Your McDonald's McMuffin Is Missing This Special Sauce

The McDonald's Egg McMuffin is hands-down the most iconic item on the menu. Featuring a classic round egg, Canadian bacon, and a slice of American cheese, this hot breakfast sammie is easily elevated with a side of hash browns and a steaming coffee. However, there's one thing this beloved offering is missing; a smear of the special sauce that comes on the breakfast bagels.

If you've ever ordered a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Bagel at McDonald's, you'll already know it includes a creamy breakfast sauce which ties the protein and cheese together. It has a tangy, zesty flavor with a hint of savory cheesiness. The Egg McMuffin, however, comes unadorned, which means it's perfect for gussying up with some sauce. Simply ask for the breakfast sauce to be added to your McMuffin when ordering to give your meal a creamier consistency and richer mouthfeel. 

A squirt of ketchup would also lend some tangy sweetness to your sandwich, but it can quickly overpower the mellow vibe of the eggs. McDonald's creamy breakfast sauce has a milder flavor that complements the huevos and soaks into the chewy crumb of the English muffin nicely. Indeed, one of the best things about ordering at McDonald's is the chain's commitment to customization (as long as it's within reason), so feel free to ask for the sauce either on the muffin or on the side.

There are plenty of diehard fans of McDonald's breakfast sauce online. For instance, one excited Redditor said, "I love it so much that i would literally break into a mcdonald's and steal all the bags of the steak egg and cheese bagels breakfast sauce just to sit and bathe in it and drink it by the ladle."

Online commenters have suggested the sauce is essentially a basic hollandaise, but this doesn't tally with its flavor, color, nor the long ingredient list; which features yeast extract, dehydrated cheddar cheese, turmeric, and natural smoke flavor. The sauce is also sweetened with corn syrup solids. Meanwhile, a classic hollandaise is made with melted butter, egg yolks, lemon juice, and seasoning, which means it can easily be replicated at home without McDonald's more unusual ingredients.

Another ordering hack for a better McDonald's breakfast sandwich is to ask for scrambled rather than folded eggs. The folded eggs arrive at the store pre-made and frozen where they are reheated, while the scrambled eggs are made fresh with liquid eggs, making them fluffier and richer. There are actually four egg types at McDonald's so there's plenty of room for personalization.