This delicious Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich recipe is the perfect blend of crunchy, sweet, and savory. Made with slices of ham, turkey, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and served with a side of maple syrup, this variation also includes a crispy cornflake crust that adds a satisfying crunch to the classic sandwich.
Our lunch menu at our family's restaurant boasted all of American diner staples, including a classic Monte Cristo Sandwich. Over the years, our easy recipe evolved into one that included a cornflake crust to make for extra crispy bread.
It's made even easier for the home cook with the use of an air fryer, which famously adds a lovely crunch to just about anything. We have also come up with an air fryer version for both our Air Fryer Ham Steaks and City Chicken, which we think you'll also love!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Crispy and satisfying: The cornflake crust elevates our Air Fryer Monte Cristo by contrasting the crunch with the classic melty cheese and soft warm bread. It also adds a toasty and nutty flavor that complements the rest of the ingredients well.
Easy to make: You don't have to worry about standing over a stove, you just have to assemble your sandwich, dip in eggs and cornflakes, and air fry away! Plus, all of the ingredients are easy to find at just about any grocery store.
Versatile and customizable: You can add your own spin by changing up the meats, cheeses, or sweet sauce. It makes for a great breakfast, lunch, or dinner option! The sky is the limit on your options!
What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
The Monte Cristo Sandwich is a famous sandwich that is believed to be an American variation of a croque monsieur, which is a French sandwich. The name is thought to be a nod to the novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
It was a staple on American menus between the 1930s-1960s and has many types of variations in terms of ingredients and cooking process. It became especially popular in the 1960s when Disneyland's Blue Bayou Restaurant began serving it.
Ingredient Notes
Cooked bacon - Make sure that your bacon is extra crispy. It may feel soggy on the sandwich if it is not.
Deli ham and turkey breast - Choose good quality deli meats. It's also the perfect way to use up leftover ham or turkey that you may have from your dinner or holiday meals.
Swiss cheese - We used slices of Swiss cheese but you can certainly use other types of cheese such as gruyere cheese for a different flavor. Smoked gouda cheese would also make for a great addition!
White bread - Make sure that you choose very soft bread so that it soaks up the egg batter well. Brioche is an excellent choice and what we used.
Eggs and cornflakes - This forms the batter that will encrust the sandwich. You can crush your cornflakes in a food processor or blender. We used a ziploc bag and crushed it manually with our hands.
Powdered sugar and maple syrup - This gives that sweet element to balance the savoriness of the meats and cheese. Feel free to use as much or as little as you like to your tastes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Assemble your sandwiches by adding turkey and ham slices on top of a piece of bread.
Step 2: Then, top with your crispy bacon, slices of cheese, and another piece of bread. Repeat with the remaining sandwich ingredients.
Step 3: Crush your cornflakes in a ziploc bag with your hands or a rolling pin. Dip each side of your sandwich in the beaten eggs.
Step 4: Then, press the cornflakes into each side and arrange them in the air fryer (working in batches, if needed). Cook in the air fryer, flipping halfway through cooking time.
Step 5: Slice your sandwich in half.
Step 6: Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup on the side.
Expert Tips and Variations
- Secure the corners of the sandwich with toothpicks prior to air frying to ensure that they don't fall apart when you go to flip them halfway through the cooking time.
- Try different jams or condiments, such as mustard, raspberry jam, flavored syrups, or even a spicy pepper jam for an easy twist.
- If you have a small air fryer basket and need to work in batches, add the cooked sandwiches to a baking sheet in your regular oven set to warm or on the lowest heat setting to keep them warm while the rest of the sandwiches finish.
Storage and Reheating
- Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, pop in them into the air fryer at 360 degrees F for a few minutes or until crispy.
- To freeze, wrap the sandwiches individually in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge and add them to the air fryer at 360 degrees F for a few minutes or until crispy.
FAQ
Can you make these ahead of time?
You can prep the sandwiches ahead by assembling them and keeping them in the fridge for up to 1 day in advance. However, for the best taste and texture, dip in egg and coat with cornflakes just before air frying.
What is the best bread for a Monte Cristo?
Soft white bread works best as it absorbs the egg well and crisps up nicely. We love using Brioche.
What is the difference between a croque monsieur and a Monte Cristo?
A croque monsieur is a French grilled cheese sandwich with ham and cheese, sometimes béchamel sauce, and toasted. A Monte Cristo is the American version, which is dipped in beaten egg and fried, often served with powdered sugar and jam.
What should I serve with an Air Fryer Monte Cristo?
It would pair very nicely with a green tossed salad or a batch of sweet potato fries to play on the sweet and savory flavors.
Did you love this recipe?
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Air Fryer Monte Cristo Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 slices cooked bacon (extra crispy)
- 8 slices deli ham
- 8 slices deli turkey breast
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 8 slices soft white bread
- 4 whole eggs (beaten)
- 2 cups cornflakes
- Dusting of powdered sugar (to taste)
- Maple syrup for serving (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F. (Note - spray with non-stick cooking spray, if your air fryer does not have a non-stick coating.)
- Assemble your sandwich by layering two pieces of cooked bacon, deli meat, and swiss cheese each between two slices of bread. Repeat for remaining sandwiches.
- Add your cornflakes to a ziploc bag and crush with your hands or a rolling pin. Add the crushed cornflakes and beaten eggs to two separate shallow dishes.
- Dip each side of the sandwich in the eggs. Then, press each side of the sandwich into the crushed cornflakes, making sure they stick to each side. Repeat for remaining sandwiches. (Note - if you have a small air fryer, assemble them in batches as not to make the bread and cornflakes too soggy.)
- Air fry your sandwiches (working in batches as needed) for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown on each side, flipping the sandwiches over halfway through cooking time.
- Dust each sandwich with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.
Notes
- Secure the corners of the sandwiches with toothpicks prior to air frying to ensure that they don't fall apart when you go to flip them halfway through the cooking time.
- If you have a small air fryer and need to work in batches, add the cooked sandwiches to a baking sheet in your regular oven set to warm or on the lowest heat setting to keep them warm while the rest of the sandwiches finish.
Nutrition
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