This delicious Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe features ham, turkey, and Swiss Cheese between two slices of white bread dipped in egg batter and fried golden brown in a skillet. The sandwich is traditionally served with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a side of jam for a sweet and savory combination.
What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
A Monte Cristo sandwich is a ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese sandwich dipped into egg batter or custard and deep-fried. It is almost like eating a grilled cheese sandwich, with all the goodies inside sandwiched between French Toast. It is traditionally served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a side of raspberry jam.
The Best Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
This delicious and easy sandwich is a family favorite and a great brunch recipe. They take just a few minutes to make and are so yummy. This recipe is very similar to the one on the menu at Disneyland in California, but it is pan-fried instead of deep-fried. For a fun and tasty tradition, serve them with a dusting of powdered sugar and strawberry or raspberry jam for dipping. Pick an excellent hearty white bread that would hold up well being made into French toast. However, you don’t want it too thick as the whole sandwich is dipped in the egg mixture and put into the frying pan.
Recipe tips
- Inevitably, some egg batter will get on the rest of the sandwich when dunking it, so be sure to cover the skillet after a few minutes with a loose piece of aluminum foil. This will help to ensure that any egg batter that clung to the meat or cheese cooks through.
- Monte Cristo sandwiches are best served promptly. When making multiple sandwiches, place the ones already pan-fried on an ovenproof plate and place them in a warm oven while you finish cooking the others.
- This is a large filling sandwich, so it could easily feed two people.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t like Swiss Cheese, replace it with mozzarella, provolone, Muenster, or Gruyere. As long as it melts well and you like the taste of it, go for it.
Most Monte Cristos are deep fried, but this recipe calls for pan frying, like French toast. Cover the pan with a loose piece of aluminum foil to ensure that all the egg mixture cooks through.
Monte Cristos are best served promptly. However, you can assemble the sandwiches in advance and cover them with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. Remove the sandwiches from the fridge 30-40 minutes before starting the recipe.
More Sandwich Recipes
Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk preferably whole or 2%
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 slices white bread like brioche or challah
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 slices deli turkey
- 4 slices deli ham
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar optional
- 2 tablespoons strawberry jam optional
Instructions
- In a wide bowl, whisk your eggs, milk, nutmeg, and salt together.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on 2 bread slices and 1 tablespoon mustard on the other 2 bread slices. Place one piece of Swiss Cheese on each slice of bread covered with mustard. Layer each mayonnaise slice with 2 slices ham and 2 slices turkey. Bring the pieces of bread together to form 2 full sandwiches. Using a cutting board, gently compress the sandwich a bit.
- Now melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture, turning to coat both sides. Add the sandwich to the hot skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides. Cover the pan with a loose piece of aluminum foil to make sure the cheese melts, and any egg mixture cooks through.
- If desired, sprinkle with confectioners sugar and serve with a side of strawberry or raspberry jam.
Notes
- Choose a good quality white bread that is not too thick nor too thin. For this sandwich, I like to use Sara Lee Artesano Bakery Bread, but any good quality white bread will suffice.
- I like to use thin-cut deli ham and turkey for Monte Cristo sandwiches. The Boars Head brand is excellent, but any good-quality meat will work just fine.
- If you don’t like Swiss Cheese, replace it with mozzarella, provolone, Muenster, or Gruyere. As long as it melts well and you like the taste of it, go for it.
- Inevitably some egg batter will get on the rest of the sandwich when dunking it, so be sure to cover the skillet after a few minutes with a loose piece of aluminum foil. This will help to ensure that any egg batter that clung to the meat or cheese cooks through.
- Monte Cristo sandwiches are best served promptly. When making multiple sandwiches, place the ones already made on an ovenproof plate and place them in a warm oven while you finish cooking the others.
- This is a large filling sandwich, so it could easily feed two people.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Ellen
I love your recipes, Beth! This one was particularly delicious and I loved that it was not deep fried. It tastes even better without all that oil and so much easier to make.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ellen! I am so glad that you like the sandwich!
Ned
The best sandwich I have had in quite some time. A nice change from the standard ham and cheese. I will definately make this again.
Catherine
Great sandwich! We loved it. So much flavor. I served it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and strawberry jam. I can’t wait to make it again./
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Catherine! So glad that you all liked it!
Renee
This recipe is the best. It was easy and it made my taste buds dance. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy K
This monte cristo sandwich was delicious and a lot lighter than the deep fried version.