{"id":2121303,"date":"2025-03-05T18:28:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T17:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=2121303"},"modified":"2025-05-02T13:56:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T18:56:24","slug":"croque-monsieur","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/croque-monsieur\/","title":{"rendered":"Croque-Monsieur"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some sandwiches are easy to pick up and eat on the go. The classic French croque-monsieur is not. Slathered with a creamy bechamel sauce (one of the mother sauces<\/a> made by thickening milk with a roux<\/a>), the hot sandwich is a sit-down meal. The bechamel makes a croque-monsieur rather decadent, so it’s great to serve at a fancy holiday brunch or for a leisurely lunch. Have leftover Easter ham<\/a>? This sandwich is the perfect way to use it.<\/p>\n

What is a croque-monsieur?<\/h2>\n

This classic French sandwich has existed for over a century, first mentioned in print in the 1890s and popularized by a Parisian bistro in the 1910s. It’s decadent and delicious, made with soft sliced bread that’s spread with piquant Dijon mustard, layered with ham, and topped off with white sauce and Gruyere cheese. It’s broiled so the top gets bubbly and melted\u2014like grilled cheese on steroids.<\/p>\n

The sandwich is the base for the croque-madame<\/a>, which has the same combination of ingredients with an egg perched on top. The more modern Monte Cristo<\/a>\u2014which, despite its name, is an American invention\u2014involves dipping a ham and cheese sandwich in batter and pan-frying the custard-sopped result, making it a cross between a croque-monsieur and French toast.<\/p>\n

Croque-Monsieur Ingredients<\/h2>\n