This air fryer monte cristo is everything you love about the classic sandwich but without all the oil and mess of deep frying. Crispy on the outside, loaded with melted cheese, turkey, and ham on the inside.
If you’ve never had a monte cristo before, think of it as a cross between a grilled cheese and French toast. It’s savory and slightly sweet at the same time, and it works so well.
The air fryer gets the bread perfectly golden and crispy in just minutes. You get that same restaurant-quality result without standing over a hot pan.
A little dusting of powdered sugar on top and some raspberry jam for dipping take it to the next level. That sweet and savory combo is what makes this sandwich so good.
It’s a simple recipe that comes together fast and uses ingredients you can easily find at any grocery store. Great for lunch, dinner, or even brunch.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Crispy Outside and Gooey Inside – The air fryer gives the egg-coated brioche a perfect golden crunch while the Swiss cheese melts into the meat.
Ready in Under 15 Minutes – From assembly to plate this entire sandwich takes about 12 minutes so it works great for a quick lunch or dinner.
That Sweet and Savory Combo Is Unreal – The powdered sugar and raspberry jam paired with smoky ham and turkey creates a flavor you will not stop thinking about.
Ingredients
- 4 slices Brioche Bread or Texas Toast, thick-cut
- 4 slices Deli Smoked Turkey
- 4 slices Deli Black Forest Ham
- 4 slices Swiss Cheese
- 2 large Eggs
- 3 tbsp Whole Milk
- 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
- Powdered Sugar, for dusting
- Raspberry Jam or Preserves, for dipping
How To Make
Step 1
Lay out the 4 slices of brioche bread on a clean work surface. Spread a thin layer of dijon mustard on one side of each slice. On 2 of the slices, layer 2 slices of swiss cheese, 2 slices of smoked turkey, and 2 slices of black forest ham on each.
Step 2
Top each stacked sandwich half with the remaining bread slices, mustard-side down. Press down gently to compact the sandwiches.
Step 3
In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, and ground nutmeg until smooth. Carefully dip each assembled sandwich into the egg mixture, letting it soak for about 10 seconds per side. You want the bread coated but not soggy.
Step 4
Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 2 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket generously with nonstick cooking spray. Place the sandwiches in the basket and spray the tops lightly with cooking spray as well.
Step 5
Air fry at 370 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side, then carefully flip the sandwiches. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted through.
Step 6
Remove the sandwiches and let them rest for 1 minute. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally, dust generously with powdered sugar, and serve with a small bowl of raspberry jam or preserves for dipping.
Tips
Use Stale or Day-Old Brioche
Fresh brioche is super soft and can fall apart the second it hits the egg mixture. If your bread is too fresh, it soaks up way too much liquid and gets mushy before it even makes it into the air fryer.
Leave the slices out on the counter for a few hours before you start, or lightly toast them in the air fryer for about 1 minute per side at 350 degrees F. You want the bread slightly dried out so it holds its shape during dipping and cooking.
Dip Quickly and Don’t Soak
The 10 seconds per side mentioned in the recipe is really important. You want just enough egg coating to give you that golden French toast-style crust, but not so much that the bread turns into a soggy mess.
Hold the sandwich flat with both hands and lower it gently into the egg mixture. Once you see the bread change color slightly, flip it and do the other side. If you let it sit too long, the brioche will absorb too much liquid and the sandwich will be hard to move without falling apart.
Secure the Sandwich with Toothpicks
These sandwiches are stacked pretty thick with all that meat and cheese, and flipping them halfway through can be tricky. A couple of toothpicks pushed through the center will keep everything from sliding apart when you flip.
Just stick two toothpicks in at an angle before you dip in the egg mixture. Remove them right when the sandwiches come out of the air fryer so you don’t forget they’re in there.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Ham & Cheese Croissants
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese And Ham
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Air Fryer Cuban Sandwiches
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular sandwich bread instead of brioche or Texas toast?
You can, but thicker bread really does make a difference here. Regular sandwich bread is thinner and tends to get soggy fast when you dip it in the egg mixture, which can make it fall apart in the air fryer.
If brioche or Texas toast isn’t available, try a thick-cut white bread or challah – anything sturdy enough to hold up to the egg dip without turning mushy.
Air Fryer Monte Cristo
- air fryer
- 4 slices Brioche Bread or Texas Toast, thick-cut
- 4 slices Deli Smoked Turkey
- 4 slices Deli Black Forest Ham
- 4 slices Swiss Cheese
- 2 Large Eggs
- 3 tbsp Whole Milk
- 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
- Powdered Sugar, for dusting
- Raspberry Jam or Preserves, for dipping
- Lay out the 4 slices of brioche bread on a clean work surface. Spread a thin layer of dijon mustard on one side of each slice. On 2 of the slices, layer 2 slices of swiss cheese, 2 slices of smoked turkey, and 2 slices of black forest ham on each.
- Top each stacked sandwich half with the remaining bread slices, mustard-side down. Press down gently to compact the sandwiches.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, and ground nutmeg until smooth. Carefully dip each assembled sandwich into the egg mixture, letting it soak for about 10 seconds per side. You want the bread coated but not soggy.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 2 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket generously with nonstick cooking spray. Place the sandwiches in the basket and spray the tops lightly with cooking spray as well.
- Air fry at 370 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side, then carefully flip the sandwiches. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted through.
- Remove the sandwiches and let them rest for 1 minute. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally, dust generously with powdered sugar, and serve with a small bowl of raspberry jam or preserves for dipping.