A Monte Cristo Sandwich is like the best ham and cheese sandwich you will ever have! It’s essentially French Toast sandwiched with ham and cheese, pan fried in butter until golden and the cheese has melted.
Make it for breakfast or brunch – or anytime!
Monte Cristo Sandwich
I shared this recipe as a way to use up leftover homemade Glazed Ham, because this is a recipe that’s worthy of leftover baked ham!
Though having said that, I make this year round using ordinary deli ham. It’s a great recipe to turn the ordinary into an extraordinary breakfast, lunch or even dinner – because nobody gets excited over a Ham and Cheese Sandwich.
But EVERYONE goes bonkers over Monte Cristo!
What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
Monte Cristos are a ham and cheese sandwich that’s been french-toasted. (Is that a real word? Let’s make it one!). It’s America’s answer to the French classic French Monsieur!
While the origins of the name aren’t exactly clear, everybody agrees on one thing – they are delicious!
While typically made with ham, Monte Cristo sandwiches can be made with any cold slices – turkey, chicken, eve pork and beef.
How to make Monte Cristo Sandwiches
It goes like this: Slather bread with mayo (optional), pile on (lots of) ham, top with (lots of) cheese, sandwich with another piece of bread, dip in egg-milk mix and pan fry in butter until golden. The more the better. 🙂
Look at the crust on these Monte Cristo Sandwiches! They are cooked for a bit longer than french toast usually is because it needs the time for the cheese inside to melt. And that is why you end up with a really beautiful thick golden crust, unlike the usual french toast.
Looks pretty good, no?
There is one very difficult decision that needs to be made with these. And that is this: fancy bread or ordinary sandwich bread? Both are just as good! Sourdough and other fancy artisan breads get a slightly thicker, stiffer crust but sandwich bread typically has a larger surface area so there is more ooey-gooey-melted cheese and hot ham centre.
It’s a tough call. Tough call. A decision I’m incapable of making.
I leave that earth-shattering-life-changing decision up to you! – Nagi x
Cute spins on French Toast
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And also – Classic French Toast!
And more Sandwiches – I love a good sandwich!
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Cubanos – Cuban sandwiches with marinated slow roasted pork
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Muffelatas – Baked bread bowl sandwich, the ultimate picnic food!
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Pastrami Sandwiches – with a simple homemade pastrami!
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See all Sandwiches and Sliders, and also Burgers!
PS One more look at gooey melted cheese and hot ham clamped snugly between golden, buttery french toast, just in case I haven’t already convinced you that you need these in your life!!! 😉
P.S. I feel like I’ve forgotten something….oh, that’s right! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 😉
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Monte Cristo Sandwich (Ham Cheese French Toast)
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread of choice (Note 1)
- 1 large egg or 2 small eggs
- 1 tbsp milk
- Salt
- 2 tsp mayonnaise (I like whole egg mayo)
- 2 - 4 slices gruyere cheese (or other grated or sliced melting cheese of choice)
- Ham or turkey , sliced or shaved
- 1 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Lightly whisk egg, milk and a generous pinch of salt in a flat bowl.
- Spread 2 slices of bread with mayonnaise.
- Top with ham, then cheese, then sandwich with remaining slices of bread. Press down firmly.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Dip each side of the sandwiches briefly in the egg mixture, then place in skillet.
- Cook the first side, pressing down with an egg flip, for 3 minutes or until deep golden brown.
- Flip and cook the other side for 3 minutes, pressing down firmly with the egg flip, until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately, while hot!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
These are always good! Loved them at bennigans with raspberry jelly!
Thanks Kelley, so glad you enjoyed it! N x
I made these tonight for my husband and son, they loved it! My hubby said was a good different kinda sandwich. I just wish I had seen the note about powdered sugar and syrup before I served them and they were devoured, would’ve been an even bigger hit. I will def make these again. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for trying my recipe Lyda, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! N x
Forgot the stars!
🙂 N x
Why are there grill marks on one side? You used 2 different pans or you are just cutting and pasting pics. This isn’t something you made. The end product doesn’t match. My 13yr old even BS. And why is it when I go to rate your recipe, no matter what star I touch it’s always 5 stars?
Hi there! I showed 2 pictures from 2 different times I made it, one in an ordinary skillet with no lines and one with a skillet with griddle lines on it 🙂 You may notice that the bread I used in each is different? I’m sorry I did not realise there was a problem with the stars, I will check it out, thank you for letting me know!
One of my favorite “splurge” sandwiches, you forgot the most important ingredient…….REAL maple syrup to dip the sandwich in….a Monte Cristo is not complete without it!! 🙂
I’m on the fence on that one Nancy!!! 🙂 But yes you are right, I should totally update this for maple syrup, it is definitely the classic way!! 🙂
Thanks so much Nagi for sorting the whats for breakfast question. Im’s thinking Artisan bread with a little thicker crust might be good but maybe we need to do a little QA testing with the boys and get a family consensus on this… LOL Wishing you and your family a super 2016!
I look forward to the result of the market testing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!!! N x
Oh Nagi you’re smart. I was just sitting here thinking about what to do with 3 left over pounds of Honey baked. You’re brilliant. And I too will be adding something to dip the sandwiches in. There is a local place that sells Monte Cristo’s with a raspberry jelly/syrup for dipping. It’s freaking awesome. So I have to figure out a recipe for that and I’m good to go. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Happy New Year. Thanks for all the great cooking goodness this past year. Looking forward to this coming year. 🙂
Ooh, I totally forgot to mention powdered sugar and dipping syrup!! I must admit I don’t make it with them, I just love it so much just plain, I don’t feel the need. And HAPPY NEW YEAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!! Thank you so much for reading and the wonderful messages you leave me 🙂 I love hearing what you think about my recipes!!
OK. I made them and my wife, son and I give them 3 thumbs up. Thanks for another great recipe. Very fast, easy and delicious. And to use up the rest of the ham I made a Ham and potato chowder for the next couple days (from another site). Happy New Year All!!
YEE HA!! Yay! SO glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂 And HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too! N x
Monte Cristo is my husband’s absolute favorite sandwich. He will be thrilled if I serve yours. I haven’t made them for some time and I think it is about the time to make him happy again. Thanks for sharing, Nagi. Have a happy new year!
In all my years, I have never had anyone tell me that!! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too Holly!! 🙂
I do love a good Monte Cristo sandwich and I love ideas like this for leftovers that are different enough from the original dish so you don’t feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over. And don’t judge me if I top this with a runny yolked fried egg… 😉 xoxo
I would NEVER judge you Marissa! You have amazing taste in food, as you very well know!!! 😉 N x
Merry Christmas Nagi! This is one of my favorite sandwiches and I can’t believe I haven’t had it in a while! Will definitely make it very soon!
MERRY CHRISTMAS MIRA!! And Happy New Year too!!! Here’s to an AWESOME 2016!! <3
YUM YUM YUM
brunch this morning – boy my waistline needs some serious attention after these amazing recipes!
Vanessa…..my NY resolution was (as with every other year) to eat more healthy and lose weight. And get fit.
Sigh. With food like this in the world, it is SO HARD!!!! 😉
Hi there, I have been eating these all my life, very happy to see you have introduced Monte Cristos to a bunch of your followers! Good work, as always.
Happy New Year to everyone from your friends in Canada!
I was WAITING to share these for so long!!! I love love LOVE them. 🙂 And HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too Louise!!
I still have 3kg of ham left in the fridge – this has my name ALL over it 🙂
So tell me – did you get THROUGH IT ALL? Or is your freezer packed to the max with ham – ba ha ha!!!
I love Monte Cristos! I always make them using apple butter or jam rather than mayo, and usually a thinly sliced fruit with the ham and cheese (like pear or apple). When finished cooking, we add a light sprinkling of powdered sugar and have extra jam/apple butter for dipping. Sweet and savory–yum!
Ooh, I tried it with the powdered sugar at a diner in the states! It WAS yum!! I should definately add that tip into the notes!!!
Oh Nagi, these look divine! Perfect after Christmas comfort food. 🙂
Thanks so much Krista! Hope you had an incredible Christmas!! N xx
How about breakfast for dinner?? I could eat these sandwiches for lunch too. How about as a snack?? Or it could be an appetizer. That crusty bread looks so good –mmmmmmm!! I really am hungry. I knew I shouldn’t have opened up the post — now I’m ravenous. I didn’t have lunch and it will be a while until dinner 🙁 Great recipe as usual . Hope your Christmas was merry.
You do cheese and ham soooooooo well Nagi – happy holidays. xxx
Hi Nagi! Back when we had our office in MI a friend of ours had a restaurant across the street and they made the best Monte Cristo sandwiches! I ordered them every time we had lunch there. I haven’t had one in years, but I soon will thanks to you! 🙂
I am so full from Christmas but I swear I couldn’t turn this down.
Merry Christmas!