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? The primary suspects are not pre-cooking the veggies and and not draining the sausage grease.

You can also check the doneness of an egg bake recipe by testing the internal temperature. When an instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees F, the breakfast casserole is done.

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.

It is believed to have been inspired by the croque monsieur, but with a few key differences to make it more American-friendly. The egg batter and pan-frying method give the Monte Cristo sandwich a crispy exterior and a custardy interior, which is a contrast to the more traditional grilled or baked croque monsieur.

Eating a croque madame is a fork-and-knife meal. Use them to slice the sandwich into bite-sized pieces. You can then pick up the pieces with the fork.

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

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.

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.

It can be made for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Serve it with some sliced fresh fruit on the side for breakfast, or if making for dinner, a green salad. If you omit the veggies in the casserole, consider serving some sautéed vegetables on the side. Or if leaving out the meat, some crispy bacon or cooked sausages.

Is it better to freeze a breakfast casserole, cooked or uncooked? ›

The answer depends on what's in it. Casseroles with raw protein (meat, poultry, seafood) should be completely cooked before freezing. However dishes with pre-cooked meats or no meat are fine to go in the freezer uncooked.

Cooked eggs and egg dishes may be refrigerated for serving later but should be thoroughly reheated to 165° F before serving. Never leave cooked eggs or egg dishes out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours or for more than 1 hour when temperatures are above 90° F.

The Monte Cristo sandwich likely originated around 1910 as a variation of a similar sandwich called a croque monsieur. It was invented and initially served in Paris cafes but gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1930s.

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.

When the sandwich features a fried egg, it's called a croque madame, as the egg resembles a woman's wide-brimmed hat. Croque madame sandwiches are sometimes served open-faced, without a slice of bread on top, like this one from @toastsforall.

It's a fried sandwich with ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and mustard dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried until golden and gooey for a delicious alternative to your usual ham and cheese sandwich. Great with berry jam on the side.