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Meat, Busy evenings

Chicken and cheddar croque monsieur with salad

This chicken and cheddar croque monsieur is a baked sandwich for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, very easy to make, for about €2.40 per person. It layers white bread with shredded chicken, melty cheddar, and a homemade béchamel, then bakes until golden on top. The key to success is a béchamel that isn't too runny and a quick finish under the broiler.

Tonight, a baked croque with shredded chicken and melty cheddar, golden béchamel, and a green salad.

Chicken and cheddar croque monsieur with salad
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
670 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Under a golden crust, the bread practically melts into the béchamel and gooey cheddar, while the chicken gives each bite some substance. A touch of mustard in the filling wakes up the whole thing without ever overpowering the cheese.

This is the kind of dish that rescues a weeknight without draining all your energy, and it works just as well for kids as for adults at the table. With the green salad on the side, dinner fits on a single tray, with no fuss on the organizing end.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • White sandwich bread 8 slices

Butcher

  • Cooked chicken breast 300 g

Dairy

  • Cheddar 8 slices
  • Butter 60 g
  • Milk 40 cl

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 30 g
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Mustardoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lettuce 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Make the béchamel by melting 30 g of butter, whisking in the flour, then the milk, and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. 8 min

    Cook the flour for a minute before adding the milk, it loses its raw taste.

  2. Shred the cooked chicken and mix it with two spoonfuls of béchamel and the mustard.

    Use leftover roast chicken, it's the fastest option.

  3. Butter the bread slices, top four of them with chicken and cheddar, and cover with the remaining slices.

    Place the cheddar on both sides of the chicken so it sticks well.

  4. Spread béchamel on top and add a slice of cheddar.

    Cover the edges well, the bread won't dry out.

  5. Bake at 220°C until golden on top, and serve with the dressed salad. 12 min

    Finish under the broiler for golden bubbles.

Our tips to get it right

  • Keep the béchamel on the thicker side rather than runny, it will hold better between the bread slices without soaking everything through.
  • Use thin, even slices of cheddar, they melt faster and more evenly under the broiler.
  • Let the chicken and béchamel come to room temperature before assembling, it speeds up the process and keeps the bread from going soft.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for ham for a classic croque monsieur, the béchamel and cheddar stay the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with sliced button mushrooms sautéed for a few minutes before mixing them into the béchamel.
  • To go faster with hungry kids, skip the béchamel layer on top and just add an extra slice of cheddar before baking.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with a sharp vinaigrette
  • Vegetable soup to start
  • Lemon water or homemade iced tea

Storage

The croque keeps for 1 day in the refrigerator in a sealed container, the bread texture declines quickly after that. It doesn't freeze well once assembled, but the béchamel alone freezes for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven rather than the microwave to bring back a crisp top.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the croques ahead of time?

You can assemble the croques up to two hours ahead, covered in the refrigerator, then bake them right before serving. Avoid prepping them the night before, the bread would get too soft.

What cheese can replace the cheddar?

Gruyère or Swiss cheese work well instead of cheddar, with a milder flavor. Cheddar gives a meltier texture and a slightly deeper color once baked.

Should the chicken be cold or warm?

Cooked chicken, whether cold or lukewarm, works perfectly, what matters is that it's already cooked before filling the croques. Leftover roast chicken works just as well as chicken poached the same day.

How do you keep the bread from getting soggy?

Butter the outside of the bread well before baking, the butter forms a barrier that keeps it crisp. Also avoid a runny béchamel, which can soak into the bread as it bakes.

How long does it take to make a chicken and cheddar croque monsieur with a side salad?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a chicken and cheddar croque monsieur with a side salad?

About 670 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken and cheddar croque monsieur with a side salad cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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