| Group Members | George Staley, Sr.Larry MooreCuba Gooding, Sr. |
| Former Members | Luther SimmonsDonald McPherson (deceased)Carl TompkinsTony "Panama" Silvester (deceased)Jerome Jackson |
| Genre | SoulR&Bfunk |
| Genre Links | R&B/Soul, R&B |
| Origin | Harlem, New York, U.S. |
| Year(s) Active | 1964–present |
| Music Style | Urban, Disco |
| Music Mood | Innocent, Soothing, Laid-Back/Mellow, Poignant, Calm/Peaceful, Gentle, Sentimental, Passionate, Romantic |
| Labels | Red Bird Records (1964)RCA Records (1970-present)Polydor Records (1989)Magnatar (2001)Kent Soul (2007-present) |
The Main Ingredient is an American soul and R&B group best known for their 1972 hit song, "Everybody Plays the Fool".