Easy Croque-Madame (Ham and Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fried Egg)

Ever had a Croque-Madame? This is a classic French ham and grilled cheese sandwich, topped with a fried egg! Great for an easy lunch or dinner.

By
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian was the Food Editor, reporter, stylist, and recipe developer for The Boston Globe for 30 years. She teaches food journalism at Boston University in the Masters in Gastronomy program.
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Updated May 27, 2022
Sheryl Julian
Classic Croque Madame Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Sheryl Julian

If you go to France and never learn a word of the language, at the very least you should come home knowing the names of the two most popular cafe sandwiches: Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame.

These are both toasted sandwiches made with ham and cheese – "croque" roughly translates as "crunch" or "crunchy." The difference between a Croque-Monsieur and a Croque-Madame is that the Madame is served with a fried egg on top. Supposedly the yolk surrounded by the rim of white resembles a woman’s hat!

The sandwich is traditionally topped with a béchamel sauce and then the fried egg, but I've stopped making them with béchamel. It's fussy to make a béchamel (a roux-based cheese sauce) for an otherwise very simple sandwich, and I've found that an extra slice of cheese works just as well.

Ham and Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Egg
Sheryl Julian

Gruyere is the classic cheese for a Croque Madame; use it if you can find it. If not, go for another cheese that will melt easily, like Swiss, Emmental, Comté, or Jarlsberg. Also, pick a flavorful ham, like Black Forest.

I prefer thickly sliced white sandwich bread, which holds up well in the skillet. I like to spread the inside of the sandwiches with Dijon mustard and the outsides with mayonnaise. The mayo gives the sandwich an extra-rich flavor and added crispiness after frying.

Top with a sunny-side up egg and lunch is ready! This sandwich is best eaten with a fork.

Tips for Success

  • Spread the outside of the sandwich with mayo for extra flavor and crispiness.
  • A bacon press, grill press, or panini press (all names for the same thing) is handy here if you have one. It helps the sandwich cook evenly and develop a nice crust on the outside. If you don't have one, just press the sandwich a few times with the flat of your spatula during cooking.
  • Serve this sandwich hot and eat it with a fork! It's best with a runny egg on top, which creates a sauce for each bite.

Easy Croque-Madame (Ham and Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fried Egg)

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Serving 1 serving

Double – or triple! – this recipe for more servings.

Ingredients

  • 2 slices sandwich bread, any favorite variety

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 2 thin slices Gruyere, or other firm, melting cheese (like Comté, Emmental, Jarlsberg), or enough cheese to cover the bread slices

  • 2 thin slice deli ham, like Black Forest

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 large egg

  • Pinch teaspoon kosher salt

  • Pinch teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or parsley

Method

  1. Make the sandwich:

    Spread both slices of bread with mayonnaise. Flip them over and spread the other side with mustard. Onto one slice of bread, layer a slice of cheese, the ham, and the other slice of cheese. Top with the other slice of bread, mustard-side down. (The mayonnaise sides should face out.)

    Classic Croque Madame
    Sheryl Julian
  2. Fry the sandwiches:

    Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the sandwich. If you have a bacon press, grill press, or panini press, set it on top to weight the sandwich down (otherwise, just press a few times with the flat of your spatula during cooking). Cook for 3 minutes, or until the bottom slice of bread is golden.

    Carefully flip the sandwich in the skillet. Set the bacon press back on top (or press with the flat of your spatula), and cook another 3 minutes or until the underside is golden. Transfer to a plate.

    Classic Croque Madame
    Sheryl Julian
    Classic Croque Madame
    Sheryl Julian
  3. Fry the egg sunny-side up:

    Wipe out the skillet. Heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat until the oil shimmers and flows easily. Add the egg and cook for 1 minute exactly. Cover the skillet and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, or until all the whites are set. (A runny yolk is preferred for this sandwich, however cook the egg for longer if you prefer a more hard-cooked yolk.)

  4. Serve:

    Slide the egg onto the top of the sandwich. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, along with thyme or parsley. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1176 Calories
99g Fat
34g Carbs
38g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 1176
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 99g 127%
Saturated Fat 32g 161%
Cholesterol 335mg 112%
Sodium 3514mg 153%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 719mg 55%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 491mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.