Crowded Kitchen

MENUMENU
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Snacks

Croque Monsieur Bites

Published: Dec 18, 2024 by Lexi

206 shares
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

These delicious Croque Monsieur Bites are made with puff pastry, homemade béchamel, ham, and gruyere and swiss cheese. They're the perfect easy 2-bite appetizer for any occasion!

Close up overhead view of croque monsieur bites on a platter.

If you're looking for a Christmas or New Years Eve recipe that's sure to be a hit, you can stop your search here. These mini puff pastry bites have it all – they're crispy, cheesy and the béchamel keeps them moist and super flavorful!

There's a bakery/coffee shop near us that we go to quite often, and they make ham and cheese croissants that taste just like a croque monsieur in croissant form. This tastes just like it, in mini version!

Jump to:
  • Croque Monsieur Bites Ingredients
  • How to Make this Croque Monsieur Bites Recipe
  • Storage
  • Tips and FAQ
  • Top tip
  • More appetizer recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

Croque Monsieur Bites Ingredients

Overhead view of ingredients for Croque monsieur bites.

For the béchamel sauce

  • Unsalted butter and all purpose flour to make the roux, which is the base of the sauce. This is essential for making sure your sauce is thick and creamy.
  • Milk: Whole milk is best, but 1% or 2% will work here, too.
  • Dijon mustard: For flavor! Don't skip this.
  • Salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg

For assembly

  • Puff pastry: Any puff pastry will work here, but for the best quality, we suggest using Dufour puff pastry. It's made with real butter and it creates the most crispy, flaky layers.
  • Ham: This recipe is a great use for leftover ham from the holidays. Or, just buy pre-sliced ham and dice it into smaller pieces.
  • Cheese: We use a mix of shredded gruyere, swiss cheese and parmesan for maximum flavor and meltiness.
  • Fresh thyme: Optional for topping.

How to Make this Croque Monsieur Bites Recipe

PREP: Preheat oven to 400˚F and lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.

STEP 1: Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12x12-inch square.
Cut the puff pastry into 12 rectangles. Place one piece of puff pastry in each muffin tin. Refrigerate while you make the béchamel.

Puff pastry squares in muffin tin.

STEP 2: Heat the butter over medium heat in a small saucepan until it's foamy. Reduce heat to low and add the flour, whisking for one minute, until smooth.

Slowly stream in the milk, whisking until no lumps remain. Whisk in the dijon, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Continue whisking over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Let cool slightly.

Roux in a saucepan.
Finished bechamel sauce.

STEP 3: Spread 1 teaspoon of béchamel in the bottom of each puff pastry. Top with a thin layer of ham, then a layer of cheese. Spoon in another 1 teaspoon of béchamel, then another layer of ham and cheese. Sprinkle with fresh thyme.

Puff pastry in muffin tin topped with bechamel sauce.
Puff pastry in muffin tin topped with bechamel sauce and ham.
Puff pastry in muffin tin topped with bechamel sauce, ham and cheese.
Croque monsieur bites in muffin tins before baking.

STEP 4: Bake for 22-24 minutes, until the cheese starts to brown and the puff pastry is golden brown around the edges. Let cool for 10 minutes before enjoying.

Croque monsieur bites in muffin tins after baking.

Storage

Keep these croque monsieur bites stored in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a 350˚F oven for about 10 minutes.

You can also freeze them for up 3 months. Reheat from frozen in a 350˚F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Tips and FAQ

Top tip

Make sure your puff pastry stays very cold. It needs to be thawed in the refrigerator in order to roll it out, but once you cut the puff pastry and place in the muffin tins, return it to the refrigerator until just before baking. If puff pastry is too warm, the butter will leak out and it won't puff up properly.

Close up overhead view of croque monsieur bite cut in half on a platter.

More tips

  • Use a mini muffin tin: For even smaller appetizer bites, you can make these in a mini muffin tin. Just cut the puff pastry into smaller rectangles (about 2-3 inches in diameter) and use fewer ingredients per bite.
  • Try these with sliced turkey or chicken instead of ham for another variation.
  • If your béchamel sauce gets too thick, just whisk in another 1-2 tablespoons of milk to thin it out.
  • Don't forget to lightly grease your muffin tins to make sure the puff pastry doesn't stick. We also use nonstick muffin tins to make it extra easy.
Close up overhead view of croque monsieur bites on a platter.

More appetizer recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • Overhead view of onion tarte tatin topped with goat cheese and rosemary.
    Onion Tarte Tatin
  • Overhead view of carrot and roasted red pepper dip garnished with pomegranate and mint.
    Carrot and Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip
  • Overhead view of melon prosciutto salad on a tray.
    Melon and Prosciutto Salad
  • Front view of gougeres spit open.
    Cheddar Gougeres

Tried this recipe?

Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

Print

📖 Recipe

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Close up overhead view of croque monsieur bites on a platter.

Croque Monsieur Bites


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 52 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

These delicious Croque Monsieur Bites are made with puff pastry, homemade béchamel, ham, and gruyere and swiss cheese. They're the perfect easy 2-bite appetizer for any occasion! 


Ingredients

Béchamel sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour 
  • ½ cup whole milk 
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard 
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt 
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Pinch of black pepper

Assembly:

  • 12 ounces puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator 
  • 1 cup diced ham 
  • ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese 
  • 1 cup shredded swiss cheese 
  • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese 
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme 


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400˚F and lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
  2. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12x12-inch square. 
  3. Cut the puff pastry into 12 rectangles. Place one piece of puff pastry in each muffin tin. Refrigerate while you make the béchamel. 
  4. Heat the butter over medium heat in a small saucepan until it's foamy. Reduce heat to low and add the flour, whisking for one minute, until smooth. 
  5. Slowly stream in the milk, whisking until no lumps remain. Whisk in the dijon, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Continue whisking over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Let cool slightly. 
  6. Spread 1 teaspoon of béchamel in the bottom of each puff pastry. Top with a thin layer of ham, then a layer of cheese. Spoon in another 1 teaspoon of béchamel, then another layer of ham and cheese. Sprinkle with fresh thyme. 
  7. Bake for 22-24 minutes, until the cheese starts to brown and the puff pastry is golden brown around the edges. Let cool for 10 minutes before enjoying. 

Notes

Make sure your puff pastry stays very cold. It needs to be thawed in the refrigerator in order to roll it out, but once you cut the puff pastry and place in the muffin tins, return it to the refrigerator until just before baking. If puff pastry is too warm, the butter will leak out and it won't puff up properly. 

Keep these croque monsieur bites stored in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a 350˚F oven until warmed through. 

You can also freeze them for up 3 months. Reheat from frozen in a 350˚F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Use a mini muffin tin: For even smaller appetizer bites, you can make these in a mini muffin tin. Just cut the puff pastry into smaller rectangles (about 2-3 inches in diameter) and use fewer ingredients per bite. 

Try these with sliced turkey or chicken instead of ham for another variation.

If your béchamel sauce gets too thick, just whisk in another 1-2 tablespoons of milk to thin it out.

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 22 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 235
  • Sugar: 0.7 g
  • Sodium: 200.4 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12.2 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 10 g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #crowdedkitchen

More Snacks

  • Mounds Bar Dates
  • Close up side view of homemade strawberry nutrigrain bars stacked on a plate.
    Homemade Strawberry Nutrigrain Bars
  • Overhead view of protein bars on a plate.
    Homemade Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bars
  • Overhead view of nut bars on a plate.
    Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Nut Bars

Comments

No Comments

Let us know what you think! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

More about us →

Seasonal

  • close up overhead view of vegan bean soup in a bowl on white linen surface.
    Three-Bean Vegetable Soup
  • Front view of strawberry pop tart.
    Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
  • Overhead view of slice and bake cookies on a pink plate.
    Slice and Bake Heart Cookies
  • close up view of a passion fruit martini in a glass with dark backdrop.
    Passion Fruit Martini

Popular

  • Overhead view of fruit and nut crackers on a plate.
    Gourmet Fruit and Nut Crackers
  • overhead view of vegan mac and cheese in pot
    The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
  • Overhead view of hot honey chicken plate.
    Hot Honey Chicken Plate (Sweetgreen Dupe)
  • Overhead view of potato leek soup.
    Super Green Sheet Pan Soup

See more-->

Footer

Back to top ↑

About

  • Learn About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • See our Portfolio

Newsletter

  • Sign up for weekly emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
  • As Seen In

Copyright © 2025 Crowded Kitchen