French Cuisine
Homemade Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur is a legendary French hot sandwich that has remained a signature staple of Parisian bistros since the early 20th century. Its main secret lies in the brilliant architecture combining golden toasted bread, savory high-quality ham, and a smooth, nutmeg-scented béchamel sauce. The béchamel deeply hydrates the crumb, ensuring the sandwich never turns dry, while an abundance of grated cheese melts under the broiler into a bubbly, elastic, and deeply aromatic golden crust. It is the ultimate comforting option for a relaxed weekend lunch.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 30 min
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- French Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 24 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Carbs
- 33 g
- Fiber
- 1.5 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
Melt 20g of butter in a saucepan, add flour, and cook stirrin…
Melt 20g of butter in a saucepan, add flour, and cook stirring for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in cold milk to prevent lumps, then simmer for 3–4 minutes until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- 02
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F)
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Grate all the cheese coarsely. Melt the remaining butter in a skillet and toast one side of each bread slice for 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.
- 03
Place 4 bread slices toasted-side down on a lined baking sheet
Place 4 bread slices toasted-side down on a lined baking sheet. Spread a thin, even layer of the prepared béchamel sauce over each slice.
- 04
Layer the ham slices over the sauce and sprinkle generously w…
Layer the ham slices over the sauce and sprinkle generously with half of the grated cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices, toasted-side facing up.
- 05
Spoon the remaining béchamel sauce evenly over the top of eac…
Spoon the remaining béchamel sauce evenly over the top of each sandwich. Blanket with the remaining grated cheese to create a solid topping.
- 06
Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes until the cheese…
Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes until the cheese is completely melted, bubbling, and yields a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
For maximum juiciness, spread a thin layer of béchamel on the inside of the bread slices before laying down the ham. Choose a robust, great-melting cheese like Gruyère or Emmental.
How to serve
Serve the Croque Monsieur piping hot while the cheese is at its stretchiest. Pair it traditionally with a simple handful of crisp green salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
How to store
The sandwich is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. However, the béchamel sauce can be prepped 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface.
Note
If you top this finished hot sandwich with a sunny-side-up fried egg, it instantly transforms into another beloved French café classic — the Croque Madame.
