The Croque Monsieur is one of the pillars of French bistro cuisine: a golden sandwich enriched with cooked ham, melting cheese and the essential béchamel sauce. Born in the early 1900s in Paris, its name comes from the extremely crunchy texture (croquer) that characterizes it. In this version, I wanted to adapt the great classic to the air fryer, obtaining a surprising result: a Croque Monsieur that is super-crispy on the outside and creamy at the core, but made without butter and without adding oil.
Besides being a last-minute lunch- or dinner-saver, the Croque Monsieur in the air fryer is a great fridge-cleanout solution. Although the original recipe calls for Gruyère or Emmental, you can customize the filling with whatever you have at home, making it different every time. It’s the ideal solution for those who want a tasty meal without heavy pan frying, while still getting that typical gratinated top.
Note on cooking: If you prefer traditional methods, in the procedure below you’ll also find detailed instructions for cooking in a convection oven and for the classic version prepared in a skillet.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 2 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Air fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp béchamel sauce (4 tablespoons)
- 2 slices cooked ham
- 3 oz melting cheese (about 3/4 cup shredded)
- 3.5 tbsp milk or plant-based drink (about 1.7 fl oz (1 small espresso cup))
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
Take a slice of sandwich bread (crust removed) and start by spreading a generous layer of béchamel. Add slices of melting cheese, a slice of cooked ham and more cheese. Finish with another touch of béchamel to ensure a creamy effect and close with the second slice of bread, pressing gently to compact everything.
In a large bowl, beat two eggs together with a splash of milk and a pinch of salt. Quickly dip the sandwich into the mixture, making sure it is well coated on both sides but not overly soaked, so it keeps its structure.
Air fryer cooking:
Place the Croque Monsieur directly into the basket of a preheated air fryer. Cook at 392°F for 4 minutes, carefully flip the sandwich and continue cooking for another 3 minutes, until the surface is perfectly golden and crispy (total: 7–8 minutes).In the oven:
Preheat the convection oven to 392°F. Place the Croque Monsieur on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through or until the top is nicely gratinated.In a skillet (classic version):
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and melt a knob of butter. Place the sandwich in the pan and cook for about 3–4 minutes per side, until golden.Serve the Croque Monsieur and enjoy! Bon appétit.
Vale’s tips
Substitutions and variations: This recipe is the queen of fridge-cleanout; you can personalize it with what you have available. If you don’t have sandwich bread, use regular loaf bread or slices of country bread, taking care to dip them one extra second in the egg-and-milk mix. Cooked ham can be substituted with turkey breast for a lighter version, or with speck for a more intense flavor. For a vegetarian variation, try the combination of béchamel, cheese and well-drained spinach: the result will surprise you.
Storage and advice: The Croque Monsieur is best just out of the oven, when the crust is flavorful and the inside creamy. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for one day in an airtight container. To bring it back to crispiness, I do not recommend the microwave as it would make it soggy; prefer a quick pass in the air fryer at 356°F for 2 or 3 minutes or in a skillet. Freezing is not recommended to keep the consistency of the béchamel and the egg-dipped bread intact.
Air fryer: To cook the Croque Monsieur I used the COSORI Turbo Blaze 6-liter Air Fryer. You can find it here: air fryer.
Don’t miss the latest recipe 👉 mini pizzas with sausage and provola in the air fryer, I’ll explain how to cook them to perfection!
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