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Croque Monsieur · Classic

Classic Croque Monsieur

Ham and Gruyère between buttered bread, topped with a quick creamy sauce and more cheese, then broiled until bubbling and browned. A knife-and-fork grilled cheese for lunch or a cozy dinner.

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Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
Serves
4 · 4 sandwiches
Level
Easy

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper

Sandwiches

  • 8 slices sandwich bread, a sturdy white loaf
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 ⅓ tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 8 oz deli ham, thinly sliced
  • 6 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded, about 2 cups, divided

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with parchment.
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, without letting it brown.
  3. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, whisking, until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon.
  4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the nutmeg, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the cheese until smooth.
  5. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Lay 4 slices buttered side down on the sheet pan, spread them with mustard and layer on the ham and 1 cup of the cheese.
  6. Top with the other 4 slices, buttered side up, and bake until the bottoms are golden.
  7. Flip the sandwiches with a spatula, spread the sauce over the tops and sprinkle with the last 1/2 cup cheese.
  8. Bake until the cheese melts.
  9. Turn the broiler to high and broil until the tops bubble and brown in spots, watching closely.

Tip: Top each sandwich with a fried egg and it becomes a croque madame.

Tip: Gruyère melts smoothly and tastes nutty; Swiss or white cheddar works in a pinch.

Storage: Best eaten hot from the oven. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days and reheat in a 350°F oven until hot.

Estimated nutrition per serving: 580 calories · protein 30 g · carbohydrates 37 g · fiber 3 g · sugars 7 g · fat 34 g (saturated 17 g) · sodium 1,330 mg. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 11 of 11 ingredients.