23 French Recipes Worth Making Chez Vous
French cuisine has a reputation for precision: glossy sauces, just-so pastries, and techniques that feel better left to chefs in starched jackets. But here’s the truth—many of the most beloved French recipes are deeply practical, designed for home cooks who value good ingredients, a little patience, and plenty of butter.
Until you book that plane ticket, let these French recipes turn your kitchen into a brasserie. This collection spans timeless classics like ratatouille, salade niçoise, and croque monsieur, alongside modern, unfussy updates—think banana pudding–inspired Paris-Brest and coq au vin made in an Instant Pot. Whether you’re cooking for a dinner party or just craving something très bon on a Tuesday night, these are French dishes worth mastering at home.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Luciana Lamboy1/23Tuna Niçoise Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood2/23Ratatouille
Alex Lau4/23Quiche Lorraine
A French menu staple that’s far easier to make than it looks. Any deep-dish pie crust will do (even, shh, a store-bought pie crust); the custard does the heavy lifting.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua6/23Eggs en Cocotte
Photo by Taylor Peden and Jen Munk / Courtesy Clarkson Potter, Random House8/23Strip Steak au Poivre
A French steakhouse classic made weeknight-friendly. Crack your peppercorns fresh and coarse for maximum punch, and serve with an Extremely French Carrot Salad.
Photograph by Joann Pai, food and prop sryling by Rebekah Peppler.9/23Eggs Rémoulade
Hard-boiled eggs get dressed up with classic French rémoulade—mayonnaise, herbs, capers, cornichons, and anchovies—for this easy party appetizer from Rebekah Peppler’s À Table.
Photograph by Aaron Barton, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon10/23Colossal Crème Brûlée
One big dish > a dozen fussy ramekins. You’ll need a kitchen torch, but the crackly caramelized top is well worth it.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Taneka Morris13/23Chicken Roulade
Peden + Munk © 201714/23Saffron, Orange, and Honey Madeleines
From Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh, these madeleines are fragrant, tender, and more forgiving than classic versions.
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro15/23Summer Bean Gribiche
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou16/23French-ish Onion Soup
A vegan spin on classic French onion soup that doesn’t skimp on flavor. If you eat dairy, don’t skip the Gruyère-topped toast—it’s the whole point.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Luciana Lamboy, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams17/23Black Pepper Panisses With Cheddar
Panisses—chickpea-flour fritters popular in southern France—are crisp outside, custardy within, and excellent served warm. Studded with cheddar and black pepper, they’re the ideal nibble for cocktail hour; have one with a French 75.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens18/23Savory Cheese-Filled Croquembouche
Traditionally sweet, this towering French pastry sculpture goes savory with gougère-style choux buns and peppery caramel. (Prefer cream puffs? This way for classic croquembouche →)
19/23Pan Bagnat
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon20/23Banana Pudding Paris-Brest
Created in the early 20th century to honor the Paris–Brest bicycle race, this classic choux pastry gets a BA Bake Club–approved twist. Jesse Szewczyk folds nostalgic banana pudding flavors into the creamy filling for a dessert that’s equal parts French tradition and American comfort.
Alex Lau21/23Easiest Caramel Apple Clafoutis
One of the most comforting French desserts, made even simpler. Custardy, lightly sweet, and perfect straight from the oven (but we wouldn’t say “no” to some French vanilla ice cream on top).
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Alex Massillon23/23Bûche de Noël
