Mini Croque Monsieur with Béchamel
Mini Croque Monsieur with Béchamel are elegant, bite-sized French sandwiches featuring layers of tender ham, melty Gruyère cheese, and creamy béchamel sauce between crisp golden bread. Perfect as party appetizers or snacks, they combine rich, savory flavors with a quick, easy preparation ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 mini sandwiches
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Can be made Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the Sandwiches
- White sandwich bread, crusts removed
- Dijon mustard, thinly spread
- Thinly sliced cooked ham
- Gruyère cheese, grated
For the Béchamel Sauce
- Butter
- All-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour for gluten-free option)
- Warm milk
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the Béchamel Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a smooth roux. Gradually add warm milk while whisking constantly until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble the Mini Sandwiches: Cut crusts off the bread into neat squares. Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on each slice. Layer ham and grated Gruyère onto half of the bread squares, then top each with the remaining slices to form small sandwiches.
- Add the Béchamel Topping: Spoon a generous amount of béchamel sauce over the top of each sandwich. Sprinkle additional grated Gruyère on top for a golden, bubbly finish.
- Bake to Perfection: Arrange the mini sandwiches on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place under a preheated broiler or in a 425°F (220°C) hot oven. Bake for about 5 minutes until the béchamel bubbles and the cheese turns golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
Notes
- Use room temperature milk for a smooth béchamel without lumps.
- Don’t overfill sandwiches to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Grate cheese fresh for best melting and flavor.
- Monitor closely when broiling as béchamel browns quickly.
- Prepare sandwiches and béchamel in advance; assemble and bake when ready.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini sandwich
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Mini Croque Monsieur, French appetizer, béchamel sauce, party bites, croque monsieur, sandwich recipe
Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/mini-croque-monsieur-with-bchamel/