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. For a traditional sandwich, serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a side of jam for a sweet and savory combination.
This delicious and easy sandwich is a family favorite and a great brunch recipe. It takes just a few minutes to make and is 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 made into French toast. If you like this sandwich, try ham and cheese sliders, ham and cheese pinwheels, and scalloped potatoes and ham.
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 strawberry or raspberry jam.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Nutmeg: I like to use just a pinch for subtle flavor, but you can omit it if you do not like nutmeg.
- Bread: challah, brioche, or sourdough bread
- Mustard: dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, or yellow mustard
- Cheese: Gruyere or Swiss
- Deli meat: I like to use a combination of sliced ham and turkey. I think the flavor is superior when both types of meat are used.
- Powdered sugar: also known as confectioners sugar. Just a little sprinkle to make it a traditional Monte Cristo.
- Jam: strawberry or raspberry jam for the game changer.
How to Make a Monte Cristo Sandwich
First, whisk the eggs, milk, nutmeg, and salt together. Assemble the sandwiches and melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat. Dip both sides of the sandwiches in the egg mixture. Then, fry them up in the butter, turning to brown them on both sides, melt the cheese, and heat the ham and turkey. Serve traditional style with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and with a side of strawberry or raspberry jam.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- 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 warm them in the 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 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.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk preferably whole or 2%
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ 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 powdered sugar and serve with a side of strawberry or raspberry jam.
Notes
- 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 warm them in the 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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Mary
Tasty recipe. Made this for dinner last night and it turned out great. Do not soak the sandwich too long in the egg dip do it very quickly or it will be too much!
Lisa C
We’ve made these several times now. Definitely a family favorite!! Thanks for the recipe, Beth.
Jack
My new favorite weekend sandwich. Made it for my brother and he loved it too. I love this non deep fried version. Thank you for sharing!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Jack!
Jack
What a delicious sandwich. So nice to make it without all the mess from deep frying. I love to dip mine in raspberry jam.
Leslie
I am a huge fan of breakfast sandwiches and this recipe is just perfection!! Loving the flavors in this!
Gerry
Your Monte Cristo sandwich recipe was so delicious. I am going to make it again this weekend for my best friend. I know he will like it.
Grasyah
This was so yummy! Fairly easy to make without all the mess of deep frying. Thank you for sharing!!
Miss Sonia
Now this is what I call a sandwich! I’ll have it for breakfast and lunch and will not get tired of it. so delicious, omg.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Miss Sonia! I am so glad that you liked the Monte Cristo Sandwich!
Natalie
I’ve never heard of a Monte Cristo sandwich before! I need to switch up my sandwiches, I keep making the same recipe. Thank you for the inspiration.
Susan
These sandwiches are so delicious! Thank you for the extra tip of covering loosely with tin foil. I’ll be making many more. Yum.
Ben
Call me The Count because I’d live off Monte Cristos if I could. I make them all the time, and your recipe is definitely one of the best I’ve made in some time. Delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Ben! So glad that you enjoyed it
Merideth
This recipe looks sooooo good. I love a good Monte Cristo but have always been intimidated to make one. This recipe gives me the step-by-step direction I need to make my first attempt! Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Meredith! Enjoy!
Ross
I made this sandwich for lunch today and it was the best monte cristo I’ve ever had! Definitely adding to my regular rotation!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ross! So glad that you liked it!
Carrie
Oh mannnnn..this is a great monte cristo recipe. I absolutely love that it is not deep fried but it still tastes so delicious. I don’t like all that mess in my kitchen. So much easier too. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Carrie.
Lubna
This is my new favorite sandwich recipe. I like it so much better than the deep fried version of this sandwich. Less mess, less calories, and it tastes so much better.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lubna! So glad that you liked the sandwich.
Karlie
I loved this rendition of the classic sandwich! I used veggie deli slices to make this vegetarian and it was awesome.