The Egg McMuffin, introduced in 1972, was inspired by eggs Benedict.
McDonald’s franchisee Herb Peterson created the sandwich in Santa Barbara, California. He wanted a breakfast item that could be eaten conveniently and drew on the flavors and structure of eggs Benedict. The sandwich used a toasted English muffin, a round cooked egg, Canadian bacon, and cheese.
Peterson’s design was important to McDonald’s branding because it gave the chain a recognizable breakfast product rather than simply extending its lunch menu into the morning. After testing, the Egg McMuffin helped establish McDonald’s breakfast business and influenced fast-food breakfast menus more broadly.
The Egg McMuffin is often confused with later McMuffin variations, including sausage and bacon versions. The original name identifies the egg, Canadian bacon, cheese, and English-muffin combination associated with Peterson’s 1972 creation.