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HowToCook-MCP Server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

Claude Desktop: HowToCook-MCP brings the HowToCook recipe collection to AI assistants.

What you can do with HowToCook-MCP in Claude Desktop

Useful when an assistant needs recipe details and restriction-aware weekly meal planning together.

  • Find ingredients and preparation steps for a specific dish.
  • Browse recipes within a cooking category.

Before you start: HowToCook-MCP in Claude Desktop

  • Node.js 16.0.0 or later
  • npm or yarn
  • An MCP-compatible client

For the Cursor npm configuration, the README instructs users to run npm i -g howtocook-mcp first to avoid client creation failures. Source builds and HTTP/SSE alternatives are also described. No required environment variables are stated.

HowToCook-MCP Claude Desktop configuration

  1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

    For HowToCook-MCP Server, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

  2. Add HowToCook-MCP Server to Claude Desktop

    Use the HowToCook-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep HowToCook-MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

  3. Check HowToCook-MCP Server in Claude Desktop

    HowToCook-MCP Server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

Config file · macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "HowToCook-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "howtocook-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

HowToCook-MCP tools available to Claude Desktop

HowToCook-MCP's stored tool list documents 5 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

mcp_howtocook_getAllRecipes

When Claude Desktop requests mcp_howtocook_getAllRecipes from HowToCook-MCP, review the action before approving it.

Return the full recipe collection; the README warns of large context usage.

mcp_howtocook_getRecipesByCategory

When Claude Desktop requests mcp_howtocook_getRecipesByCategory from HowToCook-MCP, review the action before approving it.

Find recipes within a selected food category.

mcp_howtocook_recommendMeals

When Claude Desktop requests mcp_howtocook_recommendMeals from HowToCook-MCP, review the action before approving it.

Suggest a weekly meal plan and rough shopping list using allergies, exclusions, and diner count.

mcp_howtocook_whatToEat

When Claude Desktop requests mcp_howtocook_whatToEat from HowToCook-MCP, review the action before approving it.

mcp_howtocook_getRecipeById

When Claude Desktop requests mcp_howtocook_getRecipeById from HowToCook-MCP, review the action before approving it.

HowToCook-MCP: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting HowToCook-MCP in Claude Desktop

  • Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for HowToCook-MCP Server. If npx howtocook-mcp (Node.js/npm) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
  • HowToCook-MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
  • Known limitation: Retrieving every recipe can use excessive assistant context.
  • Known limitation: The documented recommendation range is limited to ten diners.
  • General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

HowToCook-MCP Server — details. Claude Desktop guide

Frequently asked questions

Claude Desktop loads HowToCook-MCP Server from claude_desktop_config.json: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/ on macOS, or %APPDATA%\Claude\ on Windows. Open it via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

Claude Desktop's HowToCook-mcp example uses stdio.

HowToCook-MCP Server's Claude Desktop configuration invokes npx howtocook-mcp (Node.js/npm).

HowToCook-MCP Server's stored list contains 5 tools, including mcp_howtocook_getAllRecipes, mcp_howtocook_getRecipesByCategory, mcp_howtocook_recommendMeals. Compare those names with Claude Desktop's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.

The README identifies Anduin2017/HowToCook as the recipe source.

Yes. The recommendation inputs include allergies, ingredients to avoid, and the number of diners.