Every day, there’s a shift at McDonald’s when the breakfast menu transitions to the lunch menu, swapping out Egg McMuffins for Big Macs. For breakfast lovers, this change might feel too early. So, what time exactly does McDonald’s stop serving breakfast? Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know to secure your morning McDonald’s favorites.
McDonald’s Breakfast Hours: Not All Day Long
For those hoping for breakfast at any hour, it’s important to know that McDonald’s doesn’t typically serve breakfast all day. While you might remember a period when all-day breakfast was available, that’s no longer the standard at most locations.
McDonald’s introduced all-day breakfast in 2015, and it quickly became a hit. However, this offering was temporarily discontinued in early 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement in March 2020 from Bill Garrett, Senior Vice President of McDonald’s U.S. Operations, this change was made “to simplify operations in our kitchens and for our crew, and ensure the best possible experience for our customers.” The focus shifted back to serving the most popular menu items efficiently.
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Typical McDonald’s Breakfast Stop Time
Generally, McDonald’s restaurants begin serving breakfast when they open and continue until mid-morning. McDonald’s Corporate states that breakfast hours are determined by “Co-ops and franchisees at their discretion.” However, a common timeframe to keep in mind is that “you can often get your favorite breakfast item from the time your local restaurant opens until 10:30 or 11 a.m. local time.”
Keep in mind that breakfast hours can vary slightly depending on the day of the week. While a McDonald’s might switch to its lunch menu at 10:30 a.m. during the week, some locations extend breakfast service until 11 a.m. on weekends. To get the most accurate hours for your local McDonald’s, it’s always best to check directly with your nearest restaurant to confirm their specific breakfast hours.
The Origin of McDonald’s Breakfast: The Egg McMuffin
McDonald’s breakfast history is deeply rooted in one iconic menu item: the Egg McMuffin. This breakfast staple was created in 1971 by Herb Peterson, a McDonald’s franchise operator in Santa Barbara. Peterson aimed to create a fast-food version of eggs Benedict. Initially, he experimented with Hollandaise sauce, but quickly realized packaged versions didn’t meet the mark.
He innovated by replacing the Hollandaise with a slice of cheese and developed a Teflon ring to perfectly shape the eggs into a circular form. This ingenuity led to the birth of the Egg McMuffin, which became the cornerstone of McDonald’s breakfast menu and a fast-food breakfast legend.
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Missed McDonald’s Breakfast? What are your Options?
If you’ve missed the McDonald’s breakfast window, you still have options. While you can’t get an Egg McMuffin after breakfast hours, McDonald’s lunch and dinner menu offers a wide variety of choices. Alternatively, if you’re craving those breakfast flavors, there are many copycat McDonald’s breakfast recipes available online that can help you recreate your favorite breakfast items at home.
In Summary
McDonald’s typically stops serving breakfast between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., though hours can vary by location and day. For the most accurate information, always check with your local McDonald’s restaurant. Knowing the breakfast hours ensures you don’t miss out on your McDonald’s breakfast favorites.
