Who doesn't love a McDonald's hack? Whether it's adding Big Mac sauce to your Filet-O-Fish or dipping French Fries into your McFlurry, there are seemingly countless ways to get creative with the menu. But what about breakfast?
Chances are, you already have a go-to order for your first meal of the day, but I'm here to make the case that rocking up to McDonald's in the morning for the full breakfast menu unlocks a whole world of possibilities, including (just maybe) your new favourite.
Plus, when you start your day with a tasty McDonald's feed, you're supporting the Canadian farmers who provide the freshly cracked Canadian grade A eggs for the sandwiches and 100% Canadian potatoes for those iconic Hash Browns. Add a delicious Premium Roast coffee, and you've got a great morning right there.
To experience the "hackability" of the McDonald's Canada breakfast menu for myself (and see if I could discover a new favourite), I put some obvious and not-so-obvious items together for this collection of five hacks you should check out the next time you drop by McD's for breakfast.
Cinnamon Swirl McMuffin
The most ambitious hack had the most surprising result. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
How to create it: Slip a McCafé Cinnamon Swirl inside your favourite McMuffin.
Why you need to try it: What's the point of a hack if it doesn't blow your mind a little? Found in the McCafé, the Cinnamon Swirl is a buttery brioche roll with cinnamon filling and cream cheese icing, and it honestly works inside a Bacon 'N Egg McMuffin.
Yes, it's sweet and salty, but it's also really complex thanks to the cinnamon and cream cheese icing mingling with the hickory-smoked bacon. If you love a flavour hit that'll make your pals do a double-take, here it is.
Chicken McHash Browns
If you're a Hash Browns fan, it doesn't get much better than this. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
How to create it: Replace the English muffins on your favourite McMuffin with two Hash Browns.
Why you need to try it: Hand on heart, McDonald's Hash Browns are my favourite breakfast item, but I hadn't yet tried the Chicken McMuffin. Combined? It delivers an exponentially craveable flavour hit. The seasoned chicken patty has a mayo-style sauce and cheese, and when sandwiched between two crisp Hash Browns, it's a flavour party.
I really like this one as an option outside the bacon/egg/sausage flavour trifecta, and I'll order this one again for sure. Pro tip: Swap the English muffins for Hash Browns while the cheese is still warm for the best effect.
Spicy Habanero McGriddles
The Spicy Habanero McGriddles is spicy, sweet and savoury all at once.Louie Murray | Narcity Media
How to create it: Add the Spicy Habanero McNugget Sauce to your favourite McGriddles.
Why you need to try it: The Bacon 'N Egg McGriddles is already a sweet and savoury champion, with egg, bacon and cheese sandwiched between two maple-flavoured griddle cakes that are basically thick, toothsome Hotcakes. Now, put some Spicy Habanero McNugget Sauce on it.
Perfect for someone who wants to taste every flavour at once, a Spicy Habanero McGriddles is a true party for your taste buds. I should have paced myself and added a little at a time, because things got a little slippery, but it tasted fantastic.
Bacon 'N Egg 'N McGriddles McMuffin
More sensible than the Cinnamon Swirl McMuffin, but just as sensational.Louie Murray | Narcity Media
How to create it: Take a griddle cake from your McGriddles and slip it into your favourite McMuffin.
Why you need to try it: For those who want just a taste of maple goodness in their McMuffin, there's what I call the "Bacon 'N Egg 'N McGriddles McMuffin" (though it would work with any McMuffin).
Moist, balanced and very tasty, it caught me by surprise. I also realized it hits a lot of the same notes as the first hack in this article, making me think of it like the cool older sibling of the Cinnamon Swirl McMuffin.
Cream Cheese Mighty McMuffin
Everything gets better when you add a second, different kind of cheese. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
How to create it: Slather one of the English muffins on your favourite McMuffin with cream cheese.
Why you need to try it: Ask very nicely, and you can get a serving of cream cheese (usually reserved for the bagels) to spread onto your McMuffin. This apparently simple hack has a major payoff and is officially a new addition to my McDonald's breakfast go-to order.
The tang of the cream cheese added a new flavour dimension to the classic combo of sausage patty, hickory-smoked bacon, egg and American cheese, bringing the whole McMuffin to a new level of deliciousness.
Turns out, there's a lot more going on with the McDonald's breakfast menu than meets the eye. And I didn’t even get into the Breakfast Wraps or McPops this time. I did, however, discover some new personal favourites — I can’t imagine having a bad day after tucking into a Cream Cheese Mighty McMuffin or Chicken McHash Browns.
Whether you're into sweet-salty mashups, spicy sauces or switching up the texture of a classic, there's plenty of room to experiment and maybe even land on something new you actually love. Throw in a smooth, freshly brewed coffee, and you've got a tasty, value-packed way to start your day.
To find more delicious ways to start your day with McDonald's, visit their website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Although products were provided for free in this review, the author's opinions are genuine and do not reflect the views of Narcity Media.