Learn how to cook with fresh basil through easy, flavor-packed recipes! These basil-forward dishes bring this aromatic herb to life in every bite.

I’ve learned how to cook with fresh basil in ways that go far beyond a sprinkle on spaghetti or a token leaf in a caprese salad. Fresh basil is vibrant, fragrant, and surprisingly versatile. From sauces to drinks to main dishes, this leafy green elevates every bite it touches. Whether you just picked a handful from your garden or grabbed a bunch from the market, these recipes will help you use it all up in delicious, creative ways.

How to Cook with Fresh Basil: Recipes 

1. Classic Basil Pesto

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (rinsed and patted dry)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ⅓ cup pine nuts (or walnuts)
• 2 garlic cloves
• Juice of ½ lemon (optional, for brightness)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• In a dry skillet, lightly toast the pine nuts over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until golden. Let cool.
• In a food processor, combine basil leaves, toasted nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pulse a few times to break everything down.
• With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the pesto becomes smooth and creamy.
• Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse once more to combine.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Use immediately or store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Ways to Use: Toss with pasta, spoon over grilled chicken, swirl into soups, spread on toast, or stir into scrambled eggs.

2. Tomato Basil Bruschetta

Ingredients:

• 1 French baguette, sliced into ½-inch pieces
• 1 ½ cups ripe cherry tomatoes, diced
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chiffonade (thinly sliced)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet.
• Drizzle with olive oil and toast for 8–10 minutes or until golden and crisp.
• In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Let the tomato mixture sit for 10–15 minutes to develop flavor.
• Spoon the tomato-basil topping onto the toasted baguette slices right before serving.

Why it works: It’s bright, fresh, and every bite bursts with summer flavor. Basil makes the whole thing pop.

3. Fresh Basil Margherita Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 ball of pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• ½ cup pizza sauce or crushed San Marzano tomatoes
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
• ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves (whole)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C) or as high as your oven goes. If you have a pizza stone, preheat it as well.
• Stretch dough onto a floured pizza peel or baking sheet.
• Spread sauce evenly over the base, then top with mozzarella slices.
• Bake for 10–12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and immediately scatter fresh basil leaves on top.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Pro Tip: Never bake basil—add it after cooking to preserve flavor and keep it from turning black.

4. Basil-Infused Olive Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup olive oil
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

• Blanch basil in boiling water for 10 seconds. Quickly transfer to an ice bath to preserve color.
• Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• In a blender, combine basil and olive oil. Blend until smooth.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove solids.
• Pour into a glass jar or bottle and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Use It For: Drizzling over grilled veggies, fresh bread, salads, or soups for an aromatic, herbaceous finish.

5. Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (like canola or avocado)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1–2 Thai red chilis, thinly sliced (optional)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

Instructions:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add garlic, shallots, and chili; sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until fully cooked (about 6–8 minutes).
• Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Cook for another 2 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and stir in Thai basil leaves until wilted.
• Serve hot over jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg on top.

Why it works: Thai basil adds a licorice-like, spicy aroma that sets this dish apart from your everyday stir-fry.

6. Fresh Basil Lemonade

Ingredients:

• ½ cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup
• 4 cups cold water
• Ice + lemon slices for serving

Instructions:

• In a small saucepan, combine basil, ½ cup water, and honey. Heat gently until the honey dissolves and basil wilts.
• Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Strain out basil and combine the syrup with lemon juice and the remaining 3 ½ cups cold water.
• Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Serve over ice with lemon slices and a sprig of basil.

Why it works: The basil brings a herbal twist to classic lemonade—refreshing, fancy, and perfect for summer sips.

Whether you’re blending it into pesto, steeping it into oil, or layering it onto hot pizza straight from the oven, knowing how to cook with fresh basil opens up a world of flavor. It’s the kind of ingredient that makes simple dishes feel special. So don’t let that bunch wilt in your fridge—use it generously, creatively, and often. Once you start, you’ll never see basil as just a garnish again.

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