Looking for easy French dinner recipes that work on a busy weeknight? These simple French and French Riviera-inspired meals include one-pot chicken, Mediterranean salmon, French lentil soup, roast chicken, fresh salads and flavorful vegetable sides. Many are ready in 30 minutes, while others can be prepared ahead for an effortless dinner.
I'm the wife of a French chef, but that doesn't mean we make coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon every night. I'm also a working mother with two young children, and most of our family dinners happen between soccer and ballet. These are the easy French recipes I genuinely rely on to help us eat well, even on our busiest evenings.
Below, you'll find quick mains, make-ahead soups and simple French side dishes, along with my approach to grocery shopping and meal preparation.
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TL;DR
- Best 30-minute meals: Mediterranean salmon and one-pot Provençal chicken with orzo
- Best make-ahead recipes: French lentil soup and potage aux légumes
- Best family dinner: French roast chicken Best light meal: Salade Niçoise
- Best seasonal dinner: Pork tenderloin with apples
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Best for: Busy weeknights, meal preparation and casual entertaining
Best Mediterranean Salmon Recipe
This Mediterranean Salmon Recipe with cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers and lemon zest is so tender and flavorful and is made in under 30 minutes. The perfect recipe for busy weeknights but special enough to serve for special occasions. You will love the fresh Mediterranean flavors that taste of summer by the sea
French Lentil Soup Recipe
This French Lentil Soup recipe is surprisingly easy and quick to make. 10 minutes of prep time, 45 minutes of simmering time and you have a delicious, hearty meal in a bowl to enjoy throughout the week. Ideal for meal prep, this soup freezes very well and can be repurposed into a variety of dishes.
One pot cheesy chicken and orzo
Tender chicken thighs simmered in a Provençal sauce with olives, tomatoes, peppers and fresh herbs topped with melted mozzarella and basil. This one pot, cheesy chicken and orzo recipe can be made in under 30 minutes and is super simple to prepare. A taste of the South of France that you can make any night of the week and that your family will love.
Potage aux Légumes (French Vegetable Soup)
Potage aux légumes is a French vegetable soup that has been blended until there are no visible chunks left. Nourishing and flavorful, a good potage is a great way to eliminate food waste and also a French woman's secret weapon for keeping slim.
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is an authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein (eggs, tuna and possibly sardines) and with lots of good veggies butter lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes fava beans, radishes and basil. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun.. Serve with a fresh baked baguette and a glass of Rosé for the perfect French Riviera lunch.
Roasted pork tenderloin with apples
This quick roasted pork tenderloin with apples recipe will become your Fall favorite. Juicy, moist pork with a delicious apples & sage sauce. This recipe is easy enough to make on a Tuesday night for a hungry family, but fancy enough to serve on a Saturday evening with friends.
Mediterranean Branzino Filet Recipe with Vierge Sauce
Delicate Branzino with a bright vinaigrette of tomatoes, olives and basil give a Provençal twist to your dish. Super simple yet impressive! A delicious Mediterranean Diet dish.
Mediterranean Ground Lamb and Eggplant Rice
Mediterranean ground lamb and eggplant rice will become your favorite weeknight dinner. Tender lamb rice, crunchy pistachios, refreshing pomegranate seeds, fresh herbs and a yummy yogurt sauce make this dish a showstopper.
Super Simple French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti)
How to make the most succulent, flavorful, crispy skinned chicken that looks like it belongs in a magazine. This Super Simple French Roast Chicken, or Poulet Rôti, recipe is so easy to make! You will want to make this recipe for your next dinner party with friends, Sunday lunch with the family or Tuesday night dinner for the kids!
Chicken Macaroni Soup
This cozy homemade chicken macaroni soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. This easy recipe uses a whole chicken to make the broth from scratch.
Magical Leek Soup
Magical Leek Soup - the French woman's diet secret, as referenced in "Emily in Paris". Le Chef's Wife twist on the recipe is delicious and family friendly. It tastes like comfort food yet is incredibly healthy for you. Vegan and gluten free. Tasty and pretty enough to be served at a dinner party.
French Spinach
This French Spinach recipe made with sautéed garlic and butter is a bistro classic and one of my French Chef husband's favorite dishes. This dish is incredibly easy to make, only takes a few minutes and adds incredible flavor to any meal. Plus you get the added benefits of eating lots of leafy greens.
Sautéed Haricots Verts (French Green Beans)
Sautéed Haricots Verts (French Green Beans) are a great side dish. The melt in your mouth texture, the tang of the garlic butter and the zest of fresh herbs make sautéed haricots verts a dinner time favorite.
Smashed Mini Potatoes
These smashed mini potatoes with rosemary and roasted garlic are so tasty - I dare you not to eat them directly from the pan! Crispy and flavorful on the outside, pillowy deliciousness on the inside - these potatoes are the perfect side for any grilled or roasted meats.
Roasted Fennel
Roasted fennel is healthy side dish that pairs beautifully with fish or chicken. If you are interested in healthy eating this is one of my favorite ways to serve a light, satisfying dish.
How often to Grocery Shop
When I lived in France I would go food shopping at least 3 times a week. Our fridge was tiny and it was easy to pop into the butcher or pick up vegetables from the market to have fresh food on hand.
Now that we live in the suburbs of Washington, DC, I tend to go grocery shopping 1-2 times a week. I get the essentials at the grocery store but then try to make it to the Farmer's Market every weekend so that I can add seasonal fruits and vegetables to our diet. I try to minimize food waste as much as possible and have found a way to integrate smaller, more frequent, shops into my schedule.
Meal Prep
I struggle with the modern notion of meal prepping (preparing full meals in little containers, often eating the same thing throughout the week), but I usually have a pot of soup in my fridge (check out my French Soup Recipes) and I like to roast a chicken or two on the weekend to use as a base for my meals for the week. You will love my Riviera Roast Chicken or Provençal Roast Chicken and Ratatouille recipes.
Once a month I try to stock my freezer with some homemade soups and sauces to make quick healthy meals when I am busy. I wrote a blog post about my appreciation for freezer meal batch cooking here.
FAQ
Mediterranean Salmon, French Lentil Soup, and One-Pot Cheesy Chicken & Orzo are among my favorites. They come together quickly, use simple ingredients, and bring that unmistakable French flair to your table without hours in the kitchen.
Yes! Soups like Potage aux Légumes or French Lentil Soup are even more flavorful the next day. Roast a chicken or pork tenderloin on Sunday and you can enjoy effortless lunches or repurposed dinners during the week.
Simple is best. Sautéed haricots verts, roasted fennel, or smashed rosemary potatoes make wonderful accompaniments. They require little effort but add color and balance to your plate.
What are your favorite weeknight recipes? I would love to hear from you!
Bon Appétit,
Le Chef's Wife
ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (8 and 5) and I run a marketing company and a non-profit in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this Washington Post Article. We were featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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