There are some mornings when a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast simply isn’t going to do the job. You wake up hungry and want something warm, filling, savory, and satisfying. That is when a homemade bacon breakfast sandwich can be exactly what you need.

Today’s Breakfast of the Day is Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches, a simple combination of crispy bacon, eggs, melted cheese, and toasted bread that proves breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.

Breakfast sandwiches are also incredibly flexible. You can keep them simple with bacon, egg, and cheese, or pile on vegetables, avocado, hot sauce, potatoes, and other favorite ingredients. You can prepare one sandwich for yourself or make several for the entire family.

Best of all, you don’t have to stop at breakfast. A good bacon breakfast sandwich works for brunch, lunch, or even breakfast-for-dinner.

Why Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches Are So Good

The secret is the combination of different flavors and textures.

You have salty, crispy bacon.

You have a warm and tender egg.

You have rich, melted cheese.

Then everything is tucked between toasted bread that adds another layer of texture.

Every bite gives you a little bit of everything.

Another reason breakfast sandwiches are so popular is convenience. Instead of having eggs, bacon, toast, and cheese spread across a plate, you can put everything together and enjoy it as one meal.

They are especially convenient on busy mornings when you want a hearty breakfast without sitting down for a large meal.

Ingredients

This recipe makes approximately four breakfast sandwiches.

You Will Need:

• 8 slices bacon
• 4 large eggs
• 4 slices cheddar cheese
• 4 English muffins, biscuits, bagels, or sandwich rolls
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

Optional Additions:

• Sliced avocado
• Tomato slices
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Sautéed onions
• Sautéed bell peppers
• Hash browns
• Hot sauce
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• Chipotle mayonnaise
• Sriracha mayonnaise
• Sausage
• Ham
• Pepper jack cheese

One of the best things about this recipe is that there really isn’t one “correct” way to build your sandwich. Start with bacon, egg, and cheese and customize from there.

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

Place the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat.

Cook until the bacon reaches your preferred level of crispness, turning occasionally so it cooks evenly.

Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.

If you are making several sandwiches at once, you can also prepare your bacon in the oven. Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet and bake until crisp.

Oven cooking can be especially convenient when preparing breakfast for several people because you can cook a larger amount of bacon at once.

Step 2: Prepare the Bread

Slice your English muffins, biscuits, bagels, or rolls.

Lightly butter the cut sides.

Toast them in a skillet, toaster, or oven until lightly golden.

Don’t skip this step if you have time.

Toasting the bread adds texture and also helps prevent the sandwich from becoming soggy once you add the hot egg and other ingredients.

Step 3: Cook the Eggs

Melt a small amount of butter in a skillet over medium-low to medium heat.

Crack an egg into the skillet.

Season lightly with salt and black pepper.

You can prepare the egg however you prefer.

For a classic breakfast sandwich, cook the egg until the white is completely set while leaving the yolk slightly soft.

If you don’t want a runny yolk, simply cook it longer or flip the egg and cook both sides.

Scrambled eggs are another great option. They are particularly useful if you’re making sandwiches for children or preparing sandwiches ahead of time.

Step 4: Add the Cheese

When your egg is almost finished cooking, place a slice of cheese over the top.

Allow it to sit for about 30 seconds to a minute so the heat begins melting the cheese.

Cheddar is a classic choice, but don’t feel limited to it.

American cheese creates an especially creamy breakfast sandwich. Pepper jack adds a little heat. Swiss provides a nuttier flavor, while provolone gives the sandwich a smooth and mild finish.

You could even use a combination of cheeses.

Step 5: Build Your Bacon Breakfast Sandwich

Now comes the fun part.

Place the cooked egg and melted cheese on the bottom half of your toasted bread.

Add two slices of bacon, breaking or folding them as necessary.

Add any additional toppings.

Place the other half of the bread on top.

Your bacon breakfast sandwich is ready.

Serve immediately while everything is warm and the cheese is still melted.

Take Your Sandwich to the Next Level

The classic version is delicious, but there are countless ways to transform this basic recipe.

Add Avocado

Avocado brings creaminess and freshness to a rich breakfast sandwich.

Mash the avocado with a little salt and pepper before spreading it across your toasted bread.

You can also add a small squeeze of lime juice.

Add a Hash Brown

Want an extra-hearty breakfast?

Put a crispy hash brown directly inside the sandwich.

The combination of bacon, egg, cheese, and crispy potatoes turns a simple sandwich into a substantial breakfast.

Add Hot Sauce

A few drops of your favorite hot sauce can completely change the sandwich.

The heat works particularly well against the richness of the bacon and cheese.

For something even more flavorful, combine mayonnaise with hot sauce and spread it over the bread.

Add Vegetables

Breakfast sandwiches don’t have to be nothing but meat, eggs, and cheese.

Try adding:

Spinach, tomato, onions, mushrooms, peppers, or arugula.

You can sauté vegetables before adding them or use fresh vegetables for extra crunch.

Try Different Types of Bread

The bread can completely change the personality of your breakfast sandwich.

English Muffin

An English muffin creates a traditional breakfast sandwich that’s easy to hold and doesn’t feel excessively heavy.

Biscuit

For something richer and more indulgent, use a warm buttermilk biscuit.

Bacon, egg, and melted cheddar inside a flaky biscuit is difficult to beat.

Bagel

If you’re especially hungry, use a toasted bagel.

Bagels create a larger and more filling sandwich and work particularly well with avocado or cream cheese.

Croissant

A buttery croissant turns your breakfast sandwich into something special.

The flaky pastry pairs beautifully with crispy bacon and eggs.

Sourdough

Two toasted slices of sourdough give the sandwich a little tanginess and plenty of crunch.

It is also a great option if you’re making a larger sandwich with vegetables and additional toppings.

Make a Spicy Bacon Breakfast Sandwich

If you like your breakfast with a little heat, there are several easy ways to spice things up.

Replace cheddar with pepper jack cheese.

Add sliced jalapeños.

Spread chipotle mayonnaise on the bread.

Finish everything with hot sauce.

You could even add a little hot honey to create a sweet, salty, and spicy combination.

Make It Sweet and Savory

Bacon is one of those ingredients that works surprisingly well with sweetness.

Try adding a small drizzle of maple syrup to your sandwich.

Another option is spreading a little maple butter on a biscuit before adding the egg and bacon.

You don’t need much. Just a touch of sweetness can provide a nice contrast to the salty bacon and cheese.

Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches for a Crowd

These sandwiches are also excellent when you’re feeding several people.

Instead of individually frying every egg, whisk several eggs together and bake them in a lightly greased baking dish until set.

Cut the baked eggs into squares.

Meanwhile, cook a large batch of bacon in the oven.

Toast your bread and set out cheese and toppings.

Then create an assembly line.

Everyone can build their own breakfast sandwich with the ingredients they like.

This can be a fun breakfast idea for holidays, family gatherings, sleepovers, or weekend brunches.

Make-Ahead Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches

Busy mornings don’t always leave enough time to cook bacon and eggs from scratch.

Fortunately, breakfast sandwiches can be prepared ahead of time.

Cook the bacon and eggs and allow them to cool.

Assemble each sandwich with bread, egg, bacon, and cheese.

Wrap the sandwiches individually and refrigerate them if you plan to eat them soon.

For longer storage, freeze them.

When you’re ready for breakfast, reheat the sandwich until the center is hot and the cheese has melted.

One important tip: if you’re preparing sandwiches for freezing, leave fresh ingredients such as tomatoes and avocado off the sandwich. Add those after reheating instead.

What to Serve With Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches

These sandwiches can easily stand alone, but a side dish can turn them into a complete breakfast or brunch.

Fresh fruit is one of the easiest options.

Try serving your sandwich with strawberries, blueberries, grapes, orange slices, melon, or sliced apples.

Potatoes are another classic choice.

Hash browns, home fries, or breakfast potatoes work especially well if you’re serving a sit-down weekend breakfast.

For something lighter, consider yogurt with berries and granola.

And, of course, you need something to drink.

Coffee is the obvious breakfast favorite, but orange juice, apple juice, milk, tea, smoothies, and iced coffee are all great choices.

Create a Breakfast Sandwich Bar

If you’re hosting brunch, consider turning bacon breakfast sandwiches into a build-your-own breakfast bar.

Prepare several types of bread and place them on the table with eggs, bacon, cheese, and toppings.

You could offer:

• English muffins
• Biscuits
• Croissants
• Bagels
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Eggs
• Cheddar
• Pepper jack
• Avocado
• Tomato
• Spinach
• Hash browns
• Hot sauce
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise

Everyone gets to create exactly the sandwich they want.

It also makes serving breakfast easier because you don’t have to guess what everyone likes.

Don’t Forget the Crispy Bacon

If there is one ingredient that really defines today’s breakfast, it is the bacon.

Some people like bacon slightly chewy.

Others want it extremely crispy.

For a breakfast sandwich, I prefer bacon on the crispier side.

Crispy bacon gives the sandwich texture and is easier to bite through. Softer bacon sometimes pulls completely out of the sandwich with the first bite.

Whatever your preference, cook it the way you enjoy it.

That is the advantage of making breakfast at home.

Simple Food Can Still Be Great Food

Breakfast doesn’t always need complicated ingredients or elaborate preparation.

Sometimes the best meals are built around familiar foods prepared well.

Bacon.

Eggs.

Cheese.

Toasted bread.

Four basic ingredients can create an incredibly satisfying breakfast.

And because breakfast sandwiches are so customizable, you can make something different every time.

One morning might be bacon, egg, and cheddar on an English muffin.

The next could be bacon, scrambled egg, pepper jack, avocado, and hot sauce on a toasted bagel.

Another morning could be bacon, egg, cheddar, and maple butter on a warm biscuit.

The basic idea stays the same while the possibilities keep changing.

Breakfast of the Day

Today’s Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches are everything a comforting breakfast should be: warm, crispy, cheesy, filling, and easy to customize.

Make yours simple with bacon, egg, and cheese, or pile it high with avocado, vegetables, hash browns, and your favorite sauce.

Serve it with fresh fruit and coffee for a complete breakfast, or wrap one up when you need something you can take with you.

Sometimes you don’t need an elaborate breakfast.

You just need crispy bacon, a perfectly cooked egg, melted cheese, and toasted bread.

And that’s a pretty great way to start the day.

How would you build your perfect bacon breakfast sandwich—what bread, cheese, sauce, and toppings would you choose?