Taiwanese Sausage McMuffin

Start the day right with a Taiwanese sausage McMuffin! This easy breakfast sandwich pairs a Taiwanese sausage with scallion eggs and melted cheddar for a fantastic meal.

Watch how to make this

Ingredients

• Ground pork: The main protein source for the sausage patty. It provides the base flavor and texture for the Taiwanese-style sausage.
• Carrot: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a subtle crunch to the sausage patty.  Carrots are a common ingredient found in traditional Taiwanese breakfast patties.
• Onion: Provides flavor and moisture to the sausage patty.
• Chinese 5 spice: A key flavoring ingredient that gives the sausage its distinctive Taiwanese character. It typically includes star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds.
• White pepper: Adds a mild, earthy heat to the sausage. You can substitute it with black pepper if desired.
• Cornstarch: Acts as a binder in the sausage mixture, helping to hold the ingredients together and improve texture.
• Scallions: Added to the egg mixture, scallions provide a fresh, oniony flavor and a pop of color to the egg component of the McMuffin.
• Milk: Mixed with the eggs, milk adds richness and helps create a fluffier texture in the baked egg layer.
• Cheddar: Provides a savory, melty cheese element that complements the flavors of the sausage and egg.
• English muffins: Serves as the bread component, providing a sturdy base and top for the sandwich. The nooks and crannies in English muffins are perfect for catching any juices from the fillings.

Substitutions and variations

• Protein: Swap out the ground pork for ground turkey, chicken, beef, or a combination.
• Spicy: Add pickled jalapenos to the sandwich for a spicy topping.
• Gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free sandwich bread and substitute soy sauce with gluten-free tamari.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Make sausage patties

These sandwiches are great because they can be prepared ahead of time, making them ideal for meal prep or large gatherings. They're also easy to prepare. Shall we get started?

Let's begin with the sausage patties, the star of the show. In a large bowl, combine ground pork with grated onion, grated carrot, soy sauce, cornstarch, salt, white pepper, and Chinese 5 spice. I used ground pork to stay traditional but you can use any other ground meat you prefer.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly until well combined, then shape the mixture into four equal patties. The mixture will be very soft and wet so we're going to prebake the patties before giving them a quick sear. You can skip this step and cook them directly in the pan. However, I found that baking them first ensures that the inside is fully cooked before the outside gets too dark.

Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare eggs

While the sausage patties are baking, prepare the eggs. In a large bowl, crack open six large eggs and whisk them to break up the yolks. It helps to whisk the eggs by themselves before adding any other ingredient to ensure that the eggs are properly beaten.

Add milk, chopped scallions, and salt to the eggs, whisking until everything is well combined. If you want richer eggs, you can use half and half instead.

Pour the egg mixture into the prepared baking pan and bake it in the oven for approximately 15 minutes. To avoid overcooking the eggs, check for doneness around the 12-minute mark; they should be just set but not dry. 

When the eggs are done, take them out of the oven and cut them into quarters. 

Step 3:

In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Lay the sausage patties in a single layer in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned and heated through.

Instead of fully cooking the sausage patties in the oven, we're taking the extra step to finish them in the pan to get a lovely sear on the outside. However, you can cook the patties in the oven from start to end. I recommend cooking them at a higher oven temperature, 425 degrees F, to get more color.

To assemble your McMuffins, take an English muffin and smear some Kewpie mayo on the bottom half. Place a sausage patty on top, followed by a square of baked egg and a slice of cheddar cheese. Top with the other half of the English muffin and serve immediately while warm.

It's amazing how something as simple as swapping a traditional sausage for a Taiwanese one can make all the difference. There is so much flavor in this Taiwanese sausage McMuffin and yet, it's still familiar with traditional sandwiches. I will gladly enjoy this any time of the day!

Make-ahead and storage tips

• Make-ahead: You can make the sausage patties the day before and cook them before serving.
• Store: Store assembled sandwiches wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

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Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Taiwanese Sausage McMuffin

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Taiwanese

Keyword: pork

Servings: 4

Author: Christine Ma

Ingredients

Taiwanese sausage

• 1 pound ground pork
• ½ cup grated onion
• ½ cup grated carrot
• 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
• 1 tablespoon oil

Remaining ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped scallions
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 slices cheddar cheese
• 4 English muffins
• Kewpie mayo

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Prepare sausage patties. Combine ground pork with onion, carrot, soy sauce, cornstarch, salt, white pepper, and Chinese 5 spice in a large bowl. Mix and shape into 4 equal patties. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake sausage patties for 10 minutes.
• Add eggs to a large bowl and whisk to break up the yolks. Add milk and whisk until well combined. Add scallions and salt and whisk until combined. Pour egg mixture into prepared baking pan. Bake eggs for 15 minutes. Remove and cut baked eggs into quarters. Keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Lay sausage patties in one layer and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. Flip and sear on the other side. Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Assemble sandwiches. Smear kewpie mayo on the bottom of an English muffin and top with sausage patty, egg square, and cheddar. Place the remaining muffin on top and serve immediately.

Notes

You can serve these sandwiches on any other bread such as brioche buns.

The sausage patties can be prepared ahead of time and chilled in the fridge until ready to cook.