Every morning, a crucial transition happens at McDonald’s: the breakfast menu ends, and the lunch menu begins. For those of us craving a McMuffin or a hotcake, knowing the exact cutoff time is essential. Are you an early bird or a late riser when it comes to breakfast? Let’s dive into the McDonald’s breakfast schedule to ensure you never miss out on your favorite morning treats.
Is McDonald’s All Day Breakfast Still a Thing?
If you’re hoping for a 24/7 Egg McMuffin fix, you might be slightly disappointed. While there was a glorious period when McDonald’s offered all-day breakfast, that’s no longer the standard at most locations. You’re not imagining things if you remember ordering breakfast outside of typical morning hours – all-day breakfast was indeed a reality for a while.
Introduced in 2015, the all-day breakfast menu was a massive hit with McDonald’s enthusiasts. Imagine the freedom to grab hash browns at dinner time! However, this beloved offering was paused in early 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement released in March 2020 by Bill Garrett, Senior Vice President of McDonald’s U.S. Operations, the decision to suspend all-day breakfast was operational. The focus shifted to “simplifying operations in our kitchens and for our crew” to provide customers with “the best possible experience.” This meant concentrating on the most popular menu items and temporarily removing some, including all-day breakfast, to streamline service during challenging times.
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McDonald’s Breakfast Hours: The Morning Cut-Off
So, what time does McDonald’s actually stop serving breakfast these days? Generally, you’ll find breakfast available as soon as the restaurant opens, but only until mid-morning.
McDonald’s Corporate states that while hours can vary based on “Co-ops and franchisees” decisions, a typical window for breakfast is from opening until “10:30 or 11 a.m. local time.”
It’s worth noting a potential difference between weekdays and weekends. Even if your local McDonald’s switches to the lunch menu at 10:30 a.m. during the week, you might find breakfast available until 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. To get the definitive answer for your specific location, the best approach is to use the McDonald’s restaurant locator or simply call your nearest McDonald’s to confirm their exact breakfast hours.
A Look Back: The History of McDonald’s Breakfast
McDonald’s breakfast wasn’t always the morning staple it is today. Its origin story is closely linked to one iconic menu item: the Egg McMuffin.
Back in 1971, Herb Peterson, a McDonald’s franchise operator in Santa Barbara, had an idea. He wanted to create a fast-food version of Eggs Benedict. Initially, he experimented with packaged Hollandaise sauce, but quickly realized it didn’t live up to the fresh taste. His solution? Replace the Hollandaise with a slice of American cheese. To achieve the perfectly round egg shape needed for his sandwich, Peterson developed a Teflon ring. And just like that, the Egg McMuffin was born, paving the way for the expansive McDonald’s breakfast menu we know today.
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Missed Breakfast Hours? DIY McDonald’s Breakfast at Home
Overslept and missed the McDonald’s breakfast window? Don’t worry, you can still enjoy those familiar breakfast flavors at home. Numerous copycat recipes online can guide you in recreating your McDonald’s breakfast favorites. From Egg McMuffins to hash browns, you can satisfy your cravings even after breakfast hours are over.
