Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants Brunch Recipe

Introduction

Few brunch dishes are more universally loved than the classic pairing of flaky croissants, savory ham, and melty cheese. These Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants deliver the perfect combination of comfort and sophistication, all with minimal prep time. This recipe impresses guests while being conveniently simple to prepare—making it ideal for lazy weekends, family gatherings, or special occasions when you want to serve something truly scrumptious with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love These Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants

These croissants turn an ordinary brunch into a memorable meal. The magic lies in the buttery, golden pastry wrapping thinly sliced ham and gooey melted cheese—each bite is satisfyingly crisp on the outside and tender within. With just a handful of ingredients and no need for homemade dough, this recipe is as fuss-free as it is delicious, perfect for feeding a crowd or elevating your weekend breakfast.

Ingredient Spotlight: Choosing Ham and Cheese

To achieve the ultimate flavor, opt for high-quality deli ham—choose smoked or honey ham for extra depth. For cheese, Swiss, Gruyère, or cheddar create an ideal balance of melt and flavor. If you like a hint of sharpness, add a sprinkle of Dijon mustard or a few leaves of baby arugula before rolling up the croissants.

Customizing and Baking Your Croissants

This recipe is incredibly versatile. You can add sliced tomatoes, sautéed greens, or even a pinch of black pepper for personal flair. Once assembled, a brush of egg wash over the croissants helps them bake up perfectly golden. In just 15 minutes, you’ll have a tray of irresistible, bakery-quality sandwiches ready to serve.

Serving Suggestions for a Satisfying Brunch

These croissants shine alongside a fresh fruit salad or a crisp green salad for balance. Pair with orange juice, coffee, or a mimosa for the complete brunch experience. They’re also portable and tasty at room temperature—great for meal trains, picnics, or lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 8 filled croissants. Each serving packs approximately 230 to 270 calories, depending on the cheese and ham used. It’s a balanced treat, offering a good source of protein and plenty of flavor to kick off your weekend.

Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants Recap

Incredibly simple yet undeniably crowd-pleasing, these baked croissants are the ultimate brunch shortcut. Their crisp, golden exterior and savory filling make them a showstopper that doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles (or slice croissant dough if using all-butter variety).
3. Optional: Lightly spread each triangle with Dijon mustard for added zing.
4. Layer a slice of ham and a slice of cheese near the wide end of each triangle. Add arugula or tomato if desired.
5. Roll up each croissant from the wide end to the tip, enclosing the filling, and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
6. Brush the tops with beaten egg for a glossy finish.
7. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until puffed and golden-brown. Cool slightly before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This brunch recipe is a fantastic addition to your weekly meal plan—easy to prep ahead and versatile for breakfast, lunch, or snack time. Save and schedule this recipe to seamlessly generate organized shopping lists and prep schedules for your busy week.

Planning Benefits:

• Instantly calculates total ingredient amounts across all recipes for the week
• Organizes shopping list by grocery store section for quick, efficient trips
• Helps avoid buying duplicates and missing ingredients
• Makes batching, prepping, and serving homemade brunch as easy as possible

Pro tip: When planning multiple meals, schedule your recipes to see how overlapping ingredients—like eggs or cheese—combine on your shopping list, so you’ll only buy what you need and cut down on waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes