For A More Flavorful Breakfast Sandwich, Make It French-Style

Weekend mornings, when you have more time on your hands, deserve a better breakfast. Pancakes, eggs and bacon, or breakfast burritos are all on the table when you aren't rushing to work. For those who enjoy a hearty and delicious egg sandwich, try making a croque madame — the classic French lunch-time sandwich — for breakfast.

A croque madame (which delightfully translates to Mrs. Crunch) is more than just a ham sandwich with a runny egg on top. Thick cuts of toasted white bread and ham are covered in melted cheese — often Gruyère, one of the best cheeses to cook with — and dripping with béchamel or Mornay (béchamel with cheese grated in). The final touch is a runny, sunny side-up egg on top. Without the egg, it's known as a croque monsieur. Eat it with a knife and fork, because as you cut open that egg, the umami-loaded yolk will start to soak into your bread, giving the whole dish even more richness. If you're hungry for a Mrs. Crunch right now, no matter the time of day, you can make a croque madame using our recipe.

The main difference between a croque monsieur and a croque madame is that runny egg — and you can carry that over to your own breakfast if you aren't already. Replace your scrambled or fried egg with an over-easy egg to get some of that rich yolk dripping into your bread, bagel, biscuit, or English muffin. The French don't lay claim to the runny egg — the treat is a worldwide phenomenon. However, you can make your breakfast French-style if you add on some creamy béchamel or cheesy Mornay. 

To make béchamel, simply melt butter in a pan, add a roughly equal amount of flour and stir while cooking the flour, then slowly pour in warm milk or cream and stir until it's smooth. Add this to your bacon, egg, and cheese (maybe even swap in ham to croque it up) for a French twist. If you're feeling brave, spoon some creamy béchamel into a breakfast burrito to bring your eggs, cheese, potato, and meat together in an indulgent way. To be clear: The French generally eat a light, sweet breakfast of a pastry and coffee, so this tip is more about taking your breakfast and adding a layer of Frenchness, rather than making something that mimics a Parisian morning meal.