9 McDonald’s Secret Breakfast Menu Hacks (That Actually Work)

The internet loves a McDonald's "secret menu." Some of the famous hacks are brilliant. Others only work at 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday if the moon is right.

We sorted them out. Below are nine breakfast hacks you can actually order, followed by the legendary ones that are mostly myth.

Disclaimer: This is an independent, unofficial guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by McDonald's. All trademarks belong to their owners. Prices, menu items, deals and hours may change and can vary by location. Please check the official McDonald's website or app for the latest information: www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.html

The Golden Rule

Order hacks by ingredients, not by internet nicknames. "An Egg McMuffin with a hash brown inside" gets you there. "One McBrunch, please" gets you a confused stare.

The McDonald's app is your best friend: most of these can be built on screen.

1. The Hash Brown McMuffin

Order: Sausage McMuffin with Egg + hash brown.
Build: slide the hash brown inside the muffin. Crunchy, salty, perfect.

2. The Round Egg Swap

Order: any biscuit or McGriddle and ask for a round egg (the fresh-cracked egg from the Egg McMuffin) instead of the folded egg.
Many stores do this for free or a small charge.

3. The "Land, Sea and Air" Breakfast Edition

Order: a Sausage McMuffin + a side of round egg.
Build: double stack. More protein for not much more money.

4. The Pancake Sandwich

Order: Hotcakes + a Sausage Burrito or sausage patty.
Build: sausage between two hotcakes, drizzle syrup. A homemade McGriddle with fluffier cakes.

5. The Bacon McGriddle "Deluxe"

Order: Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles + extra bacon.
Sweet maple and double smoky bacon.

6. The Breakfast Burrito Upgrade

Order: 2 Sausage Burritos with picante sauce and a hash brown.
Unwrap, add pieces of hash brown and picante, rewrap.

7. Oatmeal Makeover

Order: Fruit & Maple Oatmeal with no brown sugar and a side of apple slices.
Lower sugar, more crunch.

8. The Iced Coffee Float

Order: iced coffee + a vanilla cone (at stores where the ice cream machine is running in the morning).
Drop the soft serve in the coffee. A cheap affogato.

9. The Steak Upgrade (Where Available)

Order: at restaurants that sell the Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel, ask for the steak patty on a McMuffin instead.
Availability is limited, but it's a cult favorite.

The Famous Hacks That Usually Don't Work

The McBrunch Burger

A Quarter Pounder with a hash brown and egg. It needs both the lunch grill and breakfast items, so it's only possible during the brief changeover at some stores, if at all.

The Big McMuffin

A Big Mac with an egg. Same problem: Big Macs aren't usually made during breakfast, and eggs aren't usually available after.

The McGriddle McChicken

A McChicken patty inside McGriddle cakes. Requires breakfast and lunch items at once. Rare.

Possible exception: 24-hour stores during the early morning menu switch. Even then, it's up to the crew.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does McDonald's have a secret breakfast menu?

No official one. The "secret menu" is customizations made from regular breakfast ingredients.

Can I get a McBrunch Burger?

Rarely. It requires lunch and breakfast items together, which most stores don't serve at the same time.

Can I ask for a round egg on any sandwich?

Usually yes, sometimes for a small charge.

Can I do hacks in the McDonald's app?

Many of them, yes. The app lets you add or remove ingredients on most items.

The Bottom Line

The best McDonald's secret breakfast hacks are the simple ones: hash brown inside your McMuffin, round egg swaps and a pancake sausage sandwich. The famous McBrunch and Big McMuffin make great videos, but they're rarely possible in real life.

Last updated: October 11, 2026. Customizations depend on each restaurant.