Classic American Croque-Madame Recipe

Indulge in a delicious twist on the traditional French croque-madame with this Americanized version. Layers of ham, cheese, creamy bechamel sauce, and a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg come together in this decadent and satisfying brunch dish.

Ingredients

• 8 slices of thick-cut bread
• 8 slices of ham
• 8 slices of Swiss cheese
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 eggs
• Chopped parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth, then gradually whisk in milk. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place 4 bread slices on the prepared baking sheet. Top each slice with a slice of ham and a slice of cheese. Add another bread slice on top to create sandwiches.
4. Spread a generous amount of bechamel sauce over each sandwich. Top with a final layer of cheese.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. While the sandwiches are baking, fry eggs in a skillet to your desired doneness.
7. Remove the sandwiches from the oven and top each with a fried egg. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Interesting Facts