This copycat McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel stacks a seasoned steak patty, grilled onions, a fluffy folded egg, melty American cheese and creamy breakfast sauce on a butter-toasted bagel. It tastes like the drive-thru version, it’s ready in about 25 minutes, and you can make four at once for less than the price of two at the counter.
If you’ve ever driven to a McDonald’s that doesn’t carry the bagels, or missed the breakfast cutoff, this is your fix. The steak bagel is the one breakfast sandwich fans go out of their way for, and every part of it is easy to make at home with an air fryer and one skillet.
Pair it with Air Fryer Homemade Hash Brown Patties for the full McDonald’s breakfast at home.
What’s on the McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel?
McDonald’s builds this sandwich on a plain bagel toasted with butter, then adds a seasoned steak patty, grilled onions, a folded egg, a slice of American cheese and breakfast sauce, a creamy, tangy, dill-flecked sauce similar to a quick hollandaise. That sauce and the onions are what make it taste like McDonald’s, so this recipe includes both.
Is the McDonald’s steak bagel still available?
Yes, at participating locations. McDonald’s rolled its bagel sandwiches out nationwide in the U.S. for the first time on February 25, 2025, after years of limited regional runs. Availability and breakfast hours still vary by restaurant, so check the McDonald’s app before you go. Or skip the trip and make it here.
Why you’ll love this copycat steak bagel
- It’s a true copy. Steak patty, grilled onions, folded egg, American cheese and breakfast sauce, the same build as the real one.
- Fast. The air fryer cooks the steak patties and toasts the bagels while the eggs and onions cook on the stove.
- Cheaper than the drive-thru. Four homemade steak bagels cost about what you’d pay for two at the restaurant.
- Make-ahead friendly. Cook the patties ahead, then assemble and reheat in minutes on busy mornings.
Ingredients for a steak, egg and cheese bagel
See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- Sirloin steak: Thinly sliced or shaved sirloin, finely chopped and pressed into thin patties. This gives you the tender, chopped-steak texture of the McDonald’s patty. Shaved ribeye also works.
- Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and a splash of Worcestershire for that savory, grilled flavor.
- Yellow onion: Slivered and cooked in butter until soft and lightly browned.
- Eggs and milk: Whisked and cooked flat, then folded into a square, just like the McDonald’s folded egg.
- American cheese: The classic melt. Don’t swap this one if you want it to taste like the original.
- Plain bagels: Split and toasted with butter.
- Breakfast sauce: Use my Copycat McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce, or see the quick version in the recipe notes.
How to make a copycat McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel
Step 1: Finely chop the sliced steak, then mix it with the Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Divide into four portions and press each into a thin patty about 4 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook the patties in a single layer for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach 160°F inside.
Step 3: While the steak cooks, melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the slivered onion with a pinch of salt for 5 to 6 minutes, until soft and golden at the edges. Move to a plate.
Step 4: Whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour half into the same buttered skillet over medium-low heat and let it set flat without stirring, about 2 minutes. Fold the sides in to make a square, cut it in half, and repeat with the rest of the eggs. You’ll have four folded eggs.
Step 5: Spread butter on the cut sides of the bagels. Air fry cut side up at 360°F for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden.
Step 6: Spread breakfast sauce on both bagel halves. Layer the steak patty, grilled onions, cheese and folded egg on the bottom half, then close it up. Serve hot.
Tips for the best steak bagel
- Chop, don’t slice. Whole steak slices pull out of the bagel in one bite. Chopped, pressed steak eats like the McDonald’s patty.
- Freeze the steak for 20 minutes before slicing if you’re cutting it yourself. It slices thinner and chops faster.
- Keep the patties thin. Thick patties take longer and won’t fit the bagel neatly.
- Low heat for the eggs. Medium-low keeps the folded egg tender and yellow, not browned.
- Melt the cheese. For a gooier melt, set the cheese on the hot steak patty for the last 30 seconds in the air fryer.
Variations
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel: Swap the steak for 2 strips of crispy bacon per sandwich.
- Sausage, Egg and Cheese Bagel: Use a cooked breakfast sausage patty.
- Spicy: Use pepper jack and add a little chipotle to the breakfast sauce.
- Everything bagel: Not McDonald’s style, but very good.
Make ahead and storage
To make ahead: Cook the steak patties, onions and folded eggs, cool, and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Toast the bagels and assemble fresh.
To store assembled sandwiches: Wrap each one tightly in foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze (without sauce) for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Unwrap and air fry at 330°F for 4 to 5 minutes from the fridge, or 8 to 10 minutes from frozen, until hot in the center. In the microwave, wrap in a damp paper towel and heat 45 to 60 seconds.
What to serve with it
- Air Fryer Homemade Hash Brown Patties or Trader Joe’s Hash Browns in the Air Fryer
- Copycat Panera Granola with yogurt and berries
- An iced coffee or a glass of orange juice
Steak, egg and cheese bagel FAQs
What is in the McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel? A butter-toasted plain bagel with a seasoned steak patty, grilled onions, a folded egg, American cheese and breakfast sauce.
Is the steak bagel back at McDonald’s? Yes, at participating U.S. locations. McDonald’s made its bagel sandwiches available nationwide on February 25, 2025, but not every restaurant carries them, and they’re only served during breakfast hours. Check the McDonald’s app for your location.
What is McDonald’s breakfast sauce made of? It’s a creamy, mayonnaise-based sauce with egg yolk, lemon, mustard and dill. My copycat breakfast sauce takes about 5 minutes.
What kind of steak does McDonald’s use? McDonald’s uses a seasoned beef steak patty rather than a whole steak. Chopped, thinly sliced sirloin pressed into a patty is the closest homemade match.
How many calories are in the McDonald’s steak bagel? Menu sites list the restaurant version at around 680 calories. The homemade version depends on your bagel and how much sauce you use; see the nutrition in the recipe card.
Can I make this without an air fryer? Yes. Cook the steak patties in a hot skillet for 2 to 3 minutes per side, and toast the bagels in a toaster or a buttered skillet.
What to serve with it
- Air Fryer Homemade Hash Brown Patties or Trader Joe’s Hash Browns in the Air Fryer
- Copycat Panera Granola with yogurt and berries
- An iced coffee or a glass of orange juice
Steak, egg and cheese bagel FAQs
What is in the McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel? A butter-toasted plain bagel with a seasoned steak patty, grilled onions, a folded egg, American cheese and breakfast sauce.
Is the steak bagel back at McDonald’s? Yes, at participating U.S. locations. McDonald’s made its bagel sandwiches available nationwide on February 25, 2025, but not every restaurant carries them, and they’re only served during breakfast hours. Check the McDonald’s app for your location.
What is McDonald’s breakfast sauce made of? It’s a creamy, mayonnaise-based sauce with egg yolk, lemon, mustard and dill. My copycat breakfast sauce takes about 5 minutes.
What kind of steak does McDonald’s use? McDonald’s uses a seasoned beef steak patty rather than a whole steak. Chopped, thinly sliced sirloin pressed into a patty is the closest homemade match.
How many calories are in the McDonald’s steak bagel? Menu sites list the restaurant version at around 680 calories. The homemade version depends on your bagel and how much sauce you use; see the nutrition in the recipe card.
Can I make this without an air fryer? Yes. Cook the steak patties in a hot skillet for 2 to 3 minutes per side, and toast the bagels in a toaster or a buttered skillet.
Copycat McDonald’s Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel
Description
Ingredients
Steak patties
- 12 ounces sirloin steak, very thinly sliced or shaved
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Onions and eggs
- 1 tablespoon butter, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly slivered
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Pinch of salt and pepper
To assemble
- 4 plain bagels, split
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1/4 cup McDonald’s breakfast sauce, linked recipe, or see notes
Instructions
- Finely chop the steak. Mix with Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Divide into 4 portions and press each into a thin patty, about 4 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Air fry the patties in a single layer for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach 160°F inside.
- Meanwhile, melt half the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion with a pinch of salt for 5 to 6 minutes, until soft and golden. Transfer to a plate.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and lower heat to medium-low. Pour in half the egg mixture and cook without stirring until set, about 2 minutes. Fold the sides in to form a square, cut in half, and transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs.
- Spread softened butter on the cut sides of the bagels. Air fry cut side up at 360°F for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden.
- Spread breakfast sauce on both bagel halves. Layer the steak patty, onions, cheese and folded egg on each bottom half. Close and serve hot.
Equipment
- 10-inch nonstick skillet
- Instant-read thermometer
Notes
- Quick breakfast sauce: stir together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard and 1/4 teaspoon dried dill.
- For a gooier melt, place the cheese on the steak patties for the last 30 seconds of air frying.
- Air fryers vary; check the first batch early.
- Storage and reheating: see the post above.
Nutrition
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