A French snack with a fun-sounding name, Croque monsieur is a take on a grilled cheese.


How to Make Croque Monsieur

Croque monsieur literally means “mister crunch,” and it’s also a classic French bar snack, a sandwich consisting of gruyère cheese, ham, and buttered bread. The bread is either toasted until the cheese melts or fried in butter, like a grilled cheese. It can be dipped in egg and coated in breadcrumbs before being fried, like a Monte Cristo, slathered with mustard or béchamel sauce, or topped with additional cheese. Croque monsieur first appeared on French menus in the early twentieth century and has since spread throughout the world. In France, it’s typically made with pain de mie, a soft, white, rectangular sandwich loaf, but croques can also be made with white country-style bread.

A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur topped with a sunnyside-up or poached egg. The egg turns the croque into a more substantial meal and the runny yolk provides a rich sauce for the sandwich.


A simple sandwich like the croque lends itself to endless variation. A few styles are popular enough to have their own names:

- Croque provençal includes tomato and herbs.
- Croque auvergnat is made with blue cheese.
- Croque norvégien is made with smoked salmon instead of ham.
- Croque tartiflette is made with potatoes and washed-rind cheese.
- Croque monsieur poulet adds chicken.

A French snack with a fun-sounding name, Croque monsieur is a take on a grilled cheese.


Croque monsieur literally means “mister crunch,” and it’s also a classic French bar snack, a sandwich consisting of gruyère cheese, ham, and buttered bread. The bread is either toasted until the cheese melts or fried in butter, like a grilled cheese. It can be dipped in egg and coated in breadcrumbs before being fried, like a Monte Cristo, slathered with mustard or béchamel sauce, or topped with additional cheese. Croque monsieur first appeared on French menus in the early twentieth century and has since spread throughout the world. In France, it’s typically made with pain de mie, a soft, white, rectangular sandwich loaf, but croques can also be made with white country-style bread.

What Is a Croque Monsieur?

A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur topped with a sunnyside-up or poached egg. The egg turns the croque into a more substantial meal and the runny yolk provides a rich sauce for the sandwich.

What Is the Difference Between Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame?

A simple sandwich like the croque lends itself to endless variation. A few styles are popular enough to have their own names:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Croque provençal includes tomato and herbs. </li><li class="">Croque auvergnat is made with blue cheese. </li><li class="">Croque norvégien is made with smoked salmon instead of ham. </li><li class="">Croque tartiflette is made with potatoes and washed-rind cheese. </li><li class="">Croque monsieur poulet adds chicken. </li></ul>

What Are Other Croque Variations?

Croque Monsieur Recipe

A French snack with a fun-sounding name, Croque monsieur is a take on a grilled cheese.