32 Fresh Basil Recipes To Make All Summer Long

Basil, known for its herby and aromatic leaves, is often found in a wide range of Italian dishes, but we also make good employ of it in the South. From one-bite appetizers to hearty pasta, this versatile herb can elevate any dish. Along with adding radiant flavor to meals, basil can add a fresh, herbaceous element to a variety of cocktails and drinks. Whether you’re looking for a weeknight dinner recipe or a fun dessert, these basil-infused dishes have you covered.

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This cocktail is as refreshing as it gets. You only need 5 ingredients to make this delicious drink, and one of them is ice.

Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

Stop buying your pesto and start making this homemade version that only takes 5 minutes to prepare! We employ basic ingredients like garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and, of course, fresh basil.

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell 

There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than with a frosty cocktail like this Bourbon Basil Smash. All you need is your favorite bourbon, a handful of basil, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This straightforward sheet pan dessert will wow any guests but it’s very uncomplicated to make. Once you master the meringue, there are endless ways to decorate it. Top with strawberries, chocolate, or whipped cream.

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This luscious pasta dish comes together in under 25 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight meal. Have all of your ingredients prepped before cooking because this recipe moves speedy.

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

We’ve made this classic Southern side a little healthier by getting rid of the extra sugar and fat. Don’t worry, it tastes just as good. Pureeing half of the cooked kernels gives this dish that creamy texture that replaces hefty cream. The cayenne pepper adds a little kick.

Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, and oyster sauce add a hint of nuttiness to this savory side dish. A Serrano Chile balances out the slight sweetness in the eggplant. We suggest using Japanese eggplants because they’re longer and thinner than other varieties. This side can be turned into a meal by pairing it with steamed rice and a cucumber salad.

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This is the perfect summer mocktail that both parents and kids can enjoy on a warm day. We mix homemade watermelon straightforward syrup with basil and tea to create the perfect drink.

Ralph Anderson; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Have dinner ready in 15 minutes with this creamy Tuscan pasta. The secret to this quick dinner is refrigerated ravioli and jarred Alfredo sauce. Top with basil and grated parmesan and serve with crusty bread.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

For a fresh, summer side dish, look no further than this corn salad. Sweet corn on the cob is balanced with sliced cherry tomatoes, perfumed basil, and mozzarella balls.

Photographer: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Elevate any pound cake, ice cream, or oatmeal with these macerated strawberries. With 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of busy prep time, you’ll have the most delicious summertime delight.

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

This delicious, nutrient-packed pasta comes together in about 30 minutes. Shredded parmesan cheese and walnuts top it all off.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Similar to the classic Caprese salad, this dish includes mozzarella cheese, juicy tomatoes, and basil. We added a little Southern touch by incorporating some bacon. This salad will pair well with any summer dish.

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Our homemade vinaigrette dressing complements the sweetness of the juicy cherry tomatoes and basil in this recipe. Canned black-eyed peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, and other fresh vegetables make this the perfect summer salad that will look handsome on any dinner spread.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There’s no chopping or peeling involved in this one-pan casserole. You don’t even have to boil the pasta. It’s that uncomplicated.

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Tortellini is perfect for pasta salad because it provides little pockets of cheese. We’ve packed this recipe full of pepperoncini peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella pearls, spinach, salami, and more. The salad is tossed together with a homemade Italian-style dressing. It gets better the longer it marinates in the fridge.

Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Here’s a great way to make employ of all of the summer vegetables that are in season. We employ ingredients like corn, lima beans, and okra for fresh flavor and dynamic color. To turn this salad into an entrée, simply add grilled chicken, shrimp, pork chops, or salmon.

Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

For a airy, fresh dinner, make this chicken caprese pasta that’s filled with mozzarella, tomatoes, rotisserie chicken, and fresh linguine. It comes together in under 20 minutes, making it the perfect meal for a busy summer night.

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There will be no leftovers of these pinwheels in your kids’ lunchbox. We’ve made the classic BLT a little better by adding turkey and homemade creamy basil mayo.

Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford; Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

There’s nothing quite as comforting as a dish of baked ziti. This recipe doesn’t require a whole lot of cleanup and will leave the whole family feeling satisfied. We employ store-bought rotisserie chicken to cut down the cooking time. Top with basil for a fresh herbal note.

Start your day with this frittata that comes together with 15 minutes of busy cooking time. This vegetarian breakfast is plenty filling from the eggs and cheese. If you’re looking for a side dish, pair this with a fresh fruit salad or fried skillet potatoes.

Alison Miksch

Here’s proof that dinner can be fun. This pull-apart pizza bread will be a gigantic hit at tailgates, parties, or family dinners. A can of biscuit dough makes this recipe a little easier. Serve with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

Three cheeses and lean ribbons of lasagna are layered in a baking dish to make this handsome, indulgent zucchini lasagna. We’ve incorporated all of the classic lasagna ingredients like tender noodles, ricotta cheese, and fresh basil into this recipe.

Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

We’ve cut down cooking time on this classic weeknight meal to under an hour. A couple of flavor-packed ingredients make up for the quick cooking. Serve with garlic bread or a leafy green salad.

Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

These one-bite appetizers will vanish from the table in minutes at any event. Spread an even layer of your favorite mayo on toasted brioche bread, then top with seasoned cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This French-inspired soup is packed full of nutritious, filling ingredients like basil, leeks, potatoes, kale, squash, beans, pasta, and more. Serve with crusty bread to mop up all of the flavorful leftover soup.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Fresh lady peas, herbs, lemon, and shallots make this salad a summertime delight. When lady peas aren’t available, you can employ field peas, such as purple hull, zipper, or pink-eye pea.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

When you’re craving lasagna but dreading all of the layering and dishes, try this soup. Ricotta cheese, ground chuck, tender noodles, and mozzarella cheese make it taste just like the classic. The 25-minute cooking time makes it even better.

Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

This shrimp risotto will have your family thinking you spent all day cooking when really, it was ready in under 45 minutes. The shrimp has a slight kick that is balanced out by the creamy orzo and basil.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This pasta salad will be the star of the show at summer potlucks and barbecues. Sun-dried tomatoes add a dynamic tomato flavor to this pasta salad filled with pine nuts, parmesan, and crumbled feta cheese.

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This low-carb alternative to lasagna tastes just like the classic and only requires 20 minutes of busy prep time. Ribbons of eggplant are stuffed with herbed ricotta baked in marinara sauce to make these rollups. This meatless main dish can be served with a airy salad, steamed broccoli, or grilled chicken.

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Your family is going to give this skillet dinner a 5-star rating. Fresh Southern vegetables and bow-tie pasta come together to form this dish in under 30 minutes. You’ll want to add this to your weeknight dinner rotation.