How to Add More Flavor with Fresh Herbs (Simple Ideas & Recipes)

I’ve talked you into growing herbs, and now what do I do with them? I’ve got some ideas for you. Fresh herbs will take any dish up a notch in flavor. A little extra prep time will be worth the extra flavor.

Herbs make every meal taste that much better!

1. Herb Compound Butter (you know I love butter!)

Mix softened butter with chopped thyme, basil, oregano, and a bit of garlic or lemon zest.

Spread on toast, melt over veggies, steaks, or scrambled eggs.

2. Herb-Packed Scrambled Eggs (or an omelet, if you’ve mastered that)

Fold in fresh herbs, a handful of chopped dill, basil, and savory with eggs before cooking.

Finish with goat cheese or feta, S&P.

3. Garden Herb Burger Patties or Meatball

Add a tablespoon of each basil and oregano to a burger patty. We buy local beef that is already amazing, and then adding fresh herbs takes it to the next level. I also make them into meatballs instead of a patty and serve them with salad.

Serve with tzatziki (add an avocado to your sauce, you’ll love it) or stuffed with a pita or over greens.

4. Savory Fresh Herb French Toast. I had this thought, and I think it would work well…It’s on my list for this summer, I’ll report back!

Whisk eggs with thyme, oregano, S&P. Dip crusty bread and pan-fry in a little butter.

Top with roasted tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms, or swiss chard. Or an egg on top? Sounds delicious, right?

5. Herby Summer Dip. (This is my go-to summer dish to bring to a party; it has such great flavor)

Stir a mixture of herbs (mix & match, use what you have; 1-2 tablespoons each of dill, basil, parsley, tarragon, sage, oregano, thyme, and/or chives) into a soft block of cream cheese, a little mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or ricotta. I add a couple of cloves of fresh-grown garlic, and champagne vinegar (1-2 tbsp based on how much you like it)! OH MY, it’s the best with cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and green beans from the garden.

Or eat with crackers, a sandwich, or burger spread, thin it down a bit, and use it as a salad dressing.

6. Roasted Tomato + Herb Galette or Tart

Layer sliced tomatoes over puff pastry or pie dough, sprinkle with thyme + oregano + sage.

Bake and finish with fresh basil and olive oil.

7. Chopped Herb Salad (aka French “salade fines herbes”)

Create a salad of herbs, including basil, dill, parsley, sage, thyme, tarragon, chives, and oregano. Toss with champagne vinaigrette and evoo drizzle, S&P, and serve with grilled fish or eggs.

8. Quick Pickled Veggies with Dill + Oregano

Add fresh dill and oregano to quick pickles, such as cucumbers, radishes, green beans, or onions. You can then use it for snacking, salads, or sandwiches.

9. Herb-Infused Olive Oil or Finishing Salt

Steep herbs, like basil, in olive oil for a few days and then strain them with a cheese cloth.

Drizzle or sprinkle on anything from pizza to eggs to roasted potatoes, salad dressing.

10. Crispy Herby Potatoes or Fries

Toss the potatoes with oil (for extra flavor and crisp, we like a tbsp of duck fat), chopped thyme, and oregano, S&P, and roast until crispy.

11. Iced Sun Tea with herbs

I love summer sun tea; I’ll use a liter mason jar with 2-3 black tea bags, a couple of sprigs of thyme, sage, or mint, and let it sit in the sun for a few hours. Then, I'll drink it over ice, with lemon, of course!

I’m not a chef or a food blogger, so you won’t find perfect, step-by-step recipes here (which drives my husband a little crazy). I’m what I like to call an intuitive home cook—I sprinkle, splash (often champagne vinegar), taste, and tweak until it feels right. Replicating a dish? That’s optional and extremely rare. :)

evoo = extra virgin olive oil

S&P = salt and pepper

Let me know if you have any go recipes I must try!