McGriddle Bites
These McGriddle Bites are a cheap and easy breakfast option that my kids love. My family is all about sweet and savory when it comes to breakfast and these check all the boxes. We love to make these on a Sunday morning and have the leftovers for an easy breakfast during the busy week. The best part about this McGriddle Bites recipe is that they only take a few ingredients and freeze really well for an easy breakfast down the road!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of Hungry Jack Pancake Mix
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Prepping the McGriddle Bites
The beautiful thing about an easy breakfast like these McGriddle Bites is that there is very little prep needed. For this recipe you will just need to brown up a pound of sausage and drain the grease.
My family likes to use mild pork breakfast sausage, but you could also use chicken or turkey sausage. Just cook your sausage over medium heat until it’s cooked through and drain the grease well with a paper towel.
Next you will just gather the rest of the ingredients above and you’re ready to kick off this easy breakfast.
Making the McGriddle Bites
Go ahead and preheat your oven to 400 degrees so it’s nice and hot when you’re ready for it. Then Just grab a large mixing bowl and add in the pancake mix and water following the instructions on the box.
Once your batter has formed add in the cooked and drained sausage, shredded cheddar and syrup. Stir that all together with a wooden spoon until everything is combined.
Use a small spoon to scoop out the batter into a mini muffin pan filling each one a little over halfway. This recipe makes enough batter to make 48 mini muffins so you can work in batches if you only have one mini muffin pan.
I like to use these silicon mini muffin pans so I don’t use any cooking spray beforehand. If you aren’t using a nonstick pan it would be best to add a little oil.
When you’ve gotten all your mini muffin cups filled up place them into the preheated 400 degree oven. Let them cook for 12-15 minutes or until they are nice and golden brown on top!
Serving the McGriddle Bites
We like to make these on a Sunday morning and serve them with some scrambled eggs and syrup for dipping. The leftovers can be placed into a storage container in the refrigerator for an easy breakfast the first couple days of the week.
We also like to keep these in the freezer for an easy breakfast to have on hand when we need them. I just place 12-16 mini muffins in each freezer bag and we have an easy on the go breakfast. To reheat them I just place batches of 4-6 in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds.
If you like this easy breakfast recipe, check out some of my other favorites!
- Breakfast Pigs in a Blanket
- Ultimate Breakfast Sliders
- Easy Breakfast Bowls
- Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Pancake Casserole
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
- My family likes to use mild pork sausage for this recipe, but you could also use chicken or turkey sausage!
- Make sure to cook the breakfast sausage first and drain it well with a paper towel!
- I like the texture and flavor of freshly shredded cheddar better so we buy blocks of cheese and shred it at home every week!
- I like to use a silicone muffin pan to make these so I do not spray the pan with oil!
- If you are using a pan that isn’t nonstick it would be best to grease it ahead of time!
- We always keep a bag of these in the freezer and to reheat them it just takes about a minute in the microwave!
Equipment
- 1 Stove/Oven
Ingredients
- 2 cups of Hungry Jack Pancake Mix
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Brown breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium high heat. Drain grease really well and set aside.
- Mix pancake mix with water according to the directions on the box. Stir in cooked sausage, cheese, and syrup.
- Pour into a greased mini muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
- This made 48 mini pancake muffins. Dip in more syrup and enjoy! Let me know if you try it out!
are you using the complete mix or the regular box mix?
This is very good! Very easy to make and so delicious. Thank you for sharing. I did use eggs and a little more batter and syrup but my husband loves them!
I don’t know, but as a cook who started before I went to first grade, I would say either one. But just for the sake of good things to eat, I would go ahead and add one egg, possibly two. It cannot hurt.
Can a regular Muffin pan be used. If so what oven temp and how long are they baked
I cooked in a regular muffin pan, but had to increase the time to closer to 20 minutes. They were great!
I was wanting to know this too.
I did the same thing, it comes balh due to center not cook
I did regular muffins used turkey sausage- recipe made 12 muffins cooked at 400 for 18-20 min and the toothpick came out clean in the center. They were perfect!
These are SO good and easy to warm up during the week.
We are gluten free so I used the Great Value pancake and waffle mix (followed the package directions using milk, eggs and butter) in place of Hungry Jack. I also used turkey sausage and mild cheddar cheese. They turned out perfectly!
So happy to hear that!
Can these be frozen? And if so, what’s the best way to reheat?
Yes, I usually just microwave them for about a minute or so in smaller batches from frozen and they reheat well.
Will any pre made pancake mix work?
Yes! Any pancake mix should work for this recipe.
I did use krusteaz instead of hungry jack. These are delicious! My kids loved them.
Planning to try these this week. The recipe looks easy to follow & very creative. Thank you for sharing this delicious idea!
They sound awesome. What is the nutritional value of everything or what are the calories and protein and carbs are in a serving
I would like to know this as well
I think it may vary depending on the brand of ingredients used. There’s such a wide variety of sausages,cheeses, maple syrups as well as pancake mixes. I even added scrambled eggs to mine. They were great!
You’re going to have some variation due to brands. For example.. My pancake mix is 30 calories less than Hungry Jack. But… For a starting point only… When I made the recipe, full size muffins came out to about 272 calories per muffin.
Can you add egg to the mix as well or would that ruin the consistency?
I haven’t tried adding eggs specifically to this recipe, but I think it would probably work!
I do add scrambled eggs to this.. 3 or 4 in large pieces! I also have taken the batter by 1/4 cup scoops and cooked them just like a good old fashioned pancake! It works amazingly well.. I also regularly freeze them! Loveeee this recipe.. Thank you!
When you added the eggs, did you add them already cooked or did you just scramble them into the mix? I’d like little chunks of eggs so I’m thinking of adding them in already cooked but didn’t know if it’d make them dry/rubbery/overcooked?
Michelle, we doubled the batch and added 8 eggs. We also made a bacon double batch the same way, also added 8 eggs. It family loves them!!
Did you add the eggs in already cooked or did you just scramble them right into the mix?
I added eggs by accident (and forgot the syrup in the mix) 😂 I had another recipe in my brain too and got distracted🤷♀️ It was absolutely fine and my family all enjoyed them anyway (they didn’t know the difference). If I did it that way again I might add a little more cheese.
Great, easy, delicious recipe! Definitely try this one! It’s a keeper!
So glad you liked it!
These were actually so much better than I thought. I reheated this morning for breakfast and they were great. Do you know how many calories are in them… roughly?
Can you freeze these? If so how would you do it?
They were fine. I bet they would be better with homemade pancake mix.
Hello. This recipe is scrumptious. Can these be made in the microwave in a silicone egg bite mold? My granddaughter just went away to college and I know she’d go crazy for these in her dorm room.
These came out great! The silicone muffin pans are definitely a game changer!!!
These are okay. I made them according to instructions, but minus the cheese. Cooked them 20 minutes at 350 degrees. I made the large muffins. I just feel like something is missing here for taste. I used maple sausage.
We prefer them with cheese and as mini muffins, so each bite is full of sausage and cheese. Thanks for your comment!
This was an easy and excellent recipe! We absolutely love it. My grandson doesn’t care for sausage and suggested I use chocolate chips next time lol. I’ll just make him some minus the sausage. Great recipe thanks!
If you use a different pancake mix (our store didn’t carry hungry jack). Do you make it following the directions on the box plus the water, or do you omit the water if you follow the box directions?
I would mix the pancake mix according to the directions on the box you have. Then follow the rest of the recipe adding the cheese, sausage, and syrup. Hope that helps!
I made a huge mistake and left these on my counter to cool then went out with my family today.
Do you think I have to pitch them?
Maybe it was missing the cheese….
“I feel like something is missing here for the taste…” Ummm, maybe the cheese?! 🤔
I’ve never understood rating a recipe when you literally change everything. The cheese, the sausage, the size, the temp…probably used a different brand pancake mix.
Follow the directions. Delicious.
You were unhappy with your completed Muffins, stating that although “you made the recipe according to instructions… ”
“that something is missing here for taste”
1 ~ Left out a main component in the flavor profile, one that makes a huge difference ~ CHEESE
2 ~ Used a different baking vessel than what was specified in “the instructions”, therefore stretching out the “fillings” even further in each muffin, after choosing to delete one of the main “fillings”
Actually you did NOT “make it according to the instructions”, that should provide you with your answer regarding the lack of flavor/ “taste” in YOUR final product.
In the future, when you choose to make up the recipe as you go/making it “your own” if you will, you should do the polite and proper thing by NOT GIVING A STAR RATING AT ALL. You did NOT actually “make the recipe”, therefore it’s incredibly rude to give the Author of the recipe less than 5 Stars for making something completely different than what they provided you with.
Thank you for the recipe!
These are good and an easy grab n go breakfast I the morning. I did make a big batch and have froze them. I want to take them to a party next Sunday morning, what would be the best way to reheat alot of them at once?
My 3 farm boys love these!
I made these today for my guys. Omitted the cheese and added bacon bits and sausage. They were really tasty, nice and fluffy. I added an egg to the top of my two muffins before baking and that was delicious.
These are fabulous! Easy to make! Reheating tastes just as good as freshly made and easy to freeze. Will be great to have on hand for a quick breakfast when company visits. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Easy to make but definitely have to dip in syrup. Without it, they’re pretty bland.
Sooo good! These were a hit with my kiddos. I baked them in a 9×13 cake pan and they turned out perfectly. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
How long did you bake it for? The mini muffins are great for my kids but the “casserole” version would be great when all of my family visits for the holidays.
I made these and I love them.
I love these little bites of heaven they are so good I used krusteaz pre made pancake mix instead of the hungry jack and they were delicious!
My 19 month old LOVES these. He has a dairy allergy so I used the great value mix that doesn’t contain dairy, and dairy free cheese. I also used coconut milk instead of water. They turned out perfect and they are his favorite breakfast!
Can these be keep warm in a crock.pot or slow cooker
Pam, Did you try to keep them warm in a crockpot? I want to bring these into the office but no way to keep them warm.
Thanks!!
I made these for my daughter and she had asked for them again, this time we are going to try them with bacon.
A little bland but good with syrup. The batter is definitely missing something
These were amazing! It tastes like an entire mcgriddle in two bites. I can taste the syrup and it’s perfectly sweet and savory.
Happy to hear that!
Regular or complete mix?
I usually use the complete mix which just needs water. You can use either though and just follow the directions on the pancake mix you use. Then add the sausage and cheese and follow the rest of the recipe from there.
If I make these a day ahead, do I have to store them in the refrigerator? Can I just store them in a zip lock baggie on the counter?
They would need to be refrigerated!
If I make these a day ahead, can I just put them in a zip lock bag and leave on the counter or do they need to be refrigerated?
Do you commonly leave your meals on the counter for days after cooking them? (After placing them in a Baggie, of course)
If you brought home a bag of 5~6 McGriddle Sandwiches and only ate 1~2 would you toss the rest in a Ziplock and leave them on the counter all week, making sure they will be easily accessible each morning when you’re running out the door and need a quick Breakfast?
I honestly don’t understand the thinking behind this question, do you make many meals for yourself and/or your family?
Excellent, we made gluten free! Everyone loved them.
These were very easy to make and they are so delicious!
So happy to hear that!
What about regular muffin tin? Same temp bit more time?
A regular muffin tin will work! Yes, they would just need to cook a little bit longer.
I used Protein Pancake mix and they turned out great! I may try with bacon next time, but sausage was really good too!
These were so quick and easy to make. My mother and I are both seniors and we really enjoyed them. Im going to get another mini muffin tin so I can bake more than 12 at a time. Love your recipes so much Luke I ordered the book.
Second time going these. We do 12 large. They warm up nicely for grab and go in the morning.
If I wanted to add eggs to this, how many would I need?
My hubby and I totally loved this recipe! It will be made often in our home!
My grandson had a sleepover. Whipped some up and he loved them. I added bacon bits as well. Plus some tater tots and fresh fruit on skeeters. It was a hit with my 14 year old grandson.
So happy to hear it was a hit!
Delicious my kids love them. Would using using Kodiak high protein mix be okay to use or would it change the cook time?
Love them gonna use blueberry pancake or muffin mix next time like a little more sweet. Added a splash of peanut butter on these and it’s like a whole new item.
Those additions sound so good! Glad you liked the recipe.
Made a big batch of these for our church family (we make a breakfast every Sunday so folks can eat and fellowship before service) and everyone loved them. Will make again soon-so easy!
Happy to hear everyone liked them!
These are always a hit. I found using maple breakfast sausage is fantastic!
Yum! I bet the maple sausage is so good!
Fantastic! Made with 2 eggs scrambled into the mix and then cooked. Made these for my family for spring break. Very yummy.
Glad you liked them!
Simple, quick and a couple of in-house ingredients. I loved making them and the Fam loved eating them.
Happy to hear that!
My husband and I enjoyed these. I’d like them to be a little more sweet without dipping. So, I’ll probably add some extra syrup to the batter next time… or use maple sausage. Super easy. Very tasty. Enjoying every recipe we’ve tried so far.
I used Kodiak Protein Pancake mix instead, added 2 eggs for texture and moisture (could have done 3-4 easily for more protein and moisture). I made mine in the large muffin tins and they took 18 minutes, family loved them. Thanks!
Very good. I used bacon bits because I didn’t have sausage. My 8 year old and I liked them but we both agree that next time we are going to try sausage and then sausage with scrambled eggs like some people have suggested.
I just read your about page and now I can’t wait to check out some of your other recipes for my family.
Happy to hear you liked them!
This is my new favorite thing to make. Thank you
Made these for the first time tonight for dinner, and they were a hit with the whole family! My almost 3 year old and 1.5 year old kept asking for more. Definitely will be in our rotation of meals!