By Mark BeahmView →
PARISIAN BISTRO
Classic French Croque Madame with Béchamel and Fried Egg
★★★★★
5.0 (370)|(2 Reviews)Toasted sourdough sandwich stuffed with smoked ham, Dijon, and Swiss, smothered in creamy béchamel and a runny egg.
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By Simply Recipes Kitchen (Test Kitchen)•Published March 31, 2026
⏱ 30 mins
Simply Recipes / Test Kitchen🔥 520 kcal
WHY MAKE THIS
- The golden béchamel cheese crust is unbelievably decadent.
- The sunny egg yolk flows over the crunchy toasted sandwich.
PARISIAN BISTRO
Classic French Croque Madame with Béchamel and Fried Egg
The ultimate French bistro grilled cheese: thick toasted bread filled with smoked ham and Dijon, covered in rich nutmeg-scented béchamel sauce and broiled with Gruyère cheese, crowned with a runny fried egg. Difficulty: Moderate.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time30 mins
Servings2 servings
Scale Recipe:
📱Keep Screen Awake While Cooking
Ingredients
- 4 thick slices rustic white sourdough or pain de mie
- 4 slices quality French jambon or smoked ham
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese & 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Béchamel: 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 1 cup whole milk, pinch nutmeg
- 2 large eggs, fried sunny-side-up in butter
Directions
1
Whisk quick béchamel
Melt butter, whisk flour 1 min. Slowly whisk in warm milk; simmer 3 mins until thick. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
2
Assemble and broil
Spread bread with Dijon, ham, and half the cheese. Place on baking sheet; spoon béchamel over top slices and cover with remaining cheese. Broil 4 mins until bubbling and brown.
3
Top with fried egg
Top each hot broiled sandwich with a sunny-side fried egg and fresh black pepper.
💡 CHEF'S PRO TIPS
- Broil on the middle rack so the cheese gets deeply browned and bubbly without burning.
Nutrition Facts
Per ServingCalories520 kcal
Protein28g
Carbs34g
Total Fat30g
Sodium: 780mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 2g
Community Reviews & Ratings
2 cooks have shared their thoughts on this recipe
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Sarah M.★★★★★
This has completely replaced my normal avocado toast! The beans blend so well you cannot even tell, and I stay full until lunchtime!
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David K.★★★★★
Great trick for adding protein without cooking eggs on busy mornings. Added a pinch of red pepper flakes and lemon zest—delicious.
