Start your day right with a Homemade Egg McMuffin that's fresher, tastier, and more affordable than the drive-thru version! With a perfectly cooked egg, melty cheese, and ham on a toasted English muffin, this easy-to-make breakfast sandwich is perfect for busy mornings, and unmatched for make ahead convenience!
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I have to tell the truth: I love a McDonald's drive-thru moment, but for some people, that's just not the way they want to go. Following in the delicious footsteps of my McGriddle recipe, these Homemade Egg McMuffins, with a fluffy egg and melty cheese, are an easy and more delicious alternative and a great addition to your breakfast or brunch.
Confession time: A very, very long time ago I took a job on the early shift at McDonald's. After watching one video, I was thrown right onto the Egg McMuffin station. I worked from 6 AM to 10:30 AM pushing out probably a couple hundred Egg Mcmuffins.
At the end of the shift, the manager said "it's like you were born to make Egg McMuffins" aaaaand I never went back. I don't think I even picked up my check. Young, broke, and perhaps stupid, but with a professional obsession with Egg McMuffins. And now I’m going to pass my knowledge onto you. After all, I was born for this 😆
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Ingredients & Substitutions
This homemade egg mcmuffin recipe uses simple ingredients. Best of all, nothing on our list of ingredients is very expensive, so that's more money in your pocket! Let's go over each one and how you can change up your egg sandwiches if you wish:
- English muffins - Humble brag, but I really do have the best no yeast English muffin recipe, but store-bought toasted english muffins, a nice crusty roll, ciabatta, or brioche bread would be great.
- Ham - I actually use a slice of Canadian bacon because it fits perfectly on the McMuffin, but you can use breakfast sausage patties, crispy bacon, or thinly sliced ham on yours.
- Cheese - A classic egg mcmuffin uses a slice of american cheese. It melts perfectly, adds just the right touch of creaminess and salt, and is the tasty glue that holds everything together, but feel free to use the sliced or shredded cheese of your choice. I rather like cheddar cheese too.
- Eggs - There's nothing like a perfectly fried egg on a breakfast sandwich, but not everyone likes eggs. One of my favorites to grab at the drive-thru window is the Sausage McMuffin, which is just sausage and cheese on an English muffin. It just hits right.
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.
Love a sandwich? My day always starts out on a good foot if I start with a delicious breakfast sandwich. Try my Pancake Breakfast Sandwich or my Fried Egg BLT of you feel the same!
Egg Variations
The "hardest" part of this recipe is the egg, but it doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few ways different egg recipes to make this breakfast sandwich work for you:
- Baked eggs - If making a big batch, try baking a dozen eggs in a muffin tin like my mini frittatas.
- Poached - A lot of my chef friends absolutely love a drippy egg on a breakfast sandwich. You can add one of my foolproof poached eggs, cooked to the doneness you prefer (I like it just jammy).
- Scrambled - You can make a simple scrambled egg and lay a scoopful onto your McMuffin.
Make it a biscuit sandwich - As delicious as this is with English muffins, it is equally drool worthy served on a big cathead biscuit. Try my Sausage egg and cheese biscuit and see for yourself!
Instructions
This is such a simple recipe that it almost doesn't need pictures, but I am a visual teacher and learner. Let's see how to make a McDonald’s Egg Mcmuffin in your own kitchen!
Step 1: Toast your English muffins in your toaster, in a toaster oven, or 6 inches from your oven's broiler element until golden brown. I like to butter mine before broiling them.
Step 2: While still warm, place a slice of cheese on the bottom half of the muffin.
Step 3: Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Spray a ring cutter, cookie cutter, egg ring, or even a wide mouth mason jar lid with nonstick cooking spray, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and crack in a large egg. Use a toothpick or skewer to break up the egg yolk if you want it to cook.
Step 4: Add 1 teaspoon of water and place a lid on the pan. Cook for one minute.
Step 5: Use tongs to remove the ring and flip the egg. Cook for another minute, or to your desired doneness.
Step 6: In the same pan, heat the ham or Canadian bacon until warm.
Step 7: Lay an egg and a slice of ham on each muffin bottom.
Step 8: Place the top half of the English muffin on and serve.
Hint: If making a big batch and you want to warm them all up a bit and melt the cheese further, place on a baking tray and cover with aluminum foil and heat in a 350°f oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sandwiches are hot.
A perfect match - Nothing goes better with a bacon egg and cheese sandwich than a crispy hash brown. Mine are simple, delicious, and addictive!
Make ahead instructions
My favorite thing is to meal prep a bunch of breakfast sandwiches ahead. It helps me be prepared for crazy mornings where everyone is going in different directions and needs a grab-and-go meal.
Step 1: When completely cool, wrap each sandwich in parchment paper, wax paper, or butcher paper.
Step 2: Place each sandwich in a freezer safe zip top bag and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat: Place sandwiches in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, unzip the baggie, and microwave one sandwich for 1 minute on full power, or until hot. If heating from frozen, I would recommend you use your thaw/defrost function in 30 second intervals until soft, then reheat. Microwaves vary, so you may have different timing.
Recipe FAQs
McDonald’s uses butter on their muffins and you can as well. I butter them before oven toasting, but if you are using a toaster, spread on butter after toasting.
Store homemade egg McMuffins in the refrigerator, wrapped well, for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Follow the make ahead instructions or wrap a sandwich in a paper towel and microwave on full power for 30 to 45 seconds, or until hot.
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment with a ⭐️ rating below to tell me all about it, and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
I appreciate you!
-Cynthia
📖 Recipe
Homemade Egg McMuffins (Better than McDonald's)
Equipment
- Ring cutter ~OR~
Ingredients
- 6 English muffins split
- 6 large eggs
- 6 slices ham or Canadian bacon
- 6 slices American cheese
- Butter optional
Instructions
- Toast your English muffin halves either one at a time in your toaster, or place in a toaster oven, or 6 inches from your oven's broiler element until golden brown. Butter them, if desired.
- While still warm, place a slice of cheese on the bottom half of the muffin.
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Spray a ring mold, cookie cutter, or even a mason jar lid with nonstick spray, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and crack in an egg. Use a toothpick or skewer to break up the yolk if you want it to cook.
- Add 1 teaspoon of water and place a lid on the pan. Cook for one minute. Use tongs to remove the ring and flip the egg. Cook for another minute, or to your desired doneness.
- In the same pan, heat the ham or Canadian bacon until warm.
- Lay an egg and a slice of ham on each muffin bottom. Place the top half of the English muffin on and serve.
Save This Recipe! 💌
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!
Karen Boos in PA says
Hi Cynthia, Please clarify in the cooking step, when adding the tsp of water, am I adding the water to the ‘pan’ or adding water ‘on top of the egg in the ring’? My son is addicted to McD Egg McMuffins and I would love to prepare them at home. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Cynthia Christensen says
You add the water to the pan and put on the lid. The water will evaporate and create steam that will help cook the egg a little bit bit quicker!
Karen Boos says
Hi Cynthia! Your recipe is spot-on perfection!!! I made 4, my son had 2 and my husband & I each had one! They were delicious and simple! I’ll be referencing your blog for more recipes!!! Thank you again! Happy Fall!
Cynthia Christensen says
Amazing!
Cynthia Christensen says
I've had to replenish my freezer supply twice because my family keeps eating them!