Top 12 Best Breakfast Items To Order At McDonald’s

If you wake up early enough, the breakfast menu is one of the best things about McDonald’s.

Many early rising workers swear by it, as well as people who have had too much to drink the night before!

But, in all seriousness, McDonald’s breakfasts are perfect for on-the-go morning people.

The choices on McDonald’s breakfast menu are not all as unhealthy as you might think, either, as the menu offers everything from the iconic McMuffin and McGriddle to healthier options such as Fruit and Maple Oatmeal.

Still, it can be hard when choosing what to order – especially first thing in the morning.

So if you are wondering what to order or are looking to change up what you usually grab, this list runs through the top 12 breakfast items to try at McDonald’s.

We chose these breakfast items based on taste and overall nutritional value.

You might have tried some of the following McDonald’s breakfast items on this list, but you won’t have tried all of them!

12 Best Breakfast Items At McDonald’s

1. Egg McMuffin
2. Sausage McGriddle
3. Sausage Burrito
4. Fruit & Maple Oatmeal
5. Hotcakes
6. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel
7. Hash Browns
8. Sausage McMuffin with Egg
9. Sausage Biscuit with Egg
10. Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle
11. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
12. Big Breakfast with Hotcakes

1. Egg McMuffin

McMuffin is a name that comes synonymous with McDonald’s breakfast, so it was an easy option to include on this list!

The Egg McMuffin is a tasty morning treat that is easily one of the best-selling breakfast items McDonald’s offers, also pairing well with any coffee.

The Egg McMuffin includes a fried egg, slice of American-style cheese, butter, and a Canadian bacon slice – all thrown inside a toasted English muffin.

It’s simple, tasty, and quick and easy to eat, which are all valid reasons as to why the Egg McMuffin is so popular.

Ordered on its own, the McDonald’s Egg McMuffin totals at 310 calories, with 13 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbs, and 17 grams of protein.

There’s more protein than fat, which some will appreciate, and a decent amount of calories to kick-start your energy levels for the day.

Overall, the Egg McMuffin is one of the best items to order on McDonald’s breakfast menu thanks to its taste and convenience.

Hey, it also goes well with coffee, which is another bonus if you’re a morning coffee-lover! 

2. Sausage McGriddle

McGriddle is another name that’s synonymous with McDonald’s breakfast menu.

THis breakfast sandwich differs from the Egg McMuffin by offering a sausage patty flavored in sweet maple and sandwiched between two toasted buns.

So, if you prefer sausage more than fried egg, the Sausage McGriddle is a no-brainer over the Egg McMuffin.

You might find it more filling, in addition, since the sausage patty delivers more total calories to start your daily intake and make you feel much fuller for longer.

As for its full nutritional value, the Sausage McGriddle delivers 430 calories per serving, alongside 41 grams of carbs, 24 grams of fat, and 11 grams of protein.

It’s lower in protein than the Egg McMuffin, as a result, but better for your morning energy boost. 

Just like the Egg McMuffin, the Sausage McGriddle tastes a treat when paired with any coffee of your choice.

It’s also quick and easy to eat, no matter whether you’re stopping inside or pulling up at the drive-thru (see also ‘14 Juicy And Delicious Menu Items From Checkers And Rally’s‘).

3. Sausage Burrito

Love burritos? Then the McDonald’s Sausage Burrito is an option you might prefer over the Sausage McGriddle.

It’s also healthier and just as easy to eat in your car, offering lower calories in an easy-to-hold flour tortilla wrap.

So what does the Sausage Burrito contain, you ask? We’ve got you covered.

Inside the flour tortilla wrap you get a scrambled egg sausage and vegetable mix layered with pasteurized American cheese. It’s simple, but it also tastes great!

In total, eating a McDonald’s Sausage Burrito provides you with 310 calories, 17 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbs, and 13 grams of protein.

Its nutritional value is similar to the Sausage McGriddle, as a result, but lower in calories.

Ultimately, if you like sausage, egg, and, of course, burritos, the Sausage Burrito is one of the best breakfast items on McDonald’s breakfast menu.

And if you’re weight-conscious, the lower calories are a bonus that can make the Sausage Burrito better than the McGriddle.

4. Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

Not everything on McDonald’s breakfast menu has meat in it.

The Fruit and Maple Oatmeal is perfect if you’re vegetarian, vegan, or simply someone who prefers “light” breakfasts, providing a healthier alternative that still contains enough calories to start your day off on the right foot.

If you don’t have time to make your own oatmeal in the morning, McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is a quick solution that includes diced red and green apples, cranberries, raisins (two varieties), and, of course, oatmeal for a complete breakfast served in a bowl.

One downside of McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal is the light cream that increases the calorie content.

Still, this option provides a good energy boost, coming in at 320 calories with 4.5 grams of fat, 64 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of protein.

So, overall, you get low fat and high protein with McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal.

It’s high in carbs, however (more than the Egg McMuffin and Sausage McGriddle), so keto dieters might want to opt for something else!

5. Hotcakes

Hotcakes, pancakes – whatever you call them, McDonald’s has them in its breakfast menu for a filling morning snack that comes with real butter and sweet maple syrup.

It’s high in calories, needless to say, but hard to turn down if you’re a self-proclaimed pancake lover!

You get three pancakes in total with one serving of McDonald’s Hotcakes.

Of course, you can also order it without the hotcake syrup or salted whipped butter if you want to make it healthier.

Either way, it goes down a treat when paired with coffee.

McDonald’s Hotcakes come in at 580 calories, 15 grams of fat, 101 grams of carbs, and 9 grams of protein.

So, it’s not the healthiest option on McDonald’s breakfast menu, but you can expect it to leave you feeling full right up until lunchtime.

Those who are watching their weight will be better off ordering a breakfast sandwich, however – or even McDonald’s Sausage Burrito.

The syrup and butter skyrocket this breakfast item’s calories and carbs, so it’s not the best choice for health enthusiasts. 

6. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel

Hey, bagels make great breakfasts too. And if a bagel sounds much more appealing than a McMuffin or burrito, then the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Breakfast Sandwich is worth trying the next time you visit McDonald’s in the morning. 

The Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel includes Applewood smoked bacon, two slices of melted American cheese, a folded egg, and butter coating two plain bagel buns.

It’s more filling than the McMuffin and McGriddle, and perfect if you simply can’t decide between the two!

As for nutritional content, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Breakfast Sandwich provides you with 590 calories, 30 grams of fat, 56 grams of carbs, and 25 grams of protein.

It’s great for people looking for a high-protein breakfast, but not the best for those watching their weight.

Despite that, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel offers lower carbs than the McDonald’s Hotcakes, for example, even though it has about the same amount of calories.

Needless to say, none of this should matter if you’re a big fan of bagels, however!

7. Hash Browns

Just looking for a light yet filling McDonald’s breakfast? McDonald’s Hash Browns work great as a side and even when eaten on their own.

These shredded potato hash browns are fluffy on the inside but crispy on the outside, which has made them one of McDonald’s most popular breakfast items.

McDonald’s Hash Browns can be enjoyed on their own despite being offered as a side with some of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches.

And for one serving (one hash brown), the nutritional content is 140 calories, 8 grams of fat, 18 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of protein.

So, for two McDonald’s Hash Browns, you’re looking at the same total calories as, for example, a McDonald’s Egg McMuffin or Sausage Burrito.

You won’t get as much protein, however, but that’s nothing to frown at if you simply love hash browns!

What’s also worth mentioning is that McDonald’s Hash Browns go down great with coffee.

This item is also one of the most popular sides on McDonald’s breakfast menu, completing any McMuffin or McGriddle sandwich for a fuller breakfast.

8. Sausage McMuffin With Egg

The Sausage McMuffin with Egg, or Sausage & Egg McMuffin, is the answer to the Egg McMuffin for people who like sausage and want a more filling breakfast.

Like the Egg McMuffin, the Sausage McMuffin with Egg is one of McDonald’s best-selling breakfast items.

What’s it include? The Sausage McMuffin with Egg is your regular Egg McMuffin but with a sausage patty.

Despite that, McDonald’s called it a “Sausage McMuffin with Egg” as opposed to an “Egg McMuffin with Sausage”.

Whatever – it tastes good and is the go-to choice for McDonald’s breakfast lovers around the world.

It also goes without saying that it’s higher in calories than the Egg McMuffin, but ideal if you always find that the Egg McMuffin never quite hits the spot!

One McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin with Egg includes 480 calories, 31 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbs, and 20 grams of protein.

Compared with the Egg McMuffin, that’s more protein, fat, and calories, but the same amount of carbs.

9. Sausage Biscuit With Egg

The Sausage Biscuit with Egg Sandwich makes this list as one of McDonald’s best breakfast items due to its crunchy, flaky texture that switches things up in comparison to the McMuffin and McGriddle.

With the McDonald’s Sausage Biscuit and Egg, you get a folded egg and sausage patty inside a buttered biscuit.

It’s nice and simple, as a result, and perfect if you’re strapped for time and just want something quick and filling to eat before heading to work.

As for its nutritional value, the Sausage Biscuit with Egg totals at 530 calories, with 35 grams of fat, 38 grams of carbs, and 17 grams of protein. Not the best choice for calorie-counters, but it’s better than the McGriddle where protein is concerned.

Overall, the Sausage Biscuit with Egg is worth trying nevertheless.

We like the flaky texture of this McDonald’s breakfast option, which provides a nice change if you regularly order the McMuffin or McGriddle. Hey, you might even find out that you prefer it!

10. Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle

Remember the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel that we mentioned earlier?

Well, the McDonald’s Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle is the equivalent of that if you prefer McGriddle cakes more than bagels. 

What’s great about the Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle is that it’s overall more filling than the regular Sausage McGriddle.

It’s also ideal if you don’t think breakfast is complete without bacon and egg! You’re not alone, as we secretly agree.

Surprisingly, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle is lower in calories than the Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Bagel, with 430 calories per single serving.

It’s also lower in carbs and fat with 21 grams of fat and 44 grams of carbs.

Despite that, its protein content tops at just 17 grams – lower than its bagel counterpart and somehow the same as a regular Egg McMuffin.

Still, if you prefer the McGriddle and want something to curb your appetite until lunchtime, this one’s highly popular and worth trying.

11. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

If you liked the sound of the Sausage Biscuit with Egg listed above, then the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit might make your mouth water even more thanks to the addition of bacon and cheese.

There’s no sausage patty here, though, as it’s replaced by bacon.

Overall, what you’re getting is a thick-cut slice of smoked bacon, a folded egg, and a slice of melted American cheese thrown between McDonald’s popular biscuit sandwich, giving it a crumbly texture—and buttery taste—that a lot of McDonald’s breakfast fans are obviously enjoying.

And like the Sausage Biscuit with Egg, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit goes great with coffee and also a McDonald’s Hash Brown for the side

So what’s the nutritional value? McDonald’s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit offers 460 calories, 26 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbs, and 17 grams of protein.

It’s lower in calories and carbs than the Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Bagel, but also slightly lower in protein.

12. Big Breakfast With Hotcakes

For those hungrier-than-usual mornings, you might want to grab something more than a McMuffin or McGriddle.

Enter the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes: McDonald’s “biggest” breakfast for people who want to sit down and tuck in to something heartier.

McDonald’s Big Breakfast with Hotcakes includes three hotcakes drizzled in butter and maple syrup, hash browns, a sausage patty, scrambled eggs, and a warm McDonald’s biscuit.

It’s the American version of a “Full English”, coming in at 1340 calories.

So, it’s not the best choice for the calorie-conscious, but perfect for those who wake up a little hungrier than usual.

Of course, the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes will also leave you feeling fuller with more energy to last you until lunchtime.

Aside from 1340 calories, this McDonald’s breakfast option provides 63 grams of fat, 158 grams of carbs, and 36 grams of protein.

Why’s it on this list? Because it’s the best choice for people with bigger appetites as well as those who like to sit down and enjoy a heartier, more varied breakfast!

Final Word

And that finishes off our round-up of the best breakfast items to order at McDonald’s.

For a lot of people, the breakfast menu is one of the best things about McDonald’s, with many choices that are as convenient as they are tasty.

Sure, McDonald’s isn’t the healthiest place to grab your breakfast every day (once or twice a week is fine!), but it is one of the best if you’re in a rush and need something quick and easy to eat before heading off to work. 

It should also go without saying that McDonald’s coffee is another great item to order from the breakfast menu.

It’s available all day but, hey, there’s nothing better than a fresh coffee (paired with a McDonald’s breakfast) to get you ready for the day!