The McGriddle is one of those fast food items that has a very specific and loyal fan base and I am fully in it. That combination of fluffy maple pancake buns, savory sausage, egg, and cheese is genuinely one of the best breakfast sandwiches ever created and I say that with complete confidence. These homemade maple chicken McGriddles are the meal prep version that tastes just as good, uses cleaner ingredients, costs a fraction of the price, and means you have the most satisfying breakfast sandwich ready to reheat all week long without leaving the house.
Everything gets cut into the same size circle before assembly and this detail matters more than it sounds. Uniform pancake rounds, chicken sausage patties pressed into the same diameter, eggs cooked in a ring mold to match, cheese sliced to fit. Every layer is the same size which means every single bite has the perfect ratio of pancake to sausage to egg to cheese from the very first bite to the very last. It is the kind of thing that seems small until you eat one and realize it is actually everything.
The homemade chicken sausage is the component that makes this so much better than the original. Ground chicken seasoned with maple syrup, sage, garlic, and black pepper pressed into patties and cooked until golden and juicy. Chicken sausage keeps things lighter than pork without sacrificing any of that savory breakfast sausage flavor and the maple in the seasoning ties it directly into the maple pancake bun in a way that makes the whole sandwich taste completely intentional and cohesive. This is not just a copycat, it is genuinely better.
Double the batch, wrap each sandwich individually in foil or parchment, and store them in the fridge for up to five days or the freezer for up to three months. Reheat in the air fryer for that perfectly crisped pancake edge or in the microwave when you need something fast. Either way you have a hot, satisfying, homemade breakfast sandwich ready in under two minutes on even the most chaotic weekday morning. Make a big batch this weekend and thank yourself every single morning after.
Maple Chicken McGriddles
Ingredients
For the Maple Pancakes:
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
For the Chicken Sausage:
- 8 oz ground pork (about half of one pack)
- 8 oz ground chicken (about half of one pack)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp italian seasoning
For the Eggs:
- 6 eggs
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Other:
- 5 slices cheddar cheese
Instructions
Make the Pancakes:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add maple syrup, milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla and whisk to combine. Some lumps are okay, do not overmix!
- Melt a tablespoon of butter on a large skillet over medium low heat. Place 3 16oz mason jar lids on the skillet.
- Fill the mason jar lids with batter (about 3Tbs-¼ cup) and after a few seconds remove the mason jar lids carefully.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side and flip when golden brown. Cook for 2 more minutes and repeat until you have 10 pancakes. Place on a cooling rack and cool completely..
Make the Sausage Patties:
- In a large bowl, combine ground pork, ground chicken and spices and mix well. I use glove for this part and just use my hands.
- Form patties a little bit larger than the size of your mason jar lid accounting for shrinkage when they cook. They should be about ¼ inch thick.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and sear the patties 3-4 minutes on each side until fully cooked (use the same skillet you used for the pancakes!)
- Cool patties completely before assembling.
For the Eggs:
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper until combined.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes until set.
- Use the mason jar lid to cut out 5 rounds. (Save the leftovers for breakfast burritos!)
Assemble:
- Using the same mason jar lid or a cookie cutter the same size, cut your cheese slices into circles (optional but everything being the same shape is really satisfying lol)
- Place one sausage patty on top of a pancake, then an egg round, cheese and top with another pancake.
- Wrap in parchment paper and then tightly in aluminum foil.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for one month.
Reheating instructions:
- If refrigerated, cook in an air fryer at 350℉ for 5-6 minutes or microwave for 2 minutes.
- If frozen, cook in an air fryer at 360℉ for 15-20 min until centers are heated fully.
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