2026.6.3
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Import recipe

Use this action to import a recipe into Mealie from a URL.

This action can optionally return the imported recipe in a response variable, which you can use in later steps of the same automation or script.

Using this action from the user interface

If you prefer building automations and scripts visually, Home Assistant walks you through this action step by step. You pick what to target, tweak a few options, and save. No YAML knowledge required.

To import a recipe from an automation or a script:

  1. Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
  2. Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
  3. If you’re setting up a new automation, add a trigger in the When section. Scripts don’t need a trigger. They run when something else calls them.
  4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
  5. From the search box, search for and select Mealie: Import recipe.
  6. Select the Mealie instance you want to use, and set the recipe URL.
  7. In the Response variable field, enter a name to store the data in, such as imported_recipe.
  8. Select Save.

This action does not support targets. In the UI, you are not prompted to choose an area, device, entity, or label. You select the Mealie instance instead.

Options in the UI

Mealie instance

The Mealie instance to import the recipe into.
URL to the recipe

The URL of the recipe to import.
Include tags (Optional)

Include the tags from the website with the recipe.

Using this action in YAML

If you work directly in YAML, or you want to know exactly what Home Assistant does under the hood, this section has the technical reference. It lists the field names you use in YAML, their types, and which ones are required.

In YAML, refer to this action as mealie.import_recipe. A basic example looks like this:

ActionActions are used in several places in Home Assistant. As part of a script or automation, actions define what is going to happen once a trigger is activated. In scripts, an action is called *sequence*. [Learn more] 
action: mealie.import_recipe
data:
  config_entry_id: YOUR_MEALIE_CONFIG_ENTRY_ID
  url: "https://example.com/recipes/roasted-tomato-soup"

This imports the recipe from the given URL into Mealie.

Options in YAML

config_entry_id string Required

The ID of the Mealie config entry to import the recipe into.

url string Required

The URL of the recipe to import.

include_tags boolean

Include the tags from the website with the recipe.

Response data

This action optionally returns the imported recipe. To capture it, set a response_variable when you call the action.

Try it yourself

Ready to test this? Open Developer tools > Actions, search for this action, fill in the fields, and select Perform action. You see what happens on your actual entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more] without writing a line of YAML.

Still stuck?

The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with the action you’re calling and what you expected to happen, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.

Tip

AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude can also explain actions or suggest the right one when you describe what you want in plain language.

Related actions

These actions work well alongside this one:

  • Get recipe: Get a Mealie recipe by its ID or slug.

  • Get recipes: Search Mealie for recipes that match your search terms.