Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (2024)

Be the first to rate this recipe!

24 comments

April 4, 2024

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Open Faced Croque Monsieur recipe is a delectable twist on a French classic. This recipe is all about comfort and flavor, with a crispy base, creamy béchamel sauce, and layers of savory goodness.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (1)

What is a Open Faced Croque Monsieur?

Traditionally, a Croque Monsieur is served as a hot sandwich and consists of ham and cheese sandwiched between two slices of bread, then topped with béchamel sauce and more cheese, and then toasted or baked until golden brown and melty. You’re probably thinking, okay so it’s similar to a grilled cheese sandwich? Yes…but so much better!

In the case of this open-face version, the sandwich is prepared similarly but with only one slice of good bread as the base. The toppings, including ham, cheese, and béchamel sauce, are layered generously on top of the bread slice before being baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This creates a rich, savory, and indulgent dish that’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or a hearty snack.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed for an Open Faced Croquet Monsieur

  • All-purpose flour: A key player in our creamy bechamel sauce.
  • Milk: We’re going for richness here, so opt for whole milk if you can.
  • Gruyere Cheese (grated): Nutty and melty, the star of the show.
  • Dinner Rolls: Homemade or store-bought, choose your favorite.
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy kick to cut through the richness.
  • Deli Ham (thin slices): The savory heart of a croque monsieur. Use good-quality deli ham like Black Forest ham for the best flavor.
  • Pantry staples: salt, black pepper, milk, nutmeg

Variations:

  • Feeling fancy? Swap out the nutty gruyère cheese for Emmental cheese (aka Swiss cheese).
  • For a lighter version, use turkey instead of ham.
  • Opt for another soft bread like sourdough bread or white sandwich bread for a classic taste.
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (3)

How to Make Open Faced Croque Monsieur

This recipe makes 4 open faced sandwiches. Feel free to double or triple the recipe to feed a larger crowd. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements see the printable recipe card down below. Here are step-by-step directions for making and assembling an open faced Croque Monsieur:

1. Preheat Oven + Prep Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 350° F.Spray a baking dish (or baking sheet) with non stick cooking spray or line the dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Make the White Sauce

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until paste forms. Cook 1 minute, then whisk in milk.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (4)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (5)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (6)

Continue stirring with a wooden spoon until sauce thickens, 5 minutes. Stir in salt, black pepper, nutmeg and 1 cup of the gruyere cheese. Set aside.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (7)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (8)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (9)

3. Slice Rolls + Assemble

Slice rolls in half and spread dijon mustard over each half. Place into prepared baking dish.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (10)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (11)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (12)

Top with 2 slices of ham. Pour cheese sauce over top of the ham and sprinkle with remaining gruyere cheese.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (13)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (14)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (15)

4. Bake + Serve

Place in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve warm.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (16)
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (17)

Storage + Make Ahead Directions for Croque Monsieur

Store any leftover croque monsieur sandwiches in an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven, microwave or air fryer until warmed through.

Freezing: While you can technically freeze assembled croque monsieur sandwiches, they’re best enjoyed fresh. Store any leftover ingredients separately for easy reheating.

Make Ahead: Prepare the components ahead of time and assemble just before baking.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (18)

What to Serve with an Open Faced Croque Monsieur

Here are a few side dishes that would be perfect with your open face sandwich:

  • BLT Chopped Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
  • Green Salad or Caesar Salad
  • Air Fryer French Fries
  • Garlic Fries
  • Creamy Potato Salad
Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (19)

More Tasty Sandwich Recipes to Try!

  • Reuben Sandwich
  • Chicken Salad Sandwich
  • French Dip Sandwiches
  • Tuna Salad Sandwich
  • Egg Salad Sandwich
  • Homemade Gyros

There you have it, folks – a mouthwatering twist on the classic croque monsieur sandwich. With its creamy béchamel sauce, layers of savory ham, cheese and golden brown toasted bread, this open-face version is sure to become a favorite in your recipe repertoire. The printable recipe card is below. Have a good day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe

An Open Faced Croque Monsieur is a delectable twist on a French classic. This recipe is all about comfort and flavor, with a crispy base, creamy béchamel sauce, and layers of savory goodness.

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the sauce-

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg ground
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 1/4 cups gruyere cheese grated, divided
  • 4 dinner rolls homemade or store-bought
  • 1/4 cup dijon mustard
  • 16 thin slices deli ham

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.

  • In a small pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until paste forms. Cook 1 minute, then whisk in milk.

    Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (21)

  • Continue stirring until sauce thickens, 5 minutes. Stir in salt, black pepper, nutmeg and 1 cup of the gruyere cheese. Set aside.

    Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (22)

  • Slice rolls in half and spread dijon mustard over each half. Place into baking dish.

    Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (23)

  • Top with 2 slices deli ham. Pour cheese sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining gruyere cheese.

    Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (24)

  • Place in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve warm.

    Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (25)

Nutrition

Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 818mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 617mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Croque Monsieur

Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient does a croque madame have that is not in a croque monsieur? ›

A Croque Monsieur is a French ham and cheese dish on buttered bread. It's often served as a sandwich, with the cheese and ham melted into the bread by gently browning the outside of the sandwich. A Croque Madame is similar, but it has an egg on top of it.

What is the difference between a croque madame and a croque monsieur? ›

A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur with a poached or fried egg on top. The difference between the two sandwiches has to do with how the egg is incorporated into the rest of the ingredients: In a croque monsieur, the bread is dipped into the beaten egg before it's cooked (French toast-style).

What is the description of open faced sandwiches? ›

An open sandwich, also known as an open-face/open-faced sandwich, bread baser, bread platter or tartine, consists of a slice of bread or toast with one or more food items on top. It has half the number of slices of bread compared to a typical closed sandwich.

How do you eat a croque monsieur? ›

Croque Monsieur is a delicious French ham and cheese sandwich made with gruyere, parmesan, ham and a simple béchamel sauce, toasted in the oven. Serve with a green salad and a small cup of French Onion Soup and you have the perfect Parisian meal!

What can I use instead of gruyere in a croque monsieur? ›

Cheese: Gruyère is traditional for the croque monsieur and it's our pick, but you can use a cheese that melts well, such as Swiss or Emmental. They are both slightly milder and less pungent than Gruyère.

What is the American name for croque monsieur? ›

In the United States, the Monte Cristo (a ham-and-cheese sandwich often dipped in egg and fried) is popular fare in diners.

What is an interesting fact about the croque monsieur? ›

The name comes from the word croquer, meaning to bite, and monsieur, meaning mister, translating overall as gentleman's sandwich. Historically a Croque Monsieur is made using standard sliced white bread, but some people use a sweetened version such as brioche.

What is the difference between a Monte Cristo sandwich and a croque monsieur? ›

Both feature white bread, deli ham, and a smear of Dijon mustard. The cheese may vary, but both use some form of Swiss cheese. The croque monsieur typically uses gruyère or emmental cheese, while the Monte Cristo favors gruyère and the holey Swiss cheese.

What is a Monte Cristo sandwich made of? ›

It's a fried sandwich with ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and mustard dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried until golden and gooey for a delicious alternative to your usual ham and cheese sandwich. Great with berry jam on the side.

What country is famous for open-faced sandwiches? ›

The open-face sandwich has its origins in Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden. The simple concept of putting a piece of bread on top of another piece of bread, with some sort of filling in between, dates back to the Middle Ages.

Why is it called an open-faced sandwich? ›

The name “open sandwich”was introduced to English to contrast it with a proper sandwich of two slices of bread with add-ons between them. An open faced sandwich is a sandwich made on top of one slice of bread. Some who only had one slice of bread to work with started it.

What are tiny open-faced sandwiches called? ›

A canapé (CAN-uh-pay) is a tiny open-faced sandwich served as an hors d'oeuvre (o DERV) (or DERV). These are hot or cold bite-sized finger food that is served before a meal as an appetizer.

Do you eat a croque monsieur with a fork? ›

Croque monsieur is meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, as the French do. That way you can eat it when the cheese is still hot and gooey.

Why is croque monsieur famous? ›

Because France's famous croque monsieur is not just a ham-and-cheese sanger, but a creation that has a claim to being the world's greatest sandwich: two slices of white bread, filled with layers of leg ham and gruyere or Emmental cheese, plus a little Dijon mustard, toasted until crisp and gooey, then topped with the ...

Do you eat a croque monsieur with your hands? ›

While a croque monsieur can be eaten with hands I think it deserves the dignity of a knife and fork as you would do in a Parisian bistro.

What is the difference between Madame and Monsieur? ›

French honorifics are based on the wide use of Madame for women and Monsieur for men.

What is a croque madame made of? ›

The French croque madame sandwich is a lesson in extravagance, made with white bread, butter, cheese, ham, Mornay sauce, and a fried egg. It's a luxurious, deeply comforting dish.

What is the difference between a croque monsieur and a croque provencal? ›

A Croque Monsieur with a fried on top becomes a Croque Madame, because the egg supposedly looks like a ladies' hat! If you add tomatoes to the mix, your French sandwich is now a Croque Provençal. There are many variations depending on what you put in your Croque sandwich and they all have different names.

What is the difference between croque mon? ›

A croque monsieur and a croque madame are both grilled ham and cheese sandwiches that the French enjoy in cafés nearly every where for lunch. The main difference between the two is that a croque madame has an egg on top, while a croque monsieur does not.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5629

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.