10 Uses for Chives – Ways to Use Chives – What Are Chives

There are many ways to use chives in and around the house. Here are 10 uses for chives that may leave you surprised and impressed by this versatile plant.

10 Uses for Chives

You may enjoy the flavor of chives on your baked potato, but perhaps you haven’t explored this versatile herb much further beyond that. Chives are a wonderful, savory herb that can be used in the kitchen in a variety of dishes, in the yard for visual appeal, and even in the home like a pest repellent. There are many ways to use chives and these ways include far more than just sprinkling them on baked potatoes. Here are some ideas that may leave you surprised and impressed by this versatile plant.

Chive plants can be found at your local gardening center or farmer’s markets for just a few dollars per plant. Or, you can choose to grow your own from seed. Grow it indoors in a window sill garden for all year use, or plant in your gardens and flower beds to harvest during the summer months. Either way, you are sure to find plenty of practical uses for it. Take a look!

10 Ways to Use Chives

1. Add some interest to gardens and flower beds.
Just because chives are an herb, it doesn’t mean it can’t be decorative. Plant chives in your gardens and flower beds and enjoy the beautiful purple blooms they have. It is a great way to add a pop of color to your landscaping while still enjoying a plant that has other practical uses too!

2. Use as a natural pest repellent.
Pesky aphids hate chives, so plant chives next to plants and vegetables that aphids tend to feed on. This is a great way to protect those plants without resorting to chemical-filled products than can harm pets and kids.

–Find more pest repellent plants in this article: Natural Mosquito Control

3. Prevent erosion of your soil.
This is a brilliant tip! Chives have very dense roots. Because of this, they help strengthen your soil and keep it in place. Who knew? Plant some chives wherever soil erosion seems to be a problem. Over time it will come back stronger and thicker really protecting your soil.

4. Banish plant mildew.
Mildew can really harm your plants and ruin all of your hard work. Instead, create a concoction of chopped chive leaves and water. Boil the mixture for several minutes over the stove and when cool, place in a spray bottle. Spray plants to protect them from mildew.

5. Fancy up your fish.
Chives pair well with fish dishes. Season your fish with a sprinkling of chives or marinate before cooking in a mixture of chives and olive oil. So tasty and healthy!

6. Give your bread a boost.
Add chives to butter or cream cheese and stir well. Spread on bagels, toast, crackers and other bread to give them a kick of natural onion flavor. These spreads are perfect for taking on picnics.

7. Add a pop of color to salads.
The purple bloom of the chive plant is edible, so pop them off the plant and add them to your salads. It gives a beautiful pop of purple and adds a subtle onion flavor. Pretty and tasty!

8. Spice up salad dressings.
Adding chive flowers to plain white vinegar will not only add some flavor but will turn the liquid a soft lilac color as well. This makes it perfect for serving at weddings, baby showers, special brunches, or just when you want to feel a little fancy.

9. Add to ice cubes.
You can add chives to ice cubes to fancy up mixed drinks. Some people even like the flavor of chives in beverages such as Bloody Marys or Martinis. Get creative and try experimenting with chives in your beverages!

10. Make egg-cellent eggs.
Boost the flavor at brunch when you sprinkle chopped chives on your scrambled eggs or add them to your omelets.

If you really want to whip up some excellent eggs, why not try Chive Infused Deviled Eggs? This tasty treat is the perfect dish for a summer picnic or potluck! Take a look below for the easy recipe.

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Chive Infused Deviled Eggs

Chives are a perfect addition to this delicious classic.

Ingredients

• 1 dozen eggs hard-boiled, peeled and sliced in half
• 5 Tablespoons of mayonnaise light or regular.
• 2 Tablespoons of spicy mustard
• 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder. More or less if you wish.
• ¼ Teaspoon of paprika powder
• 1 dozen chive stems chopped fine
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Set aside 2-3 chive stems and paprika powder.
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a fork.
3. Separate the hard-boiled yolks from the egg whites and add in the bowl.
4. Continue to mix well with a fork, adding mayo or mustard if more moisture is needed.
5. Spoon mixture into egg white halves.
6. Sprinkle the mixture with the reserved paprika and chive stems.

See how many uses there are for chives? It’s so easy to add them to many of your daily recipes and dishes. Give some of these uses for chives a try and see how fun and frugal this herb can be!

Did you grow any other herbs this year? Check out these articles.
Uses for Mint
Uses for Cilantro
Herbs

If you’d like to learn more about how to grow chives and other herbs, check out this article on How to Grow an Herb Garden.

What are some of your special uses for chives? Do you have a favorite dish you add them in?

This post on 10 Uses for Chives was originally published on Little House Living in July 2013. It has been updated as of August 2019.