The Ultimate Make-Ahead Croque-Monsieur Bake: A Cheesy Brunch Delight Inspired by Nigella Express
Indulge in the Croque-Monsieur Bake, a truly scrumptious and effortlessly make-ahead brunch recipe designed for those who adore cheesy, gooey comfort food. This versatile dish is perfect for any gathering, easily scalable to feed a large crowd and sure to impress with its rich flavors and inviting aroma.
This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure is at the bottom of the article.
Unlocking Culinary Joy with Nigella Lawson: The Enduring Appeal of Nigella Express
Nigella Lawson possesses a unique talent for igniting excitement about food, making cooking feel like an accessible pleasure rather than a daunting task. When you delve into her cookbooks, it’s as if you can hear her distinct voice guiding you through each recipe. Her witty and often humorous commentary, combined with refreshingly straightforward instructions and irresistibly mouth-watering photographs (often featuring Nigella herself), conspire to make her recipes incredibly appealing and approachable. She masterfully creates the illusion that she’s a trusted friend, eagerly sharing a fantastic new recipe she’s just discovered, making cooking feel less like a chore and more like a delightful conversation.
Despite being on the market for many years, and countless “weeknight cooking” cookbooks emerging since its publication in 2007, Nigella Lawson’s 7th cookbook, Nigella Express, remains an indispensable resource for preparing delicious food, quickly and efficiently. From the very first read, I found Nigella Express to be an utterly enticing volume. Its pages were filled with so many tempting recipes that I often found myself wishing I had more time to try them all. The recipes are characterized by their generosity and indulgent nature – you don’t turn to Nigella’s books for dainty portions or overly refined, minimalist meals. Instead, this book champions hearty, satisfying dishes that are perfect for everyday enjoyment and true comfort.
Nigella Express truly shines in a “weekday” context. While I wasn’t necessarily “blown away” or entirely surprised by every single recipe, the book is brimming with reliable, surefire hits that can effortlessly elevate you out of your routine work-week cooking rut. It’s an exceptional resource for novice cooks, offering short, manageable ingredient lists, straightforward instructions, and recipes that genuinely can be whipped up with impressive speed. This accessibility makes it an ideal starting point for anyone looking to build confidence in the kitchen without feeling overwhelmed by complex techniques or obscure ingredients.
Many of the recipes in Nigella Express draw inspiration from vibrant Asian and Indian cuisines, occasionally featuring ingredients that might be slightly less common or unfamiliar to a beginner cook. However, Nigella thoughtfully provides practical substitution options, ensuring that even those with less experience can confidently tackle the dishes. The concluding section, “Storecupboard SOS,” proves to be exceptionally useful. It offers clear instructions for preparing numerous kitchen staples from scratch, such as infused cooking oils and versatile dressings. More importantly, it provides truly last-minute “emergency recipes” like homemade hummus, comforting soups, and fresh salads, which are invaluable for those times when you need a quick, wholesome meal without a trip to the grocery store.
However, considering its perfect suitability for novice cooks, I felt that a dedicated pantry section was a missed opportunity. Individuals embarking on their culinary journey often struggle with kitchen organization and meal planning, which is precisely why convenience foods and take-out so frequently become default options. A comprehensive section detailing essential pantry, refrigerator, and freezer staples would have been incredibly beneficial, empowering beginners to quickly assemble Nigella’s delicious recipes at a moment’s notice and fostering a more organized, sustainable approach to home cooking.
As one might expect from Nigella Lawson, the desserts featured in Nigella Express are particularly rich and decadent. Mrs. Lawson famously embraces cream and butter, and it certainly shows! While all the dessert options are undoubtedly delicious and deeply satisfying, I personally find them, more often than not, a little too sinful for an everyday sweet ending. I leaned towards the few fruit-based desserts for a lighter touch, but for committed sugar addicts, this book undoubtedly offers a comprehensive fix for any sweet craving imaginable, from sticky toffee puddings to luscious chocolate creations.
All in all, Nigella Express stands as an excellent cookbook for effortlessly solving the perennial challenge of weeknight meals. Beginners will find immense satisfaction and feel like culinary stars as they successfully create great-tasting meals from scratch. Meanwhile, intermediate to expert cooks will appreciate the solid foundations provided by the recipes, naturally wanting to add their own personal finishing touches and elevate the dishes to a more refined and personalized level. It’s a book that truly caters to a wide spectrum of culinary abilities, making good food accessible to everyone.
The Classic Croque-Monsieur Transformed: A Cheesy, Make-Ahead Marvel
Today, I’m delighted to share with you my interpretation of a fantastic dish from Nigella Express, which simplifies a French classic into an incredibly convenient and irresistible meal. This Croque-Monsieur Bake is an easy, utterly scrumptious, and wonderfully make-ahead-friendly dish, perfect for anyone who adores cheesy, gooey, and comforting fare. The traditional Croque-Monsieur is a beloved French grilled ham and cheese sandwich, typically made individually on a stovetop or in a panini press. This baked version elevates the concept, transforming it into a stress-free casserole that’s ideal for feeding a crowd without the fuss of standing over a skillet.
While a classic croque-monsieur is a popular choice for brunch, this baked iteration is incredibly versatile. It can just as easily be served for a hearty lunch or a delightfully lazy dinner. The magic of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the ability to prepare it almost entirely ahead of time. You simply assemble this Croque-Monsieur Bake the night before, allow it to soak up all the flavorful custard overnight, and then bake it to golden, bubbly perfection when you return home from work. The result is an incredibly cheesy, satisfying meal that requires minimal last-minute effort, maximizing your enjoyment and minimizing kitchen time. The overnight soak isn’t just about convenience; it allows the bread to fully absorb the egg and milk mixture, creating an interior that’s wonderfully custardy and tender, contrasting beautifully with the crisp, golden top. Plus, its inherent design makes it incredibly easy to scale up, ensuring there’s always enough to go around, whether you’re hosting a few friends or a large family gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Make-Ahead Croque-Monsieur Bake
- Effortlessly Elegant: Impress your guests or family with a sophisticated-sounding dish that requires minimal hands-on time, thanks to its make-ahead nature. Prepare it the night before and simply bake when ready!
- Ultimate Comfort Food: Layers of savory ham, tangy Dijon mustard, and rich, melted cheese are soaked in a creamy egg custard, delivering unparalleled comfort and flavor in every golden, bubbly bite.
- Perfect for Any Meal: While an undeniable brunch star, this versatile bake easily transitions to a satisfying and quick lunch or a delightful, stress-free dinner after a busy day.
- Feeds a Crowd with Ease: The casserole format makes it incredibly simple to adjust the quantities and scale the recipe up to serve as many people as you need, making it ideal for entertaining, holidays, or large family breakfasts.
- Simple, Accessible Ingredients: Crafted from common, readily available ingredients, this recipe is approachable and accessible for cooks of all skill levels, ensuring delicious results without specialized sourcing.
Pin Recipe
Croque-Monsieur Bake
Ingredients
- 6 oz grated Gruyère cheese (about 1 1/2 cups), or substitute with other Swiss cheeses like Emmenthal, or even a sharp Aged Cheddar for a different but equally delicious flavor profile.
- 4 slices of sturdy rustic bread (sourdough loaf bread is especially good in this for its texture and slight tang, challah or brioche also work beautifully for a richer flavor and softer crumb once baked)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard (adds a delightful piquant kick that cuts through the richness of the cheese and ham, balancing the flavors)
- 4 slices smoked ham (choose a good quality, flavorful smoked ham for the best results, like Black Forest or country ham)
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk (whole milk or half-and-half will create a richer, more luxurious custard, but any milk will work)
- 1 tsp kosher salt, or fine sea salt
- Worcestershire sauce (optional, but highly recommended for an extra layer of savory, umami depth that enhances the overall flavor)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Cheese: Divide the grated cheese quantity into two equal portions. Refrigerate one half of the cheese to be used for the final topping during baking, and keep the other half readily accessible on your counter to fill the sandwiches.
-
Assemble the Sandwiches: Lay the slices of sturdy rustic bread side by side on a clean working surface. Generously slather each slice with Dijon mustard, ensuring a good, even coating. Sprinkle two of the bread slices with half of the “filling cheese” (the portion you kept accessible). Top these cheesy slices with the smoked ham, then cover the ham with the remaining “filling cheese.” Finally, close the sandwiches by carefully placing the remaining bread slices on top. Gently press down on each sandwich, then cut them in half.
-
Arrange and Soak: Lightly oil or butter a baking dish that will fit the sandwich halves as snugly as possible, allowing minimal gaps. An 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan is usually ideal for this recipe (see note below regarding dish size). Place the sandwich halves into the prepared baking dish and gently press down on them to ensure they fit well and are slightly compressed. In a separate bowl or a large measuring cup, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, salt, and milk until well combined and frothy. Pour this egg mixture evenly over the sandwiches, making sure they are well coated and submerged as much as possible.
-
Resting Period: Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours. For the best results, leading to a deeper flavor absorption and an incredibly custardy interior, I highly recommend refrigerating it preferably overnight (up to 12-18 hours). This crucial step allows the bread to fully soak up the flavorful egg mixture, transforming its texture.
-
Bake to Perfection: Approximately half an hour before you plan to serve, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and discard the plastic wrap. If desired, generously sprinkle the top of the bake with Worcestershire sauce for an extra layer of savory depth and a subtle tang. Then, evenly cover the entire surface with the reserved grated cheese (the half you refrigerated). Bake for 25 minutes, or until the custard is set (a knife inserted comes out mostly clean) and the edges are beautifully golden brown. For an irresistibly golden-brown, bubbly cheese topping, you can briefly broil the dish for an additional 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
-
Serve: Let the Croque-Monsieur Bake rest for 5 to 10 minutes after baking. This allows the custard to fully set and makes serving much easier and cleaner. Cut into generous portions and serve immediately, ideally accompanied by a crisp green salad to balance the richness with a refreshing counterpoint.
-
NOTE on Baking Dish Size: Don’t worry if you don’t have a baking dish that fits the sandwiches absolutely tightly. The bread will still effectively absorb the egg mixture from the bottom of the dish as it rests in the fridge before baking, ensuring a deliciously moist and flavorful result. The key is simply to allow it adequate resting time.
-
MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE: Simply use your favorite sturdy gluten-free loaf bread to adapt this recipe for a gluten-free diet. Ensure your other ingredients, such as ham and mustard, are certified gluten-free as well to avoid cross-contamination.
-
Recipe Credit: This recipe is lovingly adapted from the cookbook Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson, bringing her genius for quick, delicious meals to your kitchen with a make-ahead twist.
Did you make this?
Tell me how you liked it! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it with @foodnouveau on Instagram.
This site is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for the site to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. If you click on an affiliate link, I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through such links, at no extra cost to you. This helps me creating new content for the blog–so thank you! Learn more about advertising on this site by reading my Disclosure Policy.