13 Julia Child Recipes That Will Make You Feel Like a True Chef

Julia Child has been a household name since a young age for many of us, but if you aren’t familiar with her, she was an American woman with a big passion for food who ended up graduating from the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. 

Through her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, she brought the techniques of French cooking into many kitchens across the US.

Her delicious recipes have been celebrated for decades, and plenty of her recipes are still being made in many homes across the country to this day.

If you’re looking to try your hand at cooking with French flair, then keep on reading because I’ve compiled a list of 13 of my favorite recipes by the icon herself, Julia Child. 

1. Beef Bourguignon 

This is a world wide loved classic for a reason, it’s essentially ever-so tender chunks of beef that fall apart that are simmered in a rich red wine gravy, the flavors that are in this dish are to die for. 

Of course you can make beef bourguignon in a slow cooker, but for this recipe you’ll want to take your time cooking it, if you want the authentic Julia Child feel.

It’s a long and slow process on the stovetop that will take you all day, so make sure you have a glass of wine or two whilst you’re preparing it. 

However, this recipe does state four methods you can use to cook this dish, for if you don’t want to stand at the stove all day! 

2. Julia Child’s Coq Au Vin

Coq au vin may sound intimidating to make, but it’s actually one of the easier ones on this list!

Despite its fancy name, coq au vin is basically just chicken and red wine with the addition of mushrooms, bacon and onions and it’ll only take 30 minutes to prepare it followed by an hour of cooking time.  

You can even use the slow cooker which will have equally spectacular results. Otherwise, you’ll make this tantalizing dish on your stove top, which won’t be too difficult, plus your whole house will smell absolutely mouth watering. 

3. French Crepes

Crepes are such a versatile food, they’re perfect for breakfast or dessert or even dinner if you’re making savory crepes. 

Whilst they’re super delicious, it can be difficult to learn the technique to perfect them, but with a bit of patience and persistence, you’ll have them perfected in no time. 

The best thing about crepes is that you can fill them with anything that you want, whether it be fresh fruit and yogurt for your breakfast, meat and cheese for your dinner or chocolate and sweets for dessert. 

4. Potatoes Au Gratin

This is a recipe you’re going to want to keep in your repertoire, it’s the creme de la creme of ALL potato dishes! 

Potatoes au gratin, also known as dauphinoise potatoes, is a French classic that is made with layers upon layers of finely sliced potatoes, cream, butter and cheese with a tiny bit of thyme. 

It’s amazing how something with so few ingredients can taste so indulgent and luxurious. It’ll take you around 1 hour 45 minutes to make, including prep time, so if you’re serving this as a side dish, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. 

5. Julia Child’s Madeleines

These madeleines are the best ones you’ll ever taste, seriously.

You’ll need eggs, sugar, flour, unsalted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract and salt, you’ll notice that these ingredients are nothing fancy, it’s the way they’re put together which makes these light cookies special. 

They’re really easy to make, taking you only 25 minutes in total to bake these delicious treats. One bit into these cookies and it’ll instantly transform you to a French patisserie, especially with their cute shell shape. 

They also freeze extremely well, so if you end up making too many cookies, save them for the next day! 

6. Julia Child’s French Onion Soup

This hearty soup is the best way to warm yourself up on those cold winter nights.

This dish has sweet caramelized onions that are covered by a delicious, rich beef broth and it’s then topped with melty cheese and toasted bread. This recipe really is the definition of comfort food. 

The best thing about this soup is that you only need simple ingredients to make it, you’re sure to have most of them already in your kitchen. 

It will take you a bit longer to make, around 2 hours, but trust me, it’s worth it. 

7. Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine was made popular by Julia Child, and it’s not hard to see why. A delicious, flaky pie crust is filled with swiss, cheddar, parmesan cheese and bacon, the classic dish is the perfect answer to breakfast, lunch and even dinner! 

I recommend baking your own pie crust for this dish, as store-bought crusts tend to be quite thin and over-brown in the cooking stage.

But if you do use a store-bought crust, it’s not the end of the world as the filling is so decadent, no one will even notice! 

If you do end up making your own crust, it’ll take you around 15 minutes to prep and an hour to bake. You’ll be blind-baking the crust partially, so make sure to use pie weights! 

8. Potato Leek Soup

Don’t mistake its simplicity for a lack of flavor, it’s absolutely delicious, buttery and creamy. It’s the perfect meal if you’re looking for something easy to make. 

This potato and leek soup is a great vegan and vegetarian option too, as the chicken broth can be substituted for vegetable stock and you can omit the cream for a plant-based cream option. 

To perfect the creamy and buttery texture of this soup, it’s best to use a food mill instead of a blender or food processor, to keep it from getting that gluey consistency that can happen with them. 

9. Julia Child’s Roast Chicken

Roast chicken is a classic staple in many homes, and Julia Child’s recipe is the one to make if you’re wanting to impress your guests. 

In Julia’s adaptation of the classic dish, she rubs the chicken with butter and salt before roasting it in the oven, and rotates it often to get a beautiful golden skin all over.

She also states that time is of the essence, as each time you open the oven to baste, you’re letting all the heat out, and your chicken will take longer to cook and will never be as crispy. 

This recipe is surprisingly easy for how tantalizing it is. With a prep time of only 15 minutes and a cooking time of an hour, your guests will fall in love with this dish. 

10. Julia Child’s Chicken Breasts With Mushroom Cream Sauce

This, in my opinion, is one of the best dishes in this list. The mushroom cream sauce is irresistible and it goes perfectly with the chicken breasts. 

It has quite a lengthy ingredient list, but don’t be intimidated, they’re all relatively simple ingredients that you may even have in your kitchen right now.

It also doesn’t take long to cook at all, you’ll spend 10 minutes prepping the meal and another 30 minutes letting it cook, that’s an easy meal in my book. 

I also recommend that you serve a French baguette along with this dish to soak up all the sauce, as it’s too good to leave all that sauce on the plate. 

11. Julia Child’s Cassoulet

You’ll rarely find cassoulet in the US, since you’ll have to make the confit from scratch, which can take over a day, and who has the time? 

Thankfully, Julia Child released her take on the classic dish of cassoulet that consists of bone-in lamb shoulder, preserved goose and sausage amongst many other things. You’ll also be making the delicious beans yourself, which isn’t too difficult. 

This dish is one of the harder ones on this list to make, but it’s super rewarding. It’s a warm, rustic dish that is perfect for winter nights. Serve it with French baguettes for an even more French feel. 

12. Chocolate Mousse

I think a dessert is a must in a list of Julia Child’s most delicious recipes, because this chocolate mousse is the queen of all chocolate mousses. 

This will be the lightest mousse you’ll ever make, particularly because the egg whites are folded in, instead of whipped cream.

But every bite of this mousse is absolutely decadent, the richness of the chocolate and the subtle aroma of good liqueur makes the dessert something you just have to bake. 

Make sure to plan this in advance, as the mousse needs to be chilled well before serving, or if you want you can even freeze it! 

13. Julia Child’s Croissant Recipe

If you’re looking for a more fulfilling homemade breakfast, this croissant recipe is a must. 

These soft and flaky croissants are the perfect breakfast dish since they can be served with almost anything, plus this recipe makes a dozen, so you’ll have your breakfast organized for the next few days. 

Croissants may look difficult, but all that’s needed is a good technique. Once you get the hang of that, you’ll be on your way to making perfect croissants. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Julia Child?

Julia Child was a famous chef, author and television personality who was a household name for many Americans.

She graduated from the famous Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris and from this she brought French cuisine to the American public through her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and from her subsequent television programs.

What Is French Cuisine?

French cuisine consists of traditional meals and methods of cooking that are unique to France.

Many recipes and styles of food will differ throughout the region, but French cuisine has signature ingredients that are used across the country, including meals that have become synonymous with the gastronomy of France, such as coq au vin and onion soup. 

Are These Recipes Easy?

Julia Child presented these recipes through her cookbooks that were aimed to make French cuisine and cooking much more accessible for the average American household.

Whilst some of these recipes may be a little difficult for new chefs, most of these recipes are quite easy with a simple ingredient list and cohesive step by step instructions.