Classic Croque-Monsieur (French Grilled Ham & Cheese)

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serving: 1 serving

The croque-monsieur is a classic French grilled cheese sandwich that's a mainstay of Parisian cafes, bars, and bistros, not to mention innumerable take-out counters. Served with a side of French fries and a little pile of salad greens, a Croque-Monsieur is everything that's great about eating in Paris—even their snacks are somehow sublime and otherworldly.

What Does a Croque-Monsieur Contain?

Combining a creamy béchamel sauce with nutty Gruyère cheese, and salty, savory ham, the croque-monsieur is grilled cheese perfection. Keep in mind that most places that serve Croque-Monsieurs have stacks of the things made ahead of time, and they'll warm one up for you when you order it. And yet they're still delicious.

What Does the Name "Croque-Monsieur" Mean?


Croque-monsieur translates literally to "Mr. Crunch." The name comes from the verb croquer meaning "to bite" or "to crunch" and the word monseiur meaning "mister." Best name for a sandwich ever.

What Is the Difference Between a Croque-Monsieur and a Croque-Madame?

A croque-madame is simply a croque=monsieur with a fried egg on top. Some believe it got its name because the egg resembles a woman's hat from the 1960s.

How to Serve a Croque-Monsieur

This rich and savory dish is best when enjoyed with a knife and fork. Of course, it also pairs perfectly with a glass of your favorite French wine. The recipe that follows will make one sandwich, but you can easily double it to make two. You can substitute Jarlsberg or even Monterey Jack for the Gruyère.

Croque-Monsieur: Classic French Grilled Cheese

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

"I don't think there's a much better sandwich than a croque-monsieur, unless you top it with an egg, in which case it becomes a croque-madame. This was an authentically delicious recipe. I left the crust on since it's my favorite part of the bread and I served it with a lemony salad. Great meal!" —Diana Andrews

Croque-Monsieur: Classic French Grilled Cheese/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Béchamel

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1/8 to 1/4 tsp ground white pepper, or to taste

  • 1/8 to 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

For the Sandwich

  • 2 slices white bread

  • 1 tablespoon clarified butter, or softened unsalted butter, more to taste

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, more to taste

  • 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese, or a combination of Gruyère and Emmental

  • 1/2 cup béchamel sauce

  • 2 to 3 slices ham

  • Cooking spray

Steps to Make It

Make the Béchamel

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make bechamel sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  2. Heat milk in a small saucepan on the stove or in a glass measuring cup in the microwave until hot but not boiling.

    A small saucepan with milk

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan or saucier over medium heat.

    A small pan of melted butter

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  4. Add flour to the pan with the butter-flour mixture and whisk until mixture is well blended. Cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes.

    A small pan of melted butter mixed with flour

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  5. Gradually whisk in hot milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until sauce begins to boil and thicken, about 1 minute.

    A small pot of a butter-flour roux mixed with warmed milk

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  6. Reduce heat to very low, and simmer, whisking frequently until sauce is smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes.

    A small pan of thickened sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add a little nutmeg, if desired.

    A small pan of bechamel sauce, seasoned with salt, pepper, and nutmeg

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Make the Sandwich

  1. Gather the ingredients. Position a rack 6 to 8 inches from the broiler and set the oven to broil.

    Croque-Monsieur: Classic French Grilled Cheese ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Trim the crusts off of the bread, making the slices as square as possible.

    Trim the crusts off of the bread

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Spread both slices of bread with butter.

    Spread both slices of bread with butter

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Flip bread over and spread them lightly with Dijon mustard.

    Flip bread over and spread them lightly with Dijon mustard

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. In a bowl, combine the cheese and half of the béchamel sauce, and mix until the cheese is fully coated.

    In a bowl, combine the cheese and half of the béchamel sauce

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Spread half the cheese mixture evenly onto one slice of bread (on the mustard side, not the butter side). Lay the sliced ham atop the other slice.

    ham and cheese on top of slices of bread

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Press both halves of the sandwich together.

    Press both halves of the sandwich together

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Spray a bit of cooking spray onto the surface of a nonstick pan. Heat the pan over medium heat until the oil is hot and glistening but not quite smoking.

    greased pan

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Place the sandwich into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the bottom of the bread is a nice shade of golden-brown.

    sandwich in a pan

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  10. Use a nonstick spatula to flip the croque-monsieur over. Lower the heat a bit and cover the pan. Cook for another minute or two, or until the second slice of bread is also golden brown, and the cheese inside the croque-monsieur is fully melted.

    sandwich cooking in a pan

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  11. Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board. Top with the remaining cheese mixture, then spoon the other half of the béchamel over the top.

    Top the sandwich with the remaining cheese mixture, then spoon the other half of the béchamel over the top

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  12. Place sandwich on a sheet tray and broil the sandwich, béchamel-side up, until the top of the sandwich is nicely browned, 1 to 3 minutes. Serve right away.

    Croque-Monsieur: Classic French Grilled Cheese

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

How to Make Béchamel Ahead and Store It Properly

Refrigerator: Béchamel can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat over low heat, whisking constantly. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or milk.

Freezer: Store béchamel in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator, then reheat over low heat, whisking constantly. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or milk.

Recipe Variations

  • Muenster, Gouda, Fontina, and Comté are good to use instead of or in combination with the Gruyère.
  • Substitute sliced cooked chicken breast for ham.
  • Instead of white bread, use sourdough. Leave crusts on.
  • Top finished sandwich with a fried egg to make a croque madame.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1362 Calories
85g Fat
68g Carbs
82g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 1362
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 85g 110%
Saturated Fat 47g 234%
Cholesterol 343mg 114%
Sodium 3789mg 165%
Total Carbohydrate 68g 25%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 82g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 1103mg 85%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 1357mg 29%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)