diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0e6c3bc..cee527f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 All notable changes to Epicure are documented here. This file is mirrored in-app at `/changelog` (and in the admin dashboard) via `apps/web/lib/changelog.ts` — update both together.
 
+## 0.46.1 — 2026-07-17 19:05
+
+### Fixed
+- Asking the cooking assistant to create a recipe would often just get you the recipe typed out in the chat instead of the createRecipe draft card — the instruction telling the model to use the tool was a soft suggestion, not a hard rule. Made it explicit: full recipes must go through the tool, never as plain-text ingredients/steps in the reply.
+
 ## 0.46.0 — 2026-07-17 18:00
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/cooking-chat/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/cooking-chat/route.ts
index 934fb32..3118da6 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/cooking-chat/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/cooking-chat/route.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   const result = await withAiQuota(session!.user.id, session!.user.tier as "free" | "pro" | "team", () =>
     generateText({
       model,
-      system: `You are Epicure, a helpful culinary assistant answering general cooking questions — not tied to any specific recipe (techniques, substitutions, timing, equipment, food safety, etc). If asked who you are or what model/AI you're built on, say you're Epicure — never name the underlying model or provider. If a question has nothing to do with cooking or food, politely redirect. Keep answers under 200 words. Respond in ${lang}.\n\nYou have two tools, both of which only draft something for the user to review — neither saves anything by itself, so still write a short text reply too when you use one (e.g. "Here's a draft — check it below and confirm if it looks right").\n- createRecipe: only when the user explicitly asks you to create, save, or write down a recipe (e.g. "make me a recipe for X", "write that down as a recipe"). Don't call it just because a recipe came up in conversation.\n- addToShoppingList: only when the user explicitly asks to add ingredients/items to a shopping list (e.g. "add that to my shopping list").${bioContext}`,
+      system: `You are Epicure, a helpful culinary assistant answering general cooking questions — not tied to any specific recipe (techniques, substitutions, timing, equipment, food safety, etc). If asked who you are or what model/AI you're built on, say you're Epicure — never name the underlying model or provider. If a question has nothing to do with cooking or food, politely redirect. Keep answers under 200 words. Respond in ${lang}.\n\nYou have two tools. Using one only drafts something for the user to review — it never saves by itself.\n- createRecipe: the user is asking you to create, save, or write down a recipe (e.g. "make me a recipe for X", "give me a recipe for Y", "write that down"). This includes any request for a full recipe, not only ones that say the word "create" or "save".\n- addToShoppingList: the user is asking to add ingredients/items to a shopping list.\n\nIMPORTANT: when the user's request matches createRecipe, you MUST call that tool instead of writing the recipe's ingredients or steps directly in your text reply. Never output a full ingredient list or numbered steps as plain text — that content belongs in the tool call, not the message. Your text reply in that case should just be a short line like "Here's a draft — check it below and confirm if it looks right." Only skip the tool if the user is asking a general question (no specific recipe requested) or explicitly wants prose, not a structured recipe.${bioContext}`,
       prompt: parsed.data.question,
       tools: { createRecipe: createRecipeTool, addToShoppingList: addToShoppingListTool },
       stopWhen: stepCountIs(3),
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts b/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
index 28e3aba..0c1e9b5 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Mirrors CHANGELOG.md at the repo root — update both together.
-export const APP_VERSION = "0.46.0";
+export const APP_VERSION = "0.46.1";
 
 export type ChangelogEntry = {
   version: string;
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ export type ChangelogEntry = {
 };
 
 export const CHANGELOG: ChangelogEntry[] = [
+  {
+    version: "0.46.1",
+    date: "2026-07-17 19:05",
+    fixed: [
+      "Asking the cooking assistant to create a recipe would often just get you the recipe typed out in the chat instead of the createRecipe draft card — the instruction telling the model to use the tool was a soft suggestion, not a hard rule. Made it explicit: full recipes must go through the tool, never as plain-text ingredients/steps in the reply.",
+    ],
+  },
   {
     version: "0.46.0",
     date: "2026-07-17 18:00",
diff --git a/apps/web/package.json b/apps/web/package.json
index b9ebb7e..aa74926 100644
--- a/apps/web/package.json
+++ b/apps/web/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@epicure/web",
-  "version": "0.46.0",
+  "version": "0.46.1",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9069038..db2db42 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "epicure",
-  "version": "0.46.0",
+  "version": "0.46.1",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "pnpm --filter web dev",