Open Faced Croque Monsieur Recipe

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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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

3. Slice Rolls + Assemble

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

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

4. Bake + Serve

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

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.

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

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 would give 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.