Croque Monsieur with ham, béchamel, gruyère and golden cheese crust
French Recipe

Croque Monsieur

For Croque Monsieur, slices of bread with ham, cheese and béchamel are layered and gratinated in the oven. A thin béchamel makes the sandwich juicy without softening the bread completely.

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Total time 30 min
Calories 620 kcal
Servings 4 servings
Difficulty Easy
By the Published Updated Editorially approved

Why this recipe works

Croque Monsieur with Béchamel and Gruyère

Croque Monsieur is more than toast with cheese. Béchamel binds ham and gruyère, the surface should be golden brown. It can be pre-roasted briefly to keep it stable when baked.

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Recipe

Croque Monsieur

Croque Monsieur is a French ham and cheese sandwich with béchamel, gruyère and crispy toasted bread. It is baked in the oven until golden brown.

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. 1

    Béchamel

    Melt butter, stir in flour and add milk little by little. Simmer briefly and season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.

  2. 2

    Preparing bread

    Roast the bread slices as desired and spread them with Dijon mustard.

  3. 3

    Layers

    Top bread with ham, some béchamel and cheese. Close with a second slice of bread.

  4. 4

    Cover

    Spread the remaining béchamel and cheese on the sandwiches.

  5. 5

    Congratulations

    Bake at 200 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until the surface is golden brown.

Kitchen know-how

Tips for Croque Monsieur

Keeping bechamel thin

Too much béchamel softens the bread. A thin layer is enough.

Crust gratin

The croque is ready when the cheese bubbles golden brown.

Good cheese

Gruyère or Comté melt aromatically and give more bistro flavour than mild sliced cheese.

Variations

How to adapt this recipe

For Croque Madame, a fried egg is added to the sandwich after baking.

Strong sourdough bread gives more structure and remains more stable under the béchamel.

Nutrition per serving

620kcal
42.0 gCarbohydrates
30.0 gProtein
36.0 gFat

Values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ about Croque Monsieur

Croque Madame also gets a fried egg on top. Croque Monsieur remains without egg.

Gruyère, Comté or Emmentaler melt well and taste aromatic.

Yes, but Béchamel makes it juicier and more classic in bistro style.

Pre-roast bread and apply béchamel only thinly.

Keep cooking

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