Best Culinary Herbs

What are the 10 Best Culinary Herbs to Grow? Plant your favorite herbs so you can harvest fresh culinary herbs for use in your cooking anytime you want. You'll have the benefit of having fresh herbs on hand all the time and enjoy growing your own herb garden.

Long vertical featured image of 4 types of herbs growing in pots.

One of the best reasons to plant an herb garden is that you will have fresh herbs on hand anytime you need them. You don't need to have a huge yard, a green thumb or a large spread of land to plant a culinary herb garden.

All of the best herbs used in cooking can be grown in a container close to the kitchen so you can easily harvest fresh herbs while your cooking.

When it comes to adding the flavor of fresh herbs to your recipes there are just a few herbs you need to plant.

Start out with just a couple of herbs you always seem to be reaching for in the spice cabinet. Then you can add more when you need to.

Basil

Basil is best known for its use in Italian cooking. Pesto is probably one of the best-known recipes that uses fresh sweet basil. Add a handful of lightly crushed basil leaves to a pitcher of lemonade this summer for a surprisingly refreshing update to the old summer standby. Or make a Homemade Lemon Basil soda with fresh lemon basil.

Chamomile

If you enjoy herbal tea chamomile is just one herb that can be used to make herbal tea. The dried flowers of chamomile are brewed to make a lightly refreshing cup of tea that is helpful for those nights you can't seem to fall asleep.

Chives

Chives usually show up as a garnish on a baked potato. Chives can add a light onion flavor to potatoes, salads and soups. Snip the stems and sprinkle them over your dish. The flowers can be used to flavor vinegar.

Cilantro

Cilantro widely used in Hispanic dishes. It's an acquired taste for some. If you love Mexican food cilantro is a must have herb in the kitchen herb garden. Homemade salsa is easy to make and just wouldn't taste as good without a handful minced cilantro leaves.

Dill

Dill adds a lovely flavor to fish, salads or dips. If you like to make pickles a few dill plants can get all your pickling done this season. Cucumber Dill dip is easy to make and a great vegetable dip.

Mint

Mint can be used in so many ways. As a garnish, it looks beautiful poking out of the top of a glass. If you like to sip on Mojitos plant a couple of pots of mint so you can harvest it by the handful for each drink. It is another herb that makes a lovely herbal tea. If you are planting an herbal tea garden you will need a lot of mint.

Oregano

Oregano adds a bold flavor to many dishes. You'll find oregano adding flavor to Italian, American, Mexican and Greek dishes.

Parsley

Parsley can add a light delicate flavor and freshen your breath at the same time. Chew on a sprig after a garlic-heavy dish and you'll have fresh breath. I use parsley in many recipes and always add some to ricotta cheese when I am making lasagna or baked ziti.

Thyme

Thyme is one of those herbs that really gets a workout. It can be used to season many different types of recipes. Use it in meat dishes, soups, sauces and marinades to name a few. If you love marinated mozzarella thyme along with many of the herbs listed here in the 10 Best Culinary Herbs to Grow are used in the olive oil marinade used in marinated mozzarella.

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs. You can turn a simple grilled cheese sandwich into an amazing grilled sandwich with just a tiny bit of fresh rosemary. Rosemary can be used to season most meats, added to soups, stews and sauces.

10 Easy Herbs to Grow and Use in the Kitchen

Basil: Basil is a fragrant herb with tender green leaves and a fresh, slightly peppery flavor. Use basil in pesto, pasta, tomato dishes, salads, soups, and homemade sauces.
Chamomile: Chamomile is a delicate flowering herb with small white petals and a mild apple-like scent. The flowers are commonly dried and steeped in tea or added to homemade herbal blends.
Chives: Chives are slender green herbs with a mild onion flavor. Snip them over baked potatoes, eggs, dips, soups, salads, and creamy sauces.
Cilantro: Cilantro is a leafy herb with a bright, citrusy flavor. Use it in salsa, tacos, rice, curries, salads, marinades, and fresh sauces.
Dill: Dill has soft, feathery leaves and a fresh flavor with hints of lemon and anise. Add it to pickles, seafood, potatoes, salads, dips, soups, and creamy dressings.
Mint: Mint is a fast-growing herb with a cool, refreshing flavor and aroma. Use it in tea, lemonade, fruit salads, desserts, sauces, and savory dishes.
Oregano: Oregano is a flavorful herb with an earthy, slightly peppery taste. Sprinkle it into pizza sauce, pasta, soups, marinades, roasted vegetables, and Mediterranean dishes.
Parsley: Parsley is a bright green herb with a clean, fresh flavor. Use it in salads, soups, sauces, marinades, pasta, and as a colorful garnish.
Thyme: Thyme is a small-leaved herb with an earthy flavor and a light floral note. Add it to chicken, beef, soups, stews, vegetables, sauces, and roasted dishes.
Rosemary: Rosemary is a woody herb with needle-like leaves and a bold, piney aroma. Use it to season meats, potatoes, breads, soups, marinades, and roasted vegetables.

Recipes using fresh kitchen herbs

Want a more detailed read on how to grow culinary herbs? Grab a copy of my Backyard Herb Gardening: Simple Tips to Help You Grow a Successful Herb Garden eBook available on Amazon for $3.99