Croque Monsieur Casserole

Ingredients

• 6 sourdough English muffins, cut into cubes
• 10 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 8 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1/2 pound deli sliced ham
• 3 cups grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese, divided
• 2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Prepare Bread Layer: In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the cubed English muffins and toast until golden brown. Remove from heat and spread Dijon mustard over the toasted muffins.

3. 3

   Assemble Layers: Layer the toasted English muffins with ham and 2 cups of cheese in the prepared baking dish.

4. 4

   Make Custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the custard over the layers in the baking dish.

5. 5

   Prepare Sauce: In a saucepan, melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, nutmeg, remaining salt, and pepper. Cook until thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese.

6. 6

   Finish and Bake: Pour the sauce over the casserole and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.