How to Make Delicious Croque Monsieur at Home

Gruyère cheese

🥗Healthier: Emmental cheese

💰Cheaper: Cheddar cheese

Emmental is lower in fat, while Cheddar is more widely available.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often cheaper.

Preheat the oven to 375°F and set the oven rack six inches from the broiler element.

Lay 8 slices of hearty white sandwich bread onto a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Brush one side of each slice of bread with 4 tablespoons of melted butter, then brush the second side with melted butter as well.

Toast the bread in the oven for a total of 13 minutes, flipping it over after the first 10 minutes.

In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to make a roux, whisking until fully incorporated and cooking for about 1 minute.

Whisk in 1 cup of whole milk slowly to avoid lumps, and bring the mixture to a boil, then shut it off once it thickens.

Incorporate 1 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese, 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg into the sauce, whisking until smooth.

Remove 4 slices of toasted bread to a plate and spread 1 tablespoon of the mornay sauce on each slice.

Layer about 3 ounces of black forest ham on top of the mornay sauce on each slice of bread.

Spread 2 tablespoons of mornay sauce on top of each slice of ham.

Invert the other 4 slices of toasted bread on top of the ham, then spread another 2 tablespoons of mornay sauce on top of each sandwich.

Top each sandwich with 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese, dividing evenly.

Bake the sandwiches at 375°F on the upper middle rack for 5 minutes to heat through.

Switch the oven to broil and broil the sandwiches until the cheese is bubbly and spotty brown, monitoring closely for about 5 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens