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.