unique angle or better version than competitors
  • Keyword is specific but not overly niche

After Finding Keywords: Optimize Your Recipe

Once you've identified your target keyword, use it strategically:

  • Include in recipe title (H1)
  • Use in first paragraph naturally
  • Add to image alt text
  • Include in recipe schema name field
  • Use variations in subheadings
  • Add to meta description

Optimize Your Recipe for Your Target Keyword

Generate SEO-optimized recipe schema and get keyword-specific optimization tips.

Start Optimizing