All the delicious flavours of the classic French sandwich, but in a simple baked version. Your next brunch demands this Croque Monsieur Casserole, complete with a drizzle of homemade Béchamel. It’ll have you saying oui to a second helping!

What is Croque Monsieur?

This French classic dish is a hot sandwich made with ham and cheese (Gruyère). The name actually comes from the French words croque (“crunch”) and monsieur (“gentleman”). Béchamel, a white sauce, is usually added to this whole situation.

How to Make Croque Monsieur Casserole

I love making simpler spins on classic flavours, so I figured why not just add all the ingredients of this French dish into a casserole to bake?! Now, this may not be how the French intended, but they would agree it was truly magnifique!

I kept the ingredients true to the iconic flavours of a Croque Monsieur:

• French bread
• Ham
• Gruyère cheese 
• Eggs  
• Milk 
• Dijon mustard 
• Salt & pepper 

I almost forgot the best part: the homemade Béchamel Sauce! It has only 5 ingredients, and ready in a total flash. It’s better than store-bought and easy enough to do last minute even with hungry guests around. A drizzle on the finished casserole elevates the dish: sprinkle with some chopped chives or parsley if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Brunch Recipes for a Crowd

This recipe is perfect for a crowd! Slice and serve, maybe with some fruit on the side or a green salad, for a really easy and crowd-pleasing dish. For more ideas, I’ve rounded up some of my favourites:

• Breakfast Crêpe Casserole
• Quiche Lorraine
• Baked Apple Cinnamon French Toast
• Fraîche Table Tex Mex Breakfast Casserole

Croque Monsieur Casserole

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Croque Monsieur Casserole

All the delicious flavours of the classic French sandwich, but in a simple baked version. Your next brunch demands this Croque Monsieur Casserole, complete with a drizzle of homemade Béchamel. It'll have you saying oui to a second helping!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 4 -6

Author Fraîche

Ingredients

• ½ loaf day-old French bread cut into 1-inch cubes
• 200 grams diced ham
• 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Chopped chives for garnish 

Homemade Béchamel Sauce

• 1 ½ tablespoons butter
• 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch of nutmeg

Instructions

1. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Add the bread, ham, and Gruyère cheese, and toss together to combine. Transfer into the prepared baking dish.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to 400 F, and bake for around 15 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

4. Make the Béchamel sauce while the dish finishes baking.

For the Homemade Béchamel

1. Heat the butter in small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Sprinkle in the flour and stir, cooking until light brown and a nutty aroma, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook for around two minutes, until slightly thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
3. Serve warm over the casserole. It thickens as it sits; thin with some additional milk if needed.

4. Once the casserole is baked, drizzle with the Béchamel sauce and fresh chives if using, before serving hot.

Recipe Notes

*use whichever variety of ham you prefer