Food

I made a Michelin-starred chef's version of a McDonald's McMuffin. It only took 10 minutes and tasted way better than the original.

A bacon and egg sandwich on an english muffin
Michelin-starred chef Greg Marchand's homemade version of a McDonald's McMuffin. Courtesy of Frenchie
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Greg Marchand first told me about his bacon and egg muffin when I asked Michelin-starred chefs to share their favorite quick lunches.

The chef patron of Frenchie in Paris revealed he had a homemade — and upgraded — version of the McDonald's McMuffin.

"This muffin wins, every time," Marchand said. "My kids and wife love it too and — if you're like us and generally have cheese, eggs, and bacon in the fridge — it's perfect and comes together in about 10 minutes."

"It's healthier than the famed McDonald's version and about 100 times better!" he added.

The promise of a 10-minute breakfast sandwich already won me over. And after Marchand sent me a photo of his creation, I knew I had to try it.

Marchand's bacon and egg muffin requires just a few main ingredients.

Michelin McMuffin
Ingredients for Marchand's homemade McMuffin. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

To whip up this Michelin-starred McMuffin, you'll need: 

  • An English muffin 
  • Smoked bacon
  • Eggs 
  • Cheddar slices 
  • Ketchup 
  • HP sauce 

"HP sauce is a popular condiment in Britain," Marchand explained. "It's a secret mixture made from tomatoes, tamarind, dates, and spices. It has a flavor that is sweet, spicy, and savory." 

While it may have British roots, HP sauce is readily available at many US supermarket chains. Check the international foods aisle, or look by the ketchup and barbecue sauces.

To begin, I first cooked my bacon.

Michelin McMuffin
Cooking the bacon. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Marchand recommends using a skillet or griddle for this recipe, and I went with the latter.

Since I was making breakfast for my family, I cooked two slices of bacon for each sandwich. After the bacon finished cooking, I placed the slices on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the grease.

As the bacon started cooking, I prepped my English muffins.

Michelin McMuffin
I spread each muffin half with unsalted butter. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I cut each muffin in half and spread unsalted butter on both sides.

Marchand recommends keeping pre-sliced English muffins in your freezer so that "they're there for a rainy day and a lunch like this."

Once the bacon was ready, I started prepping the rest of the ingredients.

Michelin McMuffin
My griddle sizzled as I began cooking the egg. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I wiped the bacon grease from my griddle, added some olive oil, then cracked an egg into an egg ring the same size as my English muffins (per Marchand's recommendation).

I then placed my first English muffin on the griddle — buttered sides down — to help it soften.

Then it was time to start building the sandwich.

Michelin McMuffin
Adding cheese to the English muffin halves. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

After about a minute or so, I flipped over my English muffin halves so they could toast while I made my sandwich directly on the griddle. 

I placed a slice of cheddar cheese on each half, letting the muffin's heat melt it.

Once the cheddar slices had softened, it was time for some saucin'.

Michelin McMuffin
I spread ketchup and HP sauce on the cheese slices. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Marchand recommends adding ketchup to one of the muffin halves and HP sauce on the other. 

Then I added the bacon slices.

Michelin McMuffin
Adding bacon on top of the sauce and cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

After the bacon finished cooking, I placed the slices on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the grease.

Before I put the slices on the sandwich, I made sure to break them in half so they would fit nicely.

I plopped my egg right on top of the bacon.

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Make sure not to break the yolk! Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

My fried egg was cooked in just a few minutes. Don't forget to season it with some salt and pepper!

I then carefully placed the top half of the muffin on my sandwich, making sure not to break the yolk.

Marchand recommends bringing the two halves of your sandwich together only when it's time to eat so "you can have the pleasure of breaking the yolk as you sink your teeth into it."

I put Marchand's bacon and egg muffin next to the McMuffin, and it already looked far more impressive.

Michelin McMuffin
Marchand's homemade McMuffin (left) next to McDonald's McMuffin (right). Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

My dad picked up some Egg McMuffins from the drive-thru at our local McDonald's before my taste test, and things already weren't looking great for the fast-food giant

Similar to Marchand's sandwich, the McDonald's Egg McMuffin is made with a toasted English muffin and "freshly cracked" egg, butter, and "melty American cheese," as well as lean Canadian bacon, according to its website.

Marchand's version appeared fluffier than the squished McDonald's sandwich, which had a much flatter English muffin. I could tell Marchand's muffin also had a lot more cheese, which looked delicious as it melted down the sides of the sandwich. 

The Michelin McMuffin was clearly more visually appealing, but would it taste "100 times better" as Marchand had promised?

Moist, cheesy, and crunchy are just three of the words I'd use to describe this delicious sandwich.

Michelin McMuffin
Marchand's homemade McMuffin was full of delicious flavors and textures. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

The sandwich is structured so that every bite gives you a little bit of everything, and the ingredients are all covered in the delicious yolk that soaks the sandwich once you sink your teeth in. 

My parents both loved how moist the sandwich was, along with that sweet kick of flavor from the HP sauce. 

"Overall, it's a great experience," my mom said. "Can I have one of these every day?"

When it was time to try the McDonald's McMuffin, the differences were instantly obvious.

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Comparing Marchand's McMuffin with McDonald's Egg McMuffin. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

While Marchand's sandwich is delightfully crunchy, the McDonald's McMuffin is just chewy. The English muffin from the fast-food giant was really dry, the egg tasted rubbery, and the entire thing needed some sauce. 

"It's not juicy or moist," my dad said. "There's a plastic flavor."

I would definitely recommend Marchand's egg and bacon sandwich for any meal.

Michelin McMuffin
Making Marchand's sandwich for my family on the griddle was really easy. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Breakfast sandwiches can take a lot of time, especially when you're cooking for the entire family. But Marchand's recipe is so easy, especially if you've got a griddle or large skillet and can make multiple sandwiches at once.

The ingredients are cheap and pantry-friendly, and everything cooks in a matter of minutes. It's the kind of comfort food that would taste great at any hour — a filling lunch, midnight snack, or hungover breakfast.

And it'll take the same amount of time to make — if not less — than getting through the line at a McDonald's drive-thru.

I'm definitely lovin' that.

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Anneta Konstantinides
Anneta Konstantinides is a lifestyle correspondent at Business Insider, with a focus on food and travel. She loves taking readers inside Michelin-starred kitchens and exploring the world of fine-dining, and she's always trying to find the best Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay recipes. Her second home is LAX, where she's often catching a flight and reviewing airlines.Anneta has also been reporting on the pageant industry for the last six years and has interviewed every Miss USA and Miss Universe winner since 2019. She was a finalist at the LA Press Club Awards for her investigation into the  2022 Miss USA scandal and was featured in The New York Times Presents episode "How to Fix a Pageant" on Hulu in September 2023. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A in English Literature and a minor in film & television, Anneta worked as a journalist in London, Sydney, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. You can reach Anneta at akonstantinides@bjinnox.com.