Make the Most of Fresh Basil While it is in Season! 34 Recipes Celebrating Summer’s Favorite Herb!

Fresh basil is the quintessential taste of summer! Beyond making a classic Caprese Salad or a delicious pesto, there are numerous creative ways to enjoy this popular herb. We’ve compiled 34 recipes that highlight basil, ranging from sauces and salads to main dishes and refreshing drinks. We begin by showing you how to dry fresh basil, and alternatively, how to freeze it, for year round enjoyment. We even have vegan options, and slushies! Explore these basil-centric recipes to make the most of this versatile herb.

How To Dry Basil

Learn how to dry basil in a food dehydrator, oven, microwave, or by air-drying. Drying basil is such a simple way to preserve this delicious pantry staple! Get the recipe.

How To Freeze Fresh Basil

Learn all the tips and tricks for how to freeze basil to build a freezer stash of this incredible herb. Freezing basil is a great way to preserve it without needing to know any special kitchen skills. Get the recipe.

Cantaloupe, Cucumber and Burrata Salad with Basil & Mint

Salads don’t have to rely on leafy greens and our Low FODMAP Cantaloupe, Cucumber and Burrata Salad with Basil & Mint will certainly convince you! Sweet melon, cool crunchy cucumbers, shreds of magenta radicchio, fresh basil and mint and creamy burrata cheese. All drizzled with a light vinaigrette. This is an unexpected and welcomed addition to summer cookouts. Get Cantaloupe, Cucumber and Burrata Salad with Basil & Mint recipe here.

Sweet Basil Vinaigrette

Looking for a new way to use fresh basil? Sweet Basil Vinaigrette is here for it. Sweet, tangy, and packed with fresh basil leaves, this fresh green dressing is great on green salads, for dipping vegetables, or tossed into a pasta salad. Get the recipe.

Basil Pesto

Everyone needs a basic recipe for basil pesto and we love our rendition. Make sure you have high quality Italian pine nuts. Get the recipe for Basil Pesto.

Roasted Gnocchi With Tomatoes

Have you ever oven-roasted prepared gnocchi? You will never boil them again! This one-pan wonder will blow you away. Juicy roasted tomatoes, fresh arugula and basil, along with gluten-free potato gnocchi are so much more than a sum of the parts. Get the recipe.

Whipped Feta Cheese (Tyrosalata)

Healthy, creamy and delicious! And all in just 5 minutes with 5 ingredients. This whipped feta cheese (or Tyrosalata in Greek) is made with Greek yogurt, seasoned with garlic and fresh basil and is equally addictive as a dip, sauce or spread. Get the recipe.

Basil Orange Smash

Fresh basil combined with sparkling water, vodka and orange. Get the recipe for Basil Orange Smash.

Skillet Zucchini Pesto Pizza

This skillet zucchini pesto pizza has a crispy yet chewy crust. With layers of tangy basil pesto, mozzarella, zucchini and ricotta it’s perfect for summer! Get the recipe.

Brown Butter Shrimp with Parmesan Basil Corn Orzo

This brown butter shrimp is served on top of a creamy parmesan basil corn orzo and blistered cherry tomatoes for the perfect summer date night meal. Get the recipe.

Cod with Preserved Lemons & Basil

You do need preserved lemons to make this dish, and we do have a recipe for you, or you can purchase them. If you have them on hand, this dish can be prepped in 10 minutes and on the table in less than 30. There are very few ingredients, but each one counts. Don’t skimp on the black pepper, fresh basil, and fresh parsley. Get the recipe for Cod with Preserved Lemons & Basil.

Salmon with Basil-Caper Pesto

Salmon is such a great weeknight dinner and this one combines the heart-healthy fish with a tangy fresh basil and caper dressing. Did you know that capers are actually berries? Who knew! Keep a jar in the fridge and you will find uses for them! Get the recipe for Salmon with Basil-Caper Pesto.

Grilled Halloumi & Melon Salad

Halloumi is a cheese that hold up very well to grilling. It is a bit chewy and salty and contrasts beautifully with the sweet melon. Get the recipe for Grilled Halloumi & Melon Salad.

Panzanella

This is a bread salad, featuring sourdough, with juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mozzarella, capers, fresh basil, and parsley in a Dijon mustard enhanced red wine dressing. Make this when tomatoes and basil are at their peak. Get the recipe.

Orange Basil Ricotta Pancakes

These orange basil ricotta pancakes are deliciously sweet and doughy with a touch of summer freshness from the basil. Get the recipe.

Grilled Chicken with Strawberry basil sauce

This grilled chicken with strawberry basil sauce is a delicious and seasonal way to switch up your chicken dinner. Get the recipe.

Vegan Kale Pesto

Our Kale Pesto happens to be vegan – taking advantage of “cheesy” nutritional yeast. The body of the pesto if made up of the expected basil but with hearty kale and flat-leaf parsley as well, which lends balance to the other two bold greens. We do like pesto with pine nuts, which this uses, but we provide options for other nuts and seeds. Get the recipe.

Caprese Salad

This Italian salad’s original name is Insalata Caprese, which translates as “salad from Capri”. Caprese salad almost doesn’t need a recipe. It is really just an assembled salad of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. Get Caprese Salad recipe here.

Chicken Salad with Gruyere, Green Beans, Tomatoes & Basil

This is an unusual chicken salad, elegant enough for a light summer dinner main dish for guests. A very mustardy dressing coats cooked chicken, tender-crisp cooked green beans, juicy tomatoes and small batons of Gruyere cheese, showered with fresh basil. A study in color, flavor and texture contrast – that comes together in a flash. Get the recipe for Chicken Salad with Gruyere, Green Beans, Tomatoes & Basil.

Pesto Chicken Wings           

Pesto is not just for pasta, and once you try the classic garlicky basil sauce slathered on chicken wings, this might become your favorite new way to enjoy it. Get the recipe for Pesto Chicken Wings.

Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Chickpeas & Artichokes

Looking for a quick plant-based meal? Love pasta? We have a flavor-packed meal for you – our Pasta With Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Chickpeas & Artichokes. Get the recipe.

nectarine upside down cake is infused with fresh basil

This nectarine upside down cake is infused with fresh basil. It’s a gluten free summer treat that goes perfectly with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee. Get the recipe.

Pizza Chicken Wings with Pepperoni

No need to choose between pizza and chicken wings. We present you with easy-to-make Pizza Wings! Tomato, gooey mozzarella, meaty chicken wings and fresh basil. Get the recipe for Pizza Wings.

Easy Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup

Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup is easy to make, creamy, and filled with a TON of comforting flavor from the roasted garlic and fresh basil.

One taste of this simple homemade version and you’ll never go back to buying canned, store-bought tomato soup brands again! Get the recipe.

Vegan Stuffed Tomatoes

All the flavors of spring are in these vegan stuffed tomatoes that are packed with protein. Get the recipe.

Grilled Basil Butter Bay Scallops with Summer Vegetables

A summer meal made completely on the grill! These grilled bay scallops with zucchini, corn and tomatoes are tossed in a simple and delicious garlic basil butter sauce. Get the recipe.

Strawberry Daiquiris with Nectarine Basil Ice Cubes

This strawberry daiquiri is a refreshing summer, ready to drink cocktail taken up a notch with fresh fruit ice cubes. Get the recipe.

Strawberry Basil Cider Slushies

These strawberry basil cider slushies are the perfect refreshing summer drink. Just 3 ingredients and your blender for the happiest of happy hours! Get the recipe.

Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes

Is there anything better in late summer than fresh tomatoes? Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes are the simplest summer side – add just a few ingredients to let the flavor of juicy tomatoes shine. Get the recipe.

Parsley Pesto

When you think of pesto you probably think of basil, but this pesto is based on fresh, flat leaf parsley. Make sure your pine nuts are fresh and toast them lightly before making this easy recipe that is fantastic with pasta or even spread on chicken before roasting. Get the recipe for Parsley Pesto.

Shrimp & Corn Chowder

Chowders don’t not have to be simmered for hours! This Shrimp & Corn Chowder focuses on late summer, early fall vegetables like tomatoes, corn, potatoes, zucchini, and fresh basil. It comes together quickly and is both satisfying, yet light. Get the recipe for Shrimp & Corn Chowder.

Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Roasted Tomato Basil Sauce

These zucchini noodles with creamy roasted tomato basil sauce are the perfect way to enjoy fresh summer produce. Get the recipe.

Chicken Ratatouille

Chicken Ratatouille is the best of both worlds: an easy braised chicken dish and ratatouille – eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, olive oil, garlic and onion flavor – all in one delicious dish. CLICK FOR RECIPE.

Coconut Rice Salad with Pineapple & Herbs

Our Coconut Rice Salad with Pineapple & Herbs is good warm or at room temperature and works just as well as a side dish at dinnertime as it does as a main dish for lunch. Basmati rice is combined with toasted coconut and slivered almonds, diced fresh pineapple, red bell pepper, scallions and a flavor packed combo of fresh mint, cilantro and basil. Make sure to use uber-fresh herbs! The dressing is salty and tangy with  umami flavor from the fish sauce, which is balanced by the lime juice. Get the recipe for Coconut Rice Salad with Pineapple & Herbs.

40 Versatile Variations Of Pesto: Fast, Fresh & Fantastic!

Pesto is a flavorful green sauce made from fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. It has a strong, aromatic taste and bright green color. Pesto can be used as a sauce, a spread, or an ingredient to add flavor to other dishes.The classic way to use pesto is tossed with pasta. However, there are many other ways to enjoy pesto that we’ll explore here. You can use it in Instant Pot and slow cooker meals, vegan recipes, hand pies, chicken wings, salads, main courses, soups, appetizers, and more. Pesto doesn’t have to be made with just basil and pine nuts. We’ve got recipes using sun-dried tomatoes, wild garlic, capers, kale, parsley, arugula, cilantro, walnuts, almonds and more. Check out these 40 pesto recipes! READ: 40 Versatile Variations Of Pesto: Fast, Fresh & Fantastic!

20 Favorite Side Dishes To Pair With Burgers

 Here are 20 of our favorite side dishes to pair with burgers, from oven-baked fries (2 kinds), green salads to hearty potato and pasta sides, even a quick stovetop mac and cheese. READ: 20 Favorite Side Dishes To Pair With Burgers

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