Which fast-food chain reigns supreme when it comes to the sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich?
We Ordered 7 Fast-Food Breakfast Sandwiches to Find the Best One
Updated on Feb. 18, 2025
The Quest for the Best Fast-Food Breakfast
Some days I’m running late, and other days I don’t feel like cooking. No matter the reason, there are some mornings when a fast-food breakfast just fits the bill.
Even the quickest grab-and-go breakfasts should be tasty, so we embarked on a quest to find out which chain makes the best version of a classic breakfast item: the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. We made the rounds and tested these fast-food joints in Chicago:
- Burger King
- Chick-fil-A
- Dunkin’
- McDonald’s
- Panera
- Starbucks
- Wendy’s
Let’s see which one made the best fast-food breakfast sandwich!
7. Burger King
There’s no doubt that Burger King is a fast and convenient option when it comes to on-the-go breakfast. However, I found its croissant breakfast sandwich to be on the smaller side, and it came out quite squished in the to-go bag. The service was very speedy, but I felt the eggs lacked texture (possibly because most fast-food eggs aren’t actually made with whole eggs). Like many of the sandwiches we sampled, I felt the sausage patty needed additional seasoning.
Bottom line: Burger King was definitely the fastest of the fast-food breakfasts, but its sandwich wasn’t my favorite.
6. Dunkin’
Dunkin’ offers three options when it comes to the bun for its sausage, egg and cheese sandwich: croissant, bagel or English muffin. I liked having a choice in terms of the bread part of the sandwich. I opted for the croissant, mainly because that’s what was pictured on the drive-thru menu. Mine seemed to come out a bit over-toasted, with some of the thinner ends quite burnt. Maybe the bagel or English muffin options are stronger at Dunkin’, so I will keep that in mind next time. Overall, the sandwich wasn’t a standout among the group.
Bottom line: I love Dunkin’ coffee and doughnuts, and will likely choose those options instead of its breakfast sandwich.
5. McDonald’s
This McDonald’s breakfast sandwich tasted different to me than I remembered. I know the chain has adjusted some of its recipes over time (for example, there’s only one McDonald’s sandwich made with “real” egg), and I remember it having been much more flavorful in the past. The main difference seems to be the sausage patty. Just as we want the hamburger patty on a Big Mac to be flavorful, it’s important that the sausage patty in a breakfast sandwich is properly seasoned. I love the ease of swinging by McDonald’s, and its prices are appealing, I just wish it would bring back the old recipe.
Bottom line: McDonald’s offers convenience for breakfast, but you can also make an outstanding McDonald’s Egg McMuffin at home.
4. Wendy’s
Like many fast-food joints, Wendy’s offers its sandwich on a biscuit bun. Looking at all three categories—the bun, the egg and the sausage patty—I didn’t find an element that stood out in terms of flavor. Rumor has it that Wendy’s is actively working to expand and improve its breakfast offerings, so I remain optimistic that there’s room for growth in the future.
Bottom line: For me, Wendy’s is all about the great fries and the iconic Frosty rather than its breakfast sandwich.
3. Panera
Panera offers fresh-tasting breakfast sandwiches served on either ciabatta bread or a brioche bun. I opted for the ciabatta bread for this taste test. The sandwich was hearty, but I’d say the choice of bread was not the best option here; next time I’d opt for the brioche bun. I should also note this was the most expensive breakfast sandwich of the test group, but it was also quite large, so there’s value if you are particularly hungry at breakfast time.
Bottom line: While this was a tasty option, the ciabatta bread and cost kept it from being the highest-ranked sandwich.
2. Chick-fil-A
The Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwich is a standout when it comes to the bun. I really enjoyed the biscuit, which had a homemade texture and flavor. The eggs were fluffy and fresh, and the cheese felt real instead of processed. This one could have been the winner if the sausage patty had more seasoning and flavor. That one element made this sandwich the runner-up.
Bottom line: A solid option for breakfast if you like your sandwiches made with a biscuit bun. You can also order a chicken, egg and cheese biscuit from the Chick-fil-A secret menu.
1. Starbucks
In the end, the Starbucks sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich was head and shoulders above the rest. This came as a huge surprise to me! For a place known for its beverages, I always figured that Starbucks’ food options were, well, not so good. The real standout here—the element that put this sandwich over the top—was the sausage patty. In a sea of lackluster sausage options, this one was well-seasoned with the herbs we associate with breakfast sausage.
Bottom line: You’re already there for the coffee and other secret menu drinks. Be sure to pick up this winner for breakfast!
