Croque Monsieur
Grilled ham and Gruyere sandwich under a blanket of melted cheese.
Discover smart recipes
Sign up on Homecooked to cook this recipe as the chef intended, with parallel steps and built-in timers guiding you along the way. Stock your pantry to discover more recipes you can cook with the ingredients you have at home.
Join HomecookedIngredients
- 4 slices Baguette
- 120 g Ham
- 120 g Gruyere cheese
- 30 g Butter
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
Method
- Grate the Gruyère. Butter the bread on the outsides and spread Dijon on the insides.
- Build sandwiches with ham and half the Gruyère inside.
- Toast the sandwiches in a skillet over medium until golden and the cheese melts, about 3 minutes per side.
- Top with the remaining Gruyère and a grind of pepper, then melt under a grill or covered pan until bubbling.
- Cut in half and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Croque Monsieur
A Croque Monsieur is a French hot sandwich elevated by technique: buttered bread toasted in a skillet until golden, then crowned with a second layer of melted cheese under the grill to create a crust-within-crust contrast. The classic pairing of Gruyère and ham is not incidental—the aged cheese's nutty depth and slight minerality play against the salt and mild ham, while the butter on the bread ensures a clean caramelization without drying. This is bar food refined through refinement, born in Parisian cafés where speed met precision.
The appeal lies in the textural study: crackling, buttery exterior giving way to warm, almost liquid cheese layered with substantial ham. This sandwich asks to be eaten hot, still steaming, with the cheese at its most emissive. It pairs naturally with a simple green salad and Dijon mustard on the side, though in France it's equally at home washed down with a beer or crisp white wine. The discipline of the method—melting the cheese twice, controlling the heat—is what separates a competent version from one worth cooking.
Croque Monsieur: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a croque monsieur and a croque madame?
A croque monsieur is a hot French sandwich of ham and Gruyère (often Emmental), usually bound with béchamel, then grilled or baked and topped with more cheese; a croque madame is the same sandwich crowned with a fried or poached egg, which is the defining difference. The two names come from the verb *croquer* ("to crunch/bite"), but the popular claim that "madame" refers to the egg resembling a woman's hat is folk etymology — the real reason for the "madame" name is not settled, so it shouldn't be stated as fact.
How many calories are in Croque Monsieur?
One serving of Croque Monsieur has about 682 calories, with 34g of protein, 35g of carbs, 45g of fat and 2g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Croque Monsieur high in protein?
Yes — each serving delivers about 34g of protein. That's 20% of its 682 calories coming from protein.
Is Croque Monsieur gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Baguette. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Croque Monsieur dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Gruyere cheese, Butter. Swapping those for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How many servings does Croque Monsieur make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.