Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Fast Food Breakfast Orders Might Surprise You

When you think of a highly rated fast food breakfast order, the best fast food breakfast sandwich — Wendy's Breakfast Baconator, according to our reviewer — might come to your mind. Or perhaps it's one of Starbucks' many pastries paired with a cup of coffee (we ranked the 12 best and worst here). Consumer Reports, however, has a different answer.

Consumer Reports rated 48 fast food breakfasts from various chains on flavor and texture attributes — what the publication called a sensory score — and nutritional content, as well as serving size and price. Scores ranged from 1 to 100, with those closest to 1 ranking the lowest and those closest to 100 ranking the highest. Two breakfasts from Panera Bread scored the highest at 75 — but not as a tie. The Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Pecans came in second, while the Avocado Egg White & Spinach on Sprouted Grain Bagel Flat (also listed on menus, depending on your location, as a Garden Avo & Egg White Sandwich, with similar ingredients and nutrition) took the top spot.

Both breakfasts scored high, but the Avocado Egg White & Spinach on Sprouted Grain Bagel Flat ultimately edged out the Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Pecans. The oatmeal, at just 330 calories, packs an impressive 7 grams of fiber and just 170 milligrams of sodium, but its relatively low protein — 8 grams — and higher sugar content — 16 grams — make for a less balanced breakfast. The sandwich, meanwhile, delivers 19 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber at 410 calories, giving it more staying power without compromising on flavor. The sandwich's only downfall? A hefty 720 milligrams of sodium.

While the Panera breakfast sandwich earned top honors from Consumer Reports, its rankings also noted that other breakfast orders offered comparable flavors and nutritional benefits, even if these choices scored lower. These orders also come from fast food chains with more loctions than Panera Bread. 

Several tasty and nutrient-rich breakfast options from Starbucks received high ratings from Consumer Reports, including the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. It scored a 70, yet offers a similar nutritional profile to Panera Bread's Avocado Egg White & Spinach on Sprouted Grain Bagel Flat. At just 260 calories, the breakfast sandwich provides 18 grams of protein, with only 2 grams of sugar. However, its sodium is relatively high at 560 milligrams, while fiber is low at just 3 grams.

Traditionalists can rest assured knowing the tasty, beloved McDonald's Egg McMuffin also offers nutritional qualities that in some ways comparable to Panera's Avocado Egg White & Spinach on Sprouted Grain Bagel Flat. It boasts 18 grams of protein, just 3 grams of sugar, and around 300 calories. And like Panera and Starbucks' top-rated breakfast sandwiches, McDonald's Egg McMuffin is lower in fiber at 2 grams, and higher in sodium, at 730 milligrams.