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You are here: Home / Sandwiches / Cheat’s Croque Madame

Cheat’s Croque Madame

Updated: 19th April 2024 · Published: 9th September 2015 

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Cheat's Croque Madame pinterest image.
Cheat's Croque Madame Pinterest image

Cheat’s Croque Madame offers a delectable simplified take on the renowned French Croque Madame, featuring gruyere cheese, ham, and a sunny-side-up egg. Utilizing a sandwich press instead of traditional frying and baking methods significantly speeds up the preparation of this tasty dish.

Cheat's Croque Madame, a quick and tasty toasted sandwich! Fab Food 4 All

If you’ve been to France you can’t help but come across their famous Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame fried sandwiches traditionally made with ham and Gruyère cheese and often dipped in egg and baked.

Cheat's Croque Madame, a quick and tasty toasted sandwich! Fab Food 4 All

The sandwich press/toaster was first mentioned on a Parisian café menu in 1910.

Hence, I thought I’d use one to make a Cheats Croque Madame (topped with a fried egg) and add maple syrup to the Dijon mustard. These flavours marry so well.

This quicker, stripped-down Croque Madame is just as tasty as the traditional version but without all the fuss of dipping in egg, frying, or baking and my family loved it!

Cheat's Croque Madame, a quick and tasty toasted sandwich! Fab Food 4 All

This Croque Madame serves 2 but can easily be scaled up to serve 4!

So whether you need a satisfying breakfast, brunch, or lunch, give this toasted sandwich a go,

I’m sure you’ll be as hooked as we are!

More toasted or fried sandwich recipes!

  • Avocado Stuffed French Toast with Poached Egg
  • Pizzetta Toast
  • Cuban Pork Sandwich
  • Mozarella Carrozza with Prosciuttio
  • Ideas for Toasted Sandwiches

If you don’t fancy frying your egg for the top of the Crocque Madame you could use your air fryer to make my Air Fryer Baked Eggs with Cheese.

Pin for later!

Cheat's Croque Madame Pinterest image

Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.

Cheat's Croque Madame, a quick and tasty toasted sandwich! Fab Food 4 All
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Cheat’s Croque Madame

Cheat's Croque Madame is a delicious stripped back version of the famous French Croque Madame using a sandwich press or toaster for a quick and delicious treat topped with a fried Egg!
Course Main
Cuisine French
Prep Time 4 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 14 minutes minutes
Servings 2
Author Camilla Hawkins

Ingredients

  • 4 Slices multi-seeded bread
  • 40 g butter softened
  • 2 tsp rapeseed oil
  • 2 Slices ham
  • 3 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 80 – 100 g Gruyère cheese grated
  • 2 free range eggs

Instructions

  • Butter the bread and then place buttered side down.
  • Mix the Dijon mustard and maple syrup together, then spread on 2 of the slices of bread (unbuttered side).
  • Then add half the Gruyère to these 2 slices, followed by the ham slices and finish with the rest of the Gruyère.
  • Close the sandwiches with the other 2 slices of bread (buttered side up).
  • Pre-heat sandwich press/toaster and toast sandwiches until golden.
  • Meanwhile heat 1 tsp of oil in small frying pan on a medium heat and fry 2 eggs until the whites are cooked and the yolk still runny.
  • Once the sandwiches are toasted top with an egg and enjoy your Cheat’s Croque Madame!

Notes

Be sure to fry the egg over a gentle medium heat otherwise you’ll end up with a brown base and a tough egg.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cat | Curly's Cooking

    15/04/2020 at 5:20 pm

    I love the look of this cheat’s version! A lot easier and I think I’d prefer it like this.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      15/04/2020 at 10:32 pm

      Thank you Cat, it is much easier and just as tasty:-)

      Reply
  2. A S,Edinburgh

    20/02/2017 at 11:08 pm

    That’s a great idea! I love the combination of flavours in this.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/02/2017 at 12:00 am

      Thank you, it is lush-)

      Reply
  3. Kat Glynn

    05/10/2015 at 2:39 am

    That looks quick, easy and tasty! x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      05/10/2015 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks Kat:-)

      Reply
  4. June Etherington

    15/09/2015 at 4:03 pm

    Oh wow I love this recipe. I would really enjoy this one at lunch time. I’ve never thought of using maple syrup which I love. So will be giving it a go. xx

    Reply
    • Camilla

      15/09/2015 at 11:18 pm

      Thanks June, glad to inspire:-)

      Reply
  5. Heidi Roberts

    12/09/2015 at 10:58 pm

    They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      13/09/2015 at 12:35 pm

      They do indeed:-)

      Reply
  6. Paul Wilson

    12/09/2015 at 12:09 am

    Looks like a great tasty snack.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      12/09/2015 at 10:28 pm

      It really is Paul:-)

      Reply
  7. Mina Joshi

    11/09/2015 at 9:03 pm

    This sandwich looks delicious. I don’t eat eggs but my son does so I am going to pass on your recipe to him.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/09/2015 at 10:31 pm

      Thanks, excellent Mina:-)

      Reply
  8. Debi @ Life Currents

    11/09/2015 at 5:59 pm

    This looks so yummy! I wish I had this for lunch today!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/09/2015 at 7:14 pm

      Thanks Debi! There’s always tomorrow:-)

      Reply
  9. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours

    11/09/2015 at 8:53 am

    It sounds delicious Camilla, I do like a high protein breakfast, keeps me going all day.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/09/2015 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks Helen, it was a big hit here;-)

      Reply
  10. Maya Russell

    11/09/2015 at 7:51 am

    I have to give this a go! I wonder what the maple syrup tastes like with it.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/09/2015 at 5:47 pm

      Fab Maya-) The maple syrup is quite subtle!

      Reply
  11. Leisel S

    11/09/2015 at 1:19 am

    This looks outstanding, even if I don’t trust French cheeses. Long story. Perfect amount of runny yolk, yum!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      11/09/2015 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks Leisel! That’s ok then as Gruyere is Swiss:-)

      Reply
  12. April J Harris

    10/09/2015 at 10:13 pm

    Love this recipe – it’s so nice to have a shortcut to a fantastic Croque Madame!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 11:19 pm

      Thank you April, it’s going to be a regular here now:-)

      Reply
  13. Platter Talk

    10/09/2015 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks for this wonderful and easy Croque Madame; I can’t wait to make it this weekend for a lazy Sunday breakfast!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 11:21 pm

      Fabulous, so glad you like it:-)

      Reply
  14. jenna @ butter loves company

    10/09/2015 at 4:58 pm

    Lovely idea! The egg looks PERFECT! Thanks for sharing <3

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 11:24 pm

      Thank you Jenna:-)

      Reply
  15. Rami @ Tasteaholics

    10/09/2015 at 2:50 pm

    Great final shot from the top (and outdoors)! Simple and delicious breakfast, pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 4:35 pm

      You just can’t rely on the weather! I did a whole shoot the day before indoors as it was so over cast but then son wanted the same sandwich the next day so I re-shot in the glorious sunshine:-) A win-win:-)

      Reply
  16. Kavita

    10/09/2015 at 2:44 pm

    Looks good Camilla, I need to use my sandwich toaster more, I go through phases!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks Kavey, yes we’re the same but our sandwich press gets a lot more use than the old sandwich toaster ever did!

      Reply
  17. Nadia's Healthy Kitchen

    10/09/2015 at 2:41 pm

    Looks yummy! This would make a really nice weekend breakfast/brunch 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 4:37 pm

      Yes, my hubby says it would also be a great hangover cure (not that we have much call for that these days)!

      Reply
  18. Ren

    10/09/2015 at 2:08 pm

    Looks delicious – and a perfectly runny egg, too. Will try this for the kids tea.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 2:13 pm

      Thanks Ren, I’m sure they’ll love it, mine did:-)

      Reply
  19. Roz

    10/09/2015 at 1:07 pm

    great idea camilla, look forward to trying it out!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Roz, I’m sure you’ll love it:-)

      Reply
  20. Gingey Bites

    10/09/2015 at 11:19 am

    So simple but really tasty! Yummy!!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks, I’m all for simple:-)

      Reply
  21. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    10/09/2015 at 11:07 am

    That egg looks perfect Camilla. The perfect runny yolk 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks Dannii – I actually found a poached egg mould in the draw that I’d never used which helped with the shape:-)

      Reply
  22. Patty Haxton Anderson

    10/09/2015 at 11:00 am

    Camilla, these are great. No fuss and delicious!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks Patty, can’t be doing with fuss just want great tasting food:-)

      Reply
  23. shobha

    10/09/2015 at 10:49 am

    What a delicious breakfast platter.. I am loving the look of the bread topped with egg.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 1:46 pm

      Thanks Shobha:-)

      Reply
  24. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

    10/09/2015 at 7:31 am

    My OH would go a little bit nuts (in a good way) for this recipe.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/09/2015 at 9:26 am

      Thanks Bintu, send him round:-)

      Reply
  25. Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed

    09/09/2015 at 8:40 pm

    Your Croque Madam looks delicious Camilla. What a great idea to use a sandwich press, I love the sound of maple syrup and mustard.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/09/2015 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks Sarah – I’m all or making things quicker and easier:-)

      Reply
  26. Emily Leary

    09/09/2015 at 8:19 pm

    This is great, Camilla. I’ll be trying it out at the weekend.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/09/2015 at 8:49 pm

      Thanks Emily, glad to have inspired you;-)

      Reply
  27. Gabriel @ The Dinner Special podcast

    09/09/2015 at 8:18 pm

    Such a great idea. I’m all for no fuss twists of my favourite dishes and I’m definitely going to try this. The addition of maple syrup sounds like a very very good idea!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/09/2015 at 8:50 pm

      Thanks Gabriel, life’s to short for fuss and fiddle:-)

      Reply

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