What’s Your Favorite 20-minute French Dish For A Quick Dinner?

Imagine coming home after a long day, craving a taste of French cuisine but short on time. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’re exploring the world of 20-minute French dishes that are perfect for a quick and delicious dinner. From creamy Boursin-stuffed chicken to flavorful ratatouille, these recipes will transport your taste buds to the charming streets of Paris in no time. So, grab your apron and get ready to whip up a delightful meal that will leave you feeling satisfied and impressed, all within the convenience of just 20 minutes!

Ratatouille

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant
• 1 zucchini
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Dice the eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, onion, and garlic.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the diced vegetables to the skillet and sauté for about 10 minutes, or until they start to soften.
4. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine.
5. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
6. Serve hot as a side dish or main course. Enjoy your delicious and flavorful ratatouille!

Croque Monsieur

Ingredients

• 8 slices of bread
• 4 slices of ham
• 4 slices of Swiss cheese
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat a frying pan over medium heat.
2. Spread Dijon mustard on one side of each slice of bread.
3. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese on four of the bread slices.
4. Top with the remaining bread slices, mustard-side down, to form sandwiches.
5. Spread butter on the outsides of the sandwiches.
6. Place the sandwiches in the preheated frying pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve hot with a side salad or tomato soup. Enjoy your delicious and satisfying Croque Monsieur!

Quiche Lorraine

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
• 4 slices of bacon
• ½ cup of diced onion
• 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• A pinch of nutmeg

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and crumble it into small pieces.
3. In the same skillet, cook the diced onion until soft and translucent.
4. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and cooked onion onto the bottom of the pie crust. Top with shredded Swiss cheese.
5. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until well combined.
6. Pour the egg mixture over the bacon, onion, and cheese in the pie crust.
7. Place the quiche on a baking sheet and bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
8. Let the quiche cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious and savory Quiche Lorraine!

French Onion Soup

Ingredients

• 4 large onions
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 4 cups of beef broth
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• ½ cup of white wine (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 slices of French bread
• 1 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the onions.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
3. Add the sliced onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and golden brown, about 30-40 minutes.
4. Pour in beef broth, chicken broth, and white wine (if using). Stir in dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
5. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
6. Toast the French bread slices under the broiler until golden brown.
7. Ladle the soup into individual oven-safe bowls, and place a slice of toasted French bread on top of each bowl.
8. Sprinkle shredded Gruyère cheese over the bread slices.
9. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Carefully remove the bowls from the oven and let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving. Enjoy your comforting and flavorful French Onion Soup!

Salade Niçoise

Ingredients

• 4 cups of mixed salad greens
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• 1 can of tuna, drained and flaked
• 12 black olives
• 4 anchovy fillets (optional)
• ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Arrange mixed salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, hard-boiled egg slices, tuna, black olives, and anchovy fillets (if using) on a large serving platter.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.
4. Serve immediately as a light and refreshing main course or side dish. Enjoy your vibrant and delicious Salade Niçoise!

Coq au Vin

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 4 chicken drumsticks
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cups of red wine
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Season the chicken thighs and drumsticks with salt and pepper.
2. In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside.
3. In the same pan, brown the chicken pieces on both sides until golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
4. Add diced onion, minced garlic, sliced mushrooms, and diced carrots to the pan. Sauté until the vegetables are softened.
5. Pour in red wine and chicken broth, and stir in tomato paste, dried thyme, and the bay leaf.
6. Return the chicken and bacon to the pan, making sure they are submerged in the liquid.
7. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it cook for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
8. Serve the Coq au Vin hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy your rich and hearty Coq au Vin!

Moules Marinières

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of mussels
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup of dry white wine
• ½ cup of heavy cream
• Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
• Crusty bread for serving

Instructions

1. Scrub the mussels under cold running water to remove any dirt or debris. Remove any mussels that are open and do not close when tapped.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Add minced shallot and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté until the shallot is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
4. Pour in the dry white wine and bring it to a boil.
5. Add the cleaned mussels to the pot, cover, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the mussels have opened.
6. Remove the mussels from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a serving bowl. Discard any mussels that did not open.
7. Stir the heavy cream into the cooking liquid in the pot and simmer for a couple of minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
8. Pour the sauce over the mussels in the serving bowl.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
10. Serve the Moules Marinières hot with crusty bread on the side. Enjoy your delectable and savory Moules Marinières!

Boeuf Bourguignon

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of red wine
• 2 cups of beef broth
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup of pearl onions
• ½ pound of button mushrooms, sliced
• Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Season the beef stew meat with salt and pepper.
2. In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
3. Add the seasoned beef to the pan and brown it on all sides. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside.
4. In the same pan, sauté diced onion, diced carrots, and minced garlic until they start to soften.
5. Sprinkle all-purpose flour over the vegetables in the pan and stir to coat.
6. Pour in red wine and beef broth, and stir in tomato paste, dried thyme, and the bay leaf.
7. Return the browned beef to the pan and bring the liquid to a simmer.
8. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it cook for about 2 hours, or until the beef is tender.
9. In a separate pot, blanch the pearl onions in boiling water for a few minutes, then drain and peel them.
10. In a skillet, sauté the sliced button mushrooms until they are golden brown.
11. Add the blanched pearl onions and sautéed mushrooms to the beef stew and let it simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
12. Serve the Boeuf Bourguignon hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.
13. Enjoy your indulgent and flavorful Boeuf Bourguignon!

Crepes

Ingredients

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• Cooking spray or additional melted butter for greasing the pan

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and melted butter.
3. Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients while whisking continuously until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
4. Let the batter rest for about 10 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
5. Heat a non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat. Grease the pan with cooking spray or melted butter.
6. Pour a small ladleful of batter into the center of the pan, then quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion to spread the batter evenly over the surface.
7. Cook the crepe for about 1-2 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
8. Flip the crepe using a spatula and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 with the remaining batter, greasing the pan as needed.
10. Stack the cooked crepes on a plate and keep them warm until ready to serve.
11. Fill the crepes with your favorite sweet or savory fillings, such as Nutella, whipped cream, fresh fruit, ham, cheese, spinach, or mushrooms.
12. Enjoy your versatile and delicious Crepes!

Tarte Tatin

Ingredients

• 6-8 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 1 package of frozen puff pastry, thawed
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a 9-inch oven-safe skillet or cake pan, melt butter over medium heat.
3. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over the melted butter in the pan.
4. Arrange the sliced apples in a single layer on top of the sugar, fitting them tightly together.
5. Cook the apples in the pan over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until they start to soften and caramelize.
6. While the apples are cooking, roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface until it is slightly larger than the diameter of the pan.
7. Carefully place the rolled-out puff pastry on top of the caramelized apples in the pan, tucking the edges down around the apples.
8. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and crispy.
9. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
10. Place a serving plate on top of the pan, then carefully invert the tart onto the plate to reveal the caramelized apple topping.
11. Serve the Tarte Tatin warm, with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on the side if desired. Enjoy your delightful and decadent Tarte Tatin!

In conclusion, French cuisine offers a wide range of delicious and satisfying dishes that can be prepared in just 20 minutes. From the rich and comforting French Onion Soup to the delicate and versatile Crepes, there is something for everyone’s taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick and easy dinner or want to impress your guests with a fancy French dish, these recipes are sure to satisfy your cravings. So grab your apron, head to the kitchen, and enjoy the flavors of France in the comfort of your own home!