Croque Madame

Name: Croque Madame
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: France
Ingredients: 2 slices of sandwich bread; 1 slice of cooked ham; 2 slices of cheeses ((Emmental, Gruyère...)); 1 eggs; 20 g of butter; salt; pepper; chives ((for garnish))

5,01 review

The Croque Madame is a croque monsieur topped with a fried egg. 🍳 The egg yolk should stay runny to coat the sandwich.

Total time: 20 min
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy
Per person: €3.00

By the CookinBreak team

Ingredients 8

servings

Estimated cost €3.00

Equipment

Skillet
Spatula
Baking sheet
Oven
Cutting board
Knife

Instructions

Tap a number to check off the step, and a time to start a timer.

Preheat the oven to 400 °F.

Butter the slices of bread on both sides.
Assemble the croque madame: on one slice of bread, place a slice of cheese, the ham, then another slice of cheese. Cover with the second slice of bread.
Cook the croque: place the sandwich in a hot skillet and brown it on each side until deep golden and crispy.
Transfer the croque to a baking sheet and bake for to melt the cheese.
Cook the egg: in the same skillet, fry the egg to your preference (runny or well done).
Assemble the croque madame: take the croque out of the oven and place the fried egg on top.
Season with salt and pepper, and top with chopped chives if desired.
Serve hot and enjoy!

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Goes well with

🎅 Christmas: all recipes

As a starter

Scallop Carpaccio with Citrus

15 minEasy

For dessert

Yule Log Cake

55 minMedium

To drink

Cranberry Orange Cocktail

10 minEasy

Nutrition facts

per serving · estimate

450kcal

Protein20 g18%
Carbs35 g31%
Fat25 g51%
Fiber2 g

Share of each nutrient in the calories of one serving.

Good to know

Chef's tip

🥪 For an even more indulgent croque madame, add a béchamel sauce between the slices of bread before grilling it. You'll love the creamy, flavorful texture! 😋

Freezing : Can you freeze this recipe?

Yes

The uncooked sandwich (bread, ham, cheese) freezes very well, up to 1 month, wrapped in plastic wrap and then a freezer bag. Do not freeze the egg.

Storage : How long does it keep?

The cooked sandwich (without the fried egg) keeps 1 to 2 days at most in an airtight container in the fridge. The fried egg must be made to order.

Making ahead : Can you make it the day before?

Yes

Assemble the bread, ham, and cheese the day before. Cook the sandwich and the fried egg right before serving.

Reheating : How do you reheat it?

The cooked sandwich (without the egg) reheats 10-15 minutes in the oven or air fryer at 160-180°C for optimal crispness. Microwave not recommended, as it softens the bread and cheese.

Variations

Add a béchamel sauce on top before it goes into the oven.
Replace the ham with turkey ham.
Serve with a green salad.

Mistakes to avoid

Forgetting to butter the bread on both sides: it won't brown or crisp up.
Piercing the egg yolk: the yolk should stay runny to coat the sandwich.
Leaving it in the oven too long: 5 minutes is enough to melt the cheese.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a croque madame?

Butter the sandwich bread on both sides, top with cheese, ham, and a second slice of cheese, brown the sandwich 2-3 minutes on each side in a skillet, bake 5 minutes, then top with a fried egg.

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

The croque madame is a croque monsieur topped with a fried egg. The yolk should stay runny to coat the ham and cheese sandwich.

What cheese for a croque madame?

Use Emmental or Gruyère, in two slices that sandwich the ham. The cheese melts during the 5 minutes in the 200°C oven, after the skillet.

How do you cook the egg for the croque madame?

Cook the fried egg in the same skillet, runny or well done depending on your preference, then place it on the croque once it's out of the oven. Season with salt and pepper and top with chives.