This is the ultimate make at home Monte Cristo Sandwich – with turkey, ham and cheese in a sandwich that is cooked French toast style. If desired, serve with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. It’s a sweet and savory combo that will convert even a skeptic!
If you love sandwich night as much as we do, you also need to check out the recipes for this Club Sandwich, Egg Salad BLTs, or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
If you are a regular reader, you know that I am a huge fan of the sweet and savory combination. And now, looking back, I’m starting to wonder if this love started off with a Monte Cristo sandwich long ago.
I’ve been eating these sandwiches for a long time. It wasn’t my mom who made them when I was younger, but my brother. And I’ve grown to love and appreciate this sandwich – maybe more than any other.
WHAT IS A MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH?
So now you might be asking – what is a Monte Cristo sandwich?
If you’ve been do Disneyland, you probably know. They serve their famous Monte Cristo that you can get at Cafe Orleans is a deep fried sandwich with ham, turkey and cheese. Then it is served with berry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.
But Disneyland wasn’t the first to make these sandwiches.
It is believed that the Monte Cristo started off as the French Croque Monsieur, a grilled cheese sandwich with Gruyere and ham. Then, starting in the 1930s, more variations of this sandwich started to show up cookbooks, then in the 1950s, it made its way onto a menu in a southern California restaurant under the name of Monte Cristo. It then made its debut at Disneyland in 1966.
INGREDIENTS
There are many versions out there, but this is what I think you need to make the perfect Monte Cristo. My version is grilled instead of fried, which makes it much easier, and less messy, to make at home.
White Bread – I’m usually a wheat bread kind of girl, but you need white bread for these sandwiches.
Deli Sliced Meat – You’ll need both ham and turkey. I like to get it super thin sliced at the deli counter, but even pre-sliced meat will work.
Provolone Cheese – I just buy this sliced, as it is way easier. You can also use Swiss, which is more traditional.
Milk, Eggs, Butter – your traditional batter mixture. You’ll make the batter from the milk and eggs, then cook the sandwiches in the butter.
HOW TO MAKE A MONTE CRISTO
- Whisk the eggs and milk in a shallow pan.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet.
- Make the sandwiches by layering a slice of bread, cheese, ham, another slice of bread spread with mayonnaise, turkey, cheese, and then another slice of bread. Press it down to make sure it all sticks together.
- Dip each sandwich in the milk and egg mixture, then transfer to the hot skillet.
- Cook until the sandwich is toasted on both sides and the cheese is melted.
- Serve dusted with powdered sugar and with raspberry jam on the side.
More Variations on the Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo Crepes
Italian-Style Monte Cristos
Monte Cristo Sandwich Loaf
Monte Cristo Waffle-Wiches
Monte Cristo Style Croque Monsieur
Helpful Tools
I like to use a good nonstick skillet to cook these sandwiches, although a cast iron pan would give some good color to the sandwiches.
A small ramekin or cup for jam is super helpful if you want to dip your sandwich.
If you serve with powdered sugar, it’s helpful to have a small strainer so that you don’t get big clumps of powdered sugar all over.
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Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is the ultimate make at home Monte Cristo Sandwich – with turkey, ham and cheese in a sandwich that is cooked French toast style. If desired, serve with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. It’s a sweet and savory combo that will convert even a skeptic!
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 slices white bread
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 lb deli sliced ham
- 1/4 lb deli sliced turkey
- 8 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese
- Powdered sugar and raspberry jam, for serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and the milk.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Lay 4 pieces of bread down and top with 1 slice of cheese on each piece of bread. Place 1/4 of the ham on top of each piece of cheese.
- Take 4 more slices of bread and spread about 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on one side. Place the mayonnaise side down on top of the ham, then spread another 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the opposite side of the bread. Repeat with the 3 remaining sandwiches.
- Place 1/4 of the turkey on top of each sandwich, then top with another slice of cheese. Place the last 4 slices of bread on top of each sandwich.
- Press down on each sandwich firmly to press together slightly.
- Dip each sandwich quickly into the egg and milk mixture. They need to be coated, but not soaked.
- Place the sandwiches in the skillet with the butter. Cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese on the side against the skillet is melted, then carefully flip the sandwich over and cook the other side.
- Slice the sandwiches in half to serve, and serve dusted with powdered sugar and a side of raspberry jam for dipping, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline. Nutritional information does not include powdered sugar or raspberry jam.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 697
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1998 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 189 mg
Keywords: monte cristo sandwich, sandwich recipe, monte cristo
Meeta says
An intriguing combination – I like the pairing of savory and sweet. The pics are great too!
Cheryl says
I really do like this combination of flavors too. I may need to try this one day for lunch.
Lis says
I heart these sammiches. But I always forget about them! Thanks for the reminder and the fabulous photos.. we’ll be having these this week for dinner now!
xoxox
Kristen says
This looks like a flavorful sandwich!
Brilynn says
My roommate introduced me to scrambled eggs with jam. I didn’t think that would work either, but then I tried some and I loved it!
Freya and Paul says
I’ve never seen this before – I must give it a go!
Lis says
Deborah – DUH! It was YOUR blog (I’m SUCH A DORK) that gave me the craving! I should have made them like you did.. just dipped in a egg batter and fried. They look and sound so much better than mine. =)
xoxo
Julie says
I was just thinking about a monte christo the other day. It has been ages since I have had one. I use to always order this when we went out for lunch.
Looks wonderful
Bob says
I made these for my family during quarantine, any got rave reviews. I used Gruyere cheese and found less is more with the meats. The first one i made was a bit overstuffed, and did not press together well. It fell apart on the griddle. Just a slice or two of each meat was sufficient, and stayed together better. The sandwiches compressed nicely, and the meat didn’t overpower the other succulent flavors. Great recipe! Raspberry jam topped it off. Thank you!
★★★★★
Mr. Danny Miller says
I realize that there are many recipes for the Monte Cristo sandwich. I’m sure they’re all tasty. Nevertheless, the REAL Monte Cristo is as follows: Quartered (3 slices of bread each) Club Sandwich, dipped in batter, deep fried ’til the batter is browned. Simple. Correct.
Ellie says
The REAL Monte Cristo is whichever one you love. I love this recipe, so for me, this is the real deal. Simple. Correct.
★★★★★
Dustin Juedemann says
This sounds so good, can’t wait to see how it goes!
★★★★★
Steve says
I’ve never had a monte cristo before! These are delicious! Simple and easy recipe!
★★★★★
Dona Hope East says
I was passing through a tiny little town and stopped at a tiny little restaurant. I ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich. That’s when the heavens opened up! They were served with the absolute thinnest slices of apples cooked in the middle of the sandwich. I came home determined to learn how to make them for myself. Yours are pretty darn wonderful!
★★★★★
Paul Olsen says
Deep fat fried is the only way to do this
Wayne Ventresca says
Very good. Do you have any tips on how to flip the sandwich over without it falling apart.?
Deborah says
I would just keep it as close to the skillet as possible, and don’t be afraid to use your hand to help keep it together.
J Austin says
Made the monte Cristo. Delish! Subbed spicy mustard for the mayo and used sourdough bread. 5 stars!
★★★★★
Lisa says
Tasty but not authentic Monte Cristos. Must bread source in beated eggs (as one does for french toast)- always have bacon along with turkey on mine. As for toppings or dipping sauces, personal preference. Maybe re-name this recipe?
★★★
Deborah says
These are dipped in an egg mixture (like French toast) 🙂
Roganna church says
I worked at a Greek restaurant and they made monte Cristo but they didnt put powdered sugar and jam with it they put thousand island dressing and they were delicious to so I’m going to try yours and see which I like better ty
TK says
I dreamed of this sandwich two nights ago. Looked up the recipe yesterday and cooked and served this eve. I cooked a fried egg and placed in the middle of the sandwich for my hubby. He was totally thrilled with it!
★★★★★
TK says
Oh and I used homemade Blackberry preserves with mine and no powdered sugar.
Wayne Collins says
I loved this recipe but put egg on both sides of the bread. Once flipped I added the cheese ham and Turkey. Used keto bread and had to skip the powdered
Sugar, but had some no sugar strawberry.preserves that made this awesome!! Thanks for the help
★★★★★