Free download
Free Recipe Card Template
Printable and fillable. Type your recipe straight into the PDF, or print it and write it by hand. Two sizes: a full page and classic 4×6 cards that fit a recipe box.
Pick your size
Both templates are fillable PDFs. Click a line and start typing in Adobe Reader, Preview on a Mac, or right in Chrome or Edge. Then print, or save a copy.
Full-page recipe card
- One recipe per page (US Letter, or A4 version)
- Room for about 20 ingredients and 20 steps
- Serves, prep, cook and total time boxes
- A notes section for swaps and storage tips
4×6 recipe cards
- Two cards per page, with cut marks (US Letter, or A4 version)
- Fronts on page 1, backs on page 2
- Fits standard 4 x 6 inch index cards and recipe boxes
- Print double-sided and flip on the long edge
Recipe card template for Word and Google Docs
Prefer to type in Word? Download the same blank recipe card as an editable .docx file. Click a line, type your recipe, and print. Change the font or colors if you like. It is yours to edit.
Using Google Docs? Download the Word file, upload it to Google Drive, then right-click it and choose Open with > Google Docs. It stays fully editable, and you can save it as a Google Doc to reuse.
Want something prettier? See our free printable recipe cards in six designs, from retro to holiday.
How to use it
1
Download
Pick the full page or the 4×6 cards. The PDF opens in your browser or PDF app.
2
Type or write
Type into the lines on screen, or print a blank copy and write by hand.
3
Use card stock for cards that last. For 4×6, print both pages double-sided and cut along the marks.
What to put on a recipe card
Tips from a former chef, so anyone can cook from your card.
- Name it clearly. “Grandma’s Sunday Meatballs” is easier to find in a recipe box than “Meatballs.”
- List ingredients in the order you use them. The cook can work straight down the list without hunting.
- Put the amount first. “2 cups flour” reads faster than “flour, 2 cups.” Say how it’s prepped: “1 onion, diced.”
- One action per step. Start each step with a verb: heat, whisk, fold, bake. Short steps are easier to follow with messy hands.
- Give temperatures and times, plus a doneness cue. “Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.”
- Say how much it makes. Servings or yield, like “makes 24 cookies,” helps anyone scale it.
- Use the notes. Swaps, make-ahead tips and how long it keeps are what people ask about most.
Want the full method? Read Write Recipes Like a Professional Kitchen.
Sharing recipes on your blog? Skip the template.
Scrumptious turns a pasted recipe into a finished recipe card on your WordPress site. Ingredients, steps, times and servings fill in for you, with a print button, servings scaling and Google recipe data built in. Free on WordPress.org.
Questions
Is the recipe card template really free?
Yes. Download it, print as many as you like, and use it for your own recipes. No sign-up or email needed.
Can I type into it?
Yes. Both PDFs have fillable fields. They work in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on a Mac, and the built-in PDF viewer in Chrome and Edge. Save a copy after typing so you keep your recipe.
What sizes are included?
A full-page recipe card, and 4×6 inch recipe cards printed two to a page with cut marks. Both come in US Letter and A4. The 4×6 file has card fronts on page 1 and backs on page 2.
What paper should I use?
Plain paper is fine for a binder. For a recipe box, use card stock (65 to 110 lb) so the cards stand up and survive a few splashes.
Can I use it for recipes on my food blog?
For printable recipes on a WordPress blog, a recipe plugin does the job better. Scrumptious adds a print button, servings scaling and Google recipe data to every recipe, and the core plugin is free.
