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The Egg McMuffin, while an iconic McDonald’s offering, is a very average breakfast sandwich. The English muffin filled with cheese, Canadian bacon, and egg is not bad by any means, but it’s not the best McDonald’s breakfast sandwich either. It feels like it’s just missing something to take it to another level — honestly, what the sandwich really needs is some sauce.
To get the best Egg McMuffin, you gotta make use of McDonald’s wide array of condiments. And while you certainly could pick up some ketchup — a pretty divisive egg pairing — there’s no reason to stick to the basics. If you like your eggs with a kick, load up your sandwich with the spicy Buffalo, hot picante salsa, or even the limited-time McDonald’s Mighty Hot Sauce for a boost of spicy flavor and that little touch of moisture the sandwich lacks. The tangy barbecue, on the other hand, will add a slight smokiness and tang to make it more like you’re eating from a BBQ spot for breakfast.
Or perhaps you want to lean into the sweet and savory side of breakfast sandwiches without shelling out for a McGriddle. You can order a side of honey — a sweet condiment regularly paired with ham — or maple syrup to balance out the saltiness of the Canadian bacon. Or you could pick up McDonald’s grape jam or strawberry preserves for a sweet option to counter the Egg McMuffin’s salty savoriness. If you’re skeptical of the fruity addition, just know that jam and honey originally came with the Egg McMuffin.
Non-McDonald’s sauces to try on your egg McMuffin (and a few to avoid)
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McDonald’s charges for some of its sauces, so you can skip that added cost by taking your sandwich home and raiding your fridge or pantry for a tasty addition — or making a copycat recipe. Grab a bottle of your favorite hot sauce, BBQ sauce, or mustard. Or take a page out of Reddit chefs’ recipe books and add a smear of jarred pesto or hummus or drizzle on a little Worcestershire sauce and browned butter.
And while this may be blasphemous to suggest, the secret option is to use your favorite signature sauces from other fast food chains. Whether you stock up on sauce packets while swinging by other drive-thrus or you buy the bottles chains like Chick-fil-A sell at the grocery store, they may be the secret to a one-of-a-kind McMuffin. Cane’s sauce will offer a peppery punch, while Whataburger’s spicy ketchup lets you have the best of both worlds with a tomato-based acidity and a bit of kick.
If you’re wondering what sauces you shouldn’t put on the sandwich, heavy, creamy condiments like mayo might be the wrong choice due to their richness. You want a sauce with some bite (whether from acid or heat) to combat the hefty egg, gooey American cheese, and dense English muffin. Mayo or even ranch would only add to the heaviness of the sandwich and wouldn’t provide a contrasting flavor like hot sauce or honey would.
