Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (2024)

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Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (2)

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Breakfast

This is the ultimate breakfast or brunch casserole based on the amazing Croque Madame sandwich. This breakfast casserole recipe is a keeper!

To recipe

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (3)

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (4)

Recipe insights & TIPS

Breakfast and brunch will never be the same after eating this Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole recipe. All the flavors of the classic French sandwichin casserole form!

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (5)

One of my favorite sandwiches ever is the Croque Madame. If you haven't tried one and you like sandwiches it's definitely one to add to your list! It begins with a slice of thick country french bread, then a layer of grated Gruyere cheese, a slice of smoked ham. Place the other slice of bread on top, cook it like grilled cheese and of course, add an egg on top.

There's also a Croque Monsieur which is basically the same sandwich but without the egg (which is always a must for me). The whole sandwich is then lightly covered in a creamy bechamel sauce and broiled for a hot second with more cheese. As if all that doesn't sound delicious and outrageous enough, a soft fried egg is placed on top, and now you can dig in. It's definitely something for a lazy Sunday brunch, the only downside being you can't really make it ahead of time and it doesn't really do well for feeding a bunch of people. That's where I came up with the idea of stuffing all of the flavors and ingredients of the Croque Madame into an easy breakfast casserole.

How to make yourCroque Madame breakfast casserole.

Breakfast casseroles, strata, and bread puddings all have one thing in common and that's the addition of eggs. The eggs become an important binder for the rest of the ingredients so it makes sense that if one ingredient is making up a big part of the recipe, then it should be high quality and taste amazing! Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs easily fall into that category being organic and free range, they really do shine above all other eggs. Try comparing a Pete and Gerry's egg yolk to a regular egg yolk and you'll see and taste a big difference! Every Pete and Gerry's egg comes from small family-owned farms where love and passion towards their product is an everyday occurrence. This breakfast casserole recipe begins like a bread pudding. The bread chunks are mixed with the rest of the ingredients and then left to rest. This important step lets the bread soak up the egg making for a moister final dish.

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (6)

What's the best bread to use?

The bread has to be hearty and rustic so don't use regular sliced bread. It's too thin and will just dissolve when mixed with the egg mixture. Look for an unsliced crusty french style or sourdough and cut it yourself into thick cubes.

Why is this breakfast casserole recipe any different from other casseroles?

Regular casseroles lack a creamy interior, they're firmer due to the egg cooking but because this breakfast casserole recipe has the extra layer of bechamel sauce it becomes really creamy as it cooks. It is a Croque Madame after all so by adding a few more eggs to the top of the casserole and lightly broiling them just enough to cook the whites, the casserole becomes even more delicious with the extra yolk mixing with the bechamel and melted Gruyere cheese! Fresh thyme and black pepper sprinkled on top make this a serious brunch winner. It's a tiny bit more work to make it but well worth it.

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (7)

Can I substitute the cheese for anotherkind?

Gruyere has a unique nutty taste which goes along with eggs and crusty bread so well together. But if you just can't do Gruyere, then Swiss cheese, Gouda or a mixture of Parmesan and Romano would work.

Can I reheat the breakfast casserole?

I recommend covering it with foil and reheating it in the oven at 400 degrees. If time is not on your side, then a minute or two in the microwave will also work.

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (8)

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (9)

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (10)

Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (11)

Recipe

This is the ultimate breakfast or brunch casserole based on the amazing Croque Madame sandwich. Now you can have all the deliciousness of the classic sandwich in casserole form! This breakfast casserole recipe is a keeper!

Course:

Breakfast

COOKing TIME:

38 minutes

Total TIME:

68 minutes

CUISINE:

American

PREP TIME:

30 minutes

Ingredients

FOR THE BÉCHAMEL SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk
  • 1 pinch nutmeg

Ingredient Swaps

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half and half, thyme, salt and pepper.
  3. Add the bread to the egg mixture along with the grated cheese and diced ham.
  4. Using your hands or a spatula, mix the ingredients well making sure the bread has been well soaked in egg.
  5. Transfer the whole mixture from the bowl to a 2-quart oven-safe dish and spread out evenly.
  6. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
  7. While the casserole is baking, make the béchamel sauce by melting the butter in a non stick pan.
  8. Add the flour and whisk together for 2-3 minutes.
  9. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups of the milk, whisking constantly over medium heat to get rid of any lumps. Save a quarter cup of the milk for later. The sauce will thicken as it cools and that’s okay.
  10. Add the nutmeg when the sauce is smooth. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside until the casserole is done.
  11. Once the casserole is done, take the foil off. Turn the oven up to 425 degrees F.
  12. Bring the béchamel sauce back to the burner and place on low heat. Whisk the remaining quarter cup of milk into it until it’s smooth again.
  13. Pour the béchamel sauce over the casserole and then top with the remaining 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere.
  14. Place back into the oven and bake for a further 8 minutes uncovered.
  15. Take the casserole from the oven and carefully create two slightly sunken holes with the back of a spoon.
  16. Crack an egg into both holes and place back into the oven or under the broiler until the egg whites are firm.
  17. Sprinkle with extra fresh thyme and serve alongside a hot cup of coffee.

Equipment

Equipment you'll need for this recipe.

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Croque Madame Breakfast Casserole Recipe - Foodness Gracious (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a croque madame and a croque monsieur? ›

A croque madame is simply a croque monsieur with a poached or fried egg on top. The difference between the two sandwiches has to do with how the egg is incorporated into the rest of the ingredients: In a croque monsieur, the bread is dipped into the beaten egg before it's cooked (French toast-style).

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? The primary suspects are not pre-cooking the veggies and and not draining the sausage grease.

How do you keep breakfast casserole from falling? ›

For a puffy egg casserole, you can prevent falling by cooking at a lower temperature, as with this recipe.

How many days is breakfast casserole good for? ›

Bake until the center of the casserole reaches an internal temperature of 160 °F as tested with a food thermometer. After baking, any leftovers must be refrigerated within two hours and can be kept three to four days in the refrigerator or frozen for about three months.

What is the American name for croque monsieur? ›

A Monte Cristo sandwich is a variation of the croque monsieur, but with the addition of sliced turkey added the ham and Swiss cheese. Also, this sandwich is dipped in an egg batter, like French toast, and pan-fried instead of grilled, until golden brown.

What is the English word for croque? ›

croquer (manger):

to crunch. Preselect for export to vocabulary trainer.

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

Success Tip: Refrigerate Overnight

During this time, the flavors mingle together and the bread has a chance to soak up some of the liquid and flavor. Wake up and all you have to do is slide it into the oven.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Adding a crunchy element on top of your one-dish wonder is an easy way to add extra texture and flavor. Try crushed crackers, buttered bread crumbs, toasted almonds, French fried onions or—if you're really Midwestern—frozen tater tots.

How to tell if a breakfast casserole is done? ›

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? Just stick a knife into the center of your egg casserole recipe after 55 minutes of baking. If it comes out clean, your baked egg casserole is ready!

Can I leave breakfast casserole out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

Should you cook a casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

How to thicken breakfast casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

Can you leave raw egg mixture in the fridge? ›

If you've got raw egg yolks or whites left over from a recipe which you don't want to waste (let's face it, why would you?), you can store them in the fridge as long as you plan to use them within the next few days.

What to serve with a breakfast casserole? ›

But I often get asked by my readers what to serve alongside breakfast casserole. You could always keep it simple and pair a breakfast casserole with something simple like crispy bacon, turkey sausage, some other breakfast meat, hash browns, or fresh fruit.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

What ingredient does a Croque Madame have that is not in a croque monsieur? ›

With this said, the basics are the basics — bread, cheese, and ham. While this is the base for both the croque monsieur and the croque madame, a croque madame has a fried egg on top of it. According to The Culture Trip, the new name came to be because the egg on top resembles a woman's hat.

Do French people eat croque monsieur for breakfast? ›

Croque Monsieur (French hot ham and cheese sandwich) While it's thought of as a brunch/breakfast, Croque Monsieur is typically served as lunch in France with a side of fries and simple salad.

Is croque monsieur masculine or feminine? ›

First, let's explore why it's called a “croque monsieur.” The sandwich's name comes from the French words croque (bite) and monsieur (mister). For those of you wondering if there is a female version, why yes, there is! A croque madame is the same preparation with one addition: a fried egg on top.

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