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Recipe Development Chef Jobs in New Jersey (NOW HIRING)

Maschio's Food Service

School District Chef

Plainfield, NJ · On-site

$60K - $65K/yr

This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality, safe, appealing meals while supporting menu execution, recipe development, food cost control, and operational excellence.The School District Chef ...

Gecko New York

Executive Chef

Pompton Lakes, NJ · On-site

$73K - $100K/yr

Executive Chef - Pompton Lakes, NJ Upscale Banquet & Restaurant Venue | Culinary Leadership ... Lead menu planning, recipe development, and execution for both restaurant and event menus.

Gulph Creek Hotels

Sous Chef

Beach Haven, NJ · On-site

$20/hr

Responsibilities: * Assist the Executive Chef in menu planning and recipe development, focusing on Italian cuisine. * Supervise kitchen staff, ensuring that all food preparation and cooking processes ...

New

Gulph Creek Hotels

Sous Chef

Beach Haven, NJ · On-site

$20/hr

Responsibilities: * Assist the Executive Chef in menu planning and recipe development, focusing on Italian cuisine. * Supervise kitchen staff, ensuring that all food preparation and cooking processes ...

New

Sodexo

Executive Chef 4

Neptune, NJ · On-site

$94K - $122K/yr

The Executive Chef 4 will provide leadership and supervision for the on-site food service staff ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Executive Chef 4

Neptune City, NJ · On-site

$94K - $122K/yr

TheExecutive Chef 4 will provide leadership and supervision for the on-site food service staff ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Executive Chef 4

Neptune City, NJ

$94K - $122K/yr

The Executive Chef 4 will provide leadership and supervision for the on-site food service staff ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Executive Chef 4

Neptune City, NJ · On-site

$94K - $122K/yr

The Executive Chef 4 will provide leadership and supervision for the on-site food service staff ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

CS RESORT MANAGER

Sous Chef

Hamburg, NJ · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Crystal Springs Resort is seeking a talented and passionate Sous Chef to join our award-winning ... Experience with menu planning, recipe development, food costing, and inventory management preferred.

Lions Gate

Sous Chef

Voorhees Township, NJ

$55K - $60K/yr

Collaborate with the Executive Chef on menu planning, recipe development, and new culinary offerings * Ensure all food is prepared consistently, safely, and according to established recipes, portion ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

Edison, NJ · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

North Bergen, NJ

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

Edison, NJ

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

Edison, NJ · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

Neptune City, NJ · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

Sodexo

Senior Area Executive Chef

Edison, NJ · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Area Executive Chef for Hackensack Meridian Health in Central and North ... Bring creativity to life through hands-on recipe development, menu planning, and culinary ...

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All JobsRecipe Development Chef JobsRecipe Development Chef Jobs in New Jersey

Recipe Development Chef information

See New Jersey salary details

$10

$25

$45

How much do recipe development chef jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for recipe development chef in New Jersey is $25.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $31.49 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a recipe development chef?

Recipe Development Chefs are culinary professionals who specialize in creating, testing, and refining recipes for restaurants, food companies, cookbooks, or media outlets. They combine culinary creativity with technical knowledge to develop dishes that are both delicious and consistent. Their responsibilities often include ingredient sourcing, nutritional analysis, and adapting recipes for various dietary needs or production scales. Recipe Development Chefs may also collaborate with marketing teams and food photographers to present recipes in an appealing way. Their work ensures that recipes are reliable, innovative, and meet the needs of their target audience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recipe development chef?

To thrive as a Recipe Development Chef, you need a strong culinary background, creativity in food preparation, and a solid understanding of nutrition and food science, usually supported by formal culinary training or equivalent experience. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, recipe management software, and sometimes food safety certifications is important. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and adaptability help you collaborate with teams and respond to feedback. These skills are crucial for consistently creating innovative, high-quality recipes that meet taste, dietary, and operational standards.

What are some common challenges faced by a recipe development chef when creating new dishes for a restaurant or food brand?

One of the main challenges for a Recipe Development Chef is balancing creativity with practical considerations like ingredient availability, cost, and kitchen workflow. It's important to ensure that new recipes can be consistently replicated by kitchen staff and meet the brand's standards for taste, appearance, and nutrition. Additionally, Recipe Development Chefs often collaborate closely with culinary teams, nutritionists, and marketing departments to align new dishes with customer preferences and brand identity, requiring strong communication and adaptability.

What is the difference between Recipe Development Chef vs Pastry Chef?

AspectRecipe Development ChefPastry Chef
CredentialsCulinary degree or equivalent, culinary certificationsCulinary degree, pastry-specific certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, food product companies, restaurantsBakery, pastry shops, restaurants, hotels
Industry UsageFood product development, culinary innovationBakery, dessert, pastry arts
Primary FocusCreating and testing new recipes for various food productsPreparing and decorating baked goods and desserts

The Recipe Development Chef focuses on creating and testing new recipes for food products and menus, often working in test kitchens or food companies. In contrast, a Pastry Chef specializes in preparing and decorating baked goods and desserts in bakeries or restaurants. While both roles require culinary skills and certifications, their work environments and primary responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Recipe Development Chef jobs in New Jersey?

For Recipe Development Chef jobs in New Jersey, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Recipe Development Chef jobs in New Jersey look for?

The top searched job categories for Recipe Development Chef jobs in New Jersey are:

Recipe Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Recipe Development Chef job openings in New Jersey as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,005 per year, or $25 per hour.

School District Chef

Plainfield, NJ • On-site

Maschio's Food Service
Food Services and Drinking Places • 11 - 50 employees

5.3

Company rating: 5.3 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

56th of 68 rated caterers

People enjoy working here

Paid breaks

Recommended by parents

Learn more about Maschio's Food Serviceexternal

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

We are seeking a School District Chef in the North Plainfield, NJ area. To provide culinary leadership and support across K-12 school foodservice operations. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality, safe, appealing meals while supporting menu execution, recipe development, food cost control, and operational excellence.
The School District Chef will train and mentor foodservice teams, lead Chef Days and culinary promotions, support USDA-compliant menu development, monitor food quality and safety, and introduce innovative, student-focused menu concepts. The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary professional who enjoys developing people, creating great food, and making a positive impact on the student dining experience.
Qualifications:

  • 3-5 years of culinary/foodservice experience.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
  • Knowledge of food safety and sanitation.
  • Culinary training or professional culinary experience.
  • K-12 or institutional foodservice experience preferred.
  • ServSafe® certification preferred.
  • Knowledge of USDA school meal programs and nutrition standards preferred.

Join our team and bring your culinary expertise to a role where you can inspire students, develop teams, and elevate the school dining experience.
Maschio’s Food Services logo

About Maschio’s Food Services

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Maschio’s Food Services is an industry leader in food service management specializing in K-12 nutrition. We provide the highest level of service for all school district food service programs with our experienced personnel. Our entire team of food service workers, school nutrition specialists, registered dietitians, and corporate chefs, have contributed to making lunch the best part of the day for students. We have partnered with local farms to have dedicated farmland that grows produce solely for Maschio’s Food Services. Our Farm to School Program allows our students to enjoy fresh and local farm to school meals. Maschio’s Food Allergy Management Program is unmatched. Our team of registered dietitians will create a safe menu for students who have life-threatening food allergies or medical conditions. We are involved in various green committees and recycling committees. Our Sustainable Maschio’s Program can assist your school district to bring greater sustainability to your food service program.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Chester, NJ, US

Year founded

1992

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What Maschio's Food Services employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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