Buzz
Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal stirred the pot with a controversial suggestion, claiming that those struggling with inflation might save money by skipping breakfast. I couldn’t finish the article, as it’s locked behind a paywall. But honestly, I don't think I need to. Sure, eggs are more expensive now, but they remain a reasonably priced and filling meal, and they’re ideal for making a fantastic sandwich. I enjoy eggs not just for breakfast, but also for lunch and dinner, and that’s not going to change, regardless of whatever trendy opinions the wannabe Jonathan Swifts at the WSJ publish.
This brings me to my point: I’m absolutely obsessed with breakfast sandwiches, and such enthusiasm often sparks innovation—or at least some solid ideas. Below are my top ways to create a superior breakfast sandwich, no matter what the critics say.
Whip up your own McMuffin in just five minutes
While this McMuffin copycat might not have the precise layers of the fast food original, its taste is undeniably satisfying. The ingredients come together in a ramekin, quickly heated up, and then placed on a toasted English muffin. For a twist, add bologna. Everything is better with bologna.
Switch up your bread
Toast, English muffins, and croissants are the most popular choices for breakfast sandwich bread, but there are several creative alternatives to explore.
You can make a sliceable, toastable pancake bread by combining a couple of cups of just-add-water pancake mix with 3/4 cup of water. Bake it in a loaf pan, then slice it and assemble your sandwich as usual for a tasty, less gimmicky McGriddle-style breakfast. (You can also stack your sandwich fillings directly on pancakes; both are great options.)
Essential tools for crafting a superior breakfast sandwich:
A half sheet pan, perfect for preparing eggs and baking bacon in bulk: Nordic Ware Naturals Aluminum Nonstick Baker’s Half Sheet
A loaf pan, ideal for making pancake bread: Wilton Advance Select Premium Non-Stick Loaf Pan
A waffle iron, perfect for creating bacon patties: Hamilton Beach Belgian Mini Waffle Maker
Building your breakfast sandwich on French toast—whether fresh from the skillet or leftover from a weekend brunch—gives it a Monte Cristo twist without the deep frying. Don’t let the sweetness of the bread hold you back from adding savory ingredients; a touch of Dijon is the perfect complement for this sandwich.
If you want to skip wheat altogether, try potatoes. I love the idea of hash-browns-as-toast, and these salty, crispy patties make a fantastic sandwich base. My favorite combo is SPAM and cheese—the slices fit perfectly on the oblong patties—but feel free to add an egg if you like.
Just keep layering with potatoes
Hash browns can also serve as a fantastic filling for sandwiches. Whether you're adding a McDonald's patty to a McMuffin or creating your own from scratch, hash browns contribute a hearty texture, flavorful taste, and most importantly, satisfying bulk.
Adding hash browns to a breakfast sandwich is great, but tossing in fries might just take it to the next level. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s all about the structure:
From a flavor and texture perspective, the experience closely resembled eating a hash-browned breakfast sandwich, except for one major difference: The way the potatoes intertwined helped hold the sandwich together, forming a small nest that cradled the egg. This not only stopped the slippery fried egg from sliding off, but it also created a yolk dam, keeping the golden, runny yolk from spilling onto the plate.
If you’re feeling adventurous, skip the spuds and opt for onion rings instead.
Similar to fries, onion rings create a little nest for your eggs, keeping them secure on the sandwich until it reaches your mouth. Plus, they bring the savory flavor of fried onions, a bold and daring flavor to kick off your day. (Try waffling the rings for some added texture.)
Treat it just like any other sandwich.
Breakfast sandwiches are typically loaded with rich, greasy ingredients, but they rarely feature elements that cut through the heaviness, which is a missed opportunity. Adding some pickle slices brings a perfect balance to the richness, and as A.A. Newton puts it, it introduces 'the slightest bit of sour crunch to the grease orgy, creating an addictive contrast in flavors and textures and making you feel like you’re eating vegetables for breakfast.'
Tomatoes are also a rare addition to these sandwiches, which is a mistake. A ripe, juicy tomato offers a burst of fresh acidity without overwhelming tartness, giving your taste buds a break from the heavy, greasy ingredients. Grating tomatoes on a breakfast sandwich is a game-changing move that I’ve raved about before:
The fresh, raw tomato pulp acts like a cross between jam and a condiment. It has the tang of ketchup but with a lighter, juicier, sweeter freshness, alongside the umami you'd expect from a summer tomato. It’s simply delicious.
This sandwich shines brightest when tomatoes are in peak season, but cherry tomatoes are a solid alternative during the dreary winter months.
And of course, don’t skip the mayo. Even sandwiches loaded with runny eggs and melted cheese need some moisture, and nothing does the job like tangy mayo. (It also creates a hydrophobic shield, keeping your bread from getting soggy.) Add a bit of hot sauce, and you've got a fantastic breakfast sandwich spread.
Give the egg a boost.
Cheese typically brings a gooey, melty element to breakfast sandwiches, but that’s not the case with the frico egg. By frying the egg directly in a pile of cheese, you can add a crispy, crunchy, salty component that’s usually reserved for bacon. (Of course, don't let this stop you from adding a slice of melted cheese as well. There’s no harm in having two types of cheese on your sandwich.)
To get the most out of your yolk, try serving the egg upside down. This way, the runny yolk has no choice but to drip into the bread. It might sound a bit ridiculous, but it prevents yolk from slipping away, and that matters to me:
When you place an egg on toast, yolk side up, the yolk just slides down the slippery egg whites. Since egg whites don't really hold onto anything, the yolk runs off the smooth surface and ends up on the plate. (Sure, you can scoop it up with another piece of toast, but sometimes I just want one piece.) If you flip the egg, the yolk sits directly on the toast (a proven yolk absorber).
Batch ‘em
Making individual breakfast sandwiches can get tricky when you're serving a crowd, but preparing a large batch can save both time and effort. For example, everything in these pull-apart BEC sliders is cooked in one pan. The eggs are cooked directly in the bacon drippings, making for a rich, indulgent, waste-free brunch.
These freezer-friendly breakfast sandwiches (and burritos) are based on a very old recipe of mine, though it's one of my partner’s favorites. Simply bake some scrambled eggs on a sheet pan, cut them into squares or circles, and you've got enough for two weeks' worth of freezer-friendly breakfast sandwiches. (If you go with circles, the egg scraps can be turned into breakfast burritos.)
Shape your meat to your bread
Creating your own sausage may seem like a lot of work for a breakfast sandwich, but it's truly worth it. Not only will the taste be much better—and exactly to your liking—but you’ll also be able to mold the patty to fit your bread perfectly.
If grinding meat seems like too much effort, consider shaping your bacon into a bacon patty instead. Simply twist and coil the bacon, then cook it in your waffle iron to crisp it up and render out the grease for a perfect finish.
Step outside the realm of the classic bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.
By now, it's probably clear that I'm a huge fan of egg-based breakfast sandwiches, but I also enjoy having non-breakfast sandwiches for breakfast. There’s absolutely no reason why you can't do the same, especially if you're avoiding buying eggs at their current price. I have plenty of suggestions for you to check out in this article, but my top pick for a non-breakfast breakfast sandwich is the classic ham and butter (go for dry-cured ham if you want to make it feel a bit more special).
