Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

This delicious air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich is a classic sandwich recipe you can enjoy for lunch or dinner, in minutes!

Lunch is always a problem child in our house. We never know what to make! But that little dilemma might be over for good with this amazing recipe.

What Is A Monte Cristo Sandwich?

A Monte Cristo sandwich is a ham and cheese sandwich that is dipped in egg and fried. It has also been called a French toasted cheese sandwich, or simply, a French sandwich. It can be enjoyed for either breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Why Is It Called A Monte Cristo Sandwich?

Despite it being referred to as a French sandwich, it’s actually an American sandwich with possible connections to the Monte Cristo Hotel or the Monte Cristo mining region.

What Is The Difference Between A Croque Monsieur And A Monte Cristo?

A Monte Cristo is a variation of a Croque Monsieur, which is a typically made with French ham, Gruyere cheese, and sometimes béchamel sauce. Unlike the Croque Monsieur, the Monte Cristo is dipped in egg and fried. Sometimes, even deep fried, and it is usually served with some powdered sugar sprinkled over the top.

What Does A Monte Cristo Sandwich Taste Like?

It is a nice blend of sweet and savory. It’s sort of like adding ham and melted cheese to french toast. Sounds odd, but it’s super tasty!

How Many Calories In A Monte Cristo Sandwich?

As with many sandwiches, the nutrition data will depend on what you put in it and how you prepare it. This is not a diet-friendly sandwich.

It is, however, a delicious treat for special occasions. And all we can say is, it’s a good thing we air fried it instead of deep frying it at 1058 calories per sandwich! But we won’t tell if you don’t.

What Is A Monte Cristo Sandwich Made Of?

While there are many recipes for a Monte Cristo sandwich on the web, this is how we make ours. We hope you enjoy it!

1½ cups pancake mix – This is just a standard, box mix.

1 large egg – This can be cold or room temperature. It won’t make a difference here.

½ cup milk – You can use any type of milk, but because this sandwich has cheese, we’ll assume you are okay with regular dairy milk.

¼ cup water – This is just for consistency.

1 tbsp. vanilla extract – We always recommend using the real stuff. Vanilla flavor is synthetic and just not as good overall.

¼ cup powdered sugar – This is optional, but definitely not to be missed. It’s delicious!

¼ cup raspberry jelly – You can really use any flavor jelly or jam you prefer. But we really like raspberry. This is optional for dipping your sandwich.

16 slices Swiss cheese – Sounds like a lot, but we promise, it’s worth it! Just buy it pre-sliced for ease.

20 slices ham – You can use French ham, or just grab some deli ham at the grocery store.

8 slices Texas toast – This is the thicker slice, square bread. (See photos) Many grocery stores will carry it, but you might want to call first to be sure before you make the trip.

How To Make An Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich

Mix milk, water, vanilla and pancake mix together in a bowl. Make sure batter is thick, add pancake mix to thicken.

Assemble the sandwich like this: bread, 2 slices of cheese, 5 slices of ham, 2 slices of cheese and bread. 

Using toothpicks, stab the corners of the sandwich to lock both slices of bread together. 

Dip the sandwich in the batter on both sides and place sandwich in lined and pulled air fryer basket.

Cook on 370 F. for 7 minutes, flip and cook for 3 minutes.

Remove and serve with powdered sugar dusting and dip in some jelly.

Note: You can also add jelly inside the sandwich! Yum! Perfect combo of savory and sweet!

Best Air Fryers For Air Fryer Sandwiches

If you are in the market for a new air fryer, here are two we highly recommend for making hot sandwiches.

Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe