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But First We Brunch » Recipes » Pancakes and waffles

Homemade McGriddles (Better Than McDonald's Copycat)

Published: Aug 27, 2024 by Cynthia Christensen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Homemade Mcgriddles on parchment paper.
Pinterest image of a sliced homemade Mcgriddle.

Ever find yourself with a huge craving for a McDonald's breakfast? These better than copycat Homemade McGriddles can be made in a flash, or even made ahead and frozen, for instant satisfaction of morning, or late night, cravings!

Homemade Mcgriddles on parchment paper.

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!

These Homemade McGriddles are actually the perfect mashup of my favorite fast-food breakfast and a classic East Coast bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Two amazingly fluffy pancakes hugging crisp bacon and a jammy over medium egg, with classic American cheese acting as the most flavorful glue ever... just bury me now, because I'm dead.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • Equipment: Ring molds
  • Instructions
  • Meal prep and freezing
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More fun with eggs
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Ingredients

These are the simple and easy to find ingredients to make the most cravy-worthy McGriddles of your life.

Labeled image of ingredients to make homemade Mcgriddles.
  • Pancake mix - I use my own homemade pancake mix to make the pancake buns, but you can use favorite pancake mix, or try any one of my many pancake recipes. You can even use frozen pancakes if you are trying to meal prep and get it done easily.
  • Stuff to make pancake batter - Whether you use my mix or a store-bought, you can add the same ingredients to make the batter; one egg, some milk, vanilla, melted butter or oil, and a bit of maple syrup for that authentic McGriddle flavor to the pancake.
  • Cheese - I prefer a nice, easy melting slice of american cheese from my deli department, but use whatever cheese you can find and afford.
  • Bacon - For these sandwiches I like to use a regular, not thick, sliced bacon. It folds to fit on the sandwich better and isn't too chewy, which would mess up the perfect bite, you know what I mean. Sometimes I use microwave bacon. don't come for me. It's delicious.

See recipe card below for exact quantities.

Love a sandwich? My day always starts out right if I start with a delicious breakfast sandwich. Try a Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit, my Egg McMuffins or my Fried Egg BLT if you feel the same!

Substitutions & Variations

OG McDonald's McGriddles was made with bacon, a folded scrambled egg, and cheese. You can definitely make this homemade version of a fast-food favorite your own. Here are a few ways:

  • Bacon - If you aren't a bacon person, I don't know you. JUST KIDDING. You can make homemade sausage mcgriddles with vegan sausage, you can use a sausage patty or even split sausage links. Any protein will do. Oooh, corned beef would be amazing!
  • Milk - I prefer to use whole milk, but you can use any milk alternative you like. I even made pancakes with my mix using vanilla coffee creamer, so go off my friend.
  • Pancakes - I have some amazing pancake recipes on the blog, and any of them will do. My favorite are my easy pancakes made with milk. You could even use store bought frozen pancakes if you have them.
  • Cheese - Choose your cheese to suit your mood and the cheese drawer in your fridge. Got italian sausage links? Pair them with some provolone or melty mozzarella.
  • Eggs - My method for cooked eggs, described below, gives you a perfectly round egg that matches the size and shape of the pancake, but I have a lot of egg recipes to choose from and you can do whatever the heck you want cuz it's your sandwich!

Equipment: Ring molds

To make the pancakes and eggs the same size for my McGriddles I use a 3 ½ inch ring cutter, but you can also use english muffins rings, large round cookie cutters, or even the outer ring of a large mason jar lid with the wide end on the pan.

Alternatively, you can freestyle the shape of your eggs and use a medium cookie scoop or a ¼ cup measuring cup to make sure that your pancakes are a similar size. But listen, exact size and shape is not a deal breaker for making delicious and adorable homemade McGriddles. They're cuter, but not deliciouser 😜

Instructions

Make the bacon, make the pancakes, make the eggs, then build your McGriddles. It doesn't get much easier than that.

As always, ask you to read all of the instructions first, then look at my pretty pictures, and say ooh, and aah, and then gather your ingredients and get started.

Placing raw bacon strips on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

Step 1: Cook bacon by your desired method. I like to make my crispy oven bacon, which is ready in 20 minutes without you having to do a thing.

Drizzling melted butter into pancake batter.

Step 2: While the bacon is cooking, whisk together one egg with ½ cup of milk. Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup if desired. Add 1 cup (125 grams) of pancake mix and mix while drizzling in 2 tablespoons of melted and cooled unsalted butter.

Scooping pancake batter into a ring, mold to make homemade Mcgriddles.

Step 3: Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add ½ teaspoon of butter or vegetable oil if desired. To make perfectly round pancakes spray a ring cutter or mason jar lid with nonstick cooking spray and scoop ¼ cup of batter into the ring.

Cooking pancakes for homemade Mcgriddles.

Step 4: Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown, then remove the ring or jar lid and flip the pancake. Cook for another minute. Repeat with the rest of the batter. You should get 8 pancakes.

Poking the yolk of an frying egg with a skewer.

Step 5: In the same pan, over medium heat, using the same nonstick sprayed ring mold or jar lid, crack an egg into the center and poke the yolk with a skewer or toothpick.

Cover the pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until whites are mostly set. Remove the ring and flip. Cook another 2 minutes, or until the yolk is mostly cooked.

Making homemade McGriddles on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

Step 6: Place a slice of cheese on one pancake and add the hot egg on top to melt the cheese. Layer with as much crispy bacon as your heart desires. Drizzle with more maple syrup and add another pancake on top. Repeat for the rest of the sandwiches.

The authors hand holding a sliced open, homemade mcgriddle.

Add more maple flavor by drizzling with a little syrup or just give them a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Try to eat just one. Or don't try.

Love a Starbucks copycat recipe? Try my Potato and Cheddar Egg Bites. This better than Starbucks copycat recipe has flavorful potatoes and cheese baked into an eggy custard with a bonus of bacon because bacon makes everything better ❤️

Meal prep and freezing

You can make all of the individual components of this homemade mcgriddle recipe ahead, store the separately, and reheat and assemble when ready to eat - up to 4 days in advance. 

Homemade Mcgriddles on parchment paper.

You can also make a double batch and freeze sandwiches fully assembled.

  • To freeze: Place finished pancake sandwiches on a parchment paper or foiled lined large baking sheet and place in the freezer until solid, about 4 hours. Wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil. Place in a large zip top bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat in microwave: I recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator. Otherwise you can microwave on the defrost/thaw option until thawed, and then microwave on high for 80-90 seconds or until hot. Let stand 1 minute. The internal temperature of your egg should be 165°F when measured with an instant thermometer.
  • To reheat in oven: You can also reheat in the oven. Allow sandwich to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove plastic and rewrap sandwich in foil. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until hot. 

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these homemade mcgriddle sandwiches high protein?

Absolutely. You can use protein pancake mix, add a tablespoon of protein powder, or you can substitute cottage cheese for the milk when making the pancakes. You may need to add one or two tablespoons of milk to get the right batter consistency.

I don't have maple syrup. What can I use instead?

You can substitute with maple flavored pancake syrup or use ½ teaspoon of maple extract in place of the vanilla extract. Or nothing. Just let them be ancakes. It's still delicious.

Can I use scrambled eggs instead?

Yes of course. You can cook your scrambled eggs in a single layer and make a folded egg to fit your sandwich, or scramble them traditionally and just add a scoop on top of your cheese, then top with all the bacon!

More fun with eggs

  • Muffin pan frittatas in the pan.
    Spinach and Feta Muffin Pan Frittatas
  • Hash Brown Eggs Benedict
  • A bowl of egg fried rice.
    Korean Egg Fried Rice (Gyeran Bokkeumbap)
  • top view of hash brown avocado toast.
    Hash Brown Avocado Toast with Poached Egg
Cynthia from But First We Brunch writing down a brunch recipe.

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 Mcgriddles on parchment paper.

Homemade McGriddles (Better Than McDonald's Copycat)

Ever wake up with a huge craving for a McDonald's breakfast? These copycat Homemade McGriddles can be made in a flash, or made ahead and frozen, for instant satisfaction of morning, or late night, cravings!
No ratings yet
Author: Cynthia Christensen
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 sandwiches
Calories 340 kcal

Equipment

  • Ring cutter
  • Nonstick pan
  • Flexible spatula
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 

  • 8 slices bacon
  • 5 large eggs
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 1 cup pancake mix
  • ½ cup milk any milk you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup plus more for serving
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Cook bacon by your desired method. I like to make my crispy oven bacon, which is ready in 20 minutes without you having to do a thing.
  • While the bacon is cooking, whisk together one egg with ½ cup of milk. Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup if desired.
  • Add 1 cup (125 grams) of pancake mix and mix while drizzling in 2 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter.
  • Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add ½ teaspoon of butter or oil if desired. To make perfectly round pancakes spray a ring cutter or mason jar lid with nonstick spray and scoop ¼ cup of batter into the ring.
  • Cook for 2 to 3 minutes then remove the ring or jar lid and flip the pancake. Cook for another minute. Repeat with the rest of the batter. You should get 8 pancakes.
  • In the same pan, over medium heat, using the same nonstick sprayed ring mold or jar lid, crack an egg into the center and poke the yolk with a skewer or toothpick.
  • Cover the pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until whites are mostly set. Remove the ring and flip. Cook another 2 minutes, or until the yolk is mostly cooked.
  • Place cheese on one pancake and add the hot egg on top. Layer with as much crispy bacon as your heart desires. Drizzle with more maple syrup and add another pancake on top. Repeat for the rest of the sandwiches.
  • Serve with more maple syrup or a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Serve and enjoy!

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!

Notes

To freeze: Place finished pancake sandwiches on a parchment paper or foiled lined large baking sheet and place in the freezer until solid, about 4 hours. Wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil. Place in a large zip top bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat in microwave: For the best pancake sandwich, I recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator. Otherwise you can microwave on the defrost/thaw option until thawed, and then icrowave on high for 80-90 seconds or until hot. Let stand 1 minute. The internal temperature of your egg should be 165°F when measured with an instant thermometer.
To reheat in oven: You can also reheat in the oven. Allow sandwich to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove plastic wrap and rewrap sandwich in foil. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until hot. 
Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 297mg | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 842IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 369mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional and caloric information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It does not assert or suggest that readers should or should not count calories, and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s or doctor’s counseling.

Tried this recipe?I would love for you to leave a comment!

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Picture of the author with a banner, stating welcome to my blog I am Cynthia.

In our house we get up with the sun, and most of us don't stop working until late in the night, so breakfast and brunch are our family meals. So join me at the kitchen counter, where I cook up delicious food for my busy family, starting first thing in the morning!

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