All the Best Recipes to Use Basil

Basil is the ultimate herb: a little sweet, a little savory, totally vibrant, and the easiest to grow at home, regardless of whether you have a big space or not. If you are lucky enough to have more basil than you know what to do with, read on for some ideas to take your basil usage beyond pesto and into creative, new, and delicious territory.

Composite image of four recipes that use basil - lemon basil chicken, creamy pesto tortellini, Caprese flatbreads, and a simple basil pesto with lemon zest - with the words "All the best ways to use basil" superimposed.

Basil is the best herb!

There, I said it: I do play favorites with herbs, and though I love many of them, basil is at the top of the list. This is both for flavor as well as pragmatic reasons. In the taste department, basil is the perfect base or finishing touch to countless dishes, adding a colorful, fresh touch to pasta, chicken, soup, and more.

From a practical perspective, as a busy Mom who values fresh ingredients, basil is easy and affordable to keep on hand. Yes, you can fresh basil leaves in a clamshell when you need it, but for about the same price, you can also buy a small basil plant in a clump of potting soil. Place that plant in any small pot or bowl, give it a place of honor on a sunny windowsill or countertop, learn to prune it, and water it every other day or so. You will be rewarded with endless basil, plus the satisfaction of snipping leaves whenever you want.

Without further ado, enjoy this collection of my favorite recipes that let basil shine!

Main Dishes with Basil:

Who says basil need be relegated to pesto and appetizers? These main dishes let it star alongside chicken, pasta, or soup.

Angled view of a golden brown chicken breast dressed in a buttery basil-infused lemon sauce.

Small bowl filled with a portion of creamy tomato basil tortellini garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.

Lemon Basil Chicken
Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Peach Mozzarella Chicken Breast Skillet
Balsamic Peach Chicken Thighs
Tortellini with Roasted Veggies and Basil Vinaigrette – this dressing is so good; make a double batch and use it on all those great late summer salads!

Bowl of roasted tomato basil soup served with fresh herbs, a drizzle of cream, and a slice of baguette.

Flatbreads & Appetizers:

Basil is also essentially the perfect finishing touch for Italian and Italian-inspired salads, snacks, and flatbreads, which we enjoy as an easy meal or as an appetizer to share.

Close up of a hand lifting a Caprese skewer from a small appetizer plate.

Earth-toned plate filled with a peach Caprese salad drizzled with balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves.

Marinara Everything:

A few sprigs of fresh basil add amazing flavor to a batch of homemade marinara sauce — and look gorgeous, too. That marinara has endless uses, of course, and extra basil makes a lovely garnish for any of these.

Small wooden bowl filled with a serving of homemade pasta marinara.

A white cast iron skillet full of cooked shrimp in homemade marinara sauce.

Pesto & Ways to Use It:

Last but not least, of course actual pesto is still a great use for basil — and you can always make it in bulk then freeze for adding flavor to sauces and soups on cold winter days!