Description
A classic French Croque Monsieur is a warm, cheesy ham and cheese sandwich topped with creamy béchamel sauce and baked to golden perfection. This elegant yet simple dish is perfect for brunch or lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices of thick white bread
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 slices ham (thinly sliced)
- 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère or Emmental cheese (divided)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thickened. Stir in Dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
- Butter one side of each bread slice. Place 4 slices, buttered side down, on the baking sheet. Layer each with ham and 2 tablespoons of Gruyère cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
- Spoon béchamel sauce over the top of each sandwich, then sprinkle with remaining Gruyère and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For extra browning, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
- Use good-quality bread like brioche or pain de mie for the best flavor.
- Add a fried egg on top to turn it into a Croque Madame.
- The béchamel can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: croque monsieur, French sandwich, ham and cheese, béchamel, brunch recipe