This gluten free Croque Monsieur is a grilled cheese sandwich on steroids. This famous French creation is a grilled ham and Swiss cheese (don't forget the mustard) with white sauce on top, plus more cheese. You can use perfectly good gluten free bread but if you have some bread that could use a little help, this sandwich will definitely do that!
Literally translated, Croque Monsieur is a gentleman’s sandwich. A hundred years later a grilled ham and cheese needs no explanation (or recipe) but when I have Swiss cheese in my fridge I'm reminded to make this classic.
French béchamel sauce is what we call white sauce in North America. Add cheese and that's the cheese sauce for homemade macaroni and cheese. I love, and make, many recipes with this white sauce.
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🧀 Ingredients
When I have imported Emmanthal or Gruyere in my fridge, possibly from making French Onion Soup, I make this sandwich as a treat.
- butter
- cornstarch
- milk (1% or higher)
- gluten free bread
- ham
- Dijon mustard
- Swiss cheese (Gruyere or Emmenthal)
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
See recipe card for exact amounts.
🍞 Substitutions
Bread - The original French Croque Monsieur was made with brioche bread which is slightly sweeter than regular bread. Many sources say the bread must be white but remember, this is your sandwich. Use the bread you have.
Cheese - Domestic Swiss cheese will be fine but it's always a good idea to support a smaller, local cheese shop and treat yourself to some nice imported cheese.
🍳 Variations
There are many variations of this classic sandwich. Here are some ideas you may be excited to try.
- Croque Madame – Croque Monsieur with a fried egg on top.
- Monte Cristo – Croque Monsieur dipped in egg and pan-fried before being topped with white sauce.
- Ham vs turkey - Choose what you like.
🛒 Equipment
Every kitchen needs tools and happy cooks get the right tools for the jobs they do often. Some gluten free cooks take their tools with them when they travel so a sandwich maker might just be a good investment.
- A Panini maker often has ridges to make the lines like a sandwich you might get at a restaurant.
- This multi purpose Sandwich Maker has inserts for waffles or steak.
- A toaster oven is a multiple purpose tool that many gluten free cooks buy instead of a second toaster. This Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 counter top oven and long slot toaster tells me someone was thinking! If you buy it let me know.
- Failing all of the above a good old non-stick frying pan works just fine.
🥶 Storage
White sauce will keep in the fridge for a few days. Gently reheat on less than full power in the microwave or slowly on the stove. Stir until the same consistency it was when you first made it and pour it over a freshly grilled sandwich.
💡 Top Tip for Efficiency
Thirty years ago I wrote the recipe for white sauce on a sticker and attached it to my container of cornstarch. Over time I memorized the recipe but I love having it there to double check and especially if I'm doubling it.
Gluten Free Croque Monsieur
Ingredients
WHITE SAUCE
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch increase to 1½ tablespoon if it isn't as thick as you like
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup milk (1% or higher)
SANDWICHES
- 8 slices gluten free white bread (or any sandwich bread)
- butter for both sides of bread
- 4 slices ham
- Dijon mustard
- sliced Swiss cheese (Gruyere or Emmenthal)
FINISHING
- ½ cup grated Swiss or Parmesan cheese
Instructions
MAKE WHITE SAUCE
- Melt butter in small saucepan.
- Add cornstarch, salt and pepper, whisk until smooth. Stir occasionally until bubbly.
- Slowly pour in a third of the milk. Stir occasionally as it thickens.
- Add the next third and allow sauce to thicken again.
- Add the final third, stirring until sauce is thick and smooth.
MAKE SANDWICHES
- Set bread on a board to make 4 sandwiches. Butter outside of all bread slices.
- Spread one side of each sandwich with Dijon mustard and cover with ham.
- Cover ham with single layer of sliced cheese. Close sandwiches.
- Preheat griddle or non-stick frying pan. Grill sandwiches on both sides until golden and cheese is melted.
FINAL ASSEMBLY
- Preheat broiler and place sandwiches on lined baking sheet.
- Spread warm white sauce on top of each sandwich and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Broil until top is brown and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Notes
I’d love to hear if you tried this sandwich or a variation and what you thought of it. Let me know in the comments below.
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More Recipes Using White Sauce
- My basic white sauce recipe is made with cornstarch so it has always been gluten free. It's a recipe kids should learn so they can make their own mac and cheese at home. I know you can buy it in a box but just read that ingredient list on occasion and come back to homemade when you're ready.
- Gluten Free Pastitsio is a Greek version of macaroni and cheese similar to lasagne.
- Moussaka is another Greek dish of layered vegetables and meat sauce with a souped up version of white sauce baked on top.
- Eggs Florentine is a variation of eggs benedict that is a favourite in my house.
- After a holiday turkey this Turkey Tetrazzini is a must and of course you can make it anytime of year too.
- Add a layer of white sauce to any lasagna recipe, stir some into stuffed vegetables or pour it over steamed vegetables. It is a very versatile recipe.
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