From fried chicken biscuits to layers of greasy bacon and sausage, breakfast sandwiches are the ideal way kickstart a busy day or cure a hangover. These grab-and-go options aren’t light by nature, so if you’re more of a oatmeal and fruit kind of eater, these may not be the options for you. But, if you love a good sausage biscuit or bacon egg and cheese croissant, you’ll find yourself right at home here. We’re judging the most popular options on the market like the McDonald’s Egg McMuffin and Burger King Croissan’wich, as well as a few underdogs that don’t get nearly enough attention from consumers.
Here’s a look at the best fast food breakfast sandwiches, in no particular order.
Wendy’s – Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit
Wendy’s introduced a brand-new breakfast menu this year, and we have to say it may be the best thing to happen to the fast food breakfast game since Chick-Fil-A’s AM menu was updated in 2016. With new menu items like the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit and Breakfast Baconator, we couldn’t just choose one for make our list – we had to mention both. The Honey Butter Biscuit takes a unique approach the classic chicken biscuit dish by adding a generous layer of maple honey butter on top of chicken. The flaky biscuit absorbs the spread so you wind up with a crispy chicken fillet and a moist, soft biscuit.
Wendy’s – Breakfast Baconator
If you’ve ever craved a burger for breakfast, now’s your chance to order one without judgment. Wendy’s took the cult-favorite Baconator from the regular menu and turned it into a breakfast masterpiece (and perhaps the ultimate cure to a hangover). The Breakfast Baconator swaps the typical beef burger for a thick sausage patty that’s layered with egg, two slices of American cheese, a slice of Swiss, and six slices of bacon. Yes, that’s six slices of bacon. The innards are sandwiched together with the classic brioche bun – and let me tell you, eating this sandwich is as intimidating as it is glorious.
Chick-Fil-A – Chicken Biscuit
If you want something a bit lighter than the aforementioned options, head over to Chick-Fil-A for a Chicken Biscuit. There’s no frills here – just the chicken and the biscuit, but it’s plenty seasoned that you don’t need much more. Many people order their favorite sauce to dip it in (we recommend Chick-Fil-A sauce) if you need a little extra flavor.
McDonald’s – Egg McMuffin
Sure, there are fancier breakfast sandwiches out there, but there’s something so comforting and familiar about the Egg McMuffin. There’s no better combo than egg, ham, and cheese on an English muffin, especially when it’s paired with a greasy hash brown. You can also swap the ham with sausage if that’s your style.
Burger King – Croissan’wich
We don’t know about you, but anything on a croissant immediately tastes 10x better. But fair warning – the Croissanwich is mega greasy, so unless you have the stomach for that kind of thing early in the morning, you may want to go for a lighter option. The buttery croissant paired with the savory breakfast meat and cheese can feel a bit overwhelming if you’re not starving. There’s a few different variations – the Sausage & Bacon, Ham & Sausage, or just Sausage.
Jack in the Box – Loaded Breakfast Sandwich
Again – come hungry if you plan to finish this sandwich. Jack in the Box’s Loaded Breakfast Sandwich is stuffed with freshly cracked eggs, hickory smoked bacon, ham, sausage, and melted American cheese, all layered in between toasted sourdough bread. It’s not necessarily any more “loaded” than the Croissanwich or Breakfast Baconator, it’s still a hefty sandwich that you’ll need an appetite to finish.
Starbucks – Bacon, Gouda, & Egg
Gouda makes everything fancier, and this Starbucks breakfast sandwich is no exception. Starbucks breakfast is typically pretty light, so if you’re concerned about consuming a million calories before 10 a.m., this may be the right option for you. The Starbucks Bacon, Gouda, & Egg sandwich is small compared to the others on our list, but the flavors of the smoked bacon and cheese complement each other very well. We’re not sure what exactly Starbucks does to their eggs to make them so fluffy, but we’re guessing it’s a mix between wizardry and heavy cream.
Sonic – Breakfast Toaster
Fast food breakfast is just a game of trying to find the tastiest bread to hold together your egg, bacon, and cheese. From brioche buns to croissants and English muffins, there are few carbohydrates we have yet to see, but Sonic’s Breakfast Toaster highlights a highly underrated option – Texas toast. The Breakfast Toaster comes with all the necessities: fluffy eggs, melted cheese, and your choice of sausage, bacon, or ham.
Dunkin’ – Sausage, Egg, & Cheese
Dunkin’s breakfast sandwiches have a surprisingly distinct taste, which is hard to achieve when everyone and their brother is out there serving a Sausage, Egg, & Cheese sandwich. It’s not the best option out there, but it’s decent if you’re hungry and need a quick breakfast. Pair it with an order of hash browns (or two because there’s only six in a packet) and an iced coffee and you’re good to go.
If you’re a vegetarian, you can try their new Beyond Sausage, Egg, & Cheese sandwich, which is also vegan if you order it without the cheese.
Taco Bell – Breakfast Crunchwrap
Okay, a Crunchwrap isn’t technically a sandwich, but it’s as close to one as Taco Bell will ever get. Stuffed with bacon bits or sausage, cheese, egg, hash browns, and jalapeño sauce, the Breakfast Crunchwrap is “very hexagonal,” according to the fast food chain. Plus, Taco Bell’s breakfast hours are a bit longer than most of its competitors, so you can get your early-morning Crunchwrap even if you wake up at the crack of dawn or choose to sleep in a little. Most locations serve breakfast between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Subway – Steak, Egg & Cheese
Steak for breakfast? For all you fancy folks who like a little red meat in the morning, you’ll love Subway’s Steak, Egg & Cheese flatbread sandwich. You can order the flatbread in a six- or 12-inch sandwich. This flavorful breakfast option comes stuffed with egg, steak pieces, and your choice of toppings. Our friend provolone “The Endorsement” likes his with cheese, onions, and chipotle mayo.That’s quite the flavor combo for the first meal of the day, but we’re about it.
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. – Loaded Omelet Biscuit
We’re all about food mashups, and this one has to be one of the most underrated options of all time. The Loaded Omelet Biscuit is on and off the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. menus, but if you can get your hands on one, you will not be disappointed. It’s loaded with crumbled sausage, bacon, ham, and cheddar cheese – the essentials for any decent omelet, of course. All those delightful ingredients are sandwiched together in a Made From Scratch Biscuit™.
Need something to pair with your breakfast sandwich? Check out the best fast food iced coffee.
