The Ultimate Guide to French Recipes: 50 Classics Made Simple

French recipes are often associated with elegant restaurants, candlelit dinners, and special occasions. But in France, these dishes are everyday food. They are roast chicken (poulet rôti) on a Sunday afternoon, a simple lentil soup for lunch, crêpes flipped in the kitchen while children set the table, and chocolate mousse shared after dinner.

When I met my husband during my study exchange in France at 23 years old, I fell in love twice. Once with him (obviously!), and once with French cooking. Over the years, I learned that classic French recipes are not that complicated. They are built on simple techniques, good ingredients, and the courage to cook in the kitchen.

This ultimate guide gathers 50 authentic French recipes from Le Chef's Wife. Every recipe is tested in my home kitchen, inspired by Chef Sébastien's classical French training, and designed to feel approachable for modern home cooks.

If you are new to French cooking, start with a roast chicken, crêpes, or mousse au chocolat. Those three recipes alone will transform your kitchen.

---

French Appetizers and Starters

Recipe List

1. French Onion Soup
2. Salade Niçoise
3. Salade Lyonnaise
4. How to Serve Caviar
5. Ratatouille
6. Olive Tapenade
7. Salad Parisienne
8. Classic French Vinaigrette
9. Warm Goat Cheese Salad
10. Tomato and Burrata Salad

French Soups and Comfort Food

Recipe List

11. Soupe de Mamie
12. Chicken Macaroni Soup
13. French Vegetable Soup
14. French Lentil Soup
15. French Raclette
16. Croque Madame
17. Poule au pot
18. Pumpkin Soup with Herbs

These traditional French dishes are rooted in comfort and generosity.

Classic French Main Courses

Recipe List

19. Coq au Vin
20. The Perfect French Roast Chicken
21. Branzino with Vierge Sauce
22. Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
23. Scallops with leeks fondue
24. Mediterranean Salmon
25. Coq au Vin Blanc
26. Chicken with orzo
27. Ribeye Steak with French Sides
28. Turkey au Vin
29. Leek Fondue with Scallops
30. Daube provençal

Everyday French Baking and Breads

Recipe List

31. Quick French Baguette
32. Classic French Crêpes
33. Quatre Quarts
34. French Toast - Pain Perdu
35. French Yogurt Cake
36. Pompe à l'huile
37. Quiche Lorraine
38. Tartines
39. Croque Madame
40. Fig and Prosciutto Tartine

French cooking is not about perfection. It is about rhythm and repetition.

Classic French Desserts

Recipe List

41. Mousse au Chocolat
42. Moelleux au Chocolat
43. Gingerbread Spice Cake
44. Chantilly cream
45. Chocolate Soufflé
46. Cherry compote
47. Chocolate ganache
48. Quatre Quarts
49. Tarte Tatin
50. Crème Brûlée

What Makes French Recipes Special

French cooking emphasizes technique over complexity. It celebrates butter, olive oil, herbs, wine, fresh produce, and balance. It invites us to slow down and enjoy the table.

French recipes are not meant to intimidate. They are meant to nourish.

Frequently Asked Questions About French Recipes

Conclusion

You do not need culinary school training to cook authentic French recipes. You need reliable recipes, good ingredients, and the confidence to begin.

From my kitchen to yours, bon appétit!

all 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.

I recently won a cooking competition in NYC, you can read about it in my blog post Crying for Cassoulet.

Follow along with our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you! 

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: