One of the best parts of living in America is the biscuits. People in the American South love these pillowy, flaky balls made of flour, salt, and butter. They’re served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Because the baked goods are so popular, fast food chains have made them a mainstay. Some chains even add eggs, cheese, and meat to make a full breakfast. You can choose from many breakfast biscuits on the menu, so how do you know which ones to order and which ones to avoid? We’re here to help.
There are many fast food restaurants that serve great biscuits, but not all of them serve them with all the fixings for breakfast. These eight fast food chains do, and we’ve either tried them ourselves or read reviews from other customers to find the best and worst breakfast biscuit at each chain.
As a lover of savory hearty breakfast sandwiches, I was deeply saddened when McDonald’s suddenly discontinued their delicious country ham biscuit several years ago. This satisfying southern-style biscuit sandwich had developed a cult following among McDonald’s breakfast regulars making its abrupt removal from the menu all the more disappointing.
In this article I’ll take a nostalgic look back at the McDonald’s country ham biscuit to understand why it was axed and reminisce about what made it so special.
A Beloved regional Southern Menu Item
The country ham biscuit was a regional menu item sold for many years primarily at McDonald’s locations in the Southeastern U.S. It featured a warm, buttery biscuit topped with a salty, smoked country ham and an optional slice of melty American cheese.
This sandwich was especially popular across McDonald’s outposts in Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas where country ham is a cherished regional delicacy. The distinctively salty, dry-cured ham is an Appalachian tradition that dates back centuries.
For fans of this unique southern-style ham, being able to grab a quick country ham biscuit on-the-go from McDonald’s was a very welcome convenience. The McDonald’s version provided a satisfying country ham experience at an affordable fast food price point.
Why McDonald’s Cut It From Their National Menu
Unfortunately for country ham lovers, the regional biscuit sandwich was removed from McDonald’s menus in 2015. There were a few likely factors behind this decision:
-
Nationwide appeal – As a regional menu item, the country ham biscuit didn’t have broad appeal across all McDonald’s locations. The flavor profile and ingredients were unfamiliar to much of the country.
-
Supply chain issues – Sourcing high-quality country ham on a national scale to meet McDonald’s huge demand presented challenges. Country ham is a labor intensive product made by smaller producers.
-
Higher sodium – With over 1000mg of sodium, the salty country ham biscuit didn’t align with McDonald’s efforts at the time to reduce sodium across its menu.
-
Simplified breakfast menu – McDonald’s was streamlining its breakfast offerings, discontinuing underperforming niche items in favor of broad crowd-pleasers like the Egg McMuffin.
So for a mix of business and health reasons, the fast food giant decided to discontinue the specialty regional sandwich, much to the sorrow of its faithful fans.
What Made the Country Ham Biscuit So Special
For those lucky enough to have sampled the McDonald’s country ham biscuit in its heyday, you know just how special this sandwich was. Here’s a look back at some of its best qualities that I still miss to this day:
-
Flaky, butter biscuits – McDonald’s biscuits were pillowy perfection. The rich, flaky texture was ideal for soaking up salty country ham essence.
-
Quality smoked ham – The country ham they used was legit. It had that concentrated cured ham flavor only achieved through traditional Southern smoking methods.
-
Melty cheese – Adding a slice of melted American cheese took the biscuit over the top. The creamy cheese balanced the saltiness perfectly.
-
Value pricing – At around $2 or less, it was an affordable way to get your country ham fix on-the-go compared to sit-down restaurants.
-
Quick and convenient – For hectic mornings when you needed a fast southern-inspired breakfast, you couldn’t beat the McDonald’s country ham biscuit for speed and convenience.
I still get cravings for the McDonald’s country ham biscuit and its magical marriage of flaky biscuit, savory ham and melty cheese. Here’s hoping they eventually bring it back, at least as a limited time offering! No other fast food breakfast sandwich has quite filled its shoes.
Where to Get Your Country Ham Fix Now
Unfortunately, with no sign of the country ham biscuit returning to the McDonald’s menu, fans of this sandwich have had to find new sources to satisfy their cravings. Here are a few of the top spots I’d recommend seeking out for quality country ham flavors:
-
Hardee’s – Hardee’s still serves a country ham biscuit at many locations, though it can be hard to find. The version with redeye gravy and a fried egg is especially good!
-
Bojangles’ – This southern chain offers country ham biscuits and sandwiches like the country ham egg and cheese biscuit. Convenient and affordable.
-
Cracker Barrel – You can’t go wrong with Cracker Barrel’s scratch-made buttermilk biscuits topped with salty country ham. Served all day!
-
Local country stores – Try shopping at local country stores and butcher shops in the South for the highest quality sliced country ham to cook at home.
-
Make your own – There are plenty of recipes online for DIY copycat McDonald’s-style country ham biscuits. Get creative with ingredients!
Even years later, McDonald’s discontinuation of the country ham biscuit remains a tough breakfast loss for those of us who grew up savoring this regional treat. But thankfully there are still ways to whip up this classic southern flavor combination at home or seek it out at other restaurants. The country ham biscuit legacy lives on!
Best: Wendy’s Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit
Wendys breakfast might be the most underrated in the fast food game. The potato wedges are a gift from God, and the burger chain’s biscuits are surprisingly (and always) good and fluffy. We like them because they taste and feel a lot like KFC biscuits, which is a good thing. It’s easy to know what to get on that biscuit at Wendy’s. Get the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. It is one of the best fast food breakfast sandwiches, hands down.
Wendy’s is the only fast food chain that knows how to make a chicken patty just the right way, as shown by its chicken nuggets and this. Even if it doesnt compare to the fresher options at Chick-fil-A and Bojangles, its still damn delicious. The honey butter, though, is what really sets this sandwich over the edge. By amplifying both the sweet and savory, this sandwich curbs both types of breakfast cravings.
Best: McDonald’s Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit
First up is McDonalds. Even though the king of fast food serves biscuits, we think the McMuffin and McGriddles are the more popular choices based on personal experience. However, the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit is always our first choice when we visit those famous golden arches for breakfast.
Since McDonald’s only serves thin bacon strips, the round sausage patty is more substantial. It also makes each bite of the sandwich the same as the last. A fast food restaurant’s Bacon, Egg, and Cheese sandwich is too often just an egg and cheese sandwich with bacon added every once in a while. More often than not, sausage is the better choice. McDonald’s sausage adds a hint of sweetness to this sandwich that the chain biscuits don’t.
The only thing that could go wrong is the folded egg, which is made with liquid eggs and is cooked, folded, and frozen before being sent to stores, where it is reheated. If you want a hot, freshly cracked egg, ask for a round egg instead of the folded egg that comes with the sandwich.
McDonald’s Country Ham Biscuit Review
FAQ
Does McDonald’s have a country ham biscuit?
What is McDonald’s bringing back in 2024?
Why did McDonald’s remove items from their menu?
Many chains, including fast-food giant McDonald’s, have removed items from their menus in order to streamline operations and focus on items that perform well among customers. Customers have expressed outrage over these menu changes and while some removed menu items have made their return, many have not.
Does McDonald’s sell cinnamon rolls?
Apple pie and the discontinued cinnamon roll weren’t the only cinnamon-y menu items sold at McDonald’s. In 2007, the chain released its Cinnamon Melts, also called “Cinnamelts,” which were pieces of dough covered in cinnamon, sugar, and cream cheese icing.
Why did McDonald’s remove all day breakfast?
McDonald’s menu items like chicken tenders, salads, and All Day Breakfast have all been removed this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
When did McDonald’s Stop Making Chicken Tenders?
McDonald’s chicken tenders. The fan-favorite menu item, then called Chicken Selects, first arrived on menus in 2004. However, in 2013, they were removed from menus nationwide. Four years later, chicken tenders made their way back onto menus as Buttermilk Crispy Tenders.