Croque monsieur is the French name for a toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich traditionally made with Gruyère.
The sandwich consists of sliced ham and cheese between bread, toasted or fried until crisp. Many versions are covered with béchamel sauce and additional grated cheese before being browned. It is served in cafés and is commonly eaten as a light meal or brunch dish.
The name appeared in Parisian restaurant menus in the early twentieth century. “Croque” comes from the French verb croquer, meaning “to crunch” or “to bite,” while “monsieur” means “mister.”
A croque madame is a related variation topped with a fried or poached egg. That egg distinguishes it from the croque monsieur and is a frequent source of confusion when the two sandwiches are compared.