25 Recipes to Help You Use Up a Bunch of Herbs

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

All too often I buy a couple bunches of herbs to use in a specific recipe, punch off a sprig or two, and then the rest gets forgotten about until it wilts and has to be tossed. Does this happen to you?

I hate wasting any food, especially fresh herbs, but it turns out I don’t have to: There actually are a slew of great recipes that use way more than a few sprigs, saving me the guilt of throwing what’s leftover in the trash (with the bonus of a delicious dish!).

From rosemary roasted potatoes and lemon-thyme chicken thighs, to tomato-basil morning muffins and a tropical cilantro smoothie, here are 25 recipes to call on when you’ve got herbs to spare.

A Bunch of Rosemary

Rosemary adds a woodsy, earthy note to savory dishes, whether it’s roast chicken, a side of potatoes, or both.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs (Image credit: Nick Evans)

A Bunch of Thyme

Thyme’s bright aroma is slightly reminiscent of lemon, which means the two are always a perfect match.

Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups with Ricotta and Herbs (Image credit: Kelli Foster)

A Bunch of Basil

The easiest way to use up lots of basil is to blend some pesto, but there are many other creative ways to use it, including baking it into savory muffins.

How to Make Tabbouleh Salad with Bulgur, Quinoa, or Cracked Wheat (Image credit: Dana Velden)

A Bunch of Parsley

Chopped parsley adds a touch of freshness to just about any dish, but it’s much more than a garnish. Try using the whole bunch of it to make a classic tabbouleh salad or a unique pesto.

Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Cilantro Pesto (Image credit: Faith Durand)

A Bunch of Cilantro

If you bought lots of cilantro for taco night and have a good amount left over, know that you don’t need to eat guacamole for days. Instead, make smoothies and salad dressing!

How to Make Classic Green Goddess Dressing (Image credit: Lauren Volo)

A Mix of Herbs

Grab whatever odds and ends of fresh herbs you have in the kitchen and bring them together to make creamy dressings and dips, egg dishes, and more.