How to Build an AI Recipe Generator with React Native and Strapi

Introduction

React Native is a powerful framework for building cross-platform mobile applications using JavaScript and React.

It allows developers to create native-like experiences for both iOS and Android using a single codebase.

When combined with Strapi, a headless CMS, it provides a flexible and scalable backend for managing application data, including user-generated content.

In this tutorial, we will develop a full-stack AI-powered recipe generator application using React Native, Expo, and Strapi.

This application will allow users to generate AI-driven recipes based on their ingredient choices, save their favorite recipes, and explore a wide variety of dishes.

We will also integrate user authentication, real-time data updates, and talk about how to deploy Strapi, you can either use Strapi Cloud deployment to create a seamless experience, or deploy the platforms like Render.

We will go over both options.

What You Will Learn

This tutorial covers various aspects of full-stack mobile app development, including:

1. Setting Up the Project

Before we dive into building our application, we need to set up the development environment. This includes installing React Native with Expo, setting up a Strapi backend, and establishing API connections between the two.

• Installing and configuring React Native with Expo.
• Setting up a Strapi backend to manage content.
• Connecting React Native with Strapi using API calls with API token for secure access.

2. Building the UI

A visually appealing and user-friendly interface is crucial for any application. We will design an intuitive UI with animated elements, smooth navigation, and responsive layouts.

• Creating a landing screen with automated image animations.
• Implementing a structured navigation system for smooth transitions.
• Designing a responsive and user-friendly interface using React Native components.

3. Adding Authentication

User authentication ensures secure access to personalized content. We will integrate auth using Logto authentication for seamless experience.

• Implementing social auth with Logto.
• Strapi user creation after Logto auth

4. Generating AI-Powered Recipes

One of the key features of this application is AI-powered recipe generation. Users can input ingredients, and the AI will suggest recipes along with images, ingredients, and cooking steps.

• Using AI models to generate recipes based on user input.
• Implementing an interactive action sheet to select recipe options.
• Displaying detailed recipe information, including images, ingredients, and cooking steps.

5. Enhancing User Experience

A seamless and engaging experience is vital to user retention. We will add features like personalized profiles, theme toggling, and real-time data updates to improve usability.

• Creating a dynamic home screen with user profile details.
• Implementing theme toggling (light/dark mode).
• Adding real-time updates to display new user-generated recipes.

6. Exploring and Managing Recipes

Users should be able to browse, search, and save their favorite recipes. We will implement a structured system to categorize, filter, and manage recipe data efficiently.

• Browsing categorized recipes.
• Searching for specific dishes based on user input.
• Implementing a cookbook feature to save and manage favorite recipes.

7. Backend Management with Strapi

Strapi enables us to dynamically manage content without modifying the application’s core code. We will use it to create, update, and fetch recipe data via APIs.

• Managing content dynamically without updating the application.
• Creating and updating categories and recipes via Strapi CMS.
• Generating APIs without writing complex backend code.

8. Deploying Strapi on the Cloud

To make the backend accessible, we will deploy our application to our server. This ensures scalability, allowing the app to support multiple users efficiently.

• You can simplify deployment with Strapi Cloud.
• We will also how to deploy your application to Render.
• Connecting the frontend with the deployed backend.

Full Video Tutorial

To follow along with the tutorial, watch the full video below:

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By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a fully functional AI-powered recipe generator that is dynamic, scalable, and easy to manage with Strapi. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this project will help you sharpen your skills in mobile app development, AI integration, and backend management. Let's get started!