Our creamy basil mayo recipe is a quick take on classic basil aioli that’s packed with fresh flavor. It’s a delicious spread for sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and more!
Sometimes a delicious sauce, dip, or dressing is the easiest way to make nourishing foods more appealing, so I’m all about adding flavor boosters to your meal if it gets your kids (or you!) to eat them. Especially when it requires minimal effort!
Take this easy basil mayo recipe, for instance. It’s made from just a handful of ingredients, but packs MAJOR fresh basil flavor into every delicious drop. It’s the perfect addition to easily elevate an everyday sandwich, burger, or wrap, but this shortcut basil aioli also stands out as a perfect dip or dressing for veggies, baked fries, salads, and more.
No matter how you serve it, this yummy basil spread is sure to please. Grab some fresh basil and let’s make a batch! Here’s all you’ll need to get started…
Simple Ingredients To Start
The best part about this easy recipe (other than the flavor–duh!) is how simple the ingredients list is. Let’s take a look:
- Fresh Basil. You’ll need two whole cups of fresh basil leaves for this basil mayo recipe. We really want to pack in the fresh basil flavor!
- Mayo. Next up is some mayonnaise to bring the creaminess. Mayo is naturally dairy-free (it contains eggs, but not dairy!), which means this creamy basil mayo is also dairy-free!
- Fresh Lemon Zest & Fresh Lemon Juice. Bright lemon flavor is the perfect complement to fresh basil, so you’ll need both the zest and the juice.
- Fresh Garlic. Another great addition! Some minced garlic adds a delicious savory note to this yummy spread. I much prefer it to garlic powder here.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper. They’re a classic for a reason! These two flavor enhancers round out the flavor in this easy basil aioli sauce.
Aioli VS Mayo
So, is this a basil aioli recipe or a basil mayo recipe? In true technical culinary terms, a traditional aioli is a from-scratch garlic sauce recipe made with ingredients like olive oil, fresh garlic cloves, and a raw eggs (or egg yolks) that usually involves a mortar and pestle. But, in everyday terms, an aioli is more of a seasoned garlic mayonnaise. Under that definition, either name works for this yummy basil sandwich spread. We’re just using the shortcut of seasoning pre-made mayo rather than making our own.
How To Make Basil Mayo, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
- Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil leaves in an immersion blender jar, food processor, or blender.
- Blend until smooth enough for your liking. If you’re using a food processor, you may need to stop and scrape down the sides every once in a while to help you get to a smooth texture.
- Taste & Adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon juice, salt, or pepper, to taste.
- Chill the mayo for an hour, if possible, as the basil may will thicken up more as it chills.
- Serve & Store. Enjoy on sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and more! Basil mayo will keep in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge 1 week. (It’s also great on salad, veggies, chicken & more!)
Serving Ideas To Try
Now that you know HOW to make basil mayo, let’s talk about all our favorite ways to use it! It’s an easy way to add flavor to all kinds of recipes, like…
- BLT’S. We love smothering this lemon basil aioli on a turkey BLT, with lettuce, tomato, peppered turkey, crispy bacon, and maybe some sliced avocado. It’s a delicious substitute for basic mayo!
- Burgers. Or, take your burger to the next level with with basil mayo! I especially like it on chicken burgers, but it’s probably great on turkey burgers, veggie burgers, and beef burgers, too!
- Wraps. Take that sandwich and turn it into a wrap! This perfect condiment can help hold the wrap sandwich together and adds delightful lemon basil flavor to every mouthful.
- Salads. Swap your usual dressing out for this creamy basil dressing! It’s a great condiment to pair with Italian recipes and Mediterranean flavors, classic chopped salads, and even classics like Cobb salad! It’s also a favorite for potato salad, chicken salad, and even pasta salad. It has a ton of uses!
- Even More Sandwiches. This basil mayonnaise recipe adds delicious flavor to all kinds of delicious sandwiches, from a simple turkey sandwich, or tomato sandwich, to a classic club sandwich, to a hot pressed panini, and any iteration in between, the creamy texture of this sauce adds that special little something!
- Fresh Veggies. This tasty aioli is a GREAT dipping sauce for crudités or fresh vegetables, like cherry tomatoes, carrots, red peppers, sliced cucumbers, and more.
- Fries & Potatoes. Crispy, salty, and delicious baked french fries, crispy potato wedges, and sweet potato fries all pair well with this simple sauce.
- Pizza! If you’re a pizza & ranch fan, you might love a little of this basil mayo drizzled or dotted on a warm pizza. It’s great with margherita pizza, pepperoni pizza, three cheese pizza and more!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Basil Mayo
How Long Does Basil Mayo Stay Fresh In The Fridge? When you use store-bought mayo, this basil aioli should keep 5-7 days in the fridge!
Can I Use Dried Basil Instead? I don’t recommend it. This is one of those times where fresh ingredients make a big difference! Fresh herbs will add much brighter flavor in this volume, and dried basil would overwhelm the sauce.
Can I Use Vegan Mayonnaise Instead? Yes! It should work just fine.
CAN I MAKE A SMALLER BATCH? It can be tricky to cut this recipe in half only because it’s hard to blend very small batches well in a regular blender. If you’ve got a mini blender cup or small food processor, you might be able to get away with it!
Recipe Card
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Leave a star rating below when you try our Easy Basil Mayo recipe! We can’t wait to hear what you think!
Creamy Basil Mayo
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 heaping cup 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Our easy basil mayo recipe is a quick take on classic basil aioli that’s packed with fresh flavor. Try it on sandwiches, burgers & more!
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1–2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest*
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves (loosely packed)
Instructions
- Combine. Add mayo, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil leaves to an immersion blender jar, food processor, or blender.
- Blend until smooth enough for your liking. If you’re using a food processor, you may need to stop and scrape down the sides every once in a while to help you get to a smooth texture.
- Taste & Adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon juice, salt, or pepper, to taste.
- Chill the mayo for an hour, if possible, as the basil may will thicken up more as it chills.
- Serve & Store. Enjoy on sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and more! Basil mayo will keep in an airtight container in the fridge 1 week. (It’s also great on salad, veggies, chicken & more!)
Notes
- Mayo. Feel free to use paleo-approved mayo to keep this basil mayo paleo approved! All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
- Lemon Zest & Lemon Juice. For ease, make sure to zest the lemon BEFORE juicing it. It’ll be much easier to work with!
- Variations. Feel free to add a bit of freshly grated parmesan!
- Can I Make A Smaller Batch? It can be tricky to cut this recipe in half only because it’s hard to blend very small batches of dressings & sauces well. If you’ve got a mini blender cup or mini food processor, you might be able to get away with it!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
This is such a great spread! It really elevates my sandwiches to next-level good.