Classic Croque Madame 🥪🍳 | Easy French Café Sandwich

By Rebecca St.Clair

If you’re craving a decadent brunch idea, this classic Croque Madame sandwich is the answer. It’s a warm and comforting ham and cheese sandwich layered with béchamel sauce, baked until golden and bubbly, then topped with a sunny-side-up egg. This easy French sandwich recipe is perfect for weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or anytime you want a comforting meal with café-style flair.

A classic Croque Madame is everything you love about a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, only better. Made with golden toasted bread, savoury sliced ham, melty Swiss cheese, and rich cheesy béchamel sauce. This rich sandwich is then topped with a fried egg for a delicious finishing touch. This easy Croque Madame recipe at home is perfect for brunch lovers, sandwich fans, and anyone who wants a cozy, satisfying meal.

This classic Croque Madame sandwich is the ultimate French café comfort food. If you love French sandwich recipes and indulgent brunch classics, this one is a must-try. Bring Paris to your kitchen with this authentic Croque Madame recipe! This recipe delivers restaurant-style flavour at home.

How to store Croque Madame Sandwich

This homemade Croque Madame Sandwich is best served hot and fresh. However, if you are making this for a meal-prep or have some leftover, you can save this sandwich and reheat later.

Fridge

• Allow the sandwich to cool completely.
• Wrap completely in plastic wrap, or store in an airtight container.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Cook a fresh egg right before serving.

Reheating Tips (for Best Texture)

• Oven or toaster oven: Best method to re-crisp bread and re-melt cheese.
• Skillet: Great for restoring crispness.
• Avoid microwave: It softens the bread and changes the texture of the sandwich.
• The egg: The egg will loose it’s runny yolk upon reheating. Cook a fresh egg for best texture.

Traditional Croque Madame Ingredients

Bread

For an authentic, café-style Croque Madame, go with pain de mie, soft white Pullman-style loaf, or white sandwich bread.

Cheese

A traditional Croque Madame sandwich is made with Swiss-style cheese like Gruyère, Emmental, or Comté.

Meat

An authentic Croque Madame, uses jambon de Paris or a mild, unsmoked deli ham sliced thin. Or the best quality sliced ham you have available.

Egg

A fried sunny-side-up egg or over easy so the yolk stays runny. The runny yolk acts like a rich sauce over the béchamel and melted cheese.

How to make a Classic Croque Madame Sandwich

Assembling the sandwiches

1. Lightly toast 4 slices of bread.
2. Butter each slice and place on a baking sheet.
3. On top of 2 of the toast slices, place a layer of sliced Swiss cheese.

4. Layer on top of the cheese the sliced ham.

5. Finish off with another layer of Swiss cheese.

6. Place the other 2 slices on top of each to finish each sandwiches.

Cheese sauce

1. In a sauce pot on medium heat add 1/4 cup butter and stir to melt.
2. Remove from the heat and whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour.

3. Once you have a smooth paste return to the heat and whisk in 1 1/2 cups warm milk. Whisk constantly to avoid lumps.

4. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer and thicken.

5. Once you see bubbles start to break on the surface, you can remove it from the heat and stir in grated Swiss cheese and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan until melted.

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Layer the sauce on top of each sandwich.

8. Place the sandwiches in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.

9. Turn the oven to broil and watching closely, allow the thick cheese sauce on each sandwich to brown and crisp slightly, about 2 minutes.

The egg

1. Meanwhile, preheat a frying pan to medium heat.
2. Coat the bottom with a little bit of butter.
3. Crack an egg onto the pan, leaving the yolk intact.
4. Once the egg while starts to turn opaque, place the lid on the frying pan. The steam will set the top of the egg.

5. Once the top of the white is set but the yolk is still runny, remove the egg from the pan with a spatula.

6. Place the cooked sandwich on a plate with the egg on top of the sandwich.

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