French cuisine brings so much more to the table than just pastries. The savory side dishes are creamy, flavorful, and surprisingly simple to whip up in your own kitchen.
Many recipes rely on straightforward techniques like a roux to build incredible flavor profiles.
You might want a romantic addition for date night or a special side for a rotisserie chicken dinner. I have gathered 14 recipes here that will have you saying “oui” to seconds.
1. Easy Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe
Is there a better trio than butter, onion, and potatoes? This combination is simple yet always hits the spot.
Parboiling the potatoes ensures you get a tender bite inside a golden crust.
I recommend using an oven-safe skillet to keep all that delicious flavor right in the pan.
2. Petits Pois a la Francaise (French Peas)
You can trust French cooking to make the humble garden pea feel fancy. This recipe requires only a handful of ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes.
Leave out the lardons for a vegetarian version if you prefer. I say keep them in for that major flavor boost.
3. French Glazed Carrots
A simple glaze made of butter, sugar, chicken stock, and salt instantly upgrades plain carrots.
Cook the slices in the liquid before removing them to let the sauce reduce.
The thickened syrup coats every inch when you add the vegetable back to the pot.
Serve these hot with a drizzle of lemon juice.
4. French Onion Soup
Caramelized onion soup is already insanely tasty on its own. Adding bread and cheese just makes sense here.
Good quality beef broth provides a deep flavor that really pops.
Toast your bread before soaking it and pick a cheese with plenty of character.
5. Traditional French Broccoli Gratin Recipe
This cheesy baked dish will convince even picky eaters to eat their greens.
Use fresh broccoli to avoid a mushy texture. You can let frozen broccoli thaw and reduce the cooking time by five minutes if needed.
Half the amount of ground sage works well if you cannot find rubbed sage.
6. Easy French Lentils
Lentils offer a pack of protein and nutrients. Cook them with vegetable oil, garlic powder, salt, and herbs so they soak up the flavor medley.
Watch them closely so they do not turn to mush. These work great in everything from tacos to shepherd’s pie.
7. Baked Brie Appetizer
French culture absolutely loves cheese. This gooey appetizer is elegant yet simple enough for a crowd.
You can slice the brie in half and bake it right alongside your baguette slices. Keep an eye on the herbs since they can burn quickly in the oven.
8. Gratin Dauphinois (Scalloped Potatoes)
Thinly sliced potatoes meet a garlic cheese cream sauce in this ultimate gratin.
Soak and dry your potatoes to ensure they crisp up nicely. Keep the slices thin so everything cooks through evenly.
Gruyere is traditional here but mature cheddar makes a fine alternative.
9. Haricots Verts Amandine (Green Bean Almondine)
These green beans get boiled and pan-fried with lemon juice and butter. Sliced almonds add a lovely texture to the mix.
Toast the nuts to bring out the best possible flavor. This light side pairs perfectly with chicken, pork, or fish.
10. Creamed Leeks
Leeks bring a subtle flavor that sits comfortably in the onion family. They add great taste and a beautiful pop of color to your plate.
You must wash them thoroughly after slicing to remove trapped sand and dirt. Heat the clean leeks with butter, salt, and cream until soft.
11. Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms (Champignons farcis au beurre d’escargot)
Meaty stuffed mushrooms are genuinely hard to beat. Crimini mushrooms work best as perfect little bites.
The garlic, salt, and pepper butter paste is the star of the show here. Grate fresh parmesan over the top for the ultimate yum factor.
12. Ratatouille
This vegetarian stew is robust enough to serve on its own. It also pairs wonderfully with pot roast or chicken.
The traditional mix features eggplant, peppers, onion, and zucchini. Use cheesecloth bags for your herbs if you do not have twine handy.
13. Classic French Spinach Au Gratin
Au gratin describes a creamy baked dish covered in cheese. You likely already have the necessary ingredients in your kitchen.
Thyme and onion create a classic base for the creamy spinach sauce. A little rosemary makes the combination even better.
14. Classic French Aligot
This smooth dish is a major step up from standard mashed potatoes. Heat crème fraîche with garlic once your potatoes are cooked and mashed.
Slowly incorporate the dairy and then the sharp cheese. Beat the mixture over heat for 10 minutes until it becomes velvety smooth.
