diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/full-page-search.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/full-page-search.js
index d27a5734f51..d75bc34c9b3 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/full-page-search.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/full-page-search.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   isValidSearchTerm,
   searchContextDescription,
   translateResults,
+  updateRecentSearches,
 } from "discourse/lib/search";
 import Category from "discourse/models/category";
 import Composer from "discourse/models/composer";
@@ -345,6 +346,9 @@ export default Controller.extend({
           });
         break;
       default:
+        if (this.currentUser) {
+          updateRecentSearches(this.currentUser, searchTerm);
+        }
         ajax("/search", { data: args })
           .then(async (results) => {
             const model = (await translateResults(results)) || {};
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/lib/search.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/lib/search.js
index 09cdeaea253..6df0545edea 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/lib/search.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/lib/search.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { userPath } from "discourse/lib/url";
 import userSearch from "discourse/lib/user-search";
 
 const translateResultsCallbacks = [];
+const MAX_RECENT_SEARCHES = 5; // should match backend constant with the same name
 
 export function addSearchResultsCallback(callback) {
   translateResultsCallbacks.push(callback);
@@ -230,3 +231,16 @@ export function applySearchAutocomplete($input, siteSettings) {
     );
   }
 }
+
+export function updateRecentSearches(currentUser, term) {
+  let recentSearches = Object.assign(currentUser.recent_searches || []);
+
+  if (recentSearches.includes(term)) {
+    recentSearches = recentSearches.without(term);
+  } else if (recentSearches.length === MAX_RECENT_SEARCHES) {
+    recentSearches.popObject();
+  }
+
+  recentSearches.unshiftObject(term);
+  currentUser.set("recent_searches", recentSearches);
+}
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/user.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/user.js
index 2876dd604bb..21434572c80 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/user.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/user.js
@@ -1072,6 +1072,14 @@ User.reopenClass(Singleton, {
     return ajax(userPath("check_email"), { data: { email } });
   },
 
+  loadRecentSearches() {
+    return ajax(`/u/recent-searches`);
+  },
+
+  resetRecentSearches() {
+    return ajax(`/u/recent-searches`, { type: "DELETE" });
+  },
+
   groupStats(stats) {
     const responses = UserActionStat.create({
       count: 0,
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu-results.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu-results.js
index d607ad3de51..ae3d08bbe22 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu-results.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu-results.js
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ import { dateNode } from "discourse/helpers/node";
 import { emojiUnescape } from "discourse/lib/text";
 import getURL from "discourse-common/lib/get-url";
 import { h } from "virtual-dom";
+import hbs from "discourse/widgets/hbs-compiler";
 import highlightSearch from "discourse/lib/highlight-search";
 import { iconNode } from "discourse-common/lib/icon-library";
 import renderTag from "discourse/lib/render-tag";
 import { MODIFIER_REGEXP } from "discourse/widgets/search-menu";
+import User from "discourse/models/user";
 
 const suggestionShortcuts = [
   "in:title",
@@ -585,6 +587,14 @@ createWidget("search-menu-initial-options", {
 
     if (content.length === 0) {
       content.push(this.attach("random-quick-tip"));
+
+      if (this.currentUser && this.siteSettings.log_search_queries) {
+        if (this.currentUser.recent_searches?.length) {
+          content.push(this.attach("search-menu-recent-searches"));
+        } else {
+          this.loadRecentSearches();
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     return content;
@@ -602,6 +612,22 @@ createWidget("search-menu-initial-options", {
       ],
     });
   },
+
+  refreshSearchMenuResults() {
+    this.scheduleRerender();
+  },
+
+  loadRecentSearches() {
+    User.loadRecentSearches().then((result) => {
+      if (result.success && result.recent_searches?.length) {
+        this.currentUser.set(
+          "recent_searches",
+          Object.assign(result.recent_searches)
+        );
+        this.scheduleRerender();
+      }
+    });
+  },
 });
 
 createWidget("search-menu-assistant-item", {
@@ -612,7 +638,7 @@ createWidget("search-menu-assistant-item", {
     const attributes = {};
     attributes.href = "#";
 
-    let content = [iconNode("search")];
+    let content = [iconNode(attrs.icon || "search")];
 
     if (prefix) {
       content.push(h("span.search-item-prefix", `${prefix} `));
@@ -702,3 +728,35 @@ createWidget("random-quick-tip", {
     }
   },
 });
+
+createWidget("search-menu-recent-searches", {
+  tagName: "div.search-menu-recent",
+
+  template: hbs`
+    <div class="heading">
+      <h4>{{i18n "search.recent"}}</h4>
+      {{flat-button
+        className="clear-recent-searches"
+        title="search.clear_recent"
+        icon="times"
+        action="clearRecent"
+      }}
+    </div>
+
+    {{#each this.currentUser.recent_searches as |slug|}}
+      {{attach
+        widget="search-menu-assistant-item"
+        attrs=(hash slug=slug icon="history")
+      }}
+    {{/each}}
+  `,
+
+  clearRecent() {
+    return User.resetRecentSearches().then((result) => {
+      if (result.success) {
+        this.currentUser.recent_searches.clear();
+        this.sendWidgetAction("refreshSearchMenuResults");
+      }
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu.js
index 8a76a330147..78f16baf163 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/widgets/search-menu.js
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-import { isValidSearchTerm, searchForTerm } from "discourse/lib/search";
+import {
+  isValidSearchTerm,
+  searchForTerm,
+  updateRecentSearches,
+} from "discourse/lib/search";
 import DiscourseURL from "discourse/lib/url";
 import { createWidget } from "discourse/widgets/widget";
 import discourseDebounce from "discourse-common/lib/debounce";
@@ -456,6 +460,9 @@ export default createWidget("search-menu", {
       searchData.loading = true;
       cancel(this.state._debouncer);
       SearchHelper.perform(this);
+      if (this.currentUser) {
+        updateRecentSearches(this.currentUser, searchData.term);
+      }
     } else {
       searchData.loading = false;
       if (!this.state.inTopicContext) {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/search-test.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/search-test.js
index 6be320421a7..f5008978de2 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/search-test.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/acceptance/search-test.js
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ acceptance("Search - Anonymous", function (needs) {
 
 acceptance("Search - Authenticated", function (needs) {
   needs.user();
+  needs.settings({ log_search_queries: true });
 
   needs.pretender((server, helper) => {
     server.get("/search/query", (request) => {
@@ -506,6 +507,27 @@ acceptance("Search - Authenticated", function (needs) {
     await triggerKeyEvent("#search-term", "keydown", keyEnter);
     assert.ok(exists(query(`.search-menu`)), "search dropdown is visible");
   });
+
+  test("Shows recent search results", async function (assert) {
+    await visit("/");
+    await click("#search-button");
+
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      query(
+        ".search-menu .search-menu-recent li:nth-of-type(1) .search-link"
+      ).textContent.trim(),
+      "yellow",
+      "shows first recent search"
+    );
+
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      query(
+        ".search-menu .search-menu-recent li:nth-of-type(2) .search-link"
+      ).textContent.trim(),
+      "blue",
+      "shows second recent search"
+    );
+  });
 });
 
 acceptance("Search - with tagging enabled", function (needs) {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/fixtures/user-fixtures.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/fixtures/user-fixtures.js
index 102d369ac80..0883ca4a6f9 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/fixtures/user-fixtures.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/tests/fixtures/user-fixtures.js
@@ -3474,4 +3474,11 @@ export default {
       timezone: "Australia/Brisbane",
     },
   },
+  "/u/recent-searches": {
+    success: "OK",
+    recent_searches: [
+      "yellow",
+      "blue"
+    ]
+  }
 };
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/common/base/search-menu.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/common/base/search-menu.scss
index 32935f37a87..898e5e60b58 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/common/base/search-menu.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/common/base/search-menu.scss
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ $search-pad-horizontal: 0.5em;
     .search-result-tag,
     .search-menu-assistant {
       .search-link {
+        @include ellipsis;
         .d-icon {
           margin-right: 5px;
           vertical-align: middle;
@@ -246,8 +247,7 @@ $search-pad-horizontal: 0.5em;
 
   .browser-search-tip,
   .search-random-quick-tip {
-    padding: $search-pad-vertical $search-pad-horizontal;
-    padding-bottom: 0;
+    padding: $search-pad-vertical 1px;
     font-size: var(--font-down-2);
     color: var(--primary-medium);
     .tip-label {
@@ -261,6 +261,24 @@ $search-pad-horizontal: 0.5em;
     }
   }
 
+  .search-menu-recent {
+    @include separator;
+
+    .heading {
+      display: flex;
+      justify-content: space-between;
+      h4 {
+        color: var(--primary-medium);
+        font-weight: normal;
+        margin-bottom: 0;
+      }
+      .clear-recent-searches {
+        cursor: pointer;
+        color: var(--primary-low-mid);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   .browser-search-tip {
     padding-top: 0.5em;
   }
diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index 3e2a815949d..efc2b4984d9 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
     :update_second_factor, :create_second_factor_backup, :select_avatar,
     :notification_level, :revoke_auth_token, :register_second_factor_security_key,
     :create_second_factor_security_key, :feature_topic, :clear_featured_topic,
-    :bookmarks, :invited, :check_sso_email, :check_sso_payload
+    :bookmarks, :invited, :check_sso_email, :check_sso_payload,
+    :recent_searches, :reset_recent_searches
   ]
 
   skip_before_action :check_xhr, only: [
@@ -50,6 +51,8 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
 
   after_action :add_noindex_header, only: [:show, :my_redirect]
 
+  MAX_RECENT_SEARCHES = 5
+
   def index
   end
 
@@ -1302,6 +1305,33 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
     render json: success_json
   end
 
+  def recent_searches
+    if !SiteSetting.log_search_queries
+      return render json: failed_json.merge(
+                      error: I18n.t("user_activity.no_log_search_queries")
+                    ), status: 403
+    end
+
+    query = SearchLog.where(user_id: current_user.id)
+
+    if current_user.user_option.oldest_search_log_date
+      query = query
+        .where("created_at > ?", current_user.user_option.oldest_search_log_date)
+    end
+
+    results = query.group(:term)
+      .order("max(created_at) DESC")
+      .limit(MAX_RECENT_SEARCHES)
+      .pluck(:term)
+
+    render json: success_json.merge(recent_searches: results)
+  end
+
+  def reset_recent_searches
+    current_user.user_option.update!(oldest_search_log_date: 1.second.ago)
+    render json: success_json
+  end
+
   def staff_info
     @user = fetch_user_from_params(include_inactive: true)
     guardian.ensure_can_see_staff_info!(@user)
diff --git a/app/models/search_log.rb b/app/models/search_log.rb
index 003331250bc..ecaa2db6e79 100644
--- a/app/models/search_log.rb
+++ b/app/models/search_log.rb
@@ -187,5 +187,6 @@ end
 #
 # Indexes
 #
-#  index_search_logs_on_created_at  (created_at)
+#  index_search_logs_on_created_at              (created_at)
+#  index_search_logs_on_user_id_and_created_at  (user_id,created_at) WHERE (user_id IS NOT NULL)
 #
diff --git a/app/models/user_option.rb b/app/models/user_option.rb
index 47afb7d2d29..9a396827bf7 100644
--- a/app/models/user_option.rb
+++ b/app/models/user_option.rb
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ end
 #  skip_new_user_tips               :boolean          default(FALSE), not null
 #  color_scheme_id                  :integer
 #  default_calendar                 :integer          default("none_selected"), not null
+#  oldest_search_log_date           :datetime
 #
 # Indexes
 #
diff --git a/app/serializers/user_option_serializer.rb b/app/serializers/user_option_serializer.rb
index a4c9826ba3c..a086a6f3ee6 100644
--- a/app/serializers/user_option_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/serializers/user_option_serializer.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class UserOptionSerializer < ApplicationSerializer
              :timezone,
              :skip_new_user_tips,
              :default_calendar,
+             :oldest_search_log_date,
 
   def auto_track_topics_after_msecs
     object.auto_track_topics_after_msecs || SiteSetting.default_other_auto_track_topics_after_msecs
diff --git a/config/locales/client.en.yml b/config/locales/client.en.yml
index 30d77f99d20..556c6567652 100644
--- a/config/locales/client.en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/client.en.yml
@@ -2384,6 +2384,8 @@ en:
       in_posts_by: "in posts by %{username}"
       browser_tip: "%{modifier} + f"
       browser_tip_description: "again to use native browser search"
+      recent: "Recent Searches"
+      clear_recent: "Clear Recent Searches"
 
       type:
         default: "Topics/posts"
diff --git a/config/locales/server.en.yml b/config/locales/server.en.yml
index c090367f9e5..6f8f2f95771 100644
--- a/config/locales/server.en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/server.en.yml
@@ -968,6 +968,7 @@ en:
       others: "No bookmarks."
     no_drafts:
       self: "You have no drafts; begin composing a reply in any topic and it will be auto-saved as a new draft."
+    no_log_search_queries: "Search log queries are currently disabled (an administrator can enable them in site settings)."
 
   email_settings:
     pop3_authentication_error: "There was an issue with the POP3 credentials provided, check the username and password and try again."
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 943a773fff5..4444f1e92d3 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -428,6 +428,8 @@ Discourse::Application.routes.draw do
       put "#{root_path}/admin-login" => "users#admin_login"
       post "#{root_path}/toggle-anon" => "users#toggle_anon"
       post "#{root_path}/read-faq" => "users#read_faq"
+      get "#{root_path}/recent-searches" => "users#recent_searches", constraints: { format: 'json' }
+      delete "#{root_path}/recent-searches" => "users#reset_recent_searches", constraints: { format: 'json' }
       get "#{root_path}/search/users" => "users#search_users"
 
       get({ "#{root_path}/account-created/" => "users#account_created" }.merge(index == 1 ? { as: :users_account_created } : { as: :old_account_created }))
diff --git a/db/migrate/20211123144714_add_recent_searches.rb b/db/migrate/20211123144714_add_recent_searches.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0e586f6afb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20211123144714_add_recent_searches.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddRecentSearches < ActiveRecord::Migration[6.1]
+  def change
+    add_column :user_options, :oldest_search_log_date, :datetime
+
+    add_index :search_logs, [:user_id, :created_at], where: 'user_id IS NOT NULL'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/search.rb b/lib/search.rb
index 6230955b6a9..c5abbc503ea 100644
--- a/lib/search.rb
+++ b/lib/search.rb
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class Search
   def execute(readonly_mode: Discourse.readonly_mode?)
     if log_query?(readonly_mode)
       status, search_log_id = SearchLog.log(
-        term: @term,
+        term: @clean_term,
         search_type: @opts[:search_type],
         ip_address: @opts[:ip_address],
         user_id: @opts[:user_id]
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/schemas/json/user_get_response.json b/spec/requests/api/schemas/json/user_get_response.json
index d0f019cb720..d6261a91bc1 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/schemas/json/user_get_response.json
+++ b/spec/requests/api/schemas/json/user_get_response.json
@@ -778,6 +778,9 @@
             },
             "default_calendar": {
               "type": "string"
+            },
+            "oldest_search_log_date": {
+              "type": ["string", "null"]
             }
           },
           "required": [
diff --git a/spec/requests/users_controller_spec.rb b/spec/requests/users_controller_spec.rb
index bbe67e69ad0..637cbe399dc 100644
--- a/spec/requests/users_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/users_controller_spec.rb
@@ -5125,6 +5125,97 @@ describe UsersController do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#reset_recent_searches" do
+    fab!(:user) { Fabricate(:user) }
+
+    it 'does nothing for anon' do
+      delete "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(403)
+    end
+
+    it 'works for logged in user' do
+      sign_in(user)
+      delete "/u/recent-searches.json"
+
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      user.reload
+      expect(user.user_option.oldest_search_log_date).to be_within(5.seconds).of(1.second.ago)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#recent_searches" do
+    fab!(:user) { Fabricate(:user) }
+
+    it 'does nothing for anon' do
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(403)
+    end
+
+    it 'works for logged in user' do
+      sign_in(user)
+      SiteSetting.log_search_queries = true
+      user.user_option.update!(oldest_search_log_date: nil)
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["recent_searches"]).to eq([])
+
+      SearchLog.create!(
+        term: "old one",
+        user_id: user.id,
+        search_type: 1,
+        ip_address: '192.168.0.1',
+        created_at: 5.minutes.ago
+      )
+      SearchLog.create!(
+        term: "also old",
+        user_id: user.id,
+        search_type: 1,
+        ip_address: '192.168.0.1',
+        created_at: 15.minutes.ago
+      )
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["recent_searches"]).to eq(["old one", "also old"])
+
+      user.user_option.update!(oldest_search_log_date: 20.minutes.ago)
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["recent_searches"]).to eq(["old one", "also old"])
+
+      user.user_option.update!(oldest_search_log_date: 10.seconds.ago)
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["recent_searches"]).to eq([])
+
+      SearchLog.create!(
+        term: "new search",
+        user_id: user.id,
+        search_type: 1,
+        ip_address: '192.168.0.1',
+        created_at: 2.seconds.ago
+      )
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+      expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["recent_searches"]).to eq(["new search"])
+    end
+
+    it 'shows an error message when log_search_queries are off' do
+      sign_in(user)
+      SiteSetting.log_search_queries = false
+
+      get "/u/recent-searches.json"
+
+      expect(response.status).to eq(403)
+      expect(response.parsed_body["error"]).to eq(I18n.t("user_activity.no_log_search_queries"))
+    end
+  end
+
   def create_second_factor_security_key
     sign_in(user)
     stub_secure_session_confirmed