23 Fresh Basil Recipes for Pesto and Beyond
If you’re staring down a surplus of homegrown herbs or recently went ham at the farmers market, don’t fret. Our favorite basil recipes span all sorts of ways to put the green giant to work so you never have to guiltily toss a wilted bunch.
As much as we love pesto—and we really, really do—it’s not the only way to bring basil to the party. Consider folding chopped herbs into biscuit dough to upgrade your strawberry shortcake, or using them to infuse a homemade syrup to pour into cocktails or tea. Toss handfuls of basil into sauces as they simmer on the stovetop, or sprinkle them onto hearty roasts or hot noodles.
However you crush, chop, or toss it, this herb punches way above its weight. In fact, learn how to store basil properly, and it’ll last quite a while in your kitchen. Better bookmark this list for tomorrow night too.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/23Caprese Salad
Is that the Adriatic breeze coming through your kitchen window, or are you just serving up the world’s chicest seven-ingredient salad? It only takes 15 minutes to make this timeless basil recipe; add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle of sea salt and cracked black pepper to bring la dolce vita home.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/23Basil-Cashew-Lime Vermicelli Bowls With Pork and Green Beans
An Epicurious reader who “had a bumper crop of fresh basil” to use “loved loved loved the mixture of flavors” in this one-bowl meal. Swap in diced boneless chicken thighs for the pork chops, or try thinly sliced bell peppers instead of beans.
Photo by Joseph De Leo4/23Pesto
Everyone needs a back-pocket basil pesto recipe, and this is ours. It’s wildly customizable—use cashews or pecans instead of pine nuts, toss in other leafy greens with the basil leaves, or try Pecorino instead of Parmesan cheese—and serve it however you like. Toss it into pasta salad, spread it onto flatbreads and pizzas, thin it with olive oil to make a vinaigrette, or stir it into a pesto pasta.
Photo by Jennifer Chong5/23Art Basil
Bright and herbaceous, the easy basil syrup for this nonalcoholic cocktail lasts up to two weeks in the fridge; prep it in advance and you can mix up an elegant happy hour drink or afternoon refresher in minutes. Don’t skip the fresh basil garnish—not only is it awfully good-looking, but it also gives each sip layered aromatics.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/23One-Pot Spring Pasta With Smoked Salmon
Adding asparagus and frozen peas directly to the pasta as it cooks means every part of this pasta recipe can be made in one pot. Lemon juice and zest brighten the dish, and smoked salmon makes each protein-packed bite deliciously savory.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks8/23White Pizza With Shaved Vegetables and Pesto
A pesto-scented, garlicky ricotta mixture creates the base of this vegetarian pizza that’s on the table in just 45 minutes. Layering raw asparagus, zucchini, and leeks gives each bite dynamic flavors and textures—don’t be afraid to trust the process. “I was worried about the vegetables, wondering if I should have sauteed them first,” writes one Epi reader. “They came out perfectly!”
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Dawn Perry10/23Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder With Zesty Basil Sauce
Make this do-ahead dinner party dish in a slow cooker or covered Dutch oven; either way, it will turn out meltingly tender. The chimichurri-style basil sauce balances the pork’s richness and can be made two days ahead; just add the fresh lemon juice right before you serve it.
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop styling by Ceci Garcia11/23Pasta With No-Cook Cherry Tomato Sauce
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews12/23Grilled Sweet Corn With Basil Butter
An easy compound butter with chopped basil and thyme takes this 30-minute grilled corn to the next level, but there’s no reason to stop there. The herby combination is just as delicious stirred into scrambled eggs, melted over popcorn, or spread onto cod fillets.
%2520Linda%2520Xiao.jpg)
Photo by Linda Xiao14/23Strawberry and Basil-Cornmeal Shortcakes With Vanilla Whipped Cream
Tearing the strawberries by hand creates jagged edges that soak up the vanilla-scented whipped cream, and helps release their juices into the shortcakes. The yellow cornmeal and chopped fresh basil in the batter gives them a distinctive texture and herby edge over traditional store-bought shortcakes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce15/23Qaliyeh-e Khorma (Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Salmon With Dates)
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone16/23Quick Baked Chicken Parmesan
Thanks to a few clever tweaks, like cooking the chicken on a very hot baking sheet and doctoring jarred sauce, this cozy Italian American crowd-pleaser is on the table beneath a heavenly blanket of melted mozzarella in just 22 minutes. Kick things up with an extra pinch of red pepper flakes in the sauce, and consider making more than you need: leftover cutlets become stellar sandwiches the next day.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege17/23Crispy Scallop Salad
Dredging scallops in a gluten-free mixture of cornmeal and Old Bay means they fry up crispy on the outside, with tender interiors. “Loved it to the max!” one Epi reader says. It all comes together in 40 minutes and makes an excellent dinner-party appetizer or light main course.
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott19/23Seared Lemon, Garlic Butter, and Herbed Orzo
Searing the citrus before you stir it into the garlicky butter gives this 20-minute recipe deeply nuanced flavors. Serve it as a side dish for grilled fish or chicken, or give it main-course energy by adding chickpeas and crumbled feta.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi21/23Basil Chicken Stir-Fry
Modeled after Thai pad kra pao, this simple, speedy chicken recipe uses pantry powerhouses like bottled sambal oelek, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Swap in holy or sweet basil, or try it with ground turkey or pork.
Photo by Eva Kosmas Flores22/23Watermelon-Berry Salad With Chile Dressing and Lots of Herbs
The kicky dressing on this riotously colorful and flavorful salad from chef Gregory Gourdet works with any combination of blueberries, raspberries, or hulled and halved strawberries. Fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, Italian or Thai basil keep it firmly in savory territory.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski23/23No-Brainer Corn Salad
Basil recipes don’t get simpler than this classic summer side. Customize yours by swapping the vinegar for fresh lemon or lime juice, and fold in Cotija, feta, Parmesan, or other salty, crumbly cheese you have in the fridge. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be voted MVP at any picnic, potluck, or backyard BBQ.
