Bring big flavor to your everyday meals with BHG Cooking with Herbs. Inside you'll find more than 92 ways to use fresh and aromatic herbs from your backyard garden, featuring all your favorites—basil, parsley, rosemary, cilantro, chives, tarragon, dill, oregano, thyme, and so many more. Choose from main dishes, sides, soups, pizza, cocktails, pasta, and even sweet treats like cookies, cakes, and pies. We'll also show you how to preserve your herbs for the winter by freezing and drying. There are so many delicious options, you'll run out of herbs before you run out of recipes to try.
Better Homes and Gardens
Basil • Basil wins the herb popularity contest for its versatility and prized peppery-anise flavor. It’s best known for pairing with tomatoes, but the possibilities are endless.
Parsley • Its bright, grassy personality makes parsley an all-purpose friend every dish could use. Mild-mannered, yes, but in a supportive way that resists taking over or distracting.
Cilantro • With a peppery, spiced essence unlike any other herb, cilantro leads the flavor charge in cuisines from across the globe—Indian, Mexican, Thai, Middle Eastern, and more.
Thyme • With a woodsy, bold flavor profile, thyme’s teeny leaves pack a powerful punch thanks to a compound called thymol. Use it to deepen the tastes in cozy autumn foods.
Rosemary • Distinctly piney in aroma and taste, rosemary is the little evergreen tree of the herb world. It floats effortlessly between sweet and savory dishes for amazing versatility.
Oregano • Zesty, pungent oregano is the calling card of Greek and Italian cuisine, going by the nickname “the pizza herb.” It does hail from the Mediterranean, after all.
Dill • The mild tanginess of dill makes it a super partner for pickles, fish, potato salad, eggs, and more. The leaves are delicate but their cool, clean flavor shines through.
Mint • Cool, refreshing mint is known for its flashy presence on the dessert table, but we like how it stands out in savory dishes too. Plus try it out in this elegant Italian-style cocktail.
Sage • Poultry seasoning (the traditional flavor of Thanksgiving) is dominated by sage’s earthy autumnal essence. But the soft, fuzzy leaves add depth to so many other seasonal faves.
Chives • With subtle oniony hints, chives offer the flavor depth of onions without the harsh finish. Snip or chop the long, spiky leaves to stir into salads or garnish soups and casseroles.
Lavender • The floral flavor of these purple buds weaves seamlessly into sweets and treats. A little goes a long way—this herb has a powerful touch that can quickly turn perfumey.
Tarragon • The hint of licorice flavor in tarragon isn’t your imagination. It’s a mellow background note that harmonizes with other flavors in the herb for a nuanced profile.
Mixed Herbs • Harmonize flavors with handfuls of herb combos. Get all your garden-fresh favorites in on the cooking action—because if one is good, more is always better!
Scapes & Ramps • While these two unique ingredients don’t fit into the technical “herb” category, they have enough big flavor to meet the criteria. Learn all about this tasty duo.
The Basics
Recipe Index