27 Basil Recipes Featuring the Fresh Summer Herb

Fresh basil is an essential staple of Italian cuisine and the main ingredient in pesto. This is the classic recipe every home cook needs to know, made with an abundance of fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, salt, and hard Italian cheese.

Caprese salad is a celebration of high-quality fresh ingredients and it's incredibly easy to toss together. Ripe tomato slices are layered with green basil leaves and fresh mozzarella slices, then topped with olive oil and salt.

Halibut is a firm white fish that stands up well to grilling. In this healthy fish dinner, seasoned halibut is flavored for the grill with a citrusy vinaigrette featuring aromatic fresh basil, briny capers, and scallions.

In about an hour, you can make impressive-looking stuffed chicken rolls for serving to family or guests. Chicken breasts are flattened, filled with basil and cheese, then breaded, baked, and smothered in a to-die-for mushroom sauce.

Upgrade your brown bag lunch with a hearty sandwich inspired by the classic Italian salad. It's a submarine roll packed with delicious ingredients, including herbaceous basil leaves, juicy tomato slices, creamy mozzarella. It's all tied together with a dressing of tangy balsamic glaze and olive oil.

Beefy T-bone steaks are rubbed with a mixture of fresh basil and oregano before cooking to perfection on your grill. Be sure to follow the tips in the recipe for getting a perfect sear on the steak.

Summer-fresh tomatoes and basil go into this Italian panzanella salad that typically does not contain lettuce. It's made with leftover Italian bread cubes tossed in a garlic-olive oil vinaigrette. The bread soaks up the dressing to make a delicious first course or side dish.

Refreshing Thai lettuce wraps are always a hit at cookouts and parties and also perfect for anyone on a low-carb diet. Ground beef is combined with fresh basil, vegetables, cashews, and Asian seasonings, then wrapped up in lettuce leaves for a delicious hand-held appetizer or light main course.

Your foodie friends will rave about this stunning basil ice cream that provides the perfect sweet ending to summer dinner parties. Both fresh and dried basil are added to a vanilla ice cream base to make the herbaceous flavor even stronger.

Bruschetta is one of the most popular party appetizers ever and this is the classic recipe that everyone loves. Chopped tomato, aromatic basil leaves, garlic, and shaved cheese combine into a lovely topping for toasted bread slices.

A basil vinaigrette is a wonderful way to wake up salads, grilled meats, vegetables, and fish. Learn to make it easily in five minutes. All you need are four ingredients: fresh basil, olive oil, white wine vinegar, and just a bit of garlic.

You will find a variety of pesto recipes, so it's worth exploring a few while you have a bounty of basil. In this pesto shrimp and pasta recipe, the pesto is made with Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheeses. The shrimp and cherry tomatoes are lightly fried, and the tagliatelle or spaghetti is cooked simultaneously. It's quick, simple, and delicious.

Succulent jumbo shrimp are marinated in a mixture of fresh basil, citrus juice and zest, garlic, and olive oil, then skewered and cooked quickly on the grill, in this recipe that will please kids and adults alike.

Vegans can enjoy creamy pesto pasta with a dairy-free, egg-free recipe that's easy enough for weeknight dinners. Plenty of fresh basil adds fragrant flavor, while soy milk, ground raw cashews, and nutritional yeast give it the same luscious texture as its cheesy counterpart.

Cookout guests will cheer when you serve up buttery lobster tails infused with the fabulous, herbaceous flavor of fresh basil. They're easy to prepare and cook in about five minutes on a hot grill.

This corn tomato basil salad is a wonderful recipe for summer picnics or dinner al fresco in your backyard. Sweet corn kernels are tossed with a chiffonade of basil, and chopped tomatoes, then tossed with a simple shallot vinaigrette.

Roast chicken is comfort food at its best. This recipe uses a simple combination of fresh basil and garlic to season a whole bird, with a few extra basil leaves tucked underneath the skin for an impressive presentation.

Dress up plain hummus with basil leaves and a whole lemon's worth of citrus juice in this vibrant variation. Serve it with raw veggie sticks as a healthy after-school snack for kids or with pita triangles for a party appetizer.

Budget-conscious boneless chicken breast and mushrooms are cooked in a creamy homemade basil pesto sauce to form a delicious dinner. Serve over hot cooked rice or noodles to soak up the decadent sauce.

Kids love pesto pasta and this healthy, dairy-free sauce made from basil and kale leaves is perfect for vegan families. Olive oil lends richness, while nutritional yeast replaces Parmesan cheese.

Fresh basil, bourbon, and lime juice and zest add fantastic flavor to grilled tilapia. Serve the cooked fish on top of hot steamed rice as a healthy entree or use it in fish tacos.

Caprese pasta combines the star ingredients of the classic caprese salad into a tasty pasta dinner. Fresh basil leaves, ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and a little olive oil add up to loads of great Italian flavor.

Meet your new favorite weekday soup! This tomato basil soup has a rich taste and satisfyingly thick texture, while being low in calories and fat. Enjoy it as a starter any time or as a side to grilled cheese.

Chicken fried rice with a Thai twist is easy for parents to prepare and always a favorite with kids. Fresh basil and lime leaves, plus a trio of store-bought Asian sauces, add loads of flavor.

Serve up an impressive dinner with this recipe for whole grilled trout stuffed with garden-fresh herbs, minced garlic, and lemon. It makes a wonderful meal alongside hot cooked rice and your favorite green vegetable.

Juicy, flavorful, and inexpensive chicken thighs are a home cook's best-kept secret at dinner time. This super-easy recipe flavors the meat with lots of fresh basil, some olive oil, and a little bit of salt, for a dinner that cooks in 30 minutes.

Enjoy a traditional summer pasta with a gluten-free twist! Gluten-free noodles are tossed with a simple vibrant sauce of cherry tomatoes, onion, fresh basil, and white wine—it's a wonderfully tasty 30-minute meal.