Monte Cristo Sandwich | Easy Pan Fried Monte Cristo Recipe

Tired of boring sandwiches for a quick and easy meal? Try this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe for a sweet, savory, and crazy quick dinner solution.

WHAT IS A MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH MADE OF?

Before you read through these ingredients and scream “THAT’S NOT A MONTE CRISTO!”, keep in mind I used ingredients that are affordable and easily found at my local grocer.

A traditional Monte Cristo sandwich has ham, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce. I learned more about it from dailylifetravels.com While this combination of meats and cheeses is undoubtedly tasty when paired together, I didn’t have them in the fridge when the kids started screaming for dinner.

Sandwich Bread– Use whatever you have in your pantry. Seriously. There’s no need to buy anything fancy for this recipe. Once you add all of the other ingredients and pan fry it, you’ll never be able to tell the difference.

Ham– I like to use Black Forest ham for these sandwiches because it’s not as sweet as other varieties. Once you add the powdered sugar, you won’t need it to be any sweeter.

Turkey– This is optional. A traditional Monte Cristo sandwich doesn’t have turkey. I like to add a variety of meats to this to bulk it up and add another layer of flavor.

Provolone Cheese– It’s incredibly melty and helps hold the sandwich together.

Cheddar Cheese– Salty, melty, and just what you need to round out this sandwich.

Egg– Dredge your bread in eggs to make a tasty french toast-esque exterior.

Powdered Sugar– Sprinkle it on top to finish for a fantastic sweet and salty bite.

HOW TO MAKE IT

Step 1: Slap some cheese on some bread. I love to use Pepperidge Farm’s thick-sliced bread. They have several kinds and I’m usually at the mercy of what my local grocer has in stock. Feel free to use what your family keeps in the kitchen. I promise even the $1 Walmart sandwich bread will taste amazing after you’re done making this sandwich.

Step 2: Add the meat. We keep a variety of deli cuts on hand for lunches so I love to mix it up when I make these Monte Cristo sandwiches. You can use whatever you happen to have in your fridge. I swear even pepperoni and salami make for an incredible sandwich when you dip them in raspberry preserves.

Step 3: Sprinkle on more cheese. I like to include a variety of cheeses to add to the depth of flavor. I added some super sharp cheddar to balance out the provolone I used earlier in the building process.

Step 4: Assemble the sandwich. Once you’ve added all of the layers of meat and cheese, add the top piece of bread to prepare for dipping and frying.

Step 5: Dredge your sandwich in scrambled eggs. This can get messy. Especially with the addition of shredded cheese. If you’re squeamish about putting your hands into beaten eggs. you can always coat the bread in the egg mixture instead of trying to maneuver the whole sandwich. The results are similar and equally delicious.

Step 6: Add some butter. You can also use olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, or whatever you have available and fits your dietary needs. I used butter–well because it’s butter. It’s salty and adds a great crisp to the edges of your Monte Cristo.

Step 7: Flip and continue cooking. Carefully flip your Monte Cristo sandwich and continue cooking until the cheeses are melted and it’s heated through.

Step 8: Sprinkle a little love and flavor. Add a little powdered sugar on top of your finished sandwich. Pour some raspberry or apricot preserves in a bowl for dipping and enjoy!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CROQUE MONSIEUR AND A MONTE CRISTO?

A Monte Cristo is essentially a Croque Monsieur on steriods. They are both traditionally French sandwiches that are filled with ham, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce.

The only difference is that a Monte Cristo is dipped in egg and fried. A Croque Monsieur is simply a delicious meat and cheese sandwich served on bread.

MAKE AHEAD AND STORAGE

While you technically can make a Monte Cristo ahead of time, they are definately more delicious when prepared fresh. If you choose to make these ahead of time, or have leftovers, try to enjoy them within 3-4 days of preparing them for the best texture and flavor.

They should be stored in an air tight container or bag to keep the bread from going stale. When it’s time to reheat, you can either put the Monte Cristo in a pan on low heat with a small amount of butter and oil or you can pop it in your air fryer at 300F for 3-4 minutes or until warm and melty.

MORE EASY RECIPES

• Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
• Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
• Springfield Style Cashew Chicken
• Pizza Bombs

If you love this Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends so they can try it too. Don’t forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon!