26 Fresh Basil Recipes for Our Favorite Summer Herb

Pesto is perhaps one of the most versatile sauces you can make. It’s a welcome addition to everything from a bowl of pasta to a chicken salad sandwich. Plus it's the best way to use up a big bunch of delicious fresh basil.

Partner cherry tomatoes with seared, juicy chicken bites, pockets of melted fresh mozzarella, a touch of balsamic glaze, and fresh basil for a one-pan dinner that hits the table in 30 minutes.

Between the butter, Parm, shredded zucchini, and fresh basil, this pasta delivers on all fronts. This easy summer dinner calls for four whole zucchini, which is a great way to use up your bounty.

Caprese salad is a must on our summer tomato bucket list, and here’s a fresh idea on how to serve this classic at parties: Instead of serving the tomatoes and mozzarella sliced, thread bite-sized tomatoes, ciliegine, or cherry-sized mozzarella balls, and fragrant basil onto skewers.

A filling summer salad with crusty bread, tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese — ready in under 30 minutes.

With a little tang and natural sweetness, this vibrant green dressing tastes like summer. Drizzle it over grilled vegetables, or spoon it over caprese salad in place of using fresh basil leaves.

This summery pasta dish starts with marinating raw cherry tomatoes in vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes. A splash of reserved pasta water and a shower of Parmesan bring it together into a silky sauce that clings wonderfully to the noodles.

This super summery meal mashes up juicy bruschetta with a weeknight-friendly chicken dinner.

It might be the simplest dinner of all time! This recipe uses dried pasta and either homemade or store-bought pesto. Want to make it more hearty? Add cooked chicken or shrimp.

With juicy tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, hearty chickpeas, and fresh basil in a flavorful oregano vinaigrette, this easy summer salad comes together in just 10 minutes.

This one-pan dinner has it all — juicy chicken, burst tomatoes, and melted mozzarella — and it cooks in under 30 minutes. Serve it with couscous, pasta, roasted potatoes, or a loaf of bread so you can mop up every last drop of the delicious sauce.

Pairing pesto with pasta may be classic, but using it instead of classic pizza sauce is an excellent way to mix things up on pizza night.

Because they’re so darn scrumptious on their own, the best summer tomato recipes let the tomato take center stage — which is where this easy caprese salad comes in. It features in-season tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and a spoonful of balsamic glaze.

Plump and perfectly ripe summer tomatoes are best served simply, allowing their naturally sweet flavor and impressive juiciness to shine. That’s why our favorite tomato preparations are also the simplest: tomato toast, caprese salad, and, of course, tomato bruschetta — the classic Italian appetizer that’s practically summer on a platter.

You can dress pasta salad in plenty of ways, but this might just be our favorite. Mix store-bought pesto with pepperoncini pepper brine for a dressing that is well-rounded, tangy, and full of flavor without any of the fuss.

A simple twist on classic caprese salad that adds cool, crisp cucumbers to the equation.

It starts with two all-star summer produce items: corn and little tomatoes. Coconut cream makes it creamy, then Parmesan cheese, chili crisp, and fish sauce are added for deep umami flavors.

Stir bowtie pasta and bruschetta topping together for the simplest summer pasta salad that everyone will love. Bonus: Because there are no eggs or mayonnaise, it can safely sit at room temperature with other summer side dishes.

Tomatoes, avocado, fresh mozzarella, and basil are stuffed inside a toasted baguette and finished with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar in this perfect summer sandwich.

Whipped cream cheese + prepared bruschetta topping = the dreamiest, easiest summer dip. A drizzle of balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves makes this dip party-ready.

To tuck more seasonality in between the red, white, and green layers of a caprese salad, look towards grilled eggplant.

If you love a good pesto pasta and have a soft spot for creamy sauces, you are going to love chicken pesto pasta.

Inspired by traditional caprese, this dinner salad is topped with marinated grilled steak and a punchy basil vinaigrette.

All the flavors of bruschetta, transformed into a simple, flavorful grilled pizza.

This quick, almost no-cook side dish features couscous, pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, and mini mozzarella balls.

This quick and easy weeknight version of baked ziti uses lean ground turkey to bulk up the sauce and turn it into a full meal. Top with freshly torn basil right before serving and serve with homemade garlic bread and a green salad to round out dinner.