Classic Croque Madame Sandwich Recipe: How to Make It at Home

Croque madame — the classic French grilled cheese sandwich crowned with a fried egg. This simple, French-inspired croque madame recipe is quick to prepare and delicious any time of year. What’s not to love?

croquemadame1 — photo courtesy of phil runion

I made this late one evening when I wanted something fast and satisfying. A sandwich sounded perfect, and the Croque Madame came to mind — crispy on the outside, cheesy inside, and finished with an egg on top.

What is a croque madame?

A Croque Madame is essentially a crunchy grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Remove the egg and you have a Croque Monsieur. Traditional recipes use Gruyère for its nutty, melty qualities, but you can substitute with cheddar if that’s what you have on hand.

My version leans slightly American because I used cheddar instead of Gruyère. It’s a small compromise when supplies are limited, and the result is still wonderfully comforting and flavorful.

Thanks to Phil Runion for the photo — I didn’t have time to take my own that night.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

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Yield: Makes 4 Sandwiches

Croque Madame Recipe

This Croque Madame has a touch of American flair with cheddar cheese, but for a more traditional approach use Gruyère. It’s a comforting sandwich you’ll want to make again and again.

Prep Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
20 minutes

Total Time
25 minutes

Ingredients

Bechamel Sauce

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup grated cheddar or Gruyère (Gruyère preferred for authenticity)

The Croque Madame Sandwich

4 eggs
12 slices chicken or Black Forest ham
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 slices good white bread

Instructions

Make the Béchamel

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it bubbles, then stir in the flour.
Cook the roux for about a minute, until it becomes fragrant and light blond.
Whisk in the milk and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Reduce heat to low and add the cheese, salt, and pepper. Cook until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Assemble and Cook the Sandwiches

Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Butter one side of each slice of bread.
Place a slice of bread buttered-side down in the skillet, spread about a tablespoon of béchamel on it, add three slices of ham, then top with the second slice of bread (buttered side up).
Brown both sides of the sandwich in the skillet. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.
Preheat the broiler and line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange the four sandwiches on the sheet.
Spoon about a tablespoon of béchamel over the top of each sandwich and smooth it out.
Broil for about 2 minutes, or until the tops are nicely browned.
While sandwiches are under the broiler, fry the eggs sunny-side-up or to your preferred doneness.
Top each sandwich with a fried egg and season with salt and pepper. If you have extra béchamel, spoon a little over the egg for extra richness (optional).

Notes

Serve Croque Madame as is or alongside a crisp green salad or thin-cut fries for a fuller meal.