Keto Croque Madame
The Parisian café sandwich: ham and Gruyère on keto bread, blanketed in a creamy cheese sauce, baked until bubbling and crowned with a fried egg. It is rich enough for a lazy weekend brunch.
Nutrition per serving
1 sandwich- Net carbs
- 6.1g
- Calories
- 594kcal
- Protein
- 40g
- Fat
- 45g
- Total carbs
- 24 g
- Fiber
- 18 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Croque monsieur (no egg): The original café sandwich, with everything except the fried egg on top. It is lighter and quicker.
- Skip the eggs. Serve the sandwiches straight from the broiler with a small green salad.
Turkey & Swiss: Sliced turkey and Swiss cheese instead of ham and Gruyère make a milder sandwich for anyone who skips pork.
- Build and bake exactly as directed, using the Swiss in the sauce, in the sandwiches and on top.
- Cheese sauce
- Sandwiches
- Eggs
- Nice to have (optional)
- Cheese sauce
- Sandwiches
- Eggs
-
½ tbsp butterleave out -
2 large eggsleave out - Nice to have (optional)
- Cheese sauce
- Sandwiches
- Eggs
- Nice to have (optional)
Estimated cost $7.70 for 2 servings ($3.85 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a small baking sheet with foil or parchment.
-
Make the sauce: bring the cream to a gentle simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and simmer 3–4 minutes, stirring often, until reduced by about a third and slightly thickened. Take it off the heat and stir in a third of the Gruyère, the nutmeg and the pepper until smooth. It thickens more as it cools.
-
Toast the bread lightly. Spread two slices with the mustard, layer on the ham and another third of the cheese, and top with the remaining slices. Set the sandwiches on the sheet.
-
Spoon the sauce over the tops, letting it run down the sides a little, and scatter with the last of the cheese.
-
Bake 8–10 minutes, until the ham is hot and the cheese has melted, then switch to the broiler for 1–2 minutes, watching closely, until bubbling and browned in spots.
-
While the sandwiches bake, melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and fry the eggs 3–4 minutes, until the whites are fully set and the yolks still soft. Slide an egg onto each sandwich, sprinkle with chives and eat with a knife and fork.
Tips for success
-
Reducing the cream does the job of a flour-thickened béchamel. Keep it at a gentle simmer; a hard boil can make it split. - A croque is meant for a knife and fork, so be generous with the sauce.
- Store-bought keto breads vary in carbs and many contain wheat gluten. Our homemade almond flour sandwich bread is a gluten-free option.
Nice to have, not needed
- Gruyère gives the classic nutty flavor — Swiss or a mild white cheddar melts just as well.
- A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg in the sauce is traditional — leave it out if you don't have any.
Storage & meal prep
- Best eaten fresh
Reheat: Best straight from the broiler.
Prep tip: Make the cheese sauce up to 3 days ahead and warm it before spooning it over the sandwiches.
Best eaten right away. The cheese sauce keeps 3 days in the fridge; rewarm it gently with a splash of cream.
Variations
2 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosCroque monsieur (no egg)
FlavorThe original café sandwich, with everything except the fried egg on top. It is lighter and quicker.
- no butter
- no eggs
5.8 g net · 498 kcal · 33 g protein · 37 g fat · ≈$3.63 per serving (−0.3 g net carbs vs the original)
Turkey & Swiss
ProteinSliced turkey and Swiss cheese instead of ham and Gruyère make a milder sandwich for anyone who skips pork.
- thinly sliced ham → sliced deli turkey
- Gruyère → Swiss cheese
6.5 g net · 553 kcal · 37 g protein · 42 g fat · ≈$3.31 per serving (+0.4 g net carbs vs the original)
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