diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 42ef72a..a554429 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -11,7 +11,14 @@ app.use(cors());
 app.use(express.json());
 
 // MongoDB connection
-const MONGODB_URI = process.env.MONGODB_URI || 'mongodb://localhost:27017/recipe-management';
+const MONGODB_USERNAME = process.env.MONGODB_USERNAME;
+const MONGODB_PASSWORD = process.env.MONGODB_PASSWORD;
+const MONGODB_HOST = process.env.MONGODB_HOST;
+const MONGODB_PORT = process.env.MONGODB_PORT;
+const MONGODB_DATABASE = process.env.MONGODB_DATABASE;
+
+const MONGODB_URI = process.env.MONGODB_URI || 
+  `mongodb://${MONGODB_USERNAME}:${MONGODB_PASSWORD}@${MONGODB_HOST}:${MONGODB_PORT}/${MONGODB_DATABASE}?authSource=admin`;
 mongoose.connect(MONGODB_URI, {
   useNewUrlParser: true,
   useUnifiedTopology: true,