90+ Fresh Herb Recipes

Is your garden sprawling with fresh herbs? Are you looking for ways to use up a bunch of fresh herbs that are sitting in your vegetable crisper? Or, are you just craving something super fresh? Well, I’ve got just the recipe round-up for you!

Whether it’s basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, rosemary or dill, this giant batch of recipes is sure to please. There is everything from appetizers and snacks to soups, salads and main dishes to condiments and desserts. Surely you’ll find something to keep those fresh herbs from going to waste!

A collage of recipes featuring fresh herbs.

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How to use and save fresh herbs

If you don’t regularly cook with fresh herbs, having a bunch stashed in the fridge can be easily overlooked or forgotten. Part of the challenge is that many fresh herbs are sold in large bundles and it can be hard to use them up before they go bad.

But with a few cooking tips and tricks and a handful of yummy recipes, you can conquer food waste and add fresh and flavorful herbal notes to plenty of dishes.

My favorite ways to store herbs:

Store a bunch of fresh herbs in a jar of water, on the counter.
Store herbs in the refrigerator in a zip-top plastic bag or sealed container with a paper towel inside to soak up any excess moisture.
Tie small bunches of herbs with kitchen twine and hang upside down.
Store herbs in the freezer by chopping them up, placing them in an ice cube tray and filling each well with water or olive oil.
- Freeze, then pop them into a zip-top plastic bag to store frozen.
- Use the water-filled ones for smoothies and drinks and use the olive oil-filled ones for cooking!

Read on for seven simple tips to use up leftover herbs and over 90 recipes you’ll absolutely love.

Tip #1: Plan ahead

The easiest way to use up fresh herbs is to plan out several recipes that use the same herbs at once.
Making meals that utilize similar ingredients is a surefire way to cut back on food waste. Plus, it equals fewer trips to the grocery store for you!
If you know you’re making a recipe that calls for a certain herb, plan in advance so you know what other recipes you can make to use it up.
Let’s say you need a bunch of fresh basil for a pesto pasta recipe, like this Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad.
You can use up any remaining basil by making extra pesto for roasted vegetables, like these Pesto Roasted Baby Potatoes.
Or toss basil leaves in a fruit smoothie or on a sandwich, like this Grilled Cheese with Bacon, Cherries, and Basil for an unexpected herbal twist.

Tip #2: Garnish your meals with herbs

If you think garnish is just for fancy restaurant meals, think again.
Finishing a home cooked meal with a sprinkle of fresh herbs adds a light, fresh flavor note.
Plus, it looks seriously pretty.
- Impress your family and friends with an extra pop of green herbs on any recipe.
You can try adding fresh herbs to garnish soups, pasta, casseroles, egg dishes, dips and appetizers like this recipe for Strawberry Basil Bruschetta!
A tip for prepping your garnish: finely chop whatever herb you’re using so you don’t end up with uneven or extra large pieces.
Chop just before garnishing since some herbs, like basil, parsley, and cilantro are tender and can bruise and wilt quickly after being chopped.
Also, be sure to add your garnish away from a heat source to prevent wilting.

Tip #3: Infuse your drinking water

If you have just a few sprigs of an herb, a quick and easy way to use it is to add it to your drinking water for a boost of flavor.
Try experimenting with herb, fruit, or vegetable combinations for different flavored waters.
Pair mint with lemon or basil with strawberries to make meeting your hydration needs a little more fun and flavorful.

Tip #4: Make homemade sauces, dips and dressings

Herb based sauces, like pesto and chimichurri, have a multitude of culinary uses.
Traditionally, pesto is made from finely chopped basil blended with olive oil and garlic.
- But you can make pesto from any tender herb including parsley or cilantro.
Use pesto on salads, grain bowls, pasta, as a sandwich spread, or as a pizza topping, like my Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza.
Chimichurri is traditionally made from chopped parsley and cilantro blended with olive oil and garlic.
- But again, play with the herbs you have on hand. Use chimichurri sauce for topping steak, poultry, and seafood.
You can also use finely chopped leftover herbs to make homemade salad dressings and healthy dips.
- Such as Dill Horseradish Veggie Dip and Whipped Avocado White Bean Dip.

Tip #5: Add herbs to salads

Fresh herbs can transform a basic green salad.
Try tossing whole leaves of mint, basil, parsley, cilantro, or dill to your favorite greens to create an herbal salad like this Spring Veggie & Burrata Salad.
You’ll get an extra dose of flavor and super nutritious greens!
You can also add large bunches of herbs to a grain salad, like in this recipe for Breakfast Tabbouleh.

Chicken stock in a white pot. — Try my recipe for **Homemade Chicken Stock**!

Tip #6: Make homemade stock

Making your own stock is one of the best ways to use up bunches of leftover herbs like parsley and thyme, along with vegetables approaching the end of their shelf-life.
Stock is incredibly simple to make, it’s a one pot recipe and I promise you can’t beat the flavor of homemade stock!
Make a batch of Homemade Chicken Stock and then use to make soup or freeze for later use.

Tip #7: Make your own dried herbs

Finally, if you know you’re not going to get around to cooking with your leftover herbs, try drying them to extend their usable life.
Tie small bunches of herbs with kitchen twine and hand upside down.
Warmth and humidity can inhibit the drying process, so the kitchen probably isn’t the best place to do this.
Drying can take anywhere from a few days to about a week.
- You’ll know the herbs are dried when they crumble easily.
- Simply crumble them up and store in airtight containers.
Keep these tips handy for the next time you find yourself buying a bunch of fresh herbs.
- Committing to cooking with fresh herbs means more flavorful and colorful food and more bang for your grocery buck.

Bunches of herbs on a white marble backdrop.

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90+ Fresh Herb Recipes to Try

Appetizer Recipes with Fresh Herbs

Strawberry Basil Bruschetta

These strawberry basil bruschetta are made with mini toasts, goat cheese, juicy strawberries in balsamic and fresh basil.

The perfect easy summer appetizer that will look beautiful on the plate but will only be there for a split second, long enough for you and your guests to gobble them all down in a matter of minutes.

Strawberry basil bruschetta on a white plate.

Mediterranean Charcuterie Board

15 minutes is all you need to make an impressive Mediterranean charcuterie board! The perfect addition for fun get togethers that is full of all your favorite mezze including stuffed grape leaves, an assortment of dips, briny olives and fried halloumi cheese.

There’s a delightful pairing for everyone to mix, match and enjoy!

An overhead shot of a platter of Mediterranean charcuterie.

Edamame Falafel with Spicy Lemon Aioli

Have you ever made falafel at home? It’s so easy to whip up the batter in your food processor, roll ’em up and bake ’em!

This recipe is a fun take on traditional chickpea falafel. It’s made with frozen edamame, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs. All served with a spicy lemon dipping sauce.

An overhead shot of a bowl of edamame falafel with a dish of lemon aioli.

Try these other appetizer recipes with fresh herbs

Fried Pickle Dip
Cod Ceviche with Watermelon, Avocado and Mint
Basil Lime Hummus
Za’atar Focaccia
Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Garlic Herb Cheese Log
Herb and Garlic Marinated Olives

Breakfast Recipes with Fresh Herbs

Mediterranean Tabouli with Poached Eggs

A breakfast (or brunch) version of classic Mediterranean tabouli with poached eggs and pita wedges for a delicious, satisfying and easy meal!

An overhead shot of tabouli with poached eggs and pita.

Try these other breakfast recipes with fresh herbs

Za’atar Eggs with Yogurt Chili Butter
Savory Monterey Jack and Green Onion Pancakes
Herby Breakfast Skillet
Feta and Herb Scrambled Eggs
Shakshuka

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Soup and Salad Recipes with Fresh Herbs

Dill Pickle Salad

This chopped dill pickle salad is creamy, crunchy, and packed with 30g of protein per serving! Made with buttery croutons, crisp veggies, feta, and a oil-free dill pickle dressing (made with Greek yogurt).

Delicious, high-protein, and meal prep friendly with a gluten-free option.

Meal prep dishes with Mediterranean chickpea salad.

Rocca Salad with Arugula

Rocca salad made using simple ingredients like arugula, cherry tomatoes, pomegranates, herbs and walnuts!

So fresh, crunchy, tangy and tasty! Topped off with a healthy dressing.

An overhead shot of a dish of arugula salad.

Tomato Carpaccio Salad

Easy, no-cook tomato carpaccio done in 10 minutes, guaranteed to impress your guests effortlessly!

It’s quick, looks and tastes delicious, and is so easy to make!

An overhead shot of a platter of tomato carpaccio.

Lemon Herb Couscous Salad

This vibrant vegan lemon herb pearl couscous salad features a fresh mix of crisp vegetables tossed in a zesty, homemade lemon vinaigrette.

A close up shot of a bowl of couscous vegetable salad.

Middle Eastern Bean Salad

Balela Salad is a classic middle eastern bean salad that’s loaded with interesting flavors and healthy ingredients.

This makes a great lunch or side-dish salad any time of year, but when you have fresh garden tomatoes it will be even better!

A side shot of a bowl of bean herb salad.

Pesto Tomato Soup

This creamy pesto tomato soup is made with San Marzano tomatoes, dollops of basil pesto, cream and Italian herbs.

It’s easy and quick to make and is restaurant quality!

An overhead shot of a bowl of tomato pesto soup with a grilled cheese on the side.

Asparagus Potato Soup

This simple, tasty plant-based soup is packed with fresh asparagus, Yukon gold potatoes, fresh and dried herbs and aromatics.

It’s pureed with sherry vinegar and fresh lemon juice for a perfect finish.

An angled shot of a bowl of creamy asparagus potato soup.

Try these other soup and salad recipes with fresh herbs

Creamy German Cucumber Salad
Greek Lettuce Salad with Feta Cheese
Thai Beef Salad
Peach and Goat Cheese Salad
Cucumber Beet Salad
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
Chickpea Cucumber Salad
Mint Pea Salad
Fresh Oregano Salad
Pesto Potato Salad
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
Zesty Cucumber Salad
Brown Rice and Quinoa Salad
Chinese Chicken Salad
Israeli Couscous Salad
Cilantro Salad
Peach Watermelon Salad

Main Dish Recipes with Fresh Herbs

Air-Fryer New York Strip with Garlic Herb Butter

Do you like steaks?

Well, if your answer is yes, then you are in for a treat! In today’s blog post, am excited to show you how I make the most flavorful steak in the air fryer.

An overhead shot of steaks with herb butter.

Parsley Walnut Pesto Rigatoni

This flavourful vegan parsley walnut pesto is simple to make and full of fresh greens and walnuts.

This recipe also includes a 4 serving pasta measurement to make a quick and nutritious weekday dinner.

An overhead shot of a bowl of rigatoni with herb sauce.

Mediterranean Pizza

This Mediterranean Pizza is perfect as a healthy weeknight dinner! Made with spinach, black olives, artichokes, red onion, and crumbled feta, this quick pizza recipe is full of flavor.

Vegetarian, delicious, and so easy to make!

An overhead shot of a Mediterranean pizza.

Pesto Crusted Salmon

This yummy salmon includes herby pesto with a zesty panko crust. It’s the perfect main dish during the week.

It’s filling, flavorful and works well with salad, bread, and potato sides. Plus, it’s ready in less than half an hour!

An overhead shot of a platter of herb crusted pesto salmon.

Falafel Pita Sandwiches

This homemade crispy falafel pita sandwich has lots of fresh herbs, golden brown falafel balls, and creamy hummus packed inside fluffy soft pita bread.

Served hot or cold, this recipe makes a delicious vegan lunch or an easy weeknight dinner.