Croque Monsieur

Name: Croque Monsieur
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 8 slices thick white bread; 8 slices good-quality ham; 2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated; 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 cup whole milk; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; Salt and pepper to taste

Published: June 13, 2026 | French Cuisine | ⏱ 30 min

Croque monsieur with bubbling gruyere and bechamel sauce on crusty bread

The Croque Monsieur is no ordinary ham and cheese sandwich. Born in Parisian cafés, it features thick slices of bread layered with ham and Gruyère, then topped with creamy béchamel sauce and more cheese before being baked until bubbling and golden. Add a fried egg on top, and it becomes a Croque Madame—the ultimate French comfort food.

Recipe Info

Prep Time15 min

Cook Time15 min

Total Time30 min

Servings4

DifficultyEasy

CuisineFrench

8 slices thick white bread
8 slices good-quality ham
2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

2 Instructions

Make the bechamel

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously until smooth. Stir in mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.

Assemble the sandwiches

Spread a layer of béchamel on 4 slices of bread. Top with ham and a handful of Gruyère. Place the remaining bread slices on top.

Top and bake

Spread the remaining béchamel over the top of each sandwich and sprinkle with more Gruyère. Place on a baking sheet.

Broil

Broil on high for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Pro Tips

Lightly toasting the bread before assembling prevents the sandwich from getting soggy.
For a Croque Madame, top the finished sandwich with a fried egg.

Nutrition Information

Calories	480 kcal
Protein	28g
Fat	24g
Saturated Fat	14g
Carbohydrates	36g
Fiber	2g
Sugar	5g
Sodium	950mg

* Nutritional values are approximate and based on per-serving calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Croque comes from the French verb croquer, meaning 'to crunch.' Monsieur (sir) was added to give the sandwich a touch of café elegance.

Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.8 (178 votes)

About the Author

Stephanie Grine

Recipe Developer & Food Enthusiast

I am a passionate home cook who believes that great food brings people together. Every recipe on TodayFoodsMenu is developed, tested, and photographed in my home kitchen — not a professional test...

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