They're convenient, crowd-pleasing and relatively affordable, so it's little wonder that fast food chain breakfasts are so popular. In some cases, people consider them such classics that their recipes have barely changed in decades. But which breakfast beats the rest? From global favourites to regional specialities everyone wants to try, we've rounded up the greatest fast food breakfast items of all time – counting down to the tastiest of them all.
When the chain launched in the UK in 2021, Popeyes has rolled out its famous Louisiana-style fried chicken across Britain at lightning speed. The fried chicken favourite even has a special UK-only breakfast menu with ‘reinvented’ classics like bacon rolls and Cajun-spiced hash browns. … But many argue that its real showstopper has to be the enormous ‘Big Cajun Roll’ topped with a sausage patty, hash brown, egg, smoked streaky bacon and American cheese all stuffed into a brioche bun with Cajun ketchup.
Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait, McDonald's, various locations
The McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait offered a healthier substitute to richer fast-food breakfast treats with its blend of low-fat vanilla yogurt, big blueberries and sweet strawberries and crumbly granola topping. Mc's axed this item as of June 2020 (along with numerous other much-loved products, like breakfast bagels) amid the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the company. And if there's one menu item, I could ask Mc's to reinstate, this would be it.
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr., USA
Often cited for its charbroiled burgers, devotees love this chain in the US for its excellent breakfast range – none more so than the mouth-watering Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit. This ever popular staple brings together the delicious trifecta of a grilled sausage, fluffy folded egg and American cheese all nestled inside a soft, buttermilk biscuit. A hearty, unpretentious comfort food favourite.
Bacon Bagel Breakfast Sandwich, Tim Hortons, various locations
When that's all you ever want in the morning are doughy, meat-filled bagels then you should turn to The Bacon Bagel Breakfast Sandwich from Tim Hortons. Guaranteed to get your craving fixes, a crispy piece of bacon cooks in with a runny fried egg and smothers in American cheese, all hugged between the doughy comforts of a toasted bagel. It’s so yummy and heartwarming you’ll want to try two in a row.
Ham & Cheese Croissant, Pret A Manger, various locations
There's no doubt the Ham & Cheese Croissant is one of the most loved breakfast items from sandwich and coffee shop chain Pret A Manger; originally starting life in the UK, it now also operates in the US, Germany, Canada, UAE and many other countries. Made fresh in-house on the day it's sold and cooked warm in the oven, it has a french croissant pastry base with a tasty filling of cured ham, Emmental cheese and a good amount of tomato sauce inside. It is one of the dishes that has made the cut for a place on Pre's permanent menu for years on end, and is rated very highly by users- so classic was this filling it even made it into the shop's recipe book.
Belgian Waffle Slider, White Castle, USA
Sweet meets savoury in this breakfast favourite from American chain White Castle. The brand has been grilling up its burger sliders for over a century, and its Belgian Waffle Slider is just as delicious as its daytime options. It features two crisp Belgian waffles packed out with a freshly cracked egg, either hickory smoked bacon or a sausage patty, and a choice of American, jalapeño or smoked Cheddar cheese.
Sunriser, Krystal, USA
The brand new 2023 Sunriser sandwich delights fans with its taste and budget-friendly price. The Krystal’s offers a savory breakfast sausage covered with a slice of cheese and nestled in Krystal's signature steamy buns with a fried egg. Customers can also pay a few cents more and combine the Sunriser with any small drink or potato tots, so you are now ready to start your day on the go while starting off the day right.
Waffle Taco, Taco Bell, USA
While Taco Bell was just beginning test marketing a breakfast menu back in 2013, you could order the Waffle Taco as one of the first foods. Several locations in California released it, filling it with a savory sausage patty, a dollop of creamy scrambled egg, and oozing cheese. The syrupy, maple flavor waffle compressed it all, and – unsurprisingly – fast-food junk food lovers quickly developed an adoration. However, after the nationwide rollout of the breakfast menu, the company removed the product from shelves two years later in 2015.
FAQ's
1. What is widely considered the best fast-food breakfast item of all time?
The McDonald’s Egg McMuffin. Introduced in 1975, its combination of a freshly cracked egg, Canadian bacon, melted American cheese, and a buttered English muffin practically created the modern fast-food breakfast industry and remains the gold standard.
2. Which fast-food chain has the single best breakfast side?
The McDonald’s Hash Brown. Golden-brown and crispy on the outside with soft, seasoned potatoes inside, it consistently tops consumer and culinary rankings for fast-food side items.
3. What is the most innovative modern breakfast item?
The Taco Bell Breakfast Crunchwrap. By wrapping scrambled eggs, real bacon or sausage, melted cheese, and a full crispy hash brown inside a hexagonal grilled tortilla, Taco Bell created an iconic, easy-to-eat breakfast favorite.
4. Which chain dominates the chicken breakfast category?
Chick-fil-A with its classic Chicken Biscuit. Featuring a hand-breaded, pressure-cooked chicken breast tucked into a warm, freshly baked buttermilk biscuit brushed with butter, it is a staple of southern-style fast food.
5. What is the best option for a heavy, meat-focused breakfast?
The Wendy’s Breakfast Baconator. Stacked with grilled sausage, double American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, a freshly cracked egg, and a warm Swiss cheese sauce, it is widely regarded as the ultimate high-calorie morning sandwich.
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