Copycat First Watch Million-Dollar Breakfast Sandwiches

When First Watch opened an outpost near my place in Ohio in the late 1990s, it quickly became a part of my family’s post-church breakfast routine on Sunday mornings. With a menu full of fresh ingredients and both sweet and savory options, there was always something to satisfy everyone. Although I no longer live near a First Watch, whenever I’m back in my hometown or traveling near one, I always try to make a stop part of the itinerary.

But for those times when I have a craving miles away from the nearest restaurant, I try to make copycat versions of some of their famous breakfast dishes in the comfort of my own home. This copycat First Watch million-dollar breakfast sandwich recipe is my newest favorite. It’s a spot-on recreation of the sweet-and-savory sandwich, with a savory sausage patty covered in melted smoked Gouda cheese, a perfectly runny over-easy egg, fresh arugula, a generous drizzle of hot honey and, of course, their famous million-dollar candied bacon.

Ingredients for Copycat First Watch Million-Dollar Breakfast Sandwiches

• Pork sausage patty: Use your favorite store-bought variety, or make homemade sausage patties. If you’re going the premade route, look for larger sausage patties—you want them to be just slightly smaller than the English muffins.
• Egg: Each sandwich features an over-easy egg. If you don’t like runny eggs, feel free to cook your more. Our favorite trick is to use a Mason jar lid to create the perfect egg for sandwiches.
• Smoked Gouda: Each sausage patty is topped with a slice of smoked Gouda cheese that’s melted to ooey-gooey perfection.
• Million-dollar bacon: Use our million-dollar bacon recipe to make sweet-and-spicy candied bacon just like First Watch.
• English muffin: Use store-bought English muffins to keep it simple, or bake English muffins from scratch if you have time.
• Hot honey: The First Watch million-dollar breakfast sandwich features a drizzle of hot honey. Try it with Mike’s Hot Honey—0ur Test Kitchen’s favorite brand of store-bought hot honey—or with homemade hot honey.
• Fresh arugula: The sandwich is topped with a small handful of leafy arugula, which has bold, peppery flavor.
• Mixed greens dressed with lemon vinaigrette: For an authentic First Watch experience, serve each sandwich with a small salad of mixed greens dressed with a fresh lemon vinaigrette.

Directions

Step 1: Fry the eggs

Heat a tablespoon of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Break the eggs, one at a time, into the pan, then reduce the heat to low. Cook the eggs until the whites are set and the yolks begin to thicken, turning once if desired. Remove the eggs from the pan and keep them warm.

Step 2: Cook the sausage patties

To the same skillet, add another tablespoon of butter. Add the sausage patties, and cook them until their internal temperature reaches 145ºF, two to three minutes per side. Top each patty with a slice of Gouda. Cover the pan, and cook the patties and cheese until the cheese is bubbly and melted, one to two minutes longer. Remove them from the pan and transfer them to a separate plate.

Step 3: Build the sandwiches

Spread the remaining butter over toasted English muffins. Layer the muffin bottoms with a sausage patty, a slice of bacon, a fried egg and 1/4 cup of arugula. Drizzle the sandwich fillings with hot honey, then replace the muffin tops.

Serve the sandwiches immediately with a small salad of mixed greens and lemon vinaigrette, if desired.

Editor’s Tip: You can budget about 1/4 cup of arugula per sandwich. Also, you can break each slice of million-dollar bacon in half to make it fit the sandwich better, if necessary.

Copycat Million-Dollar Breakfast Sandwich Variations

• Change up the cheese: A slice of mild or sharp cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack or Swiss would be tasty melting cheeses perfect for this breakfast sandwich. For quicker melting, you could use shredded cheese in place of the sliced cheese. Grating the cheese yourself will ensure that the cheese melts evenly.
• Add some sweetness: Spread a layer of your favorite jam on the English muffin halves before building the sandwiches.
• Swap the sausage: You can use chicken or turkey sausage in place of the pork sausage.

How to Store Million-Dollar Breakfast Sandwiches

These breakfast sandwiches taste best right after they’re made, but leftover sandwiches can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you make components for the copycat breakfast sandwich ahead of time?

If you’re making the pork sausage patties from scratch, you could do so and cook them a few days in advance. When you’re ready to make the sandwiches, reheat the patties in a skillet over medium heat and top them with cheese, as per the recipe. The bacon and eggs are best made day-of.

Million-Dollar Breakfast Sandwich Tips

How do you make million-dollar bacon?

Million-dollar bacon is candied bacon that’s made by dredging thick-cut bacon in a sweet and spicy mixture of brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and ground pepper. It’s cooked in a 350º oven until it’s crisp, then it’s drizzled with maple syrup and cooked for a few minutes more.

What can you serve with a million-dollar breakfast sandwich?

For the true First Watch breakfast experience, serve the million-dollar breakfast sandwich alongside mixed greens dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. Other side dish ideas include crispy hash browns, breakfast potatoes or a fresh fruit salad. And don’t forget a mimosa or Bloody Mary!