James Beard’s Most Iconic Recipes
Ahead of James Beard’s birthday on May 5, here are the best recipes from the man who started it all.
Photo: Dan Wynn
Mon, April 27, 2026
You are what you eat, so what you cook says a lot about who you are, too. The dishes that James Beard made during his career as a chef, teacher, TV host, and author of 20-plus cookbooks reflect his ethos towards life: make things from scratch, champion what is good and fresh, and keep things classy (but not too classy). Beard’s recipes reflect his reputation as a tastemaker ahead of his time, advocating for farm-to-table cooking, regional cuisine, and zero-waste long before those terms became food world buzzwords.
Ahead of James Beard’s birthday on May 5, we’re sharing his eight of his most iconic recipes, including his most famous hors d’oeuvre, a family-heirloom dessert, and a chicken dish that inspired its own Reddit thread.
1. Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic
Photo: Judy Kim
Don’t be intimidated by the amount of garlic in this comforting, year-round dish. The cloves mellow and soften as they slow-cook, imbuing the chicken legs with aromatic flavor and yielding a creamy, sweet garlic paste that’s perfect for slathering on bread.
2. Onion Sandwiches
Photo: Judy Kim
This is one of Beard's most famous recipes—and the ultimate make-ahead party appetizer. Don’t be fooled by the bare-bones ingredient list. The key is to chill the sandwiches for several hours before serving, which mellows out the thinly sliced onion and creates a dish that is so much more than its parts.
3. James Beard's Strawberry Shortcake
Photo: Judy Kim
Beard’s mother passed down this summer dessert recipe, which features tender shortcakes, macerated strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. Her signature technique is adding hard-boiled egg yolks to the dough—it enriches the shortcakes without making them tough.
4. Whole Orange Almond Cake
Photo: Keirnan Monaghan and Theo Vamvounakis
This gluten-free dessert packs a flavor punch—and it’s zero-waste too! Oranges are puréed whole to extract every ounce of juice from the flesh plus the aromatic oils from the peels, creating a vibrant, virtually effortless cake.
5. James Beard's Favorite Hamburger
Photo: Judy Kim
The secret to these juicy, umami-bomb patties is combining ground beef with grated onion and heavy cream, which adds savoriness, moisture, and richness. Use a gentle touch and don’t overmix to ensure a tender final texture.
6. Linguine Verdi al Guanciale
Photo: Judy Kim
You don’t have to use green pasta to make this dish. The combo of sweet leeks, salty guanciale, savory Parmesan, and fresh parsley hits all the flavor notes of spring. But as we believe James himself would say, why not?
7. James Beard's Tomato Sauce
Photo: Judy Kim
Consider this your go-to fresh tomato sauce recipe. It’s a vibrant match for pasta, summer veggies, seafood, or chicken—i.e., it’s endlessly riffable. Try enriching it with fish, meat, or mushroom broths to take your dishes to the next level.
8. Macaroni and Cheese
Photo: Judy Kim
What makes this mac and cheese recipe Beard-worthy? The luxurious cheddar sauce is punched up with dry mustard and Tabasco, folded with al dente macaroni, then baked under a blanket of buttered breadcrumbs until golden-crisp.
