Odd Bedfellows: Ranch Dressing on a Breakfast Sandwich?

My husband and I were traveling last weekend and stopped in for breakfast at a local coffee shop. Ordering our favorite egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, we were confronted with the option of adding a shmear of ranch dressing. What would you have said?

The first morning, we both shook our heads and stayed with our tried-and-true favorite. But the idea of that ranch dressing stuck with me all day. I couldn’t stop trying to imagine what that combination of flavors would taste like. The next morning, I decided to give it a shot.

It was...interesting. The ranch was the bottom half of the bagel with the egg and cheese on top. It wasn’t a lot, maybe just a tablespoon or two. Much of it seemed to get absorbed into the warm toasted bagel.

The ranch added a tangy flavor that went really well with the everything bagel. Next to the egg and the melted cheese, the ranch was another element of creaminess. It’s presence didn’t really blow me away, but it also wasn’t nearly as off-putting as I’d feared. So, yes. Interesting is the best description.

I’m not sure I’m going to run home and make an egg and cheese with ranch sandwich. But it’s not a bad option to have for a brunch party or just when we want a little something different from the usual.

Have you ever tried ranch dressing on a breakfast sandwich? Do you have another topping that you prefer, or do you like to keep it simple?

(Image: Emma Christensen)

Comments (27)

Hmmm....it doesn't sound like it would go well with eggs but if ever offerred I wouldn't hesitate to try it (I'll try just about anything once).

a mustard egg sandwich: wheat toast, mustard smeared on both sides with scrambled eggs in between and a good dash of pepper!

I agree with smooshmallow - I love a bagel sandwich with egg, colby, havarti, and a schmear of dijon mustard. Sometimes I'll add a slice or two of smoked turkey, too.

I live in North Georgia, and ranch dressing is a passion down here. I've worked in several restaurants here and "With a side of ranch" is a staple phrase. I have to admit I've joined the bandwagon. Putting ranch on a breakfast sandwich is hardly unusual and, in my opinion, quite tasty!

I love ranch and will put it on just about anything! I definitely like the idea of an everything bagel paired with ranch. I've been making ranch with greek yogurt lately to reduce the calories.

http://becausesissaidso.blogspot.com/2010/10/newest-obsession.html

A bagle sandwich stop around here used to sever "Ranchero" sauce on a few of their sandwiches. it wasn't Ranch, but definitely was mayo-based, and quite yummy.

We put mayo in ours. I bet some ranch dressing would taste awesome.

I used to work at a coffee shop in high school. We made our own herb mayo, and there was one girl who swore by ordering the breakfast bagel (bacon, egg, cheese) with the herb mayo on top. Not sure I ever tried it, though.

In small quantities, I would have gone for the ranch dressing. Russian dressing also works nicely, though it needs ham or roast beef on the sandwich to blend right.

Mustard, though, is a no.

What I would have said was, "Why didn't I think of that?!" I always say that Ranch is delicious on everything, but I'd never thought of a breakfast sandwich. I usually use Cholula. I know what I'm using next time!

I always put ranch on my breakfast sandwiches and my husband likes a little BBQ sauce. Anything goes with eggs.

I would've declined the ranch dressing, though I do love it for many things (salad, fries, veggies). Something about egg and ranch just doesn't work for me, but never say never?

I would have said eeeeuw. I am not a fan of ranch dressing. If I had to put a condiment on a breakfast sandwich I guess I'd go with mustard, but do breakfast sandwiches even need that? I used to get egg and cheese on an English muffin at a local deli and it was perfect all by itself.

No one uses ketchup? Just me? ...ok...

I bought a breakfast sandwich from a local cafe and it came with a very little bit of mayo and a squirt of mustard. I was surprised that it tasted so good! If asked I would have said "hell no!"

I put ranch on almost everything. Even if I'm not sure it's a good idea, I can't rest until I've tried it with ranch. It's a nasty habit. :)

@cmcinnyc

They do in Japan :) McDo there has a breakfast item, the MegaMuffin, consisting of sausage patties, bacon, egg and cheese on an enligh muffin that's served with ketchup. I wasn't a fan of the ketchup in it, mostly because it was all soaked up in the muffin.

I've done mustard or ketchup on my egg breakfast sandwiches, never ranch, but I'd sure try it. Ranch goes with a lot of things, so I think it would probably be good.

What I don't understand is the bagel breakfast sandwich. Whenever I try to eat one, even with the freshest of bagels, it just smooshes all the contents out the sides. Bagels are just too dense to make a good sandwich that has such soft contents (not only eggs but egg/tuna/chicken salads don't work).

Gross!

My sister in law is from NC and puts ranch dressing on EVERYTHING. Pizza, french fries, wings, pasta, eggs, etc. I'm grossed out, yet intrigued by all the uses she comes with for ranch. But it better be the cheapo-Wishbone ranch. None of that fancy stuff for her! I learned the hard way when I made ranch dressing for scratch for her and she totally poo-pooed it.

ranch makes everything better!

McD's here puts a breakfast "sauce" on the bagel sandwiches in the mornings. it's basically ranch.

Homemade ranch? Sure. Bottle ranch? Meh, no thanks.

I like a little chipotle sauce on there myself. Gets the day going!

im going to try this tomorrow morning, ive been known to like odd food combinations ie: vinegar on eggs or toast, cream cheese and peanut butter sandwiches, ranch on mac and cheese.

For my taste buds, different types of ranch have very different flavors. Some I love, some just don't taste right. I would like to see a ranch dressing post on what everyone's favorites are - exploring the versatility of ranch dressing!

one thing ranch is unquestionably EXCELLENT on is a black bean burger. mmm mm. perhaps with a squirt of sriracha, too...

Sriracha and Ranch= match made in heaven