Name: Croque Monsieur Casserole Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 6 sourdough English muffins; 8 large eggs; ½ pound deli sliced ham; 3 cups grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese; 2 cups milk; 1 ¼ cups half-and-half; 10 tablespoons butter; 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt; ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; ⅛ teaspoon grated nutmeg; 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Description

Croque monsieur brings French café comfort straight to your kitchen table, delivering pure cheesy ham happiness in one simple baking dish. Layers of crusty bread, melted gruyère, and savory ham create a delightful breakfast or brunch favorite that feels like a warm culinary hug from Paris.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

6 sourdough English muffins
8 large eggs
½ pound deli sliced ham
3 cups grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese

Wet Ingredients and Binding Agents:

2 cups milk
1 ¼ cups half-and-half
10 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Seasonings and Finishing Touches:

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon grated nutmeg
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Warm your oven to 375°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons melted butter. This ensures your casserole won’t stick.
Slice 6 sourdough English muffins into 1-inch cubes. Spread the cubes evenly across the buttered baking dish.
Layer ½ pound deli sliced ham over the muffin cubes. Sprinkle 2 cups of grated Swiss cheese across the ham.
Whisk 8 large eggs with 1 ¼ cups half-and-half, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until smooth.
Pour the egg mixture carefully over the ham, muffin cubes, and cheese. Press down gently to help muffins absorb the liquid.
Prepare the bechamel sauce by melting 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 4 tablespoons flour until smooth.
Gradually add 2 cups milk to the butter-flour mixture, stirring constantly. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Stir ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.
Pour the bechamel evenly over the casserole. Top with remaining 1 cup Swiss cheese and 3 tablespoons Parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until golden and puffy.

Notes

Swap English muffins with day-old sourdough or brioche for extra flavor and texture.
Let the casserole rest 10 minutes after baking to help it set and make slicing easier.
For a vegetarian version, replace ham with sautéed mushrooms or spinach for a hearty alternative.
Using room temperature eggs helps create a more consistent and smoother egg mixture when whisking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Casseroles
Method: Baking
Cuisine: French

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 to 8
Calories: 450 kcal
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 32 g
Saturated Fat: 18 g
Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 20 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 210 mg