Skip The Drive-Thru: Costco's High-Protein Breakfast Sandwich Is A McGriddle Alternative

McDonald's McGriddle is one of the chain's tried and true breakfast items, featuring fillings like sausage, folded egg, and American cheese sandwiched between two maple-flavored griddle cakes. But you can skip the drive-thru at McDonald's and pick up a worthy McGriddle alternative from Costco. The Mason Dixie sweet maple pancake sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese is the frozen Costco item that makes breakfasts a total breeze.

Not only are the sandwiches fully cooked, individually wrapped, and ready to nuke for a busy morning, but they're also made without any preservatives. Plus, each sandwich contains a whopping 17 grams of protein, making them a hearty, filling meal to fuel your mornings. Where the sausage egg and cheese McGriddle costs $5.99, Mason Dixie's protein-packed pancake sandwiches turn out to be much cheaper. While these sandwiches are also available at other stores, Costco Business Center offers a 12-pack for $35, which amounts to a little under $3 per sandwich. So, at half the price of a McGriddle, the Mason Dixie pancake sandwiches are worth a spot in your freezer.

Moreover, customers on Reddit have written rave reviews about them, with one Redditor noting that these are "light and airy pancakes that hold the sausage well." Another Redditor gave the Mason Dixie pancake sandwiches a 10/10, and said they're "essentially the same [as the McGriddle]. The only real difference is that these don't have the syrup pockets in the buns." For the best textural results, some shoppers recommend warming the sandwiches in the microwave and then popping them in the air fyrer to crisp 'em up.

While the pancakes, sausage patty, cheese, and fluffy egg make for a McGriddle doppelganger, customers on Reddit do complain that the maple flavor in these Mason Dixie sandwiches isn't nearly as pronounced. So, a few customizations will help this sandwich become an even better dupe. Add a slice of American cheese to the sandwich before heating it in the microwave or air fryer and drizzle maple syrup over the pancakes as the finishing touch. We think highly of the Kirkland brand's organic pure maple syrup — it's a Costco Kirkland product that will also transform your morning coffee along with these pancake sandwiches. You can pair this protein-packed McGriddle dupe with one of the many Kirkland brand coffee pods and signature whole bean coffees that Costco stocks to fulfill your morning caffeine fix.

At the other end of the spectrum, you can spice up this sweet and savory sandwich with the help of your favorite hot sauce brand like Cholula or even Sriracha. To round out the McDonald's experience, accompany the Mason Dixie pancake sandwich with frozen tater tots to emulate the famous McDonald's hashbrowns. That said, Mason Dixie has a line of different breakfast sandwiches with other famous fast food dupes as well. For example, Costco's Mason Dixie Chicken biscuits will help you skip the Chick-Fil-A line, as they bear an impressive resemblance to the fast food chain's chicken biscuits at half the price.