Croque Madame

5 from 2 votes
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The Croque Madame – a classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich made with a fried egg on top. Find out how to make one at home here.

A croque madame sandwich cut in half
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in a Croque Madame
  2. How to Make a Perfect Sunny Side Up Egg
  3. Using the Right Pan
  4. Frequently Asked Questions about Croque Madame
  5. More Breakfast Sandwiches
  6. How to Make a Croque Madame
  7. Croque Madame Recipe

A Croque Madame is a rich, filling, decadent sandwich made with ham, gruyère cheese, and a béchamel sauce topped with a fried egg. It makes a great addition to any breakfast or brunch menu! Serve it alongside fresh fruit, orange juice, and pastries for an unforgettable and delectable breakfast.

Ingredients in a Croque Madame

  • White Sandwich Bread – this classic French sandwich uses pain de mie which is a white, soft, rectangular sandwich bread. However, I used regular Italian sandwich bread. You can also use sourdough or wheat bread slices.
  • Ham – use high quality ham from the deli counter for the best sandwich.
  • Bechamel Sauce – bechamel is one of the five French mother sauces made of unsalted butter, all purpose flour, milk, and seasonings. The sauce in this recipe is technically a Mornay sauce, which is a variation of a bechamel that uses cheese as well.
  • Gruyere Cheese – The strong flavor of Gruyere makes the perfect compliment to the subtle bechamel sauce
  • Eggs – the star of the show! Each sandwich features a fried egg on top.
  • Chives for garnish – you can also use fresh thyme
A croque madame topped with pepper and chives


How to Make a Perfect Sunny Side Up Egg

Top your Croque Madame with the perfect sunny side up egg! Break the egg (fresh eggs are best) into a greased pan over low heat. You can use butter, bacon fat, olive oil, or just plain cooking spray. Do not cover you pan with a lid in attempt to cook faster. The yolk will start cooking from the top and lose its beautiful color. Add a teaspoon of water after 30 seconds or so to help the egg cook a little faster. Cook until the whites of the egg become opaque and the egg can slide easily around the pan. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Using the Right Pan

A nonstick skillet or griddle is the easiest to use. Nonstick skillets are by far the most fool proof way to go. If you use a cast iron skillet, be sure to use a well seasoned one. The more seasoned the pan, the more non-stick qualities it will have. If you do use a cast iron skillet but don’t want to use it for the eggs, you can toast the Croque Madame sandwiches in it, then transfer them straight to the oven to broil.

A croque madame sandwich cut in half

Frequently Asked Questions about Croque Madame

What’s the difference between a croque monsieur and a croque madame?

A croque madame is served with a poached or fried egg on top. In a croque monsieur, you dip the bread into an egg mixture before toasting.

Why is it called a croque madame?

Croque madame, because the egg on top looks like a fancy ladies hat.

How are you supposed to eat a croque madame?

Definitely with a knife and fork! Otherwise it can get very messy.

Read Next: 33+ Easy Breakfast Ideas: Tasty Recipes By Category (30 mins or less)

More Breakfast Sandwiches

How to Make a Croque Madame

A croque madame topped with pepper and chives

Croque Madame

5 from 2 votes
The Croque Madame is a classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich made with a fried egg on top. Find out how to make one at home here.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine French
Servings 2

Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Make a roux: add the butter to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until melted. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Keep whisking until bubbles form in the mixture and cook for 2 more minutes after that. The roux should stay a pale yellow color.
    A light roux in a pot
  • Make a bechamel sauce: Heat milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then add slowly to the roux while whisking. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Lower the heat and cook until thickened (2-3 more minutes). Add salt and pepper to taste, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese. Whisk to combine.
    bechamel sauce in a pot
  • Lay out 2 slices of bread. Top each with 3 slices of ham.
    a slice of bread topped with slices of ham
  • Add a few tablespoons of the bechamel sauce to the top of the ham. Top with some of the Gruyere. Place the other two slices of bread on the top of each sandwich.
    a slice of bread topped with slices of ham, bechamel, and shredded cheese
  • Spread the outsides of each sandwich with butter. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the sandwiches for a few minutes on each side until the bread is golden brown.
    Toasted croque madame before the cheese is added on top
  • Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and top with a few tablespoons of bechamel and more Gruyere cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned.
    Croque madame before the egg is added on top
  • While the sandwiches are broiling, fry two eggs. Top each sandwich with an egg and chopped chives for garnish. Enjoy!
    A croque madame topped with pepper and chives

Notes

  • Serve any extra bechamel sauce on the side for dipping. 
  • Use high quality ham from the deli counter for the best taste.
  • You can also add a bay leaf to the bechamel sauce when you add the milk for extra flavor. Remove before serving. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 813kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 48gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 311mgSodium: 1901mgPotassium: 651mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1256IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 773mgIron: 4mg

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About the author

Kelsey Crist

Kelsey lives in Washington with her husband, Alex, and two cats, Diana and Nova. Her happy place is in the kitchen listening to an audiobook and trying new recipes. When she's not in the kitchen you can find her hiking, shopping at Trader Joe's, or playing Animal Crossing. Her favorite food is pasta and Alex loves when she makes Homemade Oreos.

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5 from 2 votes

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