10 Fabulous Fast Food Breakfasts
Is there a good, cheap, and healthy breakfast out there? Who has a great, quick, and easy breakfast no matter the calorie count? Let’s look at the best fast food breakfasts you can find.
For Those Who Aren't Counting Calories
Chick-fil-A's Hash Brown Burrito
You probably don't think of Chick-fil-A for anything but their famous chicken and biscuits. But, yeah, they do have breakfast—and some awesome morning offerings at that! You may have to put your diet on hold when you order up a Hash Brown Scramble Burrito. But it's well worth the calories to dig into a burrito with hash browns, scrambled eggs, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and, the best part...diced chicken nuggets!
Epic Burrito at Del Taco
Del Taco gets more traditional with its Huevos Rancheros Epic Burrito. Naysayers may scoff that the fast food is not as authentic as the burritos at their local Mexican eatery. And they may be right. But a hefty burrito with slow-cooked beans, scrambled eggs, grated cheese, fresh avocado, salsa, sour cream, and chorizo comes pretty darn close.
The Wendy's Baconator
Wendy's has breakfast? Yup! But you should be forewarned before ordering a Breakfast Baconator. It's got 730 calories, 50 grams of fat, and lots of sodium. It may be the least healthy thing on their menu. But you'll still want to give it a try—it's got lots of bacon! Plus, a burger. And an egg, with cheese and a topping of Swiss cheese sauce.
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle
We're coming up on the 50th anniversary of the McDonald’s McMuffin. And it's more than stood the test of time. But perhaps an even more awesome breakfast sandwich from Mickey D's is the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle. The concept is the same as the Sausage McMuffin with Egg. But the McGriddle exceeds its predecessor with pancakes on both ends. And not just any pancakes, but pancakes with syrup already inside them!
Whataburger for Chicken and Biscuits in the Morning
The fast-food chain that was founded in Texas only has franchises in ten states. But if you're lucky enough to live in one with Whataburger you can order a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit from 11 at night until 11 in the morning. No eggs? Who says you have to have eggs in the morning when you can start your day with a flaky buttermilk biscuit loaded with chicken tenders lathered in honey butter? It's so good that there's a petition at Change.org to make it available all day long.
White Castle's Belgian Waffle Slider
We understand why some haters hate on White Castle. There are some serious missteps we can point to, from their Fish Nibblers and Clam Strips to beef patties overloaded with rehydrated onions—asking them to hold the onions won’t hold off all of the onions. But it's nearly impossible for anyone to hate White Castle's Belgian Waffle Slider. It's simply too adorable, with fluffy little waffle buns encasing egg, cheese, hickory smoked bacon or sausage, and a choice of cheeses, including jalapeño and smoked cheddar.
The Healthiest Fast Food Breakfasts
Chick-fil-A Egg White Grill
Don't scoff at the notion of having a healthy meal at Chick-fil-A. Their Egg White Grill comes in at a low 290 calories. Plus, its grilled chicken and egg whites combine to offer an impressive 26 grams of protein. It does have cheese, so we get eight grams of fat, but the multigrain English muffin adds to creating an overall healthy meal.
Starbucks' Spinach, Feta and Egg White Wrap
Another breakfast sandwich that comes in at 290 calories, the Spinach, Feta and Egg White Wrap at Starbucks is one of the few on-the-go breakfast options that have vegetables. Spinach and tomatoes are joined by cage-free egg whites and feta cheese in a whole wheat wrap. With 20 grams of protein and eight grams of fat, this is a healthy option to go with your Skinny Vanilla Latte.
Omelet Sandwich at Dunkin'
Dunkin' Donuts (rebranded as just Dunkin') surprises many with a super-healthy breakfast option. Your waistline will thank you for resisting the temptation of fresh doughnuts and ordering the Veggie Egg White Omelet. It's not really an omelet; it's a breakfast sandwich with an egg-white omelet served on multigrain flatbread with a slice of cheese. It's just 290 calories with 13 grams of fat and a substantial 17 grams of protein. The Power option adds turkey bacon.
Panera's Chipotle Wrap
At 450 calories, Panera's Chipotle Chicken, Scrambled Egg and Avocado Wrap may not be as calorie-friendly as egg-white options. But this morning delight makes up for that with an impressive 29 grams of protein. And the avalanche of flavors is hard to beat with Peppadew peppers, chipotle aioli, and cilantro mixed in with avocados, smoked Gouda cheese and a scrambled egg.
Whether you go for a calorie bomb or choose a quick healthy breakfast, a fast food breakfast can be a great way to start your day.
Written by William McCleary for Knockaround.