Croque Monsieur light & Croque Madame Light Recipes

Looking for a healthier alternative to the traditional Croque Monsieur recipe? I have three delicious versions for you: Croque Monsieur Light, Croque Madame Light, and Croque Monsieur-Madame!

Before I was a food blogger, I was a chef known for creating healthy recipes for comfort foods from around the world. And what could be more comforting than country bread, French ham, and oozing melted cheese?

However, using these particular ingredients is not the only way to make a delicious Croque Monsieur sandwich!

I fell in love with this famous French food the first time I lived in Paris. And I look forward to eating the full-fat ham & cheese sandwich every time I return to France. However, at home, I make my light versions with about 50% fewer calories, and yet they are incredibly yummy! Now you can enjoy them too!

Croque Monsieur Light with salad — Croque Monsieur Light, a healthier version of the traditional recipe

Croque Monsieur Light Recipe

(AKA Croque Monsieur Léger in French)

Servings: 1

Ingredients

2 slices whole grain bread, or bread of choice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
2 ounces low-fat ham
2 slices reduced-fat Jarlsberg cheese, chopped
1½ tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Toast the bread slices on a baking sheet until golden brown.
2. Mix the Dijon mustard and the mayonnaise together to make dijonaise, and set aside.
3. When bread is toasted, take one slice and spread half of the of dijonaise on it.
4. Cover this dijonaised slice with the parmesan cheese, and half of the Jarlsberg.
5. Add the ham, and top with the other slice of bread.
6. On the top of the sandwich, spread remaining dijonaisse.
7. Add the remaining Jarlsberg to top.
8. Bake at 375° until cheese is melted.

Croque Madame vs. Croque Monsieur Recipe

A Croque Monsieur Light and a Croque Madame Light with egg — As with a classic Croque Madame recipe, our Croque Madame Light adds a fried egg on top of the sandwich.

The difference between our Croque Monsieur Light recipe and Croque Madame Light recipe is the same as the difference between the iconic French sandwich versions: The Croque Madame has a sunny side up fried egg on top.

Someone in the early 1900s thought the egg resembled a woman’s hat, and that’s where the name comes from.

Croque Madame Light Recipe

(AKA Croque Monsieur With Egg)

Servings: 1

Ingredients

2 slices whole grain bread, or bread of choice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
2 ounces low-fat ham
2 slices reduced-fat Jarlsberg cheese, chopped
1½ tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 whole egg

Instructions

1. Toast the bread slices on a baking sheet until golden brown.
2. Mix the Dijon mustard and the mayonnaise together to make dijonaise, and set aside.
3. When bread is toasted, take one slice and spread half of the of dijonaise on it.
4. Cover the dijonaised slice with the parmesan cheese, and half of the Jarlsberg.
5. Add the ham, and top with the other slice of bread.
6. On the top of the sandwich, spread remaining dijonaisse.
7. Add the remaining Jarlsberg to top.
8. Bake at 375° until cheese is melted.
9. While baking, in a frying pan, cook the sunny side up egg on medium heat for 2–3 minutes.
10. When cheese is melted and egg is cooked, top the Croque Monsieur sandwich with the egg.

What is a Croque Monsieur-Madame?

A deliciously gooey Croque Monsieur Madame is a combination of Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur. — A deliciously gooey Croque Monsieur-Madame is a combination of Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur.

If you can’t decide between Croque Monsieur or Madame, or you want egg but not sunny side up, or you’re not in the mood for crunchy, try my hybrid: the Croque Monsieur-Madame! (Now I’m wondering if it should have been named Croque Madame-Monsieur. Oh well, let’s move on.)

It still has all of the ham and cheese gooey goodness on the inside, like a Croque Monsieur, and has an egg like a Croque Madame. But the Croque Monsieur-Madame sandwich is dipped in the egg and then cooked in a frying pan, similar to a Monte Cristo.

The biggest difference between the Croque Monsieur-Madame hybrid and the two originals is the crunch factor. The egg coating on the hybrid minimizes the crunch factor.

However, this isn’t an issue for me. In fact, I love the hybrid so much, I’ve even incorporated my Croque Monsieur-Madame into French cheese boards on occasion.

Croque Monsieur-Madame Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
1½ tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 slices whole grain bread, or bread of choice
2 slices reduced-fat Jarlsberg cheese
2 ounces low-fat ham
¼ cup egg whites, whisked

Making a Croque Monsieur-Madame — Preparing Croque Monsieur-Madame

Instructions

1. Mix the Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and the parmesan together and set aside.
2. Lay down one slice of bread, then add 1 slice of cheese and ½ of the ham.
3. Spread the parmesan mixture evenly over ham.
4. Add remaining ham and then the second slice of cheese.
5. Top with the second slice of bread.
6. Put egg whites into a bowl large enough to fit the sandwich when flat.
7. Keeping sandwich intact, lay sandwich flat in the egg batter to coat the exterior, then flip the sandwich over to coat the other side’s exterior.
8. Spray a frying pan or large skillet with nonstick olive oil, and cook on low heat until egg is cooked through and lightly golden on both sides of the sandwich.

Croque Monsieur Madame on Cheese Board — Croque Monsieur-Madame on a cheese board

What to serve with a Croque Madame, Croque Monsieur, or Croque Monsieur-Madame?

I’ve eaten all 3 of these French Croque sandwiches for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners! Even a healthy Croque Monsieur can be rich and filling, and each of the 3 sandwiches is substantial enough to be a meal by itself. If you would like a little something extra on your plate, try pickles, or a light green salad.

Croque Monsieur FAQs

1. Why isn’t a classic Croque Monsieur healthy?

A classic Croque Monsieur recipe starts with “melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Between the butter, full-fat Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce that are all part of the classic recipe, both the Croque Madame and Croque Monsieur are pretty loaded with fat and calories.

2. What Makes These Light Croque Recipes Healthier?

My light recipes make smart swaps for the high-fat ingredients. The greatest difference in calories comes from the cheese, mayo, and béchamel replacements.

I even use whole grain bread to boost the health factor, but if you prefer white bread or French bread, use that. Alternatively, you can use only one slice of bread to make an open-face sandwich.

3. Can You Make Vegan Croque Monsieur sandwiches?

You can! Just replace the cheese with vegan cheese, the ham with vegan ham, and the mayo with vegan mayo.

4. Where Should I Try A Traditional Croque Monsieur?

A Croque Monsieur is one of the must-try foods of Paris. You will find them at all of the famous Parisian cafes, at the eateries that line Paris’s best food streets, and even at some of the city’s best bakeries.