React + ASP.NET Core: Enterprise Project Getting Started Guide

If you are building a modern enterprise web application in 2026, React with ASP.NET Core is one of the most practical stacks you can choose. React gives you a flexible component model, excellent ecosystem support, and strong performance with a Vite-based workflow. ASP.NET Core gives you a high-performance backend, robust security primitives, and a mature architecture for APIs. In this guide, we will walk through three different ways to start a React + ASP.NET Core project: Manual setup with Vite + ASP.NET Core Web API Visual Studio template setup ASP.NET Zero React UI setup for enterprise-grade applications By the end, you will know which approach is best for your team and timeline. Table of Contents Prerequisites Approach 1 - Manual Setup Step 1: Create the React App with Vite Step 2: Create the ASP.NET Core Web API Step 3: Configure CORS Step 4: Configure the Vite Proxy Step 5: Make the First API Call from React Approach 2 - Visual Studio Template Approach 3 - ASP.NET Zero React UI C