Cheddar’s Monte Cristo Sandwich is crispy on the outside, and in the inside is a delicious ham and cheese sandwich, where the cheese melts perfectly. Does this sound good to you? Try this Monte Cristo copycat recipe. Enjoy the best Monte Cristo sandwich you can get.
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Classic Monte Cristo Sandwich
A Monte Cristo sandwich isn’t that difficult to make and it can be a wonderful treat to have occasionally. My local Cheddars can have up to a 90-minute wait on a very busy day. So sometimes I will make my own copycat recipe instead of going out, and now that you have this copycat recipe, you don’t have to worry about this recipe being a top secret recipe, it’s easy to recreate with a little know-how.
A Monte Cristo has its origin in the Croque Monsieur in the sense it is a ham and cheese sandwich that is cooked.
In the South, this sandwich is battered and deep-fried. I personally love this hot sandwich. It is warm, crunchy, and crispy, and you can even sprinkle it will powdered sugar. Some people enjoy their Monte Cristo with raspberry preserves.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Slices of bread
- Smoked turkey slices
- Ham slices
- American cheese slices
- Monterey Jack cheese slices
- Pancake mix
- Powdered sugar
- Vegetable oil for frying
How to Make Cheddar’s Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Make two sandwiches with smoked turkey, ham, American cheese, and Monterey jack cheese.
- Wrap the sandwiches snuggly with plastic wrap.
- Place the sandwich in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Preheat oil to about 320 degrees. If you do not have a deep fryer, use a pot on your stovetop that you have filled with oil.
- Prepare pancake batter according to the package instructions.
- Gently unwrap the sandwiches and dip them into the batter.
- Place the battered sandwich in hot oil and cook until golden, flipping as needed so both sides brown evenly.
- Place the sandwich on a wire rack to drain.
- Cut the sandwich in half and dust with powdered sugar.
Recipe Notes
Make the sandwiches ahead of time, and then wrap them with a bit of plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. I think this really helps to bind the sandwich together before you batter it. The sandwich will bind together when you take this extra step.
Use your favorite pancake batter to dip the sandwiches in. My personal favorite is the Krustez brand. You just need to add water, and you are in business. I hope you enjoy this classic Monte Cristo sandwich!
Use a deep fryer. I recommend the T-fal FR4049 Family Pro 3-Liter Oil Capacity Electric Deep Fryer
to fry these sandwiches. I can get in two triangles at once. Best of all it keeps the temperature at a nice even heat, and it will allow me to strain the oil so I can reuse it again.
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Cheddars Monte Cristo Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread
- 4 slices smoked turkey
- 4 slices ham
- 2 slices American cheese
- 2 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 cups prepared pancake mix
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- The Prep Make the sandwiches ahead of time. Make two sandwiches with 2 slices of smoked turkey, 2 slices of ham, and one slice of American cheese, and one slice of Monterey jack cheese. Wrap the sandwiches individually snuggly with plastic wrap. Place the sandwich in the refrigerator for at least one hour. You may want to do this overnight.
- Preheat oil to about 320 degrees. Use you favorite pancake batter, make enough batter to prepare about six 4-inch pancakes. Gently unwrap the sandwiches and dip into the batter. Place the battered sandwich in hot oil and cook until golden. If you need to be sure to flip the sandwich over so both sides brown evenly. Place the sandwich on a wire rack to drain. Allow the sandwich to rest for about 1 minute, then cut the sandwich, and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Kenda
How could cook this without deep frying. I just don’t have a deep fryer, but love the Chedders & Bennigans Monte Cristo ❤️
Stephanie Manley
To be honest, I don’t know how to get a batter on here and then, “fry” it. The batter will slip off if you try to air fry it. I think baking it won’t be so great either, you could try to pan fry it, in a pan with some butter. It won’t be quite the same, but that’s the only way I could think it could work.
Gloria
Made it for the first time today and it was delicious!!! Didn’t look as pretty as yours, but it was great and will definitely make again.
Gloria
Thank you for this recipe. I am living in China, so I don’t have access to Cheddar’s. I do think I am missing food from home and getting bored with the same old stuff I eat here. I’m a little leery of eating out, because my first year here I had five cases of food poisoning. Then, when I cooked at home and packed my lunches, I didn’t get sick. The trick to making this is finding the turkey slices. Ham slices are very easy to come by, so is the white bread, but to get the cheeses, I will probably have to go to the western-oriented grocery store. That’s where I found the turkey slices the last time. It’s not an item they normally carry, but I snapped up two packages and put one in the freezer. I look forward to trying this!!! I wondered how to get the outer shell of the sandwich, and didn’t realize it was pancake mix! The other recipes I found said to coat the sandwich in egg and then fry it. They didn’t look like the Cheddar’s Monte Cristo, but I know where to go now to recreate this!
Deanna S
Tried this recipe and it is SO GOOD! It is so easy also. It will be a new regular in my house. Thank you!
Linda Morgan
I get one every time I go there! Now going to make my own and see if it’s as good, hope so!
Alanna
I just had a monte cristo 2 days ago! I love them but this time seemed short on meat. I found a raspberry jam at the store that I warmed a little in the microwave to dip my leftover half sandwich. Why do you make 2 sandwiches? I can’t ever eat the whole one from Cheddar’s.
Stephanie
I think it takes a lot of effort to make these sandwiches, so why not invite a hungry friend?
Linda
Stephanie, what kind of bread is best for the sandwich?
Stephanie
I like to use white bread that is a little stale, I think it holds up a little better. Near me, I buy Mrs. Bairds.
Alanna
I just had a monte cristo 2 days ago! I love them but this time seemed short on meat. I found a raspberry jam at the store that I warmed a little in the microwave to dip my leftover half sandwich. Why do you make 2 sandwiches? I can’t ever eat the whole one from Cheddar’s.
Kelly Batts
What is the best type of bread to use w this recipe?
Docmo
Such a sandwich could ruin my day. But hey, that’s what I’m here for. Will absolutely try this. Doesn’t seem very hard to do. It might even be better with bacon added. Don’t you think? I do.
Stephanie
Oh, I like where you are going with that sandwich!
Carolina
I usually use French Toast style bread rather than deep frying. I also use provolone and have a side of strawberries in sugar (makes its own syrup) to put over the sandwich with powdered sugar sprinkled on top! Delish!!
Laura Funk
OK, this seriously looks incredible. We just had lame ol grilled cheese sandwiches and I totally should have made this. Wow
Tatanisha W
I’ve had this sandwich once at Cheddars! I LOVE Cheddars, thanks for the copycat recipe!
Linda
I just left Cheddars for the 2nd time for this Sandwich, it’s so good I came back and got right on line to fine the recipe copy. Its great but I can’t afford that price every week. Going to make my own.
Ashley Mullins
oOoOo… This looks tasty! I think I could do this! 😉 Thanks for the recipe!
Erlene
Oh my, this looks like a tasty lunch treat. A nice twist from the normal ham and cheese – yum!
Trisha
The Monte Cristo is one of my favorite sandwiches. I’ve never made one but it’s about time I try! Thanks for the recipe!
Cathy
Wow. I have to confess that I’ve never eaten a Monte Cristo sandwich before, but this looks and sounds delicious! I might have to make it soon, you know, for my husband.
Debra
That looks delicious. I’ve seen Monte Cristos on menus before but never knew what it actually was. I’ll have to make this myself!