Air fryer Monte Cristo recipe is s sweet and savory sandwich with heavenly perfection. If you love the ham and Swiss battered version at Disneyland, youโll go crazy over this easy air fryer recipe.
I bet you hadnโt thought about making an air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich when you got your kitchen device, but I bet you want to now! After you fall in love with this, youโll have to try this and other easy recipes here on The Typical Mom blog. (affiliate links present)
Air Fryer Monte Cristo Recipe
If you love the Monte Cristo sandwich Disneyland has, youโll love this! Or, maybe you havenโt heard of this layered, salty and sweet bite of heaven but wannaโ try it! We have used this as a leftover ham recipe before, or turkey lunch meat. Melted, warm with some sweet jam in between the layers you are in for a real treat for sure.
Use any brand of hot air machine you have at home, most of them work the same they just may have a different sized basket. That just means you will be able to make a small or larger batch each go around.
in Ninja Foodi
If you are making this as one of our Ninja Foodi recipes, the lid that is attached will be used. Even if you just melt cheese and cold cuts it takes an otherwise cold boring bite into the next dimension.
NO need for this to be deep fried though because hot air is going to crisp the outside to perfection. Then sprinkle with some sugar and dip in a bit of jam and WOWZA! Just like when we made air fryer tuna melt, my kids are obsessed.
What is a Monte Cristo sandwich made of?
It is known as a quick and easy sandwich with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese slices. From there itโs dipped in a batter and fried to a golden brown perfection. Using an air fryer though requires no oil or oily after taste!
Ingredients
- Bread slices, 2 each will be needed
- Ham and/or Turkey slices, lunchmeat or leftovers after the holidays
- Cheese; Swiss, Gouda or Guyer are great
- Pancake mix to dip the outside in
- Egg to make the batter
- Milk and water for the coating too
- Powdered sugar at the end is great
Best bread for Monte Cristo sandwich
This will depend a bit on whom you ask but white is what we use and generally have on hand. Square is easiest too when securing the edges and dipping in one piece so it doesnโt fall apart.
Equipment
Youโll want an air fryer paper to go on the bottom, choose either circular or square depending on what shape basket you have. Toothpicks are needed to hold the 4 sides together before you dip your slices of bread in.
As well as raspberry jam for a little dipping is great. You can also spread a bit on the sandwich itself. I prefer to have it not hot and instead dip it so that portion is kindaโ cool.
Directions
I always like to preheat my air fryer for 5-7 minutes at the temperature you want. This way your food cooks evenly at the same temp for the entire cook time duration. If you are leary of putting food into a hot machine you can skip this step.
Make as many sandwiches with meat and cheese layered inside as you want. Then you will want to secure all 4 ends with toothpicks. Mix together pancake mix with egg, milk and water. Should be on the thicker side to coat.
Once machine is preheated, use tongs to dip sandwich on both sides. Allow excess batter to fall off. Place air fryer paper into basket with the sandwich on top. Allow to air fry, then open and flip to the other side for an additional one minute. Remove, sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice in half and dip in jam before biting for the ULTIMATE YUM!!
*Timing will vary slightly depending on how much batter was on the bread, thickness of bread, and how brown you want it.
Tips
Generally once you make this meat and cheese sandwich, you dip it into an egg batter of some kind. Pancake batter was used this time! Why? Well, why not right??!! Who doesnโt love light and fluffy, yet a little sweet batter like this?
- You want it to be on the thicker side so it sticks to the outside.
- Too thin and it wonโt create a coating so the outside gets nice and crispy.
- Yes, itโs a bit messyโฆbut so worth it!!
- AND flipping is necessary, just like air fryer frozen chicken tenders you want golden brown and crispy on both sides
Why do they call it a Monte Cristo sandwich?
Itโs really a variation of the French croque-monsieur. In the 30s cookbooks had recipes for this under such names as โa French sandwichโ. Itโs a bit like a mega amped up version of our grilled cheese in an air fryer recipe!
Now YOU can make this French toasted bite of perfection as an air fryer sandwich right at home now though, and tweak it any way you want. You donโt want to mess with perfection though really. ๐
Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 1 c pancake mix
- 1 egg
- 1/4 c water
- 1/2 c milk, whole
- 16 slices ham
- 16 slices cheese, Swiss, Gouda, or Gruyer
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380F for 7 minutes. In the meantime, in a wide mixing bowl combine the pancake mix with the egg, milk and water.
- Stir until you have a thick pancake batter โ you want it to be thicker than your normal batter, not watery, so gradually mix in the water and the milk. Set aside.
- Assemble the sandwiches like this: On a piece of bread place 2 slices of cheese, then add 4 slices ham then 2 more cheese and then the second piece of bread.
- Gently use your palm to press down on the sandwich. Carefully, at an angle slide in 4 toothpicks on every edge of the bread to hold the sandwich together. By now the air fryer should have finished preheating, place an air fryer paper liner into the basket and close without turning back on.
- Dip the assembled sandwich into the pancake batter and coat well on one side then gently flip over and coat on the second side. Lift up and allow excess batter to run off (donโt skip this step). Then place on top of the liner paper into the air fryer basket.
- Set time for 7 minutes at 380 degrees. Then flip over and set temperature to 360F and time to 1 minute, just to finish browning and cooking the second side. (timing will vary slightly depending on how thick your batter is)
- Remove from air fryer, pull out the toothpicks and keep warm by wrapping in a container with aluminum foil and continue to cool all of the sandwiches.
- To serve, dust each sandwich with as much powdered sugar as desired then slice in half and serve with a little bit of raspberry preserves for dipping into. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How much is the Monte Cristo sandwich at Disneyland?
- Itโs about $21 each if youโre going to try to eat free at Disneyland which is rather pricey.
- I would say it costs about $5 each with this method!
- Use your Ninja Foodi machine or any other brand you have on your countertop.
What to serve with Monte Cristo
I personally think this is a complete meal or lunch but if you need a little something else I would suggest:
- We always love salt and pepper zucchini chips.
- A side salad with grape tomatoes and sliced cucumbers is always refreshing.
- Or serve our favorite fruit easy ambrosia recipe which is to die for.
Not sure why you called this the Monte Cristo as itโs not. THIS is the Monte Cristo, just sub air fryer.
SANDWICH
3 slices whole wheat sandwich
bread
1 slice Swiss cheese (deli-style)
3 ounces sliced turkey (deli-style)
I slice American cheese
(deli-style)
3 ounces sliced ham (deli-style)
BATTER
2 egg yolks
1 cup ice water
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
ON TOP
powdered sugar
ON THE SIDE
raspberry preserves
1. Heat 8 to 12 cups of shortening in a deep fryer
or large saucepan to 375 degrees. You will need the
hot shortening to be at least 4 inches deep.
2. Make the sandwich by arranging the slice of
Swiss cheese on a piece of wheat bread. Arrange the
turkey breast on the Swiss cheese. Place a piece of wheat bread on the turkey. Place the slice of American
cheese on the wheat bread.Arrange the ham slices on
the American cheese. Top off the sandwich with the
third slice of bread. Make sure the meat is not hanging
over the edge of the sandwich. Press down on the
sandwich with the palm of your hand to flatten it a bit.
3. Make the batter by beating the egg yolks. Stir in
the ice water Measure the flour and baking soda into a
sifter, and sift the mixture into the ice water and egg
yolk. Stir with a large spoon, but donโt mix it too well. You should still have many visible lumps in the batter.
4. Slice the sandwich in half from corner to corner Dip one half of the sandwich in the batter, while holding
it together with your fingers (the batter will hold the
sandwich together in the shortening). Coat the
sandwich well, but let any excess batter fall off. Drop
the battered sandwich half into the oil. If your pan or
fryer can fit the other half of the sandwich, batter that
piece and drop it into the fryer as well. If your fryer is
small, you may only be able to fry only one half at a
time. Fry the sandwich for 6 to 8 minutes, turning it
over halfway through cooking time. It should be golden
brown when done
Kid approved! We did ham & turkey with swiss, mayo and mustard on ours. Girls donโt like swiss so provolone for them, might have used American but was out. About 4min per side with my Mealthy lid on Instant pot. Not sure what air fryer paper is, used parchment.
Glad the Mealthy lid and parchment paper worked for you for this one!