The Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame.
I feel like every Black Friday needs a good sandwich.

And for 2014, this Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame is that sandwich. I realize that as time goes on I may not be able to think up a new sandwich every year, but as of right now I still have a few good ideas. Yes!!
Which brings me to this sandwich. Clearly it’s insane.

I mean look at the thing. For one it’s huge (but really, shouldn’t every Thanksgiving sandwich be huge???!). Two, it’s dripping with cheesy gravy (yes, there is such a thing) and three, there is crispy prosciutto AND fried eggs. See, best Thanksgiving sandwich ever.

Ok so, let’s talk about your Thanksgiving. How was it? Was there any disaster stories? Did everyone’s turkey turn out awesome? Are you all still stuffed?
My Thanksgiving is currently still underway, since the house is packed (everyone’s here), but you guys, my fried turkeys never happened! Due to a Thanksgiving miracle, the oven guy and his wife decided to play angels and go out of their way to stop by and fix my oven. For some reason, they decided that before they left to head out of town to visit relatives in Nebraska they needed to stop and take care of my oven. Thank God!! I was so nervous about doing the turkey, and then so happy to have an excuse not to have to cook them. I will have to tell you all about it once the house is semi calmed, but as of right now there are people talking a million miles a minute in the next room over and it is nearly impossible to focus.

Sooo. These sandwiches. Oh my gosh, they are killer. If you liked last years waffles, than you have to try these sandwiches. They are kind of one upping the waffles.
It’s all about the cheese sauce. It’s a mix of gravy, milk and Gruyère and yes, it’s sin worthy. But as of yesterday, diets went out the door until January first in my book. Smart thinking on my part if I do say so myself.


If you have ever had a classic french croque madame than you know this has to be good. I basically just added on to that sandwich only I used turkey, crispy prosciutto (because I am obsessed!) and croissants. Oh right, and mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and even a little leftover roasted brussels sprouts.
FYI, croissants are the way to go when it comes to any sandwich. The flakey layers are to die for.

I also made a french toast version too. It’s so messy which is why I made it optional, but if you don’t mind a little mess than you really should try it. It just sort of adds a little extra specialness. Not that this needs any more specialness, but still, the caramelized french toast version is good.

And now I need to go find some pie because I made three yesterday and the last slice of chocolate pecan is calling my name.


Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
The Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Sandwiches
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: croque monsieur, leftovers, thanksgiving
The ultimate croque monsieur sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 cup leftover gravy or 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup milk
- pinch of nutmeg
- 12 ounces gruyere cheese shredded + divided
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 4 croissants halved, or your favorite bread
- 4 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 8 slices fried or baked crispy prosciutto
- leftover turkey enough for 4 sandwiches
- leftover mashed potatoes enough for 4 sandwiches
- leftover cranberry sauce enough for 4 sandwiches
- leftover roasted brussels sprouts or other veggies finely chopped
- 4 fried eggs
- crispy sage for topping (optional)
For the French Toast Version
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup milk I used coconut milk
- 3 eggs
Instructions
-
Add the gravy and milk to a small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Add a pinch of nutmeg. Remove from the heat and stir in 6 ounces of shredded gruyere cheese and the parmesan cheese, stir until melted and smooth.
-
Preheat the the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the 4 bottom halves of the croissants on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and spread with 1 tablespoon mustard over each. Top with a thin layer of roasted brussels sprouts (or whatever veggies you have) and then spread on a layer of mashed potatoes. Drizzle the cheese sauce over the mashed potatoes. Top with turkey, cranberry sauce and then 2 slices crispy prosciutto. Add the top halve of the croissant and gently push down. Drizzle the top of the bread with more cheese sauce and then add the remaining Gruyère. Bake until cheese sauce is bubbling and evenly browned, about 3–4 minutes.
-
Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add eggs, season with salt and pepper, and cook until whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Place an egg on top of each sandwich, and serve hot with fresh salt + pepper and a few fried sage leaves. If there is any cheese sauce leftover, drizzle that overtop as well. Grab your forks and knives!
To make the French Toast Version
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Assemble the sandwich as directed above, leaving off the final drizzle of cheese sauce and cheese. Whisk the brown sugar, eggs and milk in a shallow bowl.
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Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a pat of butter. Carefully dip the sandwiches through the egg mixture and place on the hot pan. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side or until lightly golden and caramelized. Remove from the skillet and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle the top of the bread with more cheese sauce and then add the remaining Gruyère. Bake until cheese sauce is bubbling and evenly browned, about 3–4 minutes. Fry the eggs as directed above. Place an egg on top of each sandwich, and serve hot with fresh salt + pepper and a few fried sage leaves. If there is any cheese sauce leftover, drizzle that overtop as well. Grab your forks and knives!

What are you doing with your leftovers today???
holy moly, that looks insanely good. gravy mixed with gruyere? genius. glad to hear you got your oven fixed! i cooked my first turkey and my oven cooked way too fast (i blame it all on the oven). It came out too dry but at least the gravy was good! better luck next year, or better luck today once I make this sandwich!
haha! Yes, blame it all on the oven. I always do! 🙂
Thanks so much and happy belated Thanksgiving!
GAH! These look seriously AMAZING. I have never even had a regular croque madame…but I think I should just start here.
AND, my Thanksgiving was great. I cooked my first turkey! For 2 people….it turned out awesome, but we have ALL the leftovers. Pinned!
Congrats on your turkey!! That is awesome! 🙂
Thanks Taylor and enjoy your leftovers!
My husband loves a turkey, pepper jack, cranberry sauce panini. I made it last year for the first time. He had one on Wed, after I baked a turkey so I could send some home with our son. I made the cranberry sauce and to me it was tart but he said it was just right.
Glad you got your oven fixed.
Oh yum! That sounds delicious!
Thanks Charlotte!
This looks wonderful but I’m sticking with my turkey and Cole slaw sandwich it is traditional for me.
You sound like thanksgiving 2014 is now a good memory.
Nothing wrong with traditional! 🙂
Thanks Nancy and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too!
you had me at prosciutto! seriously, this is one helluva sandwich, and your photography is gorgeous as always. pinned!
Umm…THANK YOU! By the way, read your email and will respond soon. Thanks for the heads up!!
Looks delicious! You had me at cheesy gravy 🙂
Thanks Jen! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! 🙂
Oh my gosh, Tieghan! What have you done! Croque madame is one of my favorite breakfast dishes, ever but you have just taken it over the top! Can’t wait to make this today!
Thank you! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
That’s amazing, so glad the oven got fixed just in time! I thought of you and your fried turkeys yesterday :). This sandwich is killer!! Perfect Black Friday breakfast!
Thank you!! I am kind of sad I never got to cook the turkeys, but hey we had pretty good Thanksgiving. AND I am so thankful the oven is working again!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!! 🙂
Oh so glad you got your oven fixed in time..I am so petrified of frying a turkey too many horror stories..as for leftovers it is tradition to have a turkey sandwich with mayo, cranberry, turkey and stuffing with a cup of warm gravy to dip your sandwich into as you eat it…totally messy and totally delicious.
WHOA! That sandwich sounds awesome. I am so doing that tomorrow! 🙂
Thanks Lisa and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
These look insane Tieghan! Glad your oven is fixed, hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank Kathy and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well! 🙂
Tieghan, these look fabulicious! I love croque madame and the additional of sage sound perfect.
Thank you so much, Linda! Hopping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
A million times yes, thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I have croques to make…..
THANK YOU! Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving!
Oh my, Tieghan, how wonderful! That was so kind of the oven repairman; what a thoughtful way to bless someone else! I am so glad your Thanksgiving turned out. I thought of you and your turkey/oven challenge many times yesterday (I would gone crazy if it had been me), hoping that your dinner would turn out better than you expected. It’s too bad I couldn’t have lent you our oven, which we weren’t using (as we are very untraditional around here, lol! :P). But I am so glad this last-minute provision was able to make your day extra-special/memorable. 😉
It really was!! He made me incredibly thankful!! 🙂
Thanks for the kind words and sweet thoughts. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Haven’t had lunch yet and now I want to drop my previous lunch plans and make this!
Haha! Thank you!
These sandwiches look INSAAAANEEEE. And YAY for oven miracles!!!!! I hope your Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful, Tieghan!!
Thank you, Cynthia!! Hope yours was awesome too!! Happy December!
Oh and cannot wait for the hot chocolate post! 🙂 It’s my fave!
EPIC. Can you mail them?? 😉
Ha! I wish I could! 🙂
ThANKS so much and I hope you had a great THanksgiving!
OMG this was sooooo good! made it saturday night and added bacon instead of proscuitto. LOVED the mustard- i almost didn’t add it and so glad i did! i also used green beans i/o brussel sprouts. my husband and me thought it was to die for. thanks so much!
These were awesome and used up alot of leftovers.
Thank you! I am thrilled you liked this!