Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

This amazing simple-to-prepare Monte Cristo is loaded up with ham and gruyere cheese and then battered and fried for the ultimate hot sandwich recipe.

Who doesn’t love a good sandwich?  I grew up eating lunch meat and sandwiches, and as I got older, I really tried to delve into learning all the classic sandwiches out there.  If you want to try out some traditional delicious sandwiches at home, then try my Philly Cheesesteak or my Croque Monsieur.

The Monte Cristo sandwich is a classically French sandwich that features ham and cheese with bread that is then battered and fried in a pan.  The best way I can explain it is that it’s like a grilled ham and cheese French toast.  It is often served with a side of red currant or raspberry jelly and sprinkled with powdered sugar making it a tasty sandwich for either breakfast or lunch.

This easy-to-make Monte Cristo sandwich is perfect using up any leftover ham from the holidays or just as a simple meal served up using sliced deli ham. 

Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe Video

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Ingredients for a Monte Cristo Sandwich

Here are the basic ingredients for this recipe:

• Ham – Any good sliced ham will work well.
• Gruyere Cheese – Shredded works better for this recipe.
• Sandwich Bread – Any good bread that is thickly sliced is excellent.
• Mayonnaise– I prefer homemade, but definitely use a full fat mayo.
• Dijon Mustard – I love the Maille brand mustard, you can also use whole grain.
• Eggs – Always free-range large eggs.
• Milk – Whole milk is classically used but you can add more fat to this recipe by using half and half or heavy cream.
• Butter – Whole unsalted butter is used for frying the sandwich.

How to Make a Monte Cristo Sandwich

1. Start by whisking together eggs and milk in a shallow large bowl or a pie tin to make an egg batter.  Place in the refrigerator to keep cool until ready to use.
2. Next, assemble the sandwich by laying out sliced of bread and layering on with mayonnaise, mustard, cheese, ham, and of course the top sliced of bread.
3. Add the butter to a large frying pan over low to medium heat until it is melted and lightly bubbling.

• Dip a sandwich one at a time on all sides and ends in the egg batter and place into the pan.
• Cook on both sides for about 3-4 minutes or until well browned.   Turn it on the slice sides as well to brown those up.
• Remove from the pan, dush with powdered sugar and repeat the process.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: This sandwich is meant to be eaten right away but you can keep it warm on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper in the oven at 200° for 1 hour before serving it.

How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.  You can freeze this covered for up to 3 months.  Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating and serving.

How to Reheat: You can either reheat in a pan over low to medium heat with butter and cook until crisp and warm or on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper in the oven at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until warm.  There is an option to reheat in the microwave, but this is not recommended.

chef notes + tips

• Any good sandwich bread will work for this recipe.  If you are looking to trying something different then check out my sourdough or brioche.
• If gruyere cheese is not available, you can substitute for swiss cheese.
• You do not want to have the pan to hot because the bread will toast but the cheese will not be melted yet.
• If you want to ensure your cheese is melted, then once the sandwiches are done browning place them on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven at 325° for 5-7 minutes.
• Feel free to serve this Monte Cristo with whatever jelly or jam you like.
• Another good way to use up some leftovers after the holidays is to load it up with some sliced turkey in addition to the ham.

More Sandwich Recipes

• BLT
• Grilled Cheese
• Ribeye Steak Sandwich
• Croque Madame
• Roast Beef

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Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

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5 from 11 votes

This amazing simple-to-prepare Monte Cristo sandwich is loaded up with ham and gruyere cheese and then battered and fried.

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup whole milk
• 8 slices of good bread
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
• 12 thick slices of ham
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Powdered sugar
• Red currant or raspberry jam

Instructions

• In a shallow large bowl or a pie tin, whisk together the eggs and milk to make an egg batter. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Place 4 slices of sandwich bread down on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper, or a large serving dish or platter.
• Evenly spread on the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard onto the slices of bread.
• Next, evenly layer on the cheese and ham and then place on the top slice of bread.
• Add the butter to a very large frying pan over low to medium heat and then dip a sandwich one at a time on all sides in the egg batter.
• Place the sandwiches into the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown all around. Also, stand the sandwiches up and brown on the slice sides.
• Remove sandwiches, garnish with powdered sugar and serve alongside jam or jelly.
• Chef Notes:

Notes

Make-Ahead: This sandwich is meant to be eaten right away but you can keep it warm on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper in the oven at 200° for 1 hour before serving it.

How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze this covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating and serving.

How to Reheat: You can either reheat in a pan over low to medium heat with butter and cook until crisp and warm or on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper in the oven at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until warm. There is an option to reheat in the microwave, but this is not recommended.

Any good sandwich bread will work for this recipe. If you are looking to try something different then check out my sourdough or brioche.

If gruyere cheese is not available, you can substitute it for swiss cheese.

You do not want to have the pan too hot because the bread will toast but the cheese will not be melted yet.

If you want to ensure your cheese is melted, then once the sandwiches are done browning place them on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven at 325° for 5-7 minutes.

Feel free to serve this Monte Cristo with whatever jelly or jam you like.

Another good way to use up some leftovers after the holidays is to load it up with some sliced turkey in addition to the ham.

Nutrition

Calories: 847kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 41gFat: 59gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 203mgSodium: 1467mgPotassium: 391mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 1074IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 724mgIron: 2mg

Course: lunch, Main

Cuisine: French

Author: Chef Billy Parisi