The first time I bit into a McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel, I knew this wasn’t your average fast food breakfast. That perfect combination of savory seasoned steak, fluffy eggs, melted cheese, and the distinctive tangy sauce all nestled between a toasted bagel was something special. Then, seemingly overnight, they disappeared from many McDonald’s locations, leaving a breakfast-shaped hole in my morning routine.
After months of disappointment (and driving across town to the one McDonald’s that occasionally still served them), I decided to take matters into my own hands. Through trial and error, I finally perfected this copycat recipe that satisfies my cravings and improves on the original with fresher ingredients and customizable portions. Regardless of whether my local McDonald’s has decided to serve bagel sandwiches that day, I can enjoy this hearty, satisfying breakfast anytime I want—and so can you.
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Table of Contents
What Makes the McDonald’s Steak Egg and Cheese Bagel So Good?
McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel sounds impressive. Steak and a fast food chain? Well, it turns out that the steak is more of a chopped steak than a sirloin. However, a well-seasoned juicy steak patty with fluffy folded egg and cheese on a freshly toasted bagel is still a great way to start your morning.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- Nostalgic Fast Food Flavor: Satisfies cravings for this limited-availability McDonald’s favorite
- Customizable: Adjust seasoning, sauce, and toppings to your personal preference
- Fresh Ingredients: Uses higher quality ingredients than the fast food version
- Budget-Friendly: Costs less than restaurant versions, especially when making multiple servings
- Meal Prep Friendly: Can be made ahead and frozen for quick weekday breakfasts
- Reliable Access: Enjoy this sandwich anytime, regardless of McDonald’s regional menu availability
- Impressive Brunch Option: Elevates weekend brunches with minimal effort
Steak, Egg, and Cheese Bagel Ingredients
To make McDonalds bagel sandwiches with steak, eggs, and cheese, you’ll need:
Ingredients for the Steak Patties
- Ground chuck – Provides the perfect fat-to-lean ratio for juicy, flavorful patties that mimic McDonald’s “steak”
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds umami depth and slight tanginess that enhances the beef flavor
- Garlic powder – Contributes aromatic notes that complement the beef without overpowering
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors in the patty
- Black pepper – Adds subtle heat and complexity to the meat
Ingredients for the Special Sauce
- Mayonnaise – It creates a creamy base that binds the sauce ingredients together
- Yellow mustard – Provides tangy sharpness that cuts through the rich meat and cheese
- Fresh dill – Adds bright herbaceous notes that make this sauce distinctive
Ingredients for Assembly
- Plain bagels – Form the sturdy foundation that holds up to the hearty fillings
- Butter – Creates a golden, flavorful toast on the bagel and adds richness to the eggs
- White onions – Provides sweet, aromatic flavor when sautéed
- Large eggs – Create the fluffy, protein-rich layer essential to this breakfast sandwich
- American cheese slices – Melts perfectly for that signature McDonald’s cheese pull
If you have leftover steak you can use it instead of a ground steak patty. Just warm it in the skillet.
To make McDonald’s bagel sauce:
- Place the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and dill in a small bowl.
- Stir until well combined.
To cook the McDonald’s Steak Bagels:
- Slice the bagels in half and spread butter on both halves.
- Put a skillet over medium heat and place the bagels cut-side-down in the pan to crisp up. Unless you use a big pan or griddle, you’ll need to toast the bagels in batches. Alternatively, you can use a toaster. Set the toasted bagels aside for later.
- While the bagels are toasting, you can slice half an onion.
- After the bagels are toasted, add some butter to the hot pan and saute the sliced onions until they’re translucent. Save for later.
- Combine the ground chuck with the Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Use your fingertips to work the seasoning into the meat gently.
- Separate the seasoned ground beef into four equal portions. Form each portion into a half-inch thick round patty. Set them aside until needed.
- Wash your hands well.
- Wipe out the pan and place it over medium-high heat until hot.
- Cook the patties in the pan for three minutes on each side or until cooked through. Again, depending on the size of your pan, you’ll probably need to cook in batches. Put the cooked patties on a baking dish covered with aluminum foil to keep the meat warm.
- Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and add some butter.
- Melt the butter over low heat. While the butter is melting, whisk the four eggs in a bowl.
- Pour half of the beaten eggs into the pan and use a rubber spatula to scramble slightly. Then leave the eggs alone until the surface is mostly dry.
- Fold the eggs in half and place two pieces of cheese side by side on the eggs. Cover the pan with a lid until the cheese melts.
- Use the spatula to cut the eggs in half. Transfer each half onto the top of a reserved patty.
- Repeat with the remaining eggs and cheese.
To assemble a Mcdonald’s steak bagel:
- Spread some of the sauce on each side of the toasted bagels.
- Put a beef patty with the egg and cheese on one half of the bagel and top with the other half. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.
- Serve immediately.
What to Serve With Them
These breakfast sandwiches are great with a hash brown patty or homemade tater tots. Add your favorite hot coffee or homemade McDonald’s iced coffee for a complete meal.
How to Store Them
To keep a McDonalds steak egg & cheese bagel fresh for up to three days, wrap it in aluminum foil and put it inside an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For longer storage, store the aluminum foil-wrapped sandwiches in a freezer-safe container and keep them frozen for up to a month.
How to Make Them Ahead and Reheat Later
McDonald’s Steak Bagels are great for folks who like to prepare a bunch of food for the week in advance. One option is freezing fully assembled sandwiches.
The other choice is to freeze the cooked beef patty and eggs individually, then toast the bagel and add the cheese when you reheat the eggs and meat. The first option is faster, but the second one ensures the bagels are crispy.
What Is the Best Way to Reheat These
The quickest reheating method is the microwave. Unwrap the sandwich from the aluminum foil and wrap it in a paper towel. Heat a thawed sandwich for about a minute or until the meat is hot. Nuke frozen bagel breakfast sandwiches for about two minutes.
You can also reheat thawed bagel sandwiches in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the aluminum foil-wrapped sandwiches in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes until hot.
More McDonald’s Breakfast Copycat Recipes
- Breakfast Burrito
- Egg McMuffin
- Egg White Delight
- Fruit and Nut Oatmeal
- Sausage Egg and Cheese McMuffin
Favorite Breakfast Recipes
- Bob Evans Sausage Gravy
- Burger King Breakfast Burrito
- Dunkin Omelette Bites
- IHOP Cheeseburger Omelette
- Sonic Breakfast Burrito
- Starbucks Egg White Bites
- Taco Bell Breakfast Crunchwrap
- Whataburger Breakfast Burger
Check out more of my easy breakfast recipes and the best copycat McDonald’s recipes on CopyKat!
Homemade McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel
Ingredients
- 4 plain bagels sliced
- 5 tablespoons butter divided use
- 1/2 white onion sliced
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 eggs whisked
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
Instructions
- Separate the tops and bottoms of the bagels. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of butter on the cut side of each bagel half and place them butter-side down in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until lightly toasted. Remove the bagels from the skillet and set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the onions to the skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until the onions become translucent. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Mix with your hands until well blended. Form the mixture into one large ball. Divide the ball in half and then in half again to create 4 equal sections. Form each section into a flat, round patty about 1/2 inch thick (they will expand slightly while cooking).
- Place the skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties for about 3 minutes on each side, until fully cooked through. Remove the patties from the skillet. Discard the grease and wipe the skillet with a paper towel.
- Reduce the heat slightly and spray the skillet with nonstick spray. Pour the whisked eggs into the skillet and allow them to cook undisturbed for about 2 to 3 minutes. When the eggs are cooked on the bottom, use a spatula to fold the eggs over, creating a half circle. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the eggs are cooked through.
- Place 2 slices of cheese side by side over the eggs and cook until the cheese starts to melt slightly. Cut the eggs in half, creating 2 quarter circles. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and dill. Mix well.
- To assemble the sandwiches, spread the mayonnaise mixture on all 8 faces of the toasted bagels. Add a steak patty, onions, egg, and cheese to the bottom halves of the bagels and cover with the top halves.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips for Perfect McDonald’s Bagel Sandwiches
- Temperature matters: Start with room temperature eggs for more even cooking
- Don’t overwork the meat: Gently mix the seasonings into the ground beef to keep the patties tender
- Thin is in: Form the beef patties slightly larger than the bagel and thin, as they will shrink and thicken during cooking
- Mise en place: Prepare all ingredients before starting to cook, as this recipe moves quickly once you begin
- Bagel selection: Choose fresh bagels with a tight crumb for the best texture
- Cheese strategy: Place cheese on the hot eggs rather than directly on the meat for perfect melting
- Sauce consistency: The sauce should be thick enough to spread easily but not so thin it runs off the bagel
- Timing is everything: Coordinate cooking so everything finishes around the same time for optimal serving temperature
I wanted to hate this but it is soooo good.
This is the new steak egg and cheese bagel from McDonald’s. The original one that actually had steak, was the best. This is just a breakfast hamburger. I miss the original ones so much!
Just substitute “Steak Umms” for the ground chuck in this recipe and you will have the original steak, egg, and cheese breakfast bagel. It’s much better that way. Steak Umms is the same meat that McDonald’s uses.