A Croque Monsieur is a classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich, elevated with a rich béchamel sauce. It’s crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and utterly delicious. Here’s a simple and tasty recipe to make one!
Croque Monsieur Recipe
Ingredients:
- For the sandwich:
- 8 slices of white bread (preferably a sturdy, slightly thick bread like French baguette or pain de mie)
- 4 slices of good-quality ham (like Black Forest ham or French jambon de Paris)
- 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated (you can substitute with Swiss cheese)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional, but adds great flavor)
- 2 tablespoons butter (for grilling)
- For the béchamel sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk (whole milk is best for creaminess)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional, but adds a nice touch)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Make the béchamel sauce:
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk constantly for about 2 minutes to make a roux. The flour should turn slightly golden, but don’t let it brown.
- Slowly add the milk to the roux while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue cooking, whisking, until the sauce thickens, about 3–5 minutes.
- Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg (if using). Once it’s thickened and smooth, set the béchamel sauce aside.
2. Assemble the sandwich:
- Lay out the bread slices on a clean surface. If you like a bit of extra flavor, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on one side of each slice of bread.
- On 4 slices of bread, layer the ham and grated Gruyère cheese. Top with a generous spoonful of béchamel sauce (about a tablespoon per slice). Then, top with the remaining slices of bread to form sandwiches.
3. Grill the sandwich:
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Place the sandwiches in the pan and grill for about 2–3 minutes on each side, pressing gently to ensure the cheese melts and the bread gets golden and crispy. If your pan isn’t large enough to fit all sandwiches at once, you can grill them in batches.
4. Add more béchamel (optional):
- For the classic “Croque Monsieur” finish, you can spoon some extra béchamel sauce on top of the sandwiches after they’ve been grilled. Then, sprinkle with a little extra Gruyère cheese.
5. Broil for a golden top (optional but recommended):
- Preheat your oven’s broiler to high. Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes (watch closely!) to melt the cheese and get a crispy, golden crust on top.
6. Serve:
- Remove the sandwiches from the oven and serve hot. You can serve with a side of salad (like a simple green salad with a vinaigrette) or crispy fries for a true French café experience.
Tips:
- If you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can add an extra layer of béchamel inside the sandwich, or even sprinkle some extra cheese on top of the béchamel before grilling or broiling.
- A Croque Madame variation involves topping the sandwich with a fried egg after grilling (the egg is optional but adds richness and makes the sandwich even more decadent).
Enjoy your Croque Monsieur! Let me know if you need any substitutions or want to tweak the recipe!
