The Cheapest Drive-Thru Breakfasts You Can Get Right Now
Nothing feels better than rolling through a drive-thru in the morning, grabbing something cheap but satisfying, and keeping on with your day. (Trust me, I’ve done this more times than I’d like to admit.)
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But with inflation and menu creep, cheap fast food breakfasts are getting harder to find. So I scoured menus, blogs, and foodie forums to find what’s still out there: the best bang for your buck when you want breakfast on the go. Here are some of the cheapest drive-thru breakfast options you can still get (or hunt for), and tips to stretch that dollar further.
💸 What “cheap” even means these days
“Cheap” is relative. In many U.S. markets, a basic breakfast sandwich might cost $4–$6, and combos (sandwich + drink + side) often run $6–$9 depending on location. Chains vary wildly by region, franchise, and local food costs. But the ones below tend to be among the lower end in most places.
Top cheap drive-thru breakfasts you might find
Here are some standout options:
| Chain / Item | Est. Price* | Why it’s a deal | Things to watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s Sausage McGriddles® | ~$3.65 | One of McD’s cheapest breakfast sandwiches. McDonald’s Menu | Only the sandwich (no drink or hash browns). Availability limited to breakfast hours. |
| Wendy’s Sausage Biscuit | ~$0.99 | In a Business Insider taste test, Wendy’s offered a sausage biscuit sandwich for just 99¢. Business Insider | Wendy’s breakfast isn’t in all locations; might be limited hours. |
| Bojangles biscuits (single) | ~$1.49 | Bojangles offers biscuits separately at very low cost. Cozymeal | Might not include protein or extras—just the biscuit base. |
| McDonald’s McGriddles or McMuffin variants | ~$5-ish | Some McGriddles items like Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles are priced around $5.72. Mac Menus | That’s just for the sandwich—adding a drink or side bumps cost. |
| Whataburger “Whatadeal” combo | $5 (limited time) | Whataburger has offered a $5 breakfast combo (sandwich + drink) in some markets. MySA | This may be a promotional/limited-time offer, and not everywhere. |
* Prices are approximate, based on menus, blogs, and chains at time of writing. Your local store may be different.
Tips to keep your breakfast cheap (yes, there are hacks)
- Stick to the core item. Buy just a sandwich, avoid combos or sides. A drink or hashbrown often doubles the price.
- Watch the app deals. Many chains run “value menus”, “$1 $2 $3” tiers, or mobile-only deals.
- Go local. Some regional or independent drive-thrus have breakfast specials cheaper than the big chains.
- Customize smartly. Skip extras (cheese, bacon, specialty items) when you’re trying to stay under budget.
- Know breakfast hours. These deals only exist in the early morning window; once lunch menus drop, your choices vanish.
With changing menus, “cheap” is a moving target
Because menu pricing is local and franchises adjust, some of these items might cost more (or less) in your area. Also, chains sometimes roll back deals, change availability, or test new “value” tiers. For example, McDonald’s is reportedly reintroducing more aggressive “value combo” pricing for breakfast.
So when I say “cheapest drive-thru breakfasts you can get right now,” take it as a snapshot, not gospel.
