McDonald’s introduced the McGriddle breakfast sandwich in 2003.
The McGriddle combines breakfast fillings such as egg, cheese, and sausage or bacon with griddle cakes containing small pieces of maple-flavored syrup. The sweet flavor is built into the cakes rather than supplied only as a separate topping, giving the sandwich its distinctive taste and name.
McDonald’s first tested the product in selected markets before expanding it more widely. It became part of the chain’s breakfast menu and joined other recognizable McDonald’s breakfast products, including the Egg McMuffin. The McGriddle therefore represents a different approach to the breakfast sandwich: a sweet-and-savory combination rather than a traditional English-muffin format.
The product is sometimes confused with pancakes served alongside a breakfast meal. Its defining feature is that the griddle cakes function as the sandwich bread. Regional versions and availability have varied over time.