Sausage McMuffin

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5 from 83 votes
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This copycat sausage McMuffin recipe features a toasted English muffin topped with a perfectly cooked egg, savory breakfast sausage, and melty cheese. Only 4 ingredients needed!

Keen on more McDonald’s copycat recipes? Try my Big Mac salad, spicy chicken sandwich, Big Mac sauce, and crispy hash browns next.

homemade sausage mcmuffin.

Unpopular opinion: McDonald’s breakfast menu is far superior to the regular McDonald’s menu, and their sausage McMuffin is the creme de la creme. 

Well, that is until you make my healthier version. It has all the same components, except it’s made with good-for-you ingredients and half the calories.

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make a McDonald’s sausage McMuffin
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Make ahead and storage
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More savory breakfasts to try
  8. Sausage McMuffins (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • Tastes even better than the original. From the buttery English muffin to the melty cheese and savory sausage, no one will be able to tell the difference. 
  • Easy to customize. You can use different types of cheese and sausage to make it uniquely yours. 
  • Quick to make. It’s definitely faster than driving to McDonald’s and waiting in line!
  • Cheaper. Is it just me, or is fast food no longer the cheaper option? The last time I went, I spent upwards of 20 bucks for a couple of sandwiches! My recipe is pennies on the dollar.

★★★★★ REVIEW 

“Omg, thank you for the recipe! These smell and taste like the real deal, except not junk-like. I don’t know if that makes sense, but as a huge fan of the sausage and egg McMuffin, these are a dream!”Alexandra

Ingredients needed

  • Eggs. Use room temperature eggs. If you forget them in the fridge, carefully place them in a bowl of lukewarm water for 5 minutes before cooking them. 
  • Sausage. I use my turkey sausage or chicken sausage, but you can use any sausage, including frozen breakfast sausage meat. I’ve found that Jimmy Dean Original breakfast patties and Bob Evans ground pork sausage taste exactly like the ones used at McDonald’s. 
  • American cheese. For an authentic flavor, use Kraft American cheese singles or something similar (there are tons of cheaper brands available). 
  • English muffins. I used whole wheat English muffins for a fiber boost, but any will work, including microwavable English muffins. For the recipe video and pictures, I used classic buns just so you know you have options!

How to make a McDonald’s sausage McMuffin

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Cook the sausages. Prepare the sausage patties as instructed (frozen, homemade turkey sausage, or chicken sausage).

Step 2- Cook the eggs. Add oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, add four egg rings and crack an egg into each one. Break the yolks with a fork and let them fry for 1-2 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the eggs from the heat.

Step 3- Toast and assemble. Toast the English muffins in a toaster. Place each egg on top of the sausage. Top each egg with a slice of American cheese and place it on the English muffin.

sausage and egg mcmuffin.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Lower the calories. Use egg whites, low-fat American cheese, and make my low-calorie English muffin
  • Swap the cheese for cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or even crumbled goat cheese. 
  • Add some veggies. Wait for the bottom of the egg to set slightly, then sprinkle in finely chopped mushrooms, peppers, or spinach. 
  • Use different meat. Use other types of sausage, Canadian ham, or bacon.
  • Season the eggs. Add a little salt, black pepper, and onion powder for a flavor boost. For a more authentic McDonald’s flavor, you can even add a tiny pinch of sugar (they sweeten the sausage, but this would have the same effect).

Make ahead and storage

Believe it or not, these breakfast sandwiches make excellent meal prep. Here’s how it’s done:

Up to one week: Wrap each breakfast sandwich in parchment paper, place them in individual ziplock bags, and then store them in the refrigerator. 

One week or more: Wrap each breakfast sandwich in parchment paper and plastic wrap. Store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Reheating: Place the sandwich on a baking sheet and heat in the oven at 350F for 8-10 minutes or until warm.

copycat sausage mcmuffin recipe.

Frequently asked questions

Does sausage from McDonald’s have pork?

The American sausage patties use pork in them. However, countries like Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand use beef. 

Sausage McMuffin calories

The original McMuffin has 383 calories. The sausage patty has 145 calories, the English muffin has 175 calories, the cheese has 55 calories, and the pat of butter on each muffin has 8 calories. Add the egg and it goes up to 452 calories.

More savory breakfasts to try

sausage mcmuffin recipe.

Sausage McMuffins

5 from 83 votes
This copycat sausage McMuffin recipe features a toasted English muffin topped with a perfectly cooked egg, savory breakfast sausage, and melty cheese. Only 4 ingredients needed! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen.
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Prepare your sausage breakfast patties as instructed.
  • Add some oil to a non-stick pan. Once hot, add four egg rings on top and add an egg to each one. Let it fry for 1-2 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the eggs off the heat.
  • Toast the English muffins. On one half, add the cheese, followed by a sausage patty, and an egg. Top with the other half of the muffin and enjoy immediately.

Notes

* Turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or your favorite frozen breakfast sausage of choice. 
TO STORE: Wrap each prepared sandwich in parchment paper, place them in individual ziplock bags and then store them in the refrigerator. 
TO FREEZE: Wrap each breakfast sandwich in parchment paper AND tin foil. Store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 29gFat: 12gSodium: 686mgPotassium: 171mgFiber: 2gVitamin A: 468IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 277mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 25g
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published March 2015, updated June 2022, and republished June 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. I am going to have to make theses. I already put sausage out to make patties with this morning. Now I just need to make the paleo version of the muffin. Will save the egg till ready to eat. Not a big fan of frozen eggs.

  2. Dear Arman, This sounds wonderful…so much better than McDonalds! I would love to try this- perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Pinning. Have a wonderful weekend, Catherine

  3. I mostly hate that McDonalds won’t sell fries with the breakfast stuff – I don’t like hash browns but definitely love french fries!! The gooey cheese on your muffins makes them look so much better than the fast food version!

  4. Funny. Both you and Amanda made reference to the golden arches today!! I used to eat these all the time as a kid…but had them hold the egg. Have always hated eggs – haha! Though I don’t eat meat anymore, these still look fab. Love the melty cheeeeeeese! YUM.

    1. The melty cheese is awesome buddy- It’s like PLASTIC. PLASTIC FANTASTIC.

      Also…I ate two of these the day I met you. You should eat one in our honour.

  5. I’ve never eaten McD’s for breakfast… or at all really since I was a kid. However, I’d eat this. I can’t WAIT To be in a kitchen again!

  6. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had breakfast at McD’s. Lunch, dinner, and 1 AM snacking, definitely… but never breakfast. Huh…. And I don’t think I’ve never had a burger from there either. No, wait… I did once. I hated it 😆 But then again I’m not much of a burger girl in general. It’s all about the nuggets and fries.

  7. Oh my gosh this is GENIUS! I used to have this for breakfast from mcdonalds ALL the time, it was my favorite thing as a kid. I am SO pinning these and making asap!

  8. I only tried an egg mcmuffin once from McDonalds when I was 15 I think and I hated it! But I think a sausage would definitely improve it. I would eat your version. 😉

  9. I love making my own sausage patties! Way better than what you buy boxed or at a restaurant for sureeeee. Sage is essential & I put fennel seed in mine, too. YUM.

    1. Oh Fennel! I need to try that next time! (My friend is called Fennel. I also have another friend called Sage- No joke!)

  10. I hope the special version you have saved is made from unicorn meat! Or dingo. Whatevs. Rosemary, sage, and smoked paprika… yeah that sounds golden to me for some sausage!

  11. I haven’t had McDonalds in years! I looooove a good breakfast sandwich though (breakfast anything, really), and this looks super tasty.
    I’ve heard that fast food chains definitely taste different in different countries. I don’t eat fast food, though, so I’ve never put it to the test!

  12. When I was a wee lass I would eat two sausage mcmuffins (no egg) for breakfast before church each Sunday. My how things have changed. This comment also ties into my previous comment about jalapeno poppers and chicken nugs.

  13. I was craving this so badly while reading this on my train ride home. I remember those pale yellow styrofoam breakfast trays from McDonald’s. That’s when breakfast was my least favorite meal of the day…
    Our dining hall has weird transition periods at 10:30 am because they’re switching from breakfast to lunch and they’re like breakfast nazis once 10:50 hits— “NO MORE FRENCH TOAST FOR ANYONE.”
    And I have to say that I was definitely a stubborn goat when I was younger. I didn’t want to go to Hawaii the first time my parents took us there. I literally said, “I don’t want their pineapples!” This is when we were living in KANSAS.

    1. Oh my gosh the styrofoam!

      10.50am….That’s generous! Also…That is the greatest thing ever. Hear this- When I was 10, I got asked to travel the world for an Ad for tv….I said no because it could have potentially conflicted with my birthday. I also had no friends so have no idea what the point of a birthday at that point was!

  14. I used to work at Maccas and lived off these bad boys! I haven’t had it in years. Must rectify that situation with your homemade version!

  15. I remember being so disappointed when McDonald’s ran out of hot cakes too! That stuff is traumatic right?! Like how can they run out?!? I feel a tad strongly about this 😉

    1. It is! I once stole their whipped butter and pancake syrup and dumped it on an English muffin. It wasn’t the same.