Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are deliciously stuffed with fried ham, crispy bacon, cranberry jam, and cheese and topped with perfectly runny eggs.

This is the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich if you can imagine two pieces of perfectly grilled bread with mayo inside, filled with American cheese, fried ham, bacon, gruyere cheese, and a layer of cranberry jam on the other side. On top, a fried egg with a runny yolk drips down to dip the crusty grilled bread into. It is truly a masterpiece. If you want to get really fancy, use some freshly baked sourdough bread; it will taste heavenly.

Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese sandwiches is the ultimate breakfast food that can be served for lunch, or dinner. One single bite will have you run to the kitchen and make another one. These sandwiches are made with fried, cubed ham and bacon that are placed between two slices of crispy white bread smothered in mayo and a bit of cranberry jam.

Two types of cheese are added: Gruyere and American. The crispy grilled cheese sandwiches are topped with the perfect runny eggs that drip all over the cheesy goodness hidden inside. I can’t think of a better “grilled cheese”, and hands down, this is a favorite of mine.

The cranberry jam on this grilled cheese adds a tangy and sweet taste you would not expect in a bacon, ham, cheese, and egg sandwich, but you have to try it before saying no. Also, the red pepper flakes do not make it spicy. I suggest you try just a pinch before you decide not to use them.

This may seem like a new sandwich that nobody has ever heard of, but it has been around since the 1920s. It is thought to be a knockoff of the French Croque Monsieur sandwich from the 1800s with ham and gruyere cheese. It can still be found in diners in some areas. However, it is much better to make your own at home with this recipe because you can control what goes into it.  

Why you will love this recipe

• It is unique: Making something different is always fun.
• It tastes amazing: The mixture of sweet, spicy, savory, and tangy go together like you would not believe.
• No oven: You do not have to turn on the oven.
• One pan: There is only one pan to wash.

What you’ll need to make Monte Cristo grilled cheese sandwiches

Special items:

• Skillet – I use a cast iron skillet.
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• Ham – I used prepackaged cubed ham, but you can also get fresh ham and chop it into cubes yourself.
• Bacon – Any bacon will work for this sandwich. I prefer maplewood bacon, which is cut into one-inch pieces.
• Butter – Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
• Bread – I prefer thick white sandwich bread that is a few days old and stale.
• Mayo – Your favorite mayo will work as long as it is at room temperature.
• American cheese – Fresh sliced cheese. Not the prepackaged stuff.
• Gruyere cheese – Shred your gruyere cheese for pure, delicious flavor and meltability.
• Eggs – Two large eggs at room temperature.
• Cranberry jam – is optional, and you can use any flavor you like.
• Red pepper flakes – Adds a hint of spiciness. Also optional but I like it.
• Fresh parsley – Chopped and sprinkled on top for added color and a bit of flavor.

How to make Monte Cristo grilled cheese sandwiches?

1. Heat the pan: First, heat a cast iron skillet on high. Once it is hot enough, add the bacon and cook until crisp and golden brown. Remove it and set it aside on paper towels to absorb the grease.
2. Heat the ham: Now, remove half of the bacon grease and add the cubed ham to the skillet. You could also eliminate all the bacon grease and use canola oil. Cook for about four to five minutes before setting it aside.
3. Coat the bread: After removing the remaining oil and wiping out the pan, place it back on the stove on medium heat. As it heats, coat two slices of bread with mayo on one side. Then, take another two slices of bread and cover them with cranberry jam.
4. Grill the bread: Once the butter melts, place one slice of mayo bread, mayo side up, into the pan. Top it with three slices of American cheese, a quarter cup of ham, a quarter cup of bacon, and a quarter cup of shredded gruyere cheese. Top it with a slice of bread and cranberry jam side down. Press it down slightly. Cook for two to three minutes, being careful not to burn it. Flip and cook the other side for two minutes the same way.
5. Grill and assemble: Remove the sandwich and set it aside. Crack an egg in the hot skillet and fry for one to two minutes. The yolk should be runny with the white cooked. Place the egg on the sandwich and garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes.

Expert tip

Different versions of Monte Cristo sandwiches

Traditionally, Monte Cristo sandwiches are served with jam. However, some say it is supposed to be red current jam, while others say it is raspberry jam. I prefer cranberry jam myself. The tangy taste gives it a nice kick. Honestly, you can use any jam you like or even strawberry preserves. Now, I want to put just a thin layer of jam on one side of one piece of bread. Others enjoy each piece a little, so they get some sweetness throughout.

Most restaurants serve Monte Cristo sandwiches with jam or preserves on the side. Many restaurants also add a dusting of powdered sugar. Sometimes, you will even see it served with maple syrup on top. It is not often seen with an egg on top, like how I serve it. This was taken from a recipe similar to a French sandwich called the Croque Madame. But that one is made with bechamel sauce and boiled ham and cheese instead of fried. 

I added bacon to mine to elevate the flavor. Not only does it add a savory and meaty taste, but it also gives the whole sandwich that crunchy texture you can only get from bacon fat. This is why I use bacon. Try it at least once before you decide it is not a good idea. It may just be your new favorite sandwich.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Different meats: Instead of ham, I have used cubed turkey and chicken. They are both delicious too.
• Other cheeses: Swiss, pepper jack, and Monterey jack are a few that I have enjoyed using.
• Less fat: Use turkey bacon and mayo lite for less fat and fewer calories.   
• Whole grain bread: Make your sandwich a bit healthier and add more texture with whole grain bread.
• No American: You could also use a different kind of sliced cheese instead of American such as cheddar.

Serving suggestions:

Monte Cristo grilled cheese sandwiches can be served in many ways. Here are some ideas.

• If you serve it fro brunch I like to include a fresh squeezed juice or a strawberry smoothie on the side.
• Soup always goes with sandwiches. If you serve it for lunch, my absolute favorite is this creamy tomato soup.
• Serve this with a variety of other sandwiches and other finger foods for a kids’ party, picnic, or baby shower.
• I have a wonderful grilled vegetables recipe that you can make in 15 minutes. It uses asparagus, potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers marinated in soy sauce, lemon, and Italian seasoning.
• For dessert, serve this with something fruity like strawberry pie or cherry ice cream.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Monte Cristo, Croque Monsieur, and Croque Madame sandwich?

These three sandwiches can confuse anyone because they are made differently depending on where you are when you get one. You will likely get the same sandwich in the United States no matter what you ask for. It is a ham and cheese sandwich that is dipped in egg and pan-fried or deep-fried. However, you can get a Croque Monsieur in the same fashion but topped with gruyere cheese and bechamel sauce in France. Also, in France, the Croque Madame is made the same way, but the egg is fried and placed on top of the bechamel sauce underneath.

Why is my Monte Cristo sandwich soggy?

If you try to make your sandwich by dipping it in egg (the French way), it could become soggy. This can also be caused by having too much butter or grease in the pan. Another reason is if you have too much jam or other wet ingredients inside your sandwich. It would be best if you had the perfect balance of ingredients inside and out. Also, the skillet has to be hot when you start cooking.

How do I keep my sandwich from falling apart?

With so many delicious ingredients in a sandwich, keeping them all inside two pieces of bread can be challenging. The trick is to use thick enough bread and the right amount of mayo and jam. These two sticky condiments and the melted cheeses will help keep the meats and cheese inside. Then, press down gently on the bread before and after flipping it. If it still wants to fall apart, use long toothpicks to keep it all together.

What is the best kind of bread for Monte Cristo sandwiches?

I prefer thick white bread. But it has to be stale, at least a few days old. Just as if you were going to make French toast. Sometimes, I like to use Brioche bread. You can really use what you want as long as it is a good, sturdy bread that is stiff and stale enough to hold up to all the stuff you will put in between the two slices. It can be not easy to keep this sandwich together if you do not make sure everything is balanced perfectly, including the bread’s thickness and texture.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Once you make the sandwich with the runny egg on top, you should eat it or serve it immediately. You can refrigerate it for up to two days in a sealed container or baggie, but it will get soggy.   
• Freezing: Freezing is not recommended.   

More breakfast recipes to try:

Recipe tips:

• You do not have to add oil to your pan. The bacon’s fat will grease the skillet nicely. However, if you do not use bacon, you can use canola or a different cooking oil.
• If the packaged ham has water, dump it out and pat it dry with paper towels. Otherwise, the water can cause the bacon grease to splatter.
• You can also discard the bacon grease and use canola or cooking oil instead.
• Like French toast and grilled cheese sandwiches, these sandwiches work best with older bread.
• Use ingredients at room temperature so they cook more evenly.
• Only make what you need. Storing and freezing are not recommended.