diff --git a/DOCKER_SETUP.md b/DOCKER_SETUP.md
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+# Docker Setup for Recipe Management App
+
+## MongoDB Configuration
+
+This project now includes a Docker Compose setup for MongoDB with persistent storage.
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+Create a `.env` file in the `backend/` directory with the following variables:
+
+```
+# MongoDB Configuration (parameterized for security)
+MONGODB_USERNAME=admin
+MONGODB_PASSWORD=password123
+MONGODB_HOST=localhost
+MONGODB_PORT=27017
+MONGODB_DATABASE=recipe-management
+
+# Alternative: Use full connection string (overrides individual parameters)
+# MONGODB_URI=mongodb://admin:password123@localhost:27017/recipe-management?authSource=admin
+
+# Server Configuration
+PORT=5000
+```
+
+**Note**: The application will automatically construct the MongoDB URI from the individual parameters. You can also override this by setting `MONGODB_URI` directly.
+
+### Starting the Services
+
+1. Start MongoDB and Mongo Express:
+```bash
+docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+2. Start the backend application:
+```bash
+cd backend
+npm start
+```
+
+### Services Included
+
+- **MongoDB**: Database server on port 27017 with persistent volume
+- **Mongo Express**: Web-based MongoDB admin interface on port 8081
+
+### Default Credentials
+
+- **MongoDB Admin User**: admin
+- **MongoDB Admin Password**: password123
+- **Database Name**: recipe-management
+
+### Accessing Services
+
+- **Mongo Express**: http://localhost:8081
+- **Backend API**: http://localhost:5000
+
+### Data Persistence
+
+MongoDB data is stored in a Docker volume named `mongodb_data` which persists between container restarts.
+
+### Seed Data
+
+The seed data from `backend/seedData.js` is automatically loaded when the MongoDB container starts for the first time.
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
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+version: '3.8'
+
+services:
+  mongodb:
+    image: mongo:7.0
+    container_name: recipe-management-mongodb
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    environment:
+      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME: ${MONGODB_USERNAME}
+      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD: ${MONGODB_PASSWORD}
+      MONGO_INITDB_DATABASE: ${MONGODB_DATABASE}
+    ports:
+      - "27017:27017"
+    volumes:
+      - mongodb_data:/data/db
+      - ./backend/seedData.js:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/seedData.js:ro
+    networks:
+      - recipe-network
+
+  # Optional: MongoDB Express for database management
+  mongo-express:
+    image: mongo-express:1.0.0
+    container_name: recipe-management-mongo-express
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    ports:
+      - "8081:8081"
+    environment:
+      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINUSERNAME: ${MONGODB_USERNAME}
+      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINPASSWORD: ${MONGODB_PASSWORD}
+      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_URL: mongodb://${MONGODB_USERNAME}:${MONGODB_PASSWORD}@mongodb:27017/
+      ME_CONFIG_BASICAUTH: false
+    depends_on:
+      - mongodb
+    networks:
+      - recipe-network
+
+volumes:
+  mongodb_data:
+    driver: local
+
+networks:
+  recipe-network:
+    driver: bridge