So you've mastered the basics of blogging, now it's time to make some money with your recipe blog.
Trust me, monetizing your blog is going to be a blast!
Whether you're just starting out or you're a pro recipe influencer, these monetization methods will help you turn your hobby into a full-time business. Let's dive in.
Why You Can Trust Our Recipe Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many recipe blogs.
Our team has built multiple 7-figure blogs in a wide range of niches.
We have hands-on experience working with founders to grow and monetize their recipe blogs.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for recipe bloggers because it hits the sweet spot between time investment and earning potential.
Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a publisher (the site owner) links to a product in their content and earns a commission from the advertiser (the affiliate program) if readers click on that link and make a purchase.
TIP: With all monetization methods, the rule of thumb is the easier it is to accomplish, the less money you can make, and vice versa.
Also, since you can add links to your existing content, it’s the perfect method for beginners. You’ve already written content, so you’ve already done the hard part.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing for Recipe Bloggers
Some different kinds of affiliate products to recommend in the recipe blogging niche include:
- Cookware and kitchen gadgets: Such as blenders, food processors, and cookware sets.
- Specialized ingredients: Such as high-quality olive oils, spices, or specialty flours.
- Cookbooks and meal planning resources: Such as recipe books, meal planning apps, or online cooking classes.
- Food delivery services: Such as meal kit delivery services or specialty food subscriptions.
- Diet and nutrition products: Such as supplements, superfoods, or healthy eating cookbooks.
Once you’ve identified which products will solve problems for your readers, you need to sign up for their affiliate programs.
You should start by joining the Amazon Associates affiliate program.
Most physical products in the recipe niche will be available on Amazon, and the conversion rate on Amazon is insane.
Yes, Amazon’s commission rates are rough, and they only offer a 24-hour cookie duration, but the conversion rate makes up for it. Plus, you’re nearly guaranteed to get accepted into their program.
For products that aren’t available on Amazon, just Google “[Product] affiliate program,” and you’ll find their program’s signup page.
To save you some time, here are a few of the best affiliate networks for recipe bloggers:
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Commission Rate: 5% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 30 Days
The Rachael Ray Store sells a beautiful assortment of cookware, cookbooks, dinnerware, bakeware, and more.
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Commission Rate: 40% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 90 Days
KetoConnect is a globally recognized brand for its authenticity and quality content towards improving health and fitness through a keto diet.
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Commission Rate: 10% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 45 Days
Cuisineart sells various kitchen appliances and tools. Get a 10% commission rate and 45-day cookie duration with their affiliate program!
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best cooking affiliate programs.
Once you’ve been approved for the product’s affiliate program, the program will give you your affiliate link, and you can start inserting it into your content.

How To Monetize A Recipe Blog With Affiliate Marketing
To add your link to your content, go to your post editor, highlight the relevant text, and insert the link.
Here are a few best practices for adding affiliate links to your WordPress blog:
- Add links where it’s helpful. Adding too many links to your blog posts is just like adding too many ads; it’s annoying. Add links to product titles, images, CTA buttons, and the first time you mention a product. That’s plenty.
- Disclose your links. Every blog post with affiliate links should have a disclaimer at the beginning, and every CTA or product image should also.
- Use direct sales language. When you are writing your call to action, be direct. It’s not rude to say, “Check the price” or “Buy this product today.” Being too passive makes you look unconfident.
Or, take it a step further by creating product displays.
You Can Double Your Affiliate Sales With Lasso Displays
You can create displays manually using the post editor to add links to images and buttons.
However, it can be time-consuming to create these displays and keep them updated if you’re doing it all by hand.
Luckily, monetizing your blog with affiliate links is simplified when you’re using a tool like Lasso.
Lasso makes it super easy to add links and product displays to your posts. You can add product displays to posts right from the post editor; no coding is required. It’s as simple as clicking your mouse three times.
You can also automatically import product info from retailers like Amazon. Just paste the link into the Lasso dashboard, and Lasso will populate the display with the product title, image, and price.
With all of this, remember to follow the guidelines in the affiliate program’s terms and conditions. Amazon, in particular, is pretty stringent.
But everything Lasso does is compliant with Amazon Associates’ TOS, so you never have to worry about being booted from the program.
That’s just scratching the surface of what Lasso can do to help you monetize your recipe blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your recipe site, sign up for Lasso today.
A WordPress plugin that lets you add, manage, and display your affiliate links from any program, including Amazon. Increase conversions. Find new affiliate link opportunities. Earn more revenue! Less than 5 minutes to set up.
Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Recipe Bloggers
Affiliate marketing can be a great way for bloggers to monetize their content. By partnering with brands and promoting their products, bloggers have the potential to earn a commission for each sale made through their unique affiliate links.
However, it's important to consider the potential downsides as well. One challenge is finding the right balance between promoting products and maintaining the trust of your audience. Overly promotional content can turn off readers and hurt your reputation as a trustworthy source of information.
Another consideration is the time and effort required to effectively manage affiliate partnerships. This includes tracking performance, optimizing content for conversions, and staying up to date with the latest products and promotions from your affiliate partners.
Ultimately, affiliate marketing can be a valuable revenue stream for bloggers, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons and approach it with a strategic and authentic mindset.
2. Display Ads
The second best way to monetize your recipe blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.
How to Monetize a Recipe Blog With Display Ads
Monetizing a recipe blog with display ads couldn’t be easier.
First, choose an ad network to join. Networks have traffic requirements, so here are the best ad networks to join based on your site’s page views:
- 100,000+ Visitors per month - Raptive
- 50,000+ Sessions per month - Mediavine
- < 50,000+ Visitors per month - Ezoic
NOTE: WordPress is an open-source software found on WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a premium blogging platform, but you never need to pay to install WordPress on your website, even if it’s self-hosted.
Once you’re accepted to an ad network, follow their instructions to integrate their ads into your site. They will have documentation for every type of content management service (WordPress, Joomla, Ghost, etc.).
If your chosen ad network has a dedicated accounts manager, they will guide you through getting their ads on your site.
And… that’s it. Let the ads run and wait for your deposits to hit your account.
TIP: Optimize your display ads for user experience by using your chosen network’s software settings or talking to your account manager. Keep the ads in the sidebar and footer whenever possible.
You’ll make a lot of money in the long run if you put your readers ahead of quick profit.
Display Ad Pros And Cons For Recipe Bloggers
Display ads can be a great way for recipe bloggers to monetize their content. They offer a passive income stream, as once the ads are set up, bloggers can earn money without much ongoing effort. Additionally, display ads can be targeted to the specific interests of the blog's audience, making them more likely to be clicked on.
However, there are also some drawbacks to consider. Display ads can sometimes slow down the loading speed of a website, which can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Additionally, some readers may find display ads distracting or intrusive, leading them to have a negative view of the blog.
Ultimately, whether or not to use display ads on a recipe blog is a decision that each blogger will need to make based on their individual goals and audience. It's important to weigh the potential financial benefits against the potential impact on user experience and reader perception.
3. Digital Products
Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the recipe niche.
A digital product is anything you can sell on your recipe blog that the customer will receive via download.
Here are some digital products to sell on a recipe blog:
- Recipe e-books: Create and sell e-books containing your best recipes, cooking tips, and meal plans.
- Video cooking classes: Offer online courses where you teach cooking techniques and share exclusive recipes through video tutorials.
- Printable meal planners: Design and sell downloadable meal planning templates to help your audience organize their weekly meals.
- Customized grocery lists: Provide personalized grocery lists based on your recipes, making shopping for ingredients easier for your audience.
A lot of people search for simple checklists and guides related to different topics. They’d happily pay you for them.
Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products for Recipe Bloggers
One of the pros of selling digital products for recipe bloggers is the potential for passive income. Once the products are created and marketed, they can continue to bring in revenue without much ongoing effort.
Another advantage is the ability to reach a wider audience. Digital products can be sold to people all over the world, expanding the blogger's reach beyond their local area.
On the flip side, a con of selling digital products is the initial time and effort required to create and market them. It can be a significant investment of resources before seeing a return.
Additionally, there is the risk of piracy and unauthorized sharing of digital products, which can cut into potential earnings for recipe bloggers.
How To Monetize a Recipe Blog By Selling Digital Products
The first thing to do is create your digital product.
Look at which content your audience interacts with the most, and brainstorm digital products to help serve their search intent.
That’s what I did when I created our Ultimate Blogging Guide:

Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
Then, create the product using whatever tools are at your disposal. For example, use Microsoft Word to create an ebook PDF, or Google Sheets to create interactive spreadsheets and checklists.
Next, you have to figure out how to distribute your product. The easiest way to distribute PDFs is by uploading them to your WordPress media library. Then you can give customers the link, and they can download the PDF from there.
Lastly, you’ll have to set up payment processing and order fulfillment. A plugin like Woocommerce can automate most of this, but you’ll have to tie it to a processor like Stripe or PayPal.
Woocommerce can even connect to an email tool like ConvertKit, so as soon as your customer finishes their checkout, they’ll get an email with a link to their download.
TIP: You can still use Lasso to get more clicks to your digital products. Just create a Lasso display with the link pointing to your product’s sales page.
Barring any issues, you won’t have to do anything but watch your bank account grow.
4. Email Newsletter
One effective way to monetize a recipe blog is by creating an email newsletter. This method allows you to build a loyal audience and engage with your readers on a more personal level. Let's explore how to monetize a recipe blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for recipe bloggers.
Are you a recipe blogger looking for ways to monetize your blog? One effective method is through the use of an email newsletter. By building a list of engaged subscribers, you can promote your own products, affiliate products, and sponsored content to generate income.
How to Monetize a Recipe Blog with an Email Newsletter
To monetize your recipe blog with an email newsletter, start by offering a freebie such as a recipe eBook or meal planning guide in exchange for email sign-ups. Once you have a list of subscribers, you can send out regular newsletters featuring exclusive recipes, cooking tips, and product recommendations. You can also promote affiliate products such as kitchen gadgets and cookware, or even create and sell your own digital products like meal plans or online cooking courses.
Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Recipe Bloggers
- Pros: Email newsletters allow for direct communication with your audience, helping to build a loyal following. They also provide a platform to promote and sell products or services directly to your subscribers.
- Cons: Building and maintaining an email list takes time and effort. There is also the risk of subscribers unsubscribing if they feel overwhelmed by too many promotional emails.
Email newsletters are a great way for recipe bloggers to stay in touch with their audience and provide valuable content directly to their subscribers' inboxes. This method of monetization allows for a more personal and direct approach to promoting products and services, making it an ideal choice for recipe bloggers looking to generate income from their blog.
5. Consulting and Coaching Services
Consulting or coaching is exchanging your expertise and time for a fee. Your customers need an expert, and you’ve proven yourself to be that expert.
As you become an authority in the industry, people will reach out to you with questions about topics they consider you an expert in.
Now, you don’t have to charge for being helpful, but you should place a dollar value on your time.
As a recipe blogger, you extensive knowledge of the industry. If a reader reaches out to you asking for help, you should get paid for that effort.
How To Monetize A Recipe Blog With Consulting Services
Monetizing a recipe blog with consulting services is similar to selling sponsored posts.
Put a “Coaching” option in your nav bar that goes to a landing page outlining your consulting services and your hourly rate. This will help head off some of the people looking for free advice.
TIP: Again, you can use Lasso to drive more clicks to your coaching pages. Just create a Display with a link to your sales page, and insert it into blog posts.
Then, wait for requests to come in, evaluate them, and propose your offer. If the customer accepts, send them an invoice using PayPal or another payment processor, and schedule the call.
Pros and Cons of Selling Consulting Services for Recipe Bloggers
One of the main pros of selling consulting services to recipe bloggers is the potential for a steady stream of income. Many bloggers are looking to improve their content and grow their audience, making them willing to invest in valuable consulting services.
Another advantage is the opportunity to build strong, long-term relationships with bloggers. By providing valuable and personalized consulting services, you can become a trusted advisor and resource for bloggers, leading to repeat business and referrals.
On the flip side, a challenge of selling consulting services to recipe bloggers is the need to stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in the food and blogging industry. This requires ongoing learning and adaptation to ensure you are providing relevant and effective consulting services.
Additionally, working with multiple bloggers can be time-consuming and require strong organizational and time management skills to effectively juggle various clients and their unique needs.
Supercharge your earnings with Lasso. Create no-code product Displays and Tables that convert, find and fix broken links, and gain valuable business insights with revenue analytics.
Learn MoreRecipe Blog Monetization FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Recipe Blogging?
If you want to build a successful recipe blog, then affiliate marketing is the best way to monetize it. It’s the least intrusive way to make a lot of money from your site without much extra effort.
Can I Make A Full-Time Income From Recipe Blogging?
Absolutely! Some recipe blogs, like Delish and Epicurious get hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. That’s enough for a full-time income for a small team of people.
How Do I Start a Recipe Blog?
Learning how to start a recipe blog is the first best way to use your expertise to start an online business.
You need to register a domain, install WordPress, and publish great content. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it!
How Do Recipe Bloggers Get Paid?
Most recipe bloggers make money through affiliate commissions and advertising fees. Both of these monetization methods pay out one or two months after the fees have been generated.
Some recipe bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.
Is Recipe Blogging Easy?
Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean recipe blogging isn’t fun.
As a recipe blogger, you’ll get to go places, try new things, and meet new people. And it will be part of your business! What could be cooler than that?
Is It Worth Starting A Recipe Blog?
It’s absolutely worth it to start a recipe blog. Not only can you make a living from it, but you can also build a community and control the conversation.
Once you’re an established authority, people in recipe-related industries will take you seriously.
Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Recipe Blog
So now you know all the different ways you can make money from your recipe blog. But here's a bonus tip for you:
Try using multiple ways to make money!
Having different sources of income is the best way to protect your business's future. If one method doesn't work out, you'll still have others to rely on.
So consider promoting affiliate offers, using display ads, and selling your own products. That way, if one of them doesn't work out, you won't be left high and dry.
With this multi-tiered approach, hard work, and careful planning, you'll be on the fast track to earning what your online business deserves.
Why You Should Trust Our Recipe Blogging Content
You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about recipe blogging?"
Quite a lot, actually.
Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful recipe blog:
We've Built Wildly Successful Blogs
Lasso is built for affiliate marketers, by affiliate marketers. We're not gurus; we've walked the walk.
Our team members have built multiple blogs from the ground up, some of them earning over seven figures in revenue.
We put that experience into every guide we write, so you can trust we're giving you a process that works.
We Talk To Recipe Bloggers Every Day
Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of recipe blogs.
Our team supports those bloggers every day as they create awesome content and earn lots of money.
These communications give us a bird's-eye view of what's new in the recipe industry. We take that information and use it to keep these guides as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
We're Super Nerds
We've put a lot of company focus into learning everything we can about blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, and anything to do with online entrepreneurship.
We attend conferences, collect high-level contacts, read tons of books, and distill all of that information into our content. We pass information onto you that was previously only available to industry insiders.