diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d58cc4c87ea6..25c2caed4b93 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@ __pycache__/
 frontend/.env.development
 docs/site/
 
+mealie/data/backups/*
+mealie/data/debug/*
+mealie/data/img/*
+
+#Exception to keep folders
+!mealie/data/backups/.gitkeep
+!mealie/data/debug/.gitkeep
+!mealie/data/img/.gitkeep
 
 .DS_Store
 node_modules
@@ -135,4 +143,4 @@ ENV/
 # Node Modules
 node_modules/
 
-/*.env.development
+/*.env.development*
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mealie/data/backups/.gitkeep b/mealie/data/backups/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/mealie/data/debug/.gitkeep b/mealie/data/debug/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/mealie/data/img/.gitkeep b/mealie/data/img/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1