McGriddles

McGriddles is a breakfast sandwich brand owned and sold by McDonald's. Its defining feature is the use of two round, maple-flavored griddle pancakes in place of conventional bread or an English muffin. Depending on the market and recipe, the pancakes hold combinations of egg, cheese, bacon, sausage, or other locally adapted proteins. The pancakes are embossed with the McDonald's logo and are designed to deliver a sweet-and-savory flavor profile in a portable breakfast format. The product was conceptualized in 1999 by Gerald Tomlinson, then an executive chef at McDonald's, as a pancake-based extension of the company's established McMuffin breakfast platform. Its commercial development depended on a supplier technology that allowed syrup to be crystallized and incorporated into the pancake batter. During cooking, the syrup crystals dissolve, distributing the sweet flavor within the pancakes rather than requiring a separate syrup packet. This production method helped McDonald's offer a breakfast sandwich with pancake characteristics while preserving the speed, consistency, and portability expected from a quick-service restaurant product. McGriddles was introduced in June 2003. The standard formulation described for the product combines fried bacon, a round egg or regionally specific folded scrambled egg, and American cheese between the maple-flavored pancakes. McDonald's has also offered sausage, sausage with egg and cheese, and bacon with egg and cheese versions. Regional variations have included scrapple with egg and cheese in the Philadelphia area and Spam with egg and cheese in Hawaii. A chicken version was initially tested for a limited period in Kansas, Ohio, and Florida and was reported as available throughout the United States from 2025. The brand has expanded beyond the United States into a range of markets, including Canada, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Availability, menu composition, egg preparation, and protein choices differ by country. The reported addition of New Zealand availability from 2026 illustrates the way McDonald's adapts major product platforms to local restaurant networks and market calendars. McGriddles occupies a distinctive position in McDonald's breakfast portfolio. McMuffins emphasize the familiar savory breakfast sandwich format, while McGriddles differentiates itself through the built-in maple flavor of its pancake carrier. The product therefore combines recognizable breakfast ingredients with a more indulgent sweet-savory proposition. Its continuing presence and regional variants indicate that it functions as an established product platform rather than a single fixed recipe. McGriddles remains dependent on McDonald's restaurants, supply chain, menu strategy, and operating markets rather than operating as an independent company.

McGriddles originated as an effort to extend McDonald's breakfast sandwich portfolio beyond the established McMuffin format. Gerald Tomlinson, who was serving as an executive chef at McDonald's, conceptualized the product in 1999. The central idea was to combine the structure and portability of a breakfast sandwich with the taste and visual identity of pancakes. A key manufacturing challenge was incorporating syrup into a sandwich carrier without making the product impractical for high-volume restaurant service. Production relied on supplier technology that crystallized syrup before it was mixed into the pancake component. The crystals could then dissolve during heating, allowing the pancakes to carry maple flavor internally and reducing the need for separately added syrup. This process supported a consistent product suitable for McDonald's standardized kitchen operations. McGriddles was introduced in June 2003. The original product concept used two round griddle pancakes surrounding breakfast fillings, including egg, cheese, and a choice of bacon or sausage. The pancakes were marked with the McDonald's logo, giving the product a recognizable appearance while reinforcing its connection to the wider restaurant brand. Over time, McDonald's offered several configurations. Sausage, egg and cheese and bacon, egg and cheese became principal versions, while simpler sausage versions were also sold. The recipe and egg format vary by market: some restaurants use a round egg, whereas others use folded scrambled egg. Local menu adaptations have included scrapple with egg and cheese in the Philadelphia region and Spam with egg and cheese in Hawaii. These variations reflect McDonald's practice of adapting a global product platform to regional tastes and supply conditions. The product also expanded geographically. Reference material identifies availability in the United States, Canada, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, with New Zealand listed for availability from 2026. As with other McDonald's menu brands, the exact offering is market-specific and can change according to local menu cycles. McGriddles has continued to evolve through protein and recipe extensions. A chicken version was first tested in selected U.S. markets, including Kansas, Ohio, and Florida, and was reported as available across the United States from 2025. This extension broadened the platform beyond the traditional bacon and sausage choices while retaining the signature pancake format. McGriddles remains an active product brand within McDonald's breakfast business, with its identity centered on the combination of maple-flavored pancakes, savory breakfast fillings, and quick-service portability.

• 2026

  New Zealand availability reported

  [1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material lists New Zealand as a market for McGriddles from 2026.

• 2025

  Chicken version reported as nationally available in the United States

  [1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  The chicken variant, initially tested in selected U.S. markets, was reported as available nationwide in the United States.

• 2003

  Commercial introduction

  [1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  McGriddles was introduced in June as a sandwich made with maple-flavored griddle pancakes and breakfast fillings.

• 1999

  McGriddles concept developed

  [1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  Gerald Tomlinson conceptualized a pancake-based breakfast sandwich as an extension of McDonald's McMuffin platform.

A portable McDonald's breakfast sandwich differentiated by maple-flavored griddle pancakes and a sweet-and-savory taste profile.

• Breakfast sandwich

  Sausage McGriddles

  A McGriddles configuration centered on a sausage filling between two maple-flavored griddle pancakes. It represents the simpler sausage-led expression of the platform and is distinct from versions that add egg and cheese.

• Breakfast sandwich

  Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles

  A breakfast sandwich combining sausage, egg, and American cheese with the signature maple-flavored griddle pancakes. It is one of the principal savory configurations associated with the McGriddles brand.

• Breakfast sandwich

  Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles

  A bacon-based breakfast sandwich using egg and American cheese between the brand's two maple-flavored griddle pancakes. Egg preparation can vary by market, with either a round egg or folded scrambled egg used in different regions.

• Regional breakfast sandwich

  Scrapple, Egg & Cheese McGriddles

  A regional version served in the Philadelphia area that substitutes scrapple for the more widely distributed bacon or sausage fillings while retaining egg, cheese, and the signature pancake carrier.

• Regional breakfast sandwich

  Spam, Egg & Cheese McGriddles

  A Hawaii-specific adaptation combining Spam, egg, and cheese with maple-flavored griddle pancakes. The item illustrates McDonald's localization of a global breakfast platform.

• Breakfast sandwich · 2025

  Chicken McGriddles

  A chicken-based extension of the McGriddles platform. It was initially tested in Kansas, Ohio, and Florida before being reported as available throughout the United States from 2025.

• 2025

  Expand the chicken variantOther

  Background

  McDonald's had previously tested a chicken McGriddles version in selected U.S. markets.

  Action taken

  The chicken version was reported as available across the United States from 2025.

  Aftermath

  The extension broadened the platform's protein range beyond its traditional bacon and sausage configurations.

  Source

• 2003

  Launch McGriddlesProduct launch

  Background

  The product concept required a practical way to place syrup flavor inside a portable pancake sandwich.

  Action taken

  McDonald's introduced McGriddles in June 2003 using pancakes made with crystallized syrup technology and fillings such as egg, cheese, bacon, and sausage.

  Aftermath

  McGriddles became an established product platform with multiple recipes and international market adaptations.

  Source

• 1999

  Develop a pancake-based alternative to the McMuffinStrategy

  Background

  McDonald's sought to broaden its breakfast sandwich range while preserving the speed, portability, and operational consistency of its existing breakfast business.

  Action taken

  The company developed a sandwich using maple-flavored griddle pancakes as the carrier for conventional breakfast fillings.

  Aftermath

  The concept led to the McGriddles launch in 2003 and established a separate sweet-and-savory proposition within McDonald's breakfast portfolio.

  Source

• 2026

  McGriddles reported for New Zealand availability[1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Reference material reports McGriddles becoming available in New Zealand from 2026.

• 2025

  Chicken McGriddles expanded across the United States[1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Product launch

  A chicken version that had previously been tested in selected U.S. markets was reported as available nationally in the United States.

• 2003

  McGriddles introduced by McDonald's[1]McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  McDonald's launched McGriddles as a breakfast sandwich using maple-flavored griddle pancakes with fillings such as egg, cheese, bacon, or sausage.

1. 1McGriddlesen.wikipedia.org