Bastille Day—France’s National Day on July 14—is a time for celebration, food, and togetherness. Whether you’re planning a picnic, beach day, or cozy dinner at home, this festive day is all about recipes that are simple, flavorful, and oh-so-French.
From refreshing ratatouille to creamy roasted eggplant dip, rice and tuna salad, and summery tarts, I’ve gathered for you my favorite Bastille day recipes that are festive, easy to prep, and perfect for an authentic French-inspired celebration. Plus, I am including a few tips to host a Bastille Day celebration wherever you are. Bonne fête nationale !
Easy Bastille Day Starters
Eggplant Caviar Dip (Caviar d’Aubergine)
Known as “Caviar d’Aubergine”, this eggplant caviar dip is a staple of the French apéro: the pre-dinner snacks and drinks. It is a creamy and flavorful dip made of roasted eggplant, shallots and garlic, seasoned with fresh herbs and seasonings.
Roasted Red Pepper Dip (Poivronade)
Smooth, savory, and tangy, this dip is made with sweet roasted peppers, feta, parmesan, and basil. A perfect apéro with fresh baguette slices or crudités.
Black Olive Tapenade
This spread of black olives and capers is a culinary icon in the region of Provence and a perfect drinking companion – as all salty snacks are. This is one of my most iconic Bastille day recipes to prepare and bring to an outdoor gathering, it’s always a hit!
Classic French Grated Carrot Salad (carottes rapées)
This classic bistro salad features grated carrots tossed with herbs, a light dressing, and a generous mix of raisins and nuts for texture and flavor. It’s crunchy, tangy, refreshing—and a vibrant, healthy addition to any table.
Ham, Cheese & Olive Bread
This Ham Cheese and Olive Bread is savory and flavorful, but not too rich nor moist. It has a tender crumb that’s both cheesy and eggy, spruced up with dried herbs and nestled with salty ham cubes and briny olives.
French-style Cucumber Salad with crème fraiche
This classic French recipe combines thinly sliced cucumber with tangy shallots, chopped herbs like chives and dill, and a smooth, creamy dressing made with crème fraîche and lemon juice.
French-style Egg Salad
Unlike the richer, mayo-heavy American version, this egg salad is lighter and brighter, with generous chunks of tender eggs, crunchy cornichons, briny capers and a handful of fresh herbs that brings everything to life.
Ratatouille (Stovetop version)
This classic Provençal vegetable stew is full of color and summer flavor—zucchini, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, simmered slowly until meltingly tender. Serve warm or cold. Bonus: it’s even better made ahead!
Seasonal Mains for a French Feast
French-style Potato Salad
A no-mayo potato salad that’s full of Dijon mustard, fresh herbs, and tangy vinegar. It travels well and pairs perfectly with grilled meats or quiches.
Savory, Tomato, Corn and Gruyere Galette
With ripe tomatoes, sweet corn and salty Gruyère cheese held together in a flaky crust, this savory Galette hits all the right marks: seasonal, quick and delicious for a late Summer lunch or dinner.
Classic French Tomato Mustard Tart
This savory Tomato Mustard Tart is a classic Summer recipe that French home cooks love to make every year when tomatoes are in season. It features a buttery puff pastry, with in-season ripe tomatoes, a sprinkle of grated cheese and a heavy smear of Dijon Mustard at the bottom.
French-Style Green Bean & Potato Salad
With crisp greens and tender potatoes, this French-Style Potato and Green Bean Salad is a satisfying yet light salad that yields bold Mediterranean flavors. It’s a great recipe for gatherings or potlucks.
French-Style Rice and Tuna Salad
This vibrant mix includes rice, tender tuna chunks, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, crisp bell peppers and fresh herbs. It’s a refreshing yet filling salad, perfect for serving at a luncheon, as a side dish for a barbecue, or packed for a picnic or potluck.
Crustless Quiche with Summer vegetables
This crustless quiche embraces ripe summer vegetables: zucchini, eggplant and cherry tomatoes, all encased in a rich egg custard with melty Swiss cheese and fresh herbs. This is a perfect gluten-free brunch, lunch, or dinner that you can easily prepare ahead as well!
French Lentil Salad with Tomatoes
This salad features earthy Puy lentils mingling with juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, all brought to life with loads of fresh herbs and a zippy dressing with red onions.
French Summer Desserts
Classic French Cherry Clafoutis
Some fresh seasonal cherries and a few basic baking ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs and milk) is all you need to create this utterly delicious dessert in your own kitchen. Enjoy it warm or cold.
Apricot Almond Frangipane Tart
This Apricot Frangipane Tart is a French Summer classic, through and through. Made with ripe apricots baked in an almond frangipane over a buttery crust, it is a favorite to bake in French households during stone fruit season.
Classic French Lemon Tart (Tarte au Citron)
A crisp buttery crust with a smooth tangy lemon custard. That is all you need to recreate this utterly iconic French dessert: a Classic French Lemon Tart.
Peach and Blueberry Galette
This rustic fruit tart features a flaky all-butter crust, folded in a free form manner over ripe Summer fruits. An uncomplicated dessert to make during those hot summer days.
Alsatian Blueberry Tart
This rustic Alsatian Blueberry Tart is a quintessential Summer dessert, hailing from the Alsace region in the Eastern part of France, where blueberries are plentiful.
Peach Crème Fraiche Streusel Tart
This rustic dessert combines a classic French shortcrust (Pâte Sablée) with ripe peaches dotted with crème fraiche and then topped with a crumbly streusel. It is the perfect combination of sweet juicy flavors from baked peaches, slight tartness from the crème fraiche and a satisfying crispness from the streusel.
Classic French Tarte aux Fraises
This traditional French dessert combines a buttery pastry crust with juicy ripe strawberries arranged on a layer of velvety crème pâtissière.
Classic French Fruit Tart
The Classic Fruit French Tart – known as Tarte aux fruits frais – is an ultimate Summer show-stopper. It features a buttery, sweet pastry crust filled with rich pastry cream and topped with colorful fresh fruits and an apricot glaze.
Fresh Strawberry Moelleux Cake
A “moelleux” is a very casual yet scrumptious French cake made with the simplest of ingredients and a generous amount of butter, for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The crumb is rich and a little dense, which makes it the perfect vessel for ripe Summer berries or stone fruits.
French-style Cherry Cake (Gâteau aux cerises)
Here’s to the perfect summer treat – a Cherry Cake, inspired by the beloved dessert from the Vosges Mountains, in Eastern France. This cake is light, airy, bouncy and nestled with sweet, juicy cherries. It’s the perfect baked good to celebrate cherry season and enjoy all summer long.
Do not hesitate to share your favorite recipe(s) to make for Bastille Day in the comments section at the bottom of this post!
How to celebrate like the French
Planning a July 14 gathering and want to channel the spirit of Bastille Day? Here’s how to host a fête that feels authentically French:
- Savor the season: Bastille Day meals celebrate the best of summer. Serve dishes featuring seasonal produce like ripe tomatoes, zucchini, juicy stone fruits, and fresh berries for a table full of flavor and color.
- Toast with French flair: Rosé is the quintessential summer sip in France—refreshing and effortlessly chic. A crisp white also pairs beautifully with Provençal dishes like Chicken Provençal or seafood.
- Dine Al Fresco: Nothing says très français like a picnic or garden party. July 14 is usually warm and sunny, perfect for enjoying the day outside. And come evening, fireworks light up the skies across France—whether you’re in a park, on a beach, or in your backyard, you’ll have the best seat in the house.
- Set the mood with music: Create an atmosphere with a mix of Francophone classics and contemporary chansons. Think Édith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Stromae or Angèle —anything that adds rhythm to your celebration.
Bastille Day Recipe FAQs
What is Bastille Day?
Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14, is France’s national holiday. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789—a key event at the start of the French Revolution. In spirit, it is like the U.S. Independence Day for the French : Bastille Day is a patriotic celebration of national identity, with fireworks, flags, and festivities. Both are summer holidays marked with food, gatherings, and a very festive atmosphere. Here is a good article on Bastille Day if you would like to learn more.
How is Bastille Day celebrated in France?
The day is marked with military parades, fireworks, concerts, and public festivities across France. Families and friends often gather for outdoor meals, featuring seasonal French dishes, wine, and music. Where I live in Brittany, we usually gather on the beach, enjoy a time of swimming and sun-tanning, followed by a big picnic to wrap up the day.
What do the French eat on Bastille Day?
It depends on the region, but common Bastille day recipes include cold salads, dips and breads, quiches, charcuterie, grilled meats, and fruit-based desserts. Light, summery fare is typical—often enjoyed picnic-style or at garden parties. So finger foods and dishes that resist outdoor heat are prefered.
What dessert is served on Bastille Day?
Tarts are a popular pick—lemon tart, fruit tart, or even clafoutis. Anything seasonal and fresh!
Can I prepare these Bastille Day recipes ahead of time?
Many of these dishes are served cold so you can prepare them ahead and simply pop them in the fridge until serving. Also, some of the dishes including ratatouille, potato salad and even the lemon tart are even better the next day.
