How to Make Croque Madame

Make brunch amazing with a crazy good griddle grilled ham and cheese recipe! The Croque Madame is slathered in a white sauce and topped with a fried egg. It’s a heavenly French twist on a classic grilled cheese and so easy to make you will impress everyone.

There’s something absolutely exciting about cooking breakfast outside. Now imagine a full on Sunday brunch cooked outside in the sunshine. Perfection.

I have been testing the Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cook center and rather enjoying it. The 22inch cooktop has been a blast for griddle grilling burgers, French toast, and of course pizzas.

Croque Madam vs Croque Monsieur?

Not sure what to serve guests? Let them pick from the croque madame or the croque monsieur. Keep this little secret ‘tween us, but the only difference is the fried egg on top. Yup. That’s it. Now you are a master of French cuisine. Go forth and be awesome.

Want more brunch recipe ideas? Try some of my favorite recipes

Croque Madame Ingredients

For the Béchamel Sauce:

• Unsalted utter
• AP Flour
• Whole Milk
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Maple Bacon Spice Blend or Bourbon Molasses Spice Blend
• Freshly Grated Parmesan

For the Croque Madame:

• Loaf Hearty Bread, cut into 1” slices
• Unsalted Butter, divided
• Dijon Mustard
• Havarti Cheese, sliced
• Ham, sliced
• Eggs

What is the difference between a grill and a griddle?

Although both gas grills and the Cuisinart 360 Griddle are propane-fueled, they are both very different. With grilling, you have the grate which allows the flame to be exposed to the food. For griddle cooking, with the heavy-duty rolled steel surface, the heat is distributed evenly as the surface is exposed to the temperature.

I like to think of my griddle as similar to cooking on my cast iron, an even controlled heat throughout. Where my grill, is fun for the flame-kissed flavor and crisp grill lines.

With the two heat zones on the Cuisinart griddle, you can run a hot and cool side, but overall, the whole cooktop will remain heated consistently while you are running heat.

The flame being under the cooktop on the griddle helps you avoids flareups that can sometimes occur while cooking with a gas grill.  

Most of all, the flat griddle surface ensures for a good crisp cook. Think perfectly crusted burgers or evenly cooked pizza dough. Plus we all love practicing our mad hibachi skills which you just can’t do on a traditional grill. (I mean, you could try, but I don’t want to be part of the cleanup).

See Walmart more information on the Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cook Center.

How to cook breakfast on a flat top griddle?

Anyone else have fond memories of pancakes for dinner? There is something totally fun about whipping out a griddle and serving up a feast. And that’s exactly what makes cooking breakfast on the flat top griddle a whole lot of fun.

When you have your breakfast items ready to cook, section off the griddle as needed for each item.

I put pancake batter, French toast, etc down the middle, to avoid run off; Bacon near the edges so the grease falls into the 360 grease trap; Eggs in their own quarter.

The large cook surface allows you to organize your cooking while making sure everything cooks at the same time. No need to worry about pancakes getting cold while you finish up the sausages. One surface and you can cook everything all at once.

How to cook eggs on a griddle?

Eggs are one of the trickiest things to cook on a griddle. To get used to controlling the egg (and not getting a huge puddle of a white) I love using the egg rings that come as part of the Cuisinart accessory kit. They are the perfect size for egg sandwiches too – which is a double bonus – and prevent the whites from spreading everywhere.

You can even mix the eggs in a bowl beforehand and pour them into the egg rings for scrambled eggs. Just mix, with a rubber spatula, while they set for perfectly soft scrambled eggs.

If you want to fry an egg without the egg ring, be sure to break the egg not far from the surface, and drop the white in slowly to control the spill. The more celebrity chef you get with one-handed egg cracking skills and dramatic motions, the further the white will spread before setting.

Ready to tackle the perfect brunch recipe? The croque madame sounds fancy and is a rather luscious brunch item. But, let’s be honest, it’s a gussied up ham and cheese. Don’t let the name intimidate you. Whether you are cooking for Easter, Mother’s Day or just because it’s sunny and you want to play with your Griddle Cook Center, this recette is always a hit.

How to Make Croque Madame

1. Prep the Bread:

• Arrange the bread slices on a wire rack overnight to dry out slightly for better texture.

2. Make the Béchamel Sauce:

• Melt 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Gradually add milk, whisking constantly to prevent clumps.
• Season with salt, pepper, and your choice of spice blend.
• Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Keep warm.

3. Assemble the Sandwiches:

• Butter one side of each bread slice and press into grated Parmesan.
• Heat your griddle and place bread slices, cheese side down.
• Spread Dijon mustard on the top side, place a slice of Havarti, then ham on the griddle.
• As ham crisps, transfer onto the bread.
• Top with another slice of bread, Parmesan side out, and flip to toast both sides evenly.
• Ladle warm béchamel sauce over the sandwiches.

4. Cook the Eggs:

• Fry eggs to your liking on the same griddle.

Croque Madame Recipe Variations

Here are some creative twists to customize your sandwich:

• Cheese Varieties: Swap Havarti for Gruyère, Swiss, or a smoky Provolone to experiment with different flavors and melting characteristics.
• Meat Options: While traditional Croque Madame uses ham, you can try crisp bacon, smoked turkey, or even a layer of prosciutto for a gourmet touch.
• Spicy Kick: Add a few slices of jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce to the béchamel for those who appreciate a little heat.

• Overnight Ham Breakfast Strata
• Smoked Chicken Chilaquiles
• Turmeric Ground Lamb and Eggs
• Easy Breakfast Enchiladas

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