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Recipe Development Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Purple Carrot

Recipe Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, day-to-day test kitchen operations, and close partnership with ...

New

Purple Carrot

Recipe Developer

Chicago, IL

$60K - $70K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, day-to-day test kitchen operations, and close partnership with ...

New

Zortech Solutions

SAP S/4 Consultant

Chicago, IL · Remote

$64.50 - $88/hr

Collaborating with stakeholders to gather requirements and provide technical expertise.  S4 PLM, Enterprise Product Development (EPD), supplier collaboration, S4 Recipe Development  Notes from ...

Boar's Head Brand

Culinary Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K/yr

Coordinate - work cross-functionally with supply chain, culinary, marketing, operations, training, and sales to integrate recipe development plans and new product roll outs throughout the company in ...

Blue Plate Catering

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Oversee recipe development, standardization, and documentation to maintain consistency across all production teams while supporting creative menu innovation. * Collaborate with the Executive Chef to ...

BLUE PLATE CATERING LTD

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL

$68K - $93K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Oversee recipe development, standardization, and documentation to maintain consistency across all production teams while supporting creative menu innovation. Collaborate with the Executive Chef to ...

Blue Plate Catering

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Contribute to recipe development, menu innovations, tastings, and culinary concepts that reflect Blue Plate's standards, client needs, current trends, and operation excellence. • Ensure menu ...

Bar Parisette

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL

$55K - $65K/yr

  • Medical

  • PTO

The sous chef will assist the executive chef in menu planning, recipe development, and staff training. Other responsibilities include: * expediting when necessary * planning and executing wine ...

Mars, Incorporated

SAP PLM Architect (Lead)

Chicago, IL · On-site

Hands-on configuration experience with SAP PLM components such as Recipe Development, Specifications Management, and related modules. * Strong understanding of S/4HANA, SAP BTP, and RISE environments ...

Mars

SAP PLM Architect (Lead)

Chicago, IL · On-site

Handson configuration experience with SAP PLM components such as Recipe Development, Specifications Management, and related modules. * Strong understanding of S/4HANA, SAP BTP, and RISE environments ...

Asador Bastian

Pastry Sous Chef

Chicago, IL

$65K - $68K/yr

Maintain recipe consistency, portion control, and production efficiency. * Assist with menu development, seasonal dessert creation, and recipe testing. * Monitor inventory levels and communicate ...

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All JobsRecipe Development JobsRecipe Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

Recipe Development information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$29.9K

$55K

$83.4K

How much do recipe development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for recipe development in Chicago, IL is $55,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43,800.00 and $61,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in recipe development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Recipe Development, you need a strong culinary background, creativity in food pairing, and a solid understanding of nutrition and food science, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant experience. Familiarity with recipe management software, food costing tools, and kitchen equipment is typically required. Attention to detail, adaptability, and excellent communication skills help you refine recipes and collaborate with chefs, clients, or brands. These skills ensure the creation of innovative, reliable, and appealing recipes that meet both culinary standards and consumer expectations.

What are some common challenges faced in a recipe development role, and how can they be managed?

One of the main challenges in recipe development is balancing creativity with practicality, as recipes must be both innovative and reproducible by home cooks or commercial kitchens. Developers often need to test multiple iterations to ensure consistency, flavor, and clarity in instructions. Managing feedback from taste testers, nutritionists, and editorial teams is also key, requiring strong communication and flexibility. Staying organized and documenting each version meticulously helps streamline the process and minimize errors.

What is recipe development?

Recipe development is the process of creating, testing, and refining recipes to achieve desired flavors, textures, and presentation. This involves experimenting with ingredients, cooking methods, and measurements to ensure the final dish is both delicious and reliable. Professionals in recipe development often work for food brands, magazines, or restaurants, ensuring recipes are innovative, accurate, and easy for others to follow. The process may also include considering dietary restrictions, nutrition, and food trends.

What skills do you need to be a recipe development?

Recipe development requires strong culinary skills, creativity, and knowledge of food science to create and test new recipes. Attention to detail, proficiency with kitchen tools and ingredients, and the ability to adapt recipes based on feedback are essential. Good organizational skills and understanding of nutrition can also be beneficial.

What are the qualifications to get a recipe development job?

The qualifications to get a recipe development job depend greatly on your career path. If you start in the restaurant or fine dining industry, you may get a book deal to write about your restaurant’s food or ingredients. This requires years of patience and success as a cook. Others study food science or nutrition in college or at a culinary institute. Other recipe developers may have no formal background in food or food science, but they combine their passion for cooking with their writing skills and develop recipes for their audience.

How much do recipe developers get paid?

Recipe developers typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. Freelance recipe developers may charge per project or hour, with rates ranging from $20 to $100 or more per hour. Skills in food science, culinary arts, and food photography can influence earning potential.

How do you become a recipe developer?

To become a recipe developer, individuals typically gain culinary skills through formal education or hands-on experience in kitchens, and develop a strong understanding of food science and flavor pairing. Building a portfolio of tested recipes and proficiency with food photography or writing can also help establish credibility in the field.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Recipe Development jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Recipe Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:

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For Recipe Development jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for Recipe Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Recipe Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Recipe Development job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,071 per year, or $26.5 per hour.

Recipe Developer

Purple Carrot

Chicago, IL • On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About Purple Carrot
Founded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals.
Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.
Description
We are looking for a Recipe Developer to join our mission-driven team. As an integral part of the Culinary department, you will join forces with the Director of Culinary (to whom you will also report) in our continued effort to inspire people to eat more plants!
We are looking for candidates who are obsessed with food, highly creative, and enjoy collaborating in both small and large groups.
This position will play an important role in Purple Carrot's continued effort to cultivate the plant-based revolution - one meal at a time, through delicious, well-executed recipes.
As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, day-to-day test kitchen operations, and close partnership with Creative and Content teams to bring recipes to life across photoshoots and brand initiatives.
We greatly thank all applicants; however, only those under serious consideration will be contacted.
Location
  • This role is based in Chicago, IL, with on-site presence 3-5 days per week at our Culinary office and studio (West Town & Fulton Market) and creative and production partners as needed.

On the Plate
  • Drive end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, within menu timelines, operational guidelines, and nutrition and budget goals.
  • Own continual testing and optimization of Purple Carrot's recipes to improve customer experience, with a focus on ease, nutrition, and budget.
  • Accurately formulate, test, and document all recipes in accordance with standards set by the Director of Culinary.
  • Evaluate all recipes during development and team tastings, grounding decisions in recipe data and customer insights.
  • Contribute innovative, trend-forward recipe concepts through ongoing research and concept generation.
  • Manage day-to-day kitchen operations, including inventory, maintenance, and cleanliness.
  • Collaborate on photoshoot prep, styling, and execution in partnership with the Creative team.
  • Manage the intake and documentation of all sample products.
  • Assist with ad-hoc projects and tasks as necessary.

Main Ingredients for the Role
  • 5+ years of experience as a line cook, chef, or recipe developer; test kitchen experience a plus.
  • Culinary degree and/or related professional cooking experience.
  • Recipe writing experience, with food styling experience for e-commerce or editorial use.
  • Proficiency in Google Suite, especially Google Sheets.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Physically able to stand for long periods and lift up to 35 lbs as needed.
  • Able to commute to the Chicago office/studio as required for this role.

Extra Special Sauce
  • Experience developing a wide range of recipe categories, including multiple serving sizes, dessert, and large-batch prepared.
  • Experience in meal kit or prepared recipe development.
  • Comfortable being on camera for social and marketing content, with a natural, engaging presence that reflects the fun and vibrant tone of our brand.
  • Experience using Asana project management platform.
  • Brings creativity and positivity to ambiguity, comfortable brainstorming and iterating with Culinary and Marketing on brand initiatives.

Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $60,000- $70,000. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.
Garnish
We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!
Final Touches
We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.

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