Say ‘Oui!’ to Our Favorite French Recipes

Classic Creme Brulee

My favorite dessert is this creme brulee recipe. Recently I was at a party where the guests finished preparing their own desserts by “broiling” the sugar on their portions with a small torch. What a great idea! —Joylyn Trickel, Helendale, California

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Strawberry Macarons

These strawberry macarons have a sweet surprise in the filling: strawberry jam. To keep the jam contained, pipe the frosting around the outer edge before adding the jam in the center. —Josh Rink, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Beef Bourguignon

This stovetop stew is loaded with taste, but is easy to do. While the name sounds fancy, even a beginning cook can master it. It's our traditional holiday meal.—Elodie Rosinovsky, Brighton, Massachusetts

Nicoise Salad

More and more people in my workplace are becoming vegetarians. When we cook or eat together, the focus is on fresh produce. This salad combines some of our favorite ingredients in one dish—and with the hard-boiled eggs and kidney beans, it delivers enough protein to satisfy those who are skeptical of vegetarian fare. —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois

Country Cassoulet

This bean stew is fantastic with fresh dinner rolls and your favorite green salad. It's a hearty meal that's perfect after a long day in the garden. —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia

Pair this stew with a fresh hunk of a homemade French baguette.

Blood Orange Caramel Tarte Tatin

That sweet blood orange flavor with some brown sugar is a perfect combination. Whenever I have something to go to, my friends demand that I bring this dessert. —Pamela Butkowski, Hermosa Beach, California

Coq au Vin

This quick coq au vin recipe is really fabulous served with rice. I love being able to fix this gourmet dish in 30 minutes and still have it turn out so delicious. To reduce fat, I use chicken tenderloin pieces or skinless chicken breasts. —Judy VanCoetsem, Cortland, New York

French Lentil and Carrot Soup

It’s crazy how just a few ingredients can make such a difference. Using finely chopped rotisserie chicken in this recipe makes it perfect for a busy weeknight meal, but you can leave the chicken out if you prefer. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Crepes

This is my favorite simple crepe recipe. It's best to make the batter at least 30 minutes ahead so the flour can absorb all the moisture before you start cooking the crepes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Summer Ratatouille

Make use of your garden’s surplus with this comforting dish from the Provence region of France. It’s a vegetable dish traditionally made with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, garlic, bell peppers and various herbs. I highly recommend accompanying it with some freshly baked bread. —Phyllis Jacques, Venice, Florida

Bouillabaisse

This golden-colored soup is brimming with an assortment of seafood and is paired with savory, colorful sourdough toast with spread.— Lauren Covas, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Blueberry Clafoutis

This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice. —Ken Hulme, Venice, Florida

The Best Quiche Lorraine

Learn how to make quiche Lorraine, a simple yet elegant breakfast, brunch or dinner.

Slow-Cooker Beef Burgundy

Learn how to make crock pot bourguignon, a classic (and delicious!) French stew.

Fruit Tart

It’s well worth the effort to whip up this creamy fruit tart bursting with juicy berries. A friend gave me the recipe, and it always receives rave reviews at gatherings. —Susan Terzakis, Andover, Massachusetts

Brioche Rolls

At 10 o'clock each morning, it's coffee time at our house. Friends, neighbors and relatives stop by just to grab a bite of these brioche rolls fresh from the oven. —Wanda Kristoffersen, Owatonna, Minnesota

Learn more about other types of French bread.

Country French Pork with Prunes and Apples

The classic flavors of herbes de Provence, apples and dried plums make this easy slow-cooked pork taste like a hearty meal at a French country cafe. For a traditional pairing, serve the pork with braised lentils. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Palmier Cookies

It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Vegetable Tian

This colorful, hearty and delicious dish originated in Provence, France. A mandoline makes easy work of slicing all the vegetables but a knife will work just fine if you don't have one. —Francine Lizotte, Surrey, British Columbia

French Buttercream

French buttercream has a custard-like texture and is great if you're going to be piping shapes or decorations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

French Hot Chocolate

Throw that powdered drink mix to the side! It's time to make French hot chocolate with thick, rich cream and melted chunks of real dark chocolate.

Beef Daube Provencal

This dish is perfect on cold winter days, especially after we have been out cutting wood or white-tail hunting. If you are lucky enough to have venison, try it here for melt-in-your-mouth goodness. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri

Grand Marnier Frozen Souffles

This delicious frozen souffle is perfect for summer and will impress just about anyone. It's a great make-ahead dessert! —Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California

Crusty French Loaf

A delicate texture makes this French bread absolutely wonderful. I sometimes use this French bread recipe to make breadsticks, which I brush with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder. —Deanna Naivar, Temple, Texas

Duck with Brandy Cherry Sauce

Elegant, delicious and colorful, this French duck dish is perfect to serve for special occasions. —Francine Lizotte, Langley, British Columbia

French Butter Cookies

The key ingredient to these crispy, perfectly crumbly French butter cookies is rich European-style butter.

French Onion Soup

This rich and comforting French onion soup recipe is surprisingly simple to make at home. And it rivals the soup you’ll find at any restaurant.

Lemon Macarons

These light and airy lemon macarons are perfect for special occasions or to give as gifts. —Josh Rink, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Mushroom Sauce

With this easy, surefire recipe, you don't have to be afraid to prepare a rack of lamb for a holiday dinner. Rice pilaf and roasted asparagus are a lovely way to round out the meal. —Mary Kay LaBrie, Clermont, Florida

Potatoes Lyonnaise

I learned how to make this classic dish in culinary school. It’s comforting and simple to prepare. I like to switch up the herbs to give it a different flavor every time. The side is fantastic for casual dinners but also elegant enough for any holiday. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

Socca

Socca is a traditional flatbread from Nice, France. It's a common street food, cooked on a grill and served in a paper cone, usually chopped and sprinkled with salt, pepper or other delicious toppings. Bonus: It's gluten free. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Vol-au-Vent

This creamy chicken vol-au-vent recipe is an easy yet impressive puff pastry appetizer. Thanks to some simple shortcuts, you'll get all the praise for half the work!

Chocolate-Glazed Raspberry Eclairs

I first made choux pastry in high school for a French class assignment, and I was fascinated. Since then, chocolate-glazed raspberry eclairs have been my favorite pastry to make. I garnish each eclair either with a single fresh raspberry or with a sprinkling of crushed freeze-dried raspberries. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Pressure-Cooker Coq au Vin

Don’t be intimidated by the elegant name. The classic French dish is now made easier in one appliance! This Instant Pot coq au vin has all the classic flavors of a rich red wine-mushroom sauce but is so simple to make. My family loves it with whole grain country bread or French bread for dipping into the extra sauce. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

French Potato Salad

French potato salad is a pleasant change of pace from the traditional versions. It's a lighter take on the usual potato salad, perfect for warm summer days.

Macarons

These cookies are a French classic, but you don't need to rush to a patisserie. Learn how to make macarons at home and get all the tips from our pastry pros.

Quick Bearnaise Sauce

Bearnaise sauce is similar to Hollandaise but features wine and tarragon. This speedy recipe is delicious served over cooked vegetables or beef tenderloin. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Roasted Chicken

This Dutch oven roast chicken recipe gets wonderful flavor from the celery, onion and parsley tucked inside. This is my family’s favorite way to make roast chicken. When my daughter was away at school, she even called home to ask me for the recipe so she could make it herself. —Judy Page, Edenville, Michigan

Chocolate Yule Log

French 75

The original French 75 drink was created at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France during WWI. The original version had a powerful kick, like a French 75 mm artillery gun. The version here uses less gin. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Pressure-Cooker French Onion Soup

Pressure-cooker French onion soup is a pressure-cooked version of the cheese-topped classic. Once you have all the onions sliced, it's a matter of lightly caramelizing them, then pressure-cooking the soup takes less than 20 minutes.

Poached Pears with Vanilla Sauce

This dessert is a great ending to a special-occasion meal. Whole pears are lightly spiced and chilled, then served with a heavenly custard sauce.—Al Latimer, Bentonville, Arizona

Croque-Madame

My son and I love having a croque-madame (a fried egg atop our grilled ham and cheese) for lunch. If eggs aren't your favorite, you can make the sandwich without it (which makes it a croque-monsieur). —Carolyn Turner, Reno, Nevada

Lemon Vinaigrette

This classic lemon vinaigrette is quick, unfussy, zesty and delicious. Serve it over greens, atop grilled or roasted vegetables and more.