Fast Food at Home: Breakfast

On the fourth and final installment of our Fast Food at Home series, recreate popular breakfast recipes from fast food restaurants. Below, find the recipes for the McDonald’s Breakfast Sandwich and the Starbucks Egg Bites. All the ingredients listed are SNAP-eligible.

Whether you are feeding the family or trying to plan for a busy work week, save yourself time and money by making freezer-friendly breakfast sandwiches. This is a customizable recipe so you can add different vegetables for more fiber and nutrients.

*Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches

• 6 pack of English muffins
• 12 eggs
• 1 bag of frozen spinach
• Optional: Meat of Choice – Canadian Bacon, Deli Ham, Sausage, Bacon/Turkey Bacon
• ½ cup of milk
• 6 slices of cheese of choice
• Salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. If adding meat to sandwiches, cook according to package directions.

2. Thaw the spinach and squeeze out the excess moisture. Stir the spinach into the egg mixture.

3. Coat an 8×9 or 8×12-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Pour the egg and vegetable mixture into the dish. Bake the eggs for about 30 minutes, or until the center is set and the outer edges are slightly browned. Allow the eggs to cool, then slice into six pieces.

4. If adding any protein to your sandwiches like turkey bacon or sausage, cook those according to their package instructions and set aside.

5. Build the sandwiches by adding one piece of baked eggs, protein (optional), and one slice of cheese to each English muffin. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap or a fold-top sandwich bag, then place all the sandwiches in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.

6. To reheat, unwrap the sandwich, place it on a microwave-safe plate, then microwave on the defrost setting for one minute. Following the defrost, heat on high for 30 seconds at a time until heated through. Or thaw in the refrigerator overnight and simply microwave on high until heated through.

Breaking Down the Cost

Prices are obtained at the Durham NC Food Lion and McDonalds’ Websites. If you add additional protein or vegetables to your sandwiches, the cost might be different. Total cost and serving cost calculated pre-tax. Prices reviewed and selected on 5/30/24.

*Egg Bites (Starbucks Copycat)

Makes 12 egg bites

• 4 slices turkey bacon, diced
• 6 large eggs
• 1¼ cups (4% milkfat) cottage cheese
• 1¼ cups shredded Gruyère (or a blend of Gruyère and Cheddar or Monterey Jack)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Heaping ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Texas Pete

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Set one oven rack in the middle position and another in the lowest position. Preheat the oven to 300°F.

2. Place a 9×13-inch metal or ceramic baking dish on the lower rack and fill it halfway with the boiling water from the stove. This will create steam in the oven, which will help the egg bites to cook gently and create a creamy texture.
3. Spray a nonstick muffin pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
4. In a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon, stirring frequently, until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Using a spatula or fork, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Break the bacon apart into small pieces.
5. In a blender or large bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, Gruyère, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Blend for 30 seconds or mix until smooth.
6. Pour the egg mixture evenly into the prepared muffin pan, filling each well about three-quarters full. Divide the turkey bacon evenly over the egg bites. Using a spoon or your finger, press some of the bacon into the batter so it is not all floating on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes on the middle rack, until the eggs are set. You’ll know they are done when the egg bites start pulling slightly away from the edges. Some of the egg bites may puff up and look a bit lopsided, but they will settle and deflate as they cool.
7. Remove the egg bites from the oven and let rest in the pan for about 5 minutes. Use a small spoon to loosen the egg bites from the edges of the pan and carefully lift them out onto a plate. Serve warm.

Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Once cool, the egg bites can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at 50% power for 60 to 90 seconds. The egg bites can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat using the microwave.

Breaking Down the Cost

Prices are obtained at the Durham NC Food Lion and Starbucks Websites. Total cost and serving cost calculated pre-tax.  Prices reviewed and selected on 5/30/24.

*Both recipes were provided by Lauren Hickey, Elisabeth Beeson, RDN, and Chandler Gray from the Master of Science in Nutrition Program at Meredith College.

Want to learn more about building a food budget for your household? Contact your local County Extension office for more information on upcoming More In My Basket programming. Visit https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/ to find your local office.

The More In My Basket team is available to help individuals and families apply for SNAP/FNS in North Carolina with over-the-phone application assistance. Call the English or Spanish toll-free line to complete an eligibility screening or application today. Additional information and budget-friendly recipes can be found at morefood.org.

For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:

Visit: morefood.org

English Toll Free: 1-855-240-1451

Spanish Toll Free: 1-888-382-7105

Photo by Duncan Kidd on Unsplash