If McDonalds is known for one thing besides its Big Macs and Happy Meals, its the chains breakfast. The huge fast food chain has been a leader in breakfast for a long time, winning over many fans over many decades. But what are you going to do if you become hungry for a Sausage McMuffin or a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffin? As a result, McDonalds breakfast typically ends in the morning.
Thank goodness, if you want a pretty good fake, you can find sausage patties that look a lot like the ones McDonald’s serves. These are pretty close to what the chain uses, but not quite. They’re good enough to win over former McDonald’s Chef Mike Haracz. Taking to TikTok, Haracz shared the good news with his followers about the sausage. He said of the sausage, “I did buy it and try it, and the answer is Walmart Great Value pork breakfast sausage patties.”
The product should be available at most Walmarts across America for those who are interested. “After tasting it and cooking it, it tastes a lot like a McDonald’s breakfast sausage patty,” Haracz said.
The savory sausage patties served at McDonald’s are an integral part of their classic breakfast menu. Hot and flavorful, they pair perfectly with eggs and cheese sandwiched between an English muffin or biscuit. But have you ever wondered exactly what type of sausage McDonald’s uses for their famous breakfast patties? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients, flavor and sourcing behind the sausage patties made for the leading fast food chain.
An Iconic Breakfast Offering
Introduced to their breakfast menu in 1972, the sausage patty quickly became a customer favorite. Its well-seasoned meat provides a hearty protein to start your day. The patties are pre-formed and pre-cooked, then simply reheated on the grill as needed when you order a breakfast sandwich McDonald’s sells over 1 billion sausage patties annually, making it one of their most popular morning items The iconic sausage patty still tastes essentially the same as the original recipe developed nearly 50 years ago.
Made with Common Sausage Ingredients
According to McDonald’s official website, the ingredients in their sausage patties are relatively straightforward. They contain pork, water, salt, corn syrup solids, dextrose, preservatives, spices and seasonings. Like most sausages, it’s a combination of ground meat, fat, seasonings and binders to help form the mixture into a patty. The sweeteners and preservatives aid in shelf stability since the patties are fully cooked during manufacturing. Overall, the ingredient list resembles a typical pork breakfast sausage.
Flavor Profile
The sausage patties have a distinctly savory and moderately spicy flavor profile. The pork and fat provide a rich, meaty base, while added seasonings like black pepper deliver peppery notes. There are hints of herbs like sage and hints of maple sweetness, similar to breakfast sausage seasonings. Reviews describe the sausage as having a crumbly yet juicy texture when cooked. The flavor strikes a balance between bold pork taste and classic breakfast sausage spices.
Potentially Formulated for Consistent Flavor
To maintain the same flavors across thousands of locations, McDonald’s likely sources their sausage patties from large meat processing companies that manufacture according to their custom formula. The patties are potentially formulated specifically for McDonald’s to produce consistent size, texture and flavor. Uniformity is key for such a huge fast food operation. Companies like Cargill, Tyson, Smithfield and Hormel are major meat suppliers for McDonald’s. However, the exact source of the sausage patties is proprietary information.
Pork Likely from US Producers
Though the exact source is unknown, the pork used in McDonald’s sausage is believed to come primarily from American hog farmers and producers. As the world’s largest food chain by revenue, McDonald’s has massive purchasing power and distribution networks. However, the company does source some ingredients globally based on pricing and availability. For instance, their famous French fries were previously imported from Belgium. The potatoes now come from American growers. But you can count on their pork products like sausage patties being domestically sourced.
Pre-Formed for Ease of Use
Rather than forming sausage patties by hand in each restaurant they are manufactured in large factories as part of a highly automated process. Machines evenly portion and shape the sausage meat into thin, round patties before packaging and freezing. Pre-formed patties ensure consistent sizing and make it easy for cooks to grab and reheat them quickly on a flattop grill. With millions served per day, pre-made patties keep the breakfast prep simple.
Approximate Serving Size and Nutrition Facts
McDonald’s breakfast sausage patties weigh around 1.6 ounces (45 grams). A single patty contains 180 calories, 16 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbs and 7 grams of protein. As with most pork breakfast sausage, they are high in saturated fat and sodium, containing a quarter of your daily recommended value of sodium in one patty. While high in fat, the pork does provide more protein than carbohydrate-heavy options like pancakes. Overall, it offers a hearty dose of meaty flavor to satisfy morning hunger.
Best Paired with Eggs and Cheese
For the quintessential McDonald’s breakfast experience, the sausage patty is best enjoyed between an English muffin or biscuit along with a sizzling egg and slice of melty American cheese. Popular menu items featuring their signature sausage patties include
- Sausage McMuffin with Egg
- Sausage McMuffin
- Sausage Biscuit with Egg
- Sausage Biscuit
The balanced flavors and textures of the flaky biscuit or muffin, salty sausage, egg, and creamy cheese come together in perfect harmony.
Often Imitated by Copycat Recipes
The distinctive taste of McDonald’s sausage patties is often imitated in copycat recipes online. Food bloggers and home cooks try cloning them by reverse engineering the seasonings. Most copycats include sage, black pepper, garlic powder, maple syrup and cayenne pepper to approximate that signature McDonald’s sausage flavor. However, the exact blend remains a secret.
Customer Favorite Over Decades
Ever since first debuting on McDonald’s breakfast offerings 50 years ago, the sausage patties remain a favorite for their juicy, craveable flavor. They have become an icon of the fast food breakfast experience. The appetite for McDonald’s fluffy biscuits and savory sausage patties doesn’t seem to be diminishing any time soon. Even among the endless options available on their expansive menu, the classic sausage biscuit still satisfies customers morning after morning.
So next time you grab a sausage and egg biscuit on a McDonald’s breakfast run, appreciate just how much effort goes into producing those famous pre-formed sausage patties. It may be fast food, but tremendous care is put into sourcing flavorful pork, crafting the ideal seasonings and achieving the mouthwatering taste that has made them an American breakfast tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions About McDonald’s Sausage Patties
Here are answers to some common questions about the beloved sausage patties served at McDonald’s restaurants:
Are McDonald’s sausage patties pork or beef?
McDonald’s breakfast sausage patties contain seasoned ground pork as the main ingredient. They do not contain any beef.
Why do they taste different than grocery store sausage?
The signature flavor comes from carefully engineered seasonings and spices formulated specifically for McDonald’s to their specifications. This results in a distinct flavor profile not found in generic pork sausage.
Are they healthier than sausage links or patties?
Not necessarily – they contain a similar amount of fat and sodium as other pork sausages. Handmade sausages without preservatives may be considered healthier.
Are the sausage patties gluten-free?
No, the McDonald’s sausage patties contain wheat as an ingredient so they are not gluten-free. The biscuits and muffins they are served on also contain gluten.
Can you buy McDonald’s sausage patties in grocery stores?
Unfortunately McDonald’s does not sell or distribute their pre-made sausage patties for retail purchase outside their restaurants. However, some grocery stores carry imitation versions.
How long do the cooked sausage patties last for?
The cooked, pre-formed sausage patties are kept refrigerated and are intended for immediate consumption once reheated. Leftover patties held at unsafe temperatures risk foodborne illness.
Does McDonald’s make their own sausage patties?
McDonald’s sources their sausage patties from major meat processing companies and does not form them individually in-house. The suppliers remain undisclosed.
What is the best way to reheat them?
McDonald’s uses rapid hot grill tops to quickly reheat the pre-cooked sausage patties to serving temperature. At home, use a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat to warm without overcooking.
Can you buy uncooked McDonald’s sausage patties?
Raw, uncooked McDonald’s sausage patties are not available for purchase. The patties are pre-cooked during manufacturing for food safety reasons and ease of preparation.
So if you’ve ever wondered “what type of sausage does McDonald’s use”, hopefully this provides some insightful answers! Their famous breakfast sausage patties have a one-of-a-kind flavor cherished by generations.
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How similar are these sausages?
Mike Haracz swears that the two sausages taste the same, but how similar are they really? The former McDonald’s chef says that he looked at the ingredient lists and found that the sausages are a pretty good match. And Haracz is quick to point out that they’re not exactly the same. But if you taste them, you might not notice a difference. According to the former chef, theyre the closest match hes found.
Walmarts Great Value sausages and McDonalds sausages both contain pork, water, salt, corn syrup, dextrose, and sugar. They also both have natural flavorings. Where they differ is in the preservatives. McDonalds contains Rosemary extract while Walmarts version does not. Instead, the Great Value sausages have citrus acid and propyl gallate as additives. Likewise, McDonalds sausages are generally a little bit leaner as well. “The Great Value version has a little more fat in it as well as a different set of preservatives in it,” says Haracz. On the other hand, if you really want to feel like you’re at McDonald’s, the Great Value sausages might be your only option.