The Best Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches To Buy, Ranked Worst To Best

We all know eating breakfast is a great way to jumpstart our day, but sometimes it can be a hassle to throw something nutritious and filling together first thing in the morning. While there is no shortage of fast food restaurants that offer breakfast options on the menu, this habit can rapidly add up, making your morning ritual something that will quickly break the bank. 

A better, more affordable, solution is to stock up on one of the many varieties of store-bought breakfast sandwiches. Countless brands exist, with many producing a dizzying array of varieties to fit virtually every budget, palate, and dietary need. 

If you're on the prowl for a breakfast sandwich to satisfy everyone in your household, you're in luck. I loaded up on a wide selection of them from retailers across the board, including fan favorites from Costco and Aldi, to discover which reigned supreme. While there are certainly more varieties to choose from, this represents a good balance of typical breakfast sandwiches as well as ones that had something unique to offer either in the filling department or the type of bread used. I prepared these according to packaging directions and evaluated each based on ease of preparation, aroma, texture, and flavor. Read on to discover the good, the bad, and everything in-between. 

Last on this ranking were the Hot Pockets Big & Bold Breakfast Bacon, Egg, & Cheese with Hot Honey Flavor. While this brand has been producing portable, delicious snacks and meals since 1983, breakfast sandwiches weren't part of the original line-up of varieties offered. 

The first thing I noticed about these Hot Pockets was their sheer size in comparison to every other item I sampled. These would definitely be the breakfast sandwich for someone who wakes up hungry in the morning. They were relatively quick and easy to prepare in the microwave, though I did find that they burst open and were somewhat delicate, which made eating them a bit of a mess and less convenient on-the-go. 

While I found the aroma of these to be quite pleasant, I was less impressed with the texture of the crust, which was chewy and pasty. The filling, however, was abundant and quite well-seasoned, if not a tad too spicy for my taste, with a good dose of heat contributed by the hot honey. The best way to describe the flavor of the filling is to compare it to Flamin' Hot Doritos. While there is a market for this, it just wouldn't be my cup of tea the first thing in the morning. 

Next to last on this ranking was the Crav'n Flavor Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant. This was a relatively standard bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich. The packaging instructions called for cooking it in the microwave wrapped in a paper towel for a few minutes. While it smelled great, was hot, and ready-to-eat, I was underwhelmed with the ultimate texture the microwave method produced. It left the bread soggy and spongy, which was disappointing because the flavor of the croissant was actually pleasant. 

As for the rest of the ingredients, these turned out fine in the microwave. I thought the bacon was crisp and flavorful. The cheese, though not my favorite type, was well-melted. Lastly, the eggs were fluffy and adequately-seasoned. And, the ratio of ingredients-to-croissant were favorable, with just enough of each to get some in every bite, which is a pet peeve of mine. 

That said, this was just an average breakfast sandwich and I really thought the microwave did it a disservice. Though the instructions do not suggest this, these can be reheated in an air fryer, which I later did. The sandwich was markedly-improved by the air fryer, though it still wasn't mind-blowing.

When considering breakfast sandwiches, I admit, Totino's was not the first brand that came to mind. Though the Cheesy Chorizo Scramble Breakfast Snack Bites couldn't be called "sandwiches" in the classic sense, they fit the criteria of "bread-like something encasing fillings," so I included them. If you ate enough of them, they'd certainly fill you up in the morning, though you would probably need half a dozen or more to really make a meal out of them. 

These breakfast bites include instructions for reheating in the microwave, oven, or air fryer. I opted for the latter, as I knew this would be the best option, as long as I didn't overload the basket, which is a common mistake made when using the air fryer. My hunch was correct, as these turned out perfectly crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. They also smelled divine, with the spicy chorizo aroma permeating the air as they crisped up in the air fryer. 

While the flavor of these was on point, I found the amount of filling in each bite to be lacking. The crust definitely overwhelmed what little was in there, and I would have preferred a bit more egg to help balance out the chorizo. 

Up next on this ranking were the Red's New York Style Bagel Spicy Chicken Sausage. These were available at Costco, making them a good option if you want to purchase something in bulk to keep on hand in the freezer. These sandwiches could also be reheated using multiple methods, but I again opted to do so in the air fryer to ensure the bagel developed a crisp exterior, yet remained tender and chewy on the inside. 

What I enjoyed about this sandwich was the sausage, which was quite delicious, tender, and not gristly. I also thought that the eggs were relatively light and the cheese well melted. Lastly, the ratio of ingredients-to-bread was well-balanced.

That said, this sandwich didn't perform well in a number of areas. The aroma reminded me of that hotel breakfast buffet smell that I personally find unappealing. I also thought the eggs were quite under seasoned. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for me was the bagel. Though its texture was fine, it wasn't great and the flavor was somewhat cardboard-like rather than yeasty, the way a high-quality bagel should be. Overall, these were satisfactory, but not anything to write home about. 

Among the products you may want to start buying at Aldi are the Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Best Croissant Sandwiches. The only reason these didn't rank higher was because, yet again, the recommended cooking method for these was to pop them in the microwave, which resulted in a croissant with a pitiful, soggy, cardboard-like texture. That said, the air fryer would work well for reheating these and I recommend doing so. 

The aroma of this sandwich was almost sweet, which was quite appealing. The cheese melted well and the egg patty was made from what looked and tasted more like real eggs, as opposed to a processed egg product. The croissant, while disappointing in terms of texture, had a very nice flavor. 

Perhaps the best feature of this sandwich was the sausage patty. Made from turkey, this sausage was mildly spicy with herbaceous notes. It also had a nice, smooth texture. Overall, this was a solid sandwich that certainly delivered for the price, it just wasn't as good or exciting as some of the others as a whole and suffered from the manufacturer's directions for cooking it. 

Store-brand products are often frowned-upon, but in my experience, Walmart's Great Value brand items consistently perform well. This was no less true of its Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant Sandwiches. Though by no means the greatest item I sampled, these were a super value for a quality product.

They were also designed to be reheated in the microwave, though the instructions recommended leaving the sandwich inside the plastic film, which I found disconcerting, so I wrapped it in a paper towel instead. Despite being microwaved, these were a bit more pleasant in mouthfeel than any of the previous other croissant-based sandwiches I sampled. I would still recommend popping these in an air fryer for best results.

Not only did these sandwiches smell lovely, the croissant itself was flaky, and had a texture more typical of laminated dough, with discernible air pockets between layers. The remaining components were also quite flavorful and well-executed, including the crispy bacon, oozy cheese, and an airy egg patty that had the right amount of salt to enhance it, but not overwhelm your taste buds.  

Perhaps I should't have been surprised that Odom's Tennessee Pride Sausage & Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwiches landed where they did on this ranking, but I was. These were among the most basic of the sandwiches I sampled, with the fewest ingredients. Odom's is made from nothing more than biscuits and a piece of sausage, without any eggs or cheese. They are proof that sometimes simplicity is key, if the ingredients you are using are of good quality, which these were. 

Though these were also reheated in the microwave, the biscuits fared far better using this cooking method than any of the croissants did. They remained tender, delicate, and fluffy and had a great flavor. Incidentally, I later reheated them in the air fryer and they weren't as good. They ended up slightly too crunchy and lost that delicate flakiness that characterizes a quality biscuit.

Where these really shone was the quality of the sausage. Not only did it smell great as it cooked, it had a fantastic texture and flavor, rife with notes of onions, garlic, and celery ... with a hint of heat and the sweet taste of pork. Though these were a touch more toothsome than some of the other sausages, they weren't gristly, just somewhat less finely processed. Overall, these are really good, I just wish they contained some egg to round out the portion-size, taste, and protein content.

Having previously sampled various breakfast burritos, I wasn't sure how the California Breakfast Wrap from Amy's would compare. Many of these were intended to be reheated in the air fryer, which led the tortilla to get overly crunchy and hard to bite into. This was not the case with this wrap, which I cooked in the microwave, according to packaging directions. This did keep the tortilla more pliable and easy to chew. That said, the wrap burst open somewhat, allowing a bit of the filling to ooze out, which made it kind of messy. This wasn't a dealbreaker, but it was something to note. 

I also was somewhat skeptical about the tofu scramble. These can sometimes lack in the flavor and texture department. This was not the case here. I found the entire filling to be quite boldly-seasoned, moist, and complex. The vegetables and cheese were well-distributed and there were a lot of savory notes and spices going on. I thoroughly enjoyed this wrap — but I did wish it held together a little better. I think this could be remedied by warming it up in the oven. The only downside to doing so is how long this takes, which is almost an hour. This makes it somewhat less convenient as a quick breakfast in the morning. 

Up next on this ranking is the Pillsbury Toaster Scrambles Pastries Bacon & Sausage variety. This item reminded me a lot of a savory Pop Tart. The instructions on the packaging for reheating these recommended a short burst in the microwave followed by a couple turns in the toaster to crisp up the pastry. While I used a toaster oven rather than a conventional toaster, this worked out beautifully and was super quick. You could also pop these in the air fryer, according to the product website, which might make the crust a little more crispy and help it to hold together better. This would enable it to be more portable if you're looking to grab something to-go. 

The superstar of this breakfast sandwich was the pastry, which resembled an apple strudel or crostata crust. It was sweet, yet not sugary, making it ideally-suited to the savory ingredients of the filling, punctuated by bacon and sausage bits. Though these pastries were thin, there was an ideal filling-to-pastry ratio, which made every bite super satisfying. The filling was also quite flavorful, super gooey, and endlessly crave worthy. The only reason these didn't rank higher was because the top sandwiches were either very distinctive or incredibly well-executed.

Among the more unusual breakfast sandwiches I sampled were the Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Maple Griddle Cake's from Jimmy Dean. While this brand has dozens of products to choose from, I opted for this one because the idea of a pancake swapping for a piece of bread in a breakfast sandwich intrigued me. I wasn't disappointed. These sandwiches heated up to perfection in just a few minutes in the microwave. The aroma alone was enough to have me hooked, but the goodness didn't stop there. 

These were the fluffiest pancakes you could imagine. They hardly seemed like they were once frozen, as they tasted like they had just come off a hot griddle. The sausage was well-seasoned and moist. While the cheese was yet again an American variety that I don't love, it was thoroughly melted and worked well with the maple-flavored elements of the pancakes. The egg patty was tender, airy, and flavorful. Overall, the ratio of ingredients to pancakes was spot on. I don't have any complaints about this one. The only reason it didn't rank higher was because of the superiority of the top three breakfast sandwiches in both quality and distinctiveness.

In third place on this ranking of breakfast sandwiches was the Ciabatta Egg Whites, Turkey Sausage, & Cheese from the Jimmy Dean Delights line of products. These products were designed to be high in protein and relatively lean for those monitoring calories, fat, and carbs. Many, like this sandwich, are made from egg whites and turkey sausage, as opposed to whole eggs and a pork-based sausage or bacon. Admittedly, I was skeptical about the flavor of this sandwich, but I needn't have worried. This was fantastic. The eggs were suitably light and fluffy, sausage was moist, and cheese gooey. Every layer was adequately-seasoned and the ratio of fillings-to-bread were spot on. 

What I especially liked about this sandwich was the ciabatta bread. Even though I thought it got a bit soggy on the bottom in the microwave, it was still supple, chewy, and had a great taste. I much preferred it to the bread on almost every other sandwich. The only thing that could have made this sandwich better was if I had reheated it in the air fryer or oven, though the latter takes quite a while longer (about 25 minutes). I also would have enjoyed it more if it had something other than American cheese on it, but these are minor complaints.

In second place on this ranking of breakfast sandwiches was the one from the Kirkland Signature brand, available exclusively at Costco. Kirkland brand items have been a staple at this warehouse retailer since its genesis, producing items that are consistent in quality and generally less expensive than more recognizable name brand ones. This sandwich is no exception. Fans of Starbucks may note the similarities between this sandwich and one sold at the popular coffee chain. What this sandwich was able to do is offer a product that was hands down as tasty — if not more so — than the one popularized by Starbucks at a fraction of the cost. 

When reheated in an air fryer, this sandwich excelled in virtually every way. It's croissant-like bun was crispy and flaky, the eggs were perfectly airy and moist, the cheese oozy, and the bacon crunchy. As a whole, this sandwich was well-portioned and extremely well-executed. In fact, perhaps the only reason it didn't place first on this ranking is because the final item I sampled was just so unusual. Otherwise, you won't do much better for the money if you have a Costco membership. 

And, the winner of "best in breakfast sandwich show" was Nordic Waffles Egg, Cheese, & Sausage variety. This spin on a traditional Norwegian waffle filled with eggs, sausage, and cheese had everything I look for in a breakfast sandwich. Though there were a number of ways you could reheat this waffle, I opted for the air fryer. This yielded a beautifully crisp exterior waffle shell and fillings that were perfectly heated and moist. 

The waffle shell itself had a marvelous sweet and savory aroma. Its flavor was just sweet enough to juxtapose the delicate pork sausage, but not so much so that it was too saccharine. The cheese was perfectly-melted, the sausage was tender and lightly spicy, and the eggs fluffy. As a whole, this was a great breakfast option and I found the portion-size to be large enough for a hearty breakfast, but not so big that it leaves you feeling like you want to go back to bed to digest for awhile. Overall, the distinctiveness, execution, and flavor of this breakfast sandwich was a home run.