# Recipe (pending)

Platform: All platforms | Type: Recipe


> **Where this format overrides General Guidelines:** The focus keyphrase is locked to `[Recipe Name] recipe`—not the open `[Person/Topic] [Does/Is] [Thing]` structure in §1.2. The word "Recipe" must appear in the H1 and SEO title (with narrow exceptions). The SEO title character range is 50–70 characters rather than the universal 60–70. This format introduces requirements with no brand-level equivalent: a format-specific intro word count (150–350 words), a required dek structure, a URL naming convention, and guidance on headline keyword strategy. Text in <span style="color: #dc2626;">**red**</span> throughout this page marks anything that overrides or goes beyond the General Guidelines.

---

### Purpose

A Recipe page delivers a complete, searchable recipe with enough context to earn the click and keep the reader. The primary SEO goal is to rank for `[Recipe Name] recipe`—the most common way people search for food content. These pages are evergreen and should remain accurate and current.

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: headline -->
### Headline (H1)
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">The word **"Recipe"** must appear in the H1.</span><br>
<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Exceptions:** Recipe-specific sites where the word would be redundant; promo headlines.</span>

- Character count: 80–100 characters
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Use long-tail keywords that reflect how people search—be specific about the type of dish, preparation method, or key ingredients</span>
- Casing varies by publishing destination—adjust per site style guide before publishing

<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Good examples:**
- `This Grandma Pizza Recipe Is an Easy-To-Make, Extra-Crispy, Cheesy NY Classic`
- `This 'Lazy' Oreo Mug Cake Recipe Satisfies Your Decadent Dessert Cravings in 5 Minutes`
- `Easy Salted Turtle Cookie Recipe: Sweet, Salty and Delicious`</span>

> **Optimize before publishing.** Articles are indexed almost immediately after publishing. Get the H1 and SEO title right before hitting publish.

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: seo -->
### SEO Title
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">The word **"Recipe"** must appear in the SEO title.</span><br>
<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Exceptions:** Recipe-specific sites where the word would be redundant; promo headlines.</span><br>
<span style="color: #dc2626;">If the article includes a **recipe-specific video**, add `(with Video)` at the end of the SEO title.</span>

- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Character count: 50–70 characters</span>—titles over 70 are truncated in search results
- Must contain the focus keyphrase
- Must front-load keywords—the first 8 words carry the most weight
- Must match the H1 in intent—similar but not identical
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Use long-tail keywords that reflect how people search for recipes—be specific about dish type, preparation, or key ingredients</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">**Prefer `[Dish Name] Recipe` over `How to Make [Dish]`**—people search for the name of the dish + "recipe," not "how to make" constructions</span>

<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Good examples:**
- `Grandma Pizza Recipe: A Pizzeria-Worthy Treat Perfect for a Crowd`
- `Oreo Mug Cake Recipe: Make This 2-Ingredient Treat in 5 Minutes`
- `Salted Turtle Cookie Recipe`
- `Hearty Black Bean Soup Recipe (with Video)`</span>

> **Research the competition.** Use tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to review what titles AllRecipes, Epicurious, Bon Appétit, and similar sites are using for the same dish. Use the `intitle:keyword` search operator in Google to see what headlines are ranking (e.g., `intitle:black bean soup recipe`).

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: seo -->
### Dek
**(REQUIRED)**

- <span style="color: #dc2626;">2–3 sentences</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Must include the name of the dish the recipe is for</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Include a few keywords that describe the dish or how to serve it</span>
- Entered as a separate CMS field—do not place inside the article body
- Must contain the focus keyphrase

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: seo -->
### Meta Description
**(REQUIRED)**

- 100–155 characters (approximately 2 sentences)
- Must contain the focus keyphrase
- Must not repeat the H1 or SEO title verbatim
- Functions as a dek—entices clicks, does not merely summarize

<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Example (Salted Turtle Cookies Recipe):**
*"These salted turtle cookies are a delicious combination of dulce de leche and dark chocolate, topped with sea salt—and are sure to be your family's favorite treat."*</span>

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: seo -->
### Focus Keyphrase
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">

| Type | Format |
|---|---|
| Primary | `"[Recipe Name] recipe"` |
| Secondary (if applicable) | `"[Descriptor] [Recipe Name] recipe"` (e.g., `"crispy pork carnitas recipe"`, `"authentic neapolitan pizza crust recipe"`) |

</span>

- Must appear in: H1, SEO title, dek (CMS field), meta description
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Long-tail secondary keyphrases narrow to how people actually search—include the type, preparation method, or key ingredient when relevant</span>
- Use Google Trends and competitor tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest) to validate keyword choices

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: general-style -->
### Tone
**(REQUIRED)**

Warm, approachable, and helpful. Conversational and human—never stiff or institutional. Confident and specific—avoid vague generalities. The reader should feel like they are getting a recipe from someone who has actually made it.

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: general-style -->
### Word Count
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">**Intro body copy:** 150–350 words.</span> It is acceptable to go over 350 words if the additional content is helpful to the reader and directly relevant to the recipe. The intro must mention the name of the food the recipe is for.

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: general-style -->
### Article Structure
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">The following structure is mandatory for this format. General Guidelines do not prescribe article structure.</span>

```
[AI DISCLAIMER—CUE sites only]
"This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI."

[INTRO—150–350 words]
- Must mention the name of the food the recipe is for
- Can include backstory, serving suggestions, what makes this version special
- Do not open with a definition or throat-clearing openers
- Include internal links here—link to other relevant recipes or related content

[RECIPE CARD—ingredients and instructions]
- Follow CMS recipe card format for the platform
- Ingredients list
- Step-by-step instructions

[OPTIONAL H2 SECTIONS—as needed]
- Tips, variations, storage instructions, serving suggestions, etc.
- Use Google Trends keywords in H2 headings where natural

[INTERNAL LINKS—embedded in intro and body copy]
- 3–5 contextual internal links
- Placed naturally within relevant sections
```

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: general-style -->
### Formatting Rules
**(REQUIRED)**

- Bullet points permitted for ingredient lists and step-by-step instructions—these are legitimate lists, not a substitute for prose
- Keep paragraphs short for mobile readability
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">The intro must mention the name of the food—do not write an intro that never references the dish by name</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Use H2 subheadings for supplementary sections (tips, variations, storage)—pull keywords from Google Trends where natural</span>

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### Internal Links
**(REQUIRED)**

3–5 contextual internal links per article. See General Guidelines §1.4 for full anchor text rules.

Link to:
- Other recipes on the site (especially similar dishes or the same cuisine type)
- Tag pages relevant to the article's ingredients or cuisine
- Previously published articles about the dish, chef, or food topic mentioned

**Anchor text—additional guidance for this format:**
- Do: Link full recipe names, cuisine types, ingredient names used as proper nouns, social media platform names
- Do: Link the person's name *and* their title/affiliation as a single link rather than two separate links (e.g., `Robert Smith, private chef at Culinary Collective ATL`)
- Don't: Link to retailers (Walmart, Amazon, etc.) unless this is a designated affiliate article—unlabeled affiliate links will trigger Google penalties

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### Hero Image
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">General Guidelines do not specify image requirements. The following specs are mandatory for this format.</span>

<span style="color: #dc2626;">

| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum width | 1200px (1600px+ preferred) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 300K+ pixels |
| Subject | The finished dish—must clearly show what the recipe produces |
| Logos | NOT permitted |
| Text overlays | NOT permitted |
| Generic stock | NOT permitted |

</span>

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### URL Structure
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">General Guidelines do not prescribe URL patterns. The following is mandatory for this format.</span>

- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Pattern: `[dish-name]-recipe`</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Keep short—dish name + "recipe" is the standard structure</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Strip stop words</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">Examples: `salted-turtle-cookies-recipe`, `chai-sugar-cookies-recipe`, `grandma-pizza-recipes`</span>

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### Tags
**(REQUIRED)**

<span style="color: #dc2626;">General Guidelines do not specify tags. The following are mandatory for this format.</span>

- <span style="color: #dc2626;">`TH-CSA`</span>
- <span style="color: #dc2626;">`The Commons`</span>
- *(Tags subject to change—check for updates)*

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### What to Avoid

| Prohibited | Reason |
|---|---|
| <span style="color: #dc2626;">Omitting "Recipe" from the H1 and SEO title</span> | <span style="color: #dc2626;">Format requirement—"Recipe" must appear in both (except on recipe-specific sites or in promo headlines)</span> |
| <span style="color: #dc2626;">"How to Make [Dish]" as the headline or SEO title</span> | <span style="color: #dc2626;">People search for `[dish] recipe`, not "how to make" constructions—this pattern underperforms in recipe search</span> |
| <span style="color: #dc2626;">Intro that never mentions the name of the food</span> | <span style="color: #dc2626;">Format requirement—the intro must reference the dish by name</span> |
| <span style="color: #dc2626;">SEO title over 70 characters</span> | <span style="color: #dc2626;">Truncated in search results</span> |
| NSFW in any metadata field | Suppresses article in feeds—see General Guidelines §1.3 |
| Affiliate links (unlabeled) | Google penalty risk—see General Guidelines §1.4 |
| "Click here" or "read more" as anchor text | Poor UX and SEO signal—see General Guidelines §1.4 |
| Generic stock images or images with text overlays | Format image spec—hero must show the finished dish |
| Publishing without human review | Universal compliance rule—see General Guidelines §1.8 |

---

<!-- AGENT-AUDIENCE: human-only -->
### Pre-Publish Checklist
- AI disclaimer present at top of article (CUE sites only) and "Created With AI" checkbox checked in CUE
- Named human byline—creator/first editor only, no staff byline
- If updated article: byline and dateline handled per General Guidelines §1.5
- All facts verified; all links point to reputable sources
- Focus keyphrase (`[Recipe Name] recipe`) in H1, SEO title, dek (CMS), and meta description
- H1: 80–100 characters, "Recipe" present, long-tail keywords used, no prohibited language
- SEO title: 50–70 characters, "Recipe" present, `[Dish Name] Recipe` construction preferred over "How to Make"
- If recipe-specific video exists: `(with Video)` added to end of SEO title
- Meta description: 100–155 characters, focus keyphrase present, no repeated hed language
- Dek: 2–3 sentences, dish name present, entered as CMS field (not in article body)
- Intro body copy: 150–350 words, mentions the name of the food
- 3–5 internal links with descriptive anchor text; no unlabeled affiliate links
- Recipe card complete: ingredients and step-by-step instructions
- Hero image: 1200px+ wide, 16:9, 300K+ res, shows finished dish, no logos/text/stock
- URL: `[dish-name]-recipe` pattern, stop words stripped
- Headline casing adjusted for publishing destination
- Tags applied: `TH-CSA` and `The Commons`
- Passes all Google Helpful Content standard questions (General Guidelines §1.7)
- Human review and approval obtained before publishing