Imagine this: a crispy-edged, chewy English muffin base, a generous layer of creamy, peppery sawmill gravy, fluffy scrambled eggs, savory sausage crumbles, and a blanket of bubbly, melted cheddar cheese. Are you drooling yet? These English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas take the classic breakfast components we all love and stack them into individual portions of pure morning bliss.
They’re hearty, satisfying, customizable, and just plain fun to eat. Perfect for busy weekday mornings (with a little prep!), lazy weekend brunches, or even a crowd-pleasing breakfast-for-dinner situation!
Why You’ll Absolutely Devour These Breakfast Pizzas
- Ultimate Breakfast Mashup: It combines the best parts of a full breakfast, eggs, sausage, gravy, cheese, and toast, into one perfect handheld package. Genius!
- Perfectly Portioned: Individual pizzas mean everyone gets their own delicious creation, and portion control is built-in (unless you eat three, which we wouldn’t blame you for!).
- Homemade Gravy Goodness: The rich, savory sawmill gravy made from sausage drippings takes these pizzas over the top. It’s liquid gold!
- Quick Assembly & Finish: Once your components are ready, assembling and broiling these pizzas takes just minutes.
- Super Satisfying: Packed with protein and flavor, these breakfast pizzas will keep you full and happy all morning long.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s gather the delicious building blocks for our breakfast pizzas:
The Base & Toppings
- English Muffins: The perfect sturdy, yet chewy, base. One package (usually 6 muffins, split into 12 halves) is typically needed.
- Eggs: For that essential fluffy scrambled layer.
- Breakfast Sausage: One pound of your favorite breakfast sausage (mild, hot, maple, your choice!) provides savory flavor and the base for our gravy.
- Mild Cheddar Cheese: Thinly sliced for perfect melting under the broiler. You can substitute Colby, Monterey Jack, or another good melting cheese if preferred.
For the Sawmill Gravy
- Milk: Whole milk provides the creamiest results for the gravy.
- Sausage Drippings/Fat: The flavorful fat rendered from cooking the sausage is key! You’ll need ÂĽ cup. If your sausage doesn’t yield enough, supplement with butter.
- All-Purpose Flour: To thicken the gravy.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings for the gravy, taste and adjust!
(The full list of ingredients with precise measurements is available in the recipe card just below this article!)
How to Build Your English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas
Let’s get cooking! This involves a few components, but they come together beautifully.
Step 1: Cook the Sausage & Render Fat
In a skillet (cast iron is great for gravy!), cook the breakfast sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up into crumbles, until it’s well-done and nicely browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked sausage from the pan, setting it aside on a plate (maybe lined with paper towels). Carefully pour off the rendered fat, measuring out ÂĽ cup and returning only that amount to the skillet. If you don’t have quite ÂĽ cup, add enough butter to make up the difference. Discard any excess fat.
Step 2: Make the Sawmill Gravy
Keep the skillet with the ÂĽ cup of fat over medium heat. Sprinkle the ÂĽ cup of flour evenly into the fat. Cook, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon, for about 5 to 10 minutes. You’re creating a roux, and this cooking step is crucial, it toasts the flour, cooks out the raw taste, and helps it thicken the gravy smoothly.
The mixture should start to turn a light golden brown and smell nutty. Don’t rush this! Once the roux is ready, slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking and stirring (or whisking) until the gravy comes to a gentle boil and thickens to your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remember, the sausage is salty, so taste before adding too much salt! Keep the gravy warm over low heat or set aside briefly.
Step 3: Toast Muffins & Scramble Eggs
While the gravy is simmering or resting, split your English muffins in half and lightly toast them in a toaster or under the broiler until just golden. You want them sturdy enough to hold the toppings. In a separate non-stick skillet, scramble the eggs until cooked through but still moist. Adding a small splash of milk to the eggs before scrambling can make them extra fluffy, if you like.
Step 4: Assemble the Breakfast Pizzas
Turn your oven’s broiler on high. Arrange the toasted English muffin halves, cut-side up, on a large baking sheet. Now, let’s build! Spoon a generous layer of the warm sawmill gravy onto each muffin half. Top the gravy with a portion of the scrambled eggs, then sprinkle the cooked sausage crumbles over the eggs. Finally, place a thin slice of cheddar cheese over the sausage.
Step 5: Broil to Perfection!
Carefully place the baking sheet under the preheated broiler. Watch them VERY closely, broilers work fast! Cook for just a minute or two, until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and maybe slightly golden brown in spots. You don’t want the muffins or toppings to burn.
Step 6: Serve Immediately
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas cool for just a moment (they’ll be hot!), then serve immediately and enjoy the deliciousness!
English Muffin Breakfast Pizza
Equipment
- Large Skillet (Cast Iron recommended for gravy)
- Non-stick Skillet (for eggs)
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking Sheet
- Toaster (optional)
- Slotted Spoon
Ingredients
For the Pizzas
- 1 Package English Muffins usually 6 muffins, split
- 8 large eggs
- 1 lb Breakfast Sausage mild or your preference
- 8 oz Mild Cheddar Cheese thin sliced
- Optional: dash Milk for scrambling eggs
For the Sawmill Gravy
- 2 cups Milk whole milk recommended
- 1/4 cup sausage drippings rendered fat from cooking sausage, supplement with butter if needed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground preferred, or to taste
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: Cook breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling, until well done. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon, set aside. Leave ÂĽ cup of rendered fat in the skillet (add butter if needed to reach ÂĽ cup).
- Make Roux for Gravy: Keep skillet with fat over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook, whisking constantly, for 5-10 minutes until roux is golden brown and smells nutty.
- Finish Gravy: Slowly whisk milk into the roux. Continue cooking and whisking until gravy boils and thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm.
- Prep Muffins & Eggs: Lightly toast English muffin halves. Scramble eggs in a separate non-stick skillet (add a dash of milk if desired).
- Assemble Pizzas: Turn oven broiler to high. Place toasted muffin halves on a baking sheet. Top each half with gravy, scrambled eggs, cooked sausage crumbles, and a slice of cheddar cheese.
- Broil: Place baking sheet under broiler. Broil for 1-2 minutes, watching VERY closely, until cheese is bubbly and melted. Do not let burn.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve immediately.
Notes
Pro Tips for Pizza Perfection
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Cook sausage in batches if needed to ensure it browns properly rather than steaming.
- Roux is Key: Don’t skip cooking the flour in the fat for the gravy. This develops flavor and prevents a raw flour taste.
- Whisk Well: Whisk constantly when adding milk to the roux to ensure a smooth, lump-free gravy.
- Watch the Broiler: Seriously, stay right by the oven! Things can go from perfectly melted to burnt in seconds under the broiler.
- Prep Ahead: Cook the sausage, make the gravy, and even scramble the eggs a day ahead. Store them separately in the fridge. Reheat gently before assembling and broiling for a super quick breakfast.
How to Serve
These are pretty much a complete meal on their own!
- As Is: They are fantastic just as they are, hot from the broiler.
- With Fruit: A side of fresh fruit or a fruit salad provides a nice, refreshing contrast.
- Extra Gravy: Serve with a small pitcher of extra warm gravy for drizzling, if desired.
- Hot Sauce: A dash of your favorite hot sauce can add a nice kick for those who like spice.
Make Ahead and Storage
While best fresh, components can be prepped ahead.
Make Ahead
As mentioned in the tips, the sausage, gravy, and scrambled eggs can all be made up to 1-2 days in advance and stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Reheat the gravy gently on the stovetop (you may need a splash of milk to thin it) and warm the eggs and sausage before assembling.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover assembled and broiled pizzas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note that the muffin will soften upon storage.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a toaster oven or conventional oven at around 350°F (175°C) until heated through to help re-crisp the muffin slightly. Microwaving will work but will result in a softer texture.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Absolutely! Monterey Jack, Colby, Provolone, or even a sprinkle of mozzarella would work well. Use your favorite melting cheese.
Can I use pre-made gravy?
You can, but the homemade sawmill gravy made with the sausage drippings adds incredible flavor that’s hard to beat. If using store-bought, choose a good quality country-style or sausage gravy.
Can I make this with bacon instead of sausage?
Yes! Cook bacon until crisp, crumble it, and use bacon fat (supplemented with butter if needed) to make the gravy following the same method.
My gravy is lumpy! How can I fix it?
Try whisking vigorously. If that doesn’t work, you can pour the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve to remove lumps, or carefully use an immersion blender for a few seconds (be cautious with hot liquids).
Can I make these vegetarian?
You could try using a plant-based sausage crumble and vegetable broth or milk for the gravy (using butter or oil for the roux fat). The flavor profile will be different but could still be tasty.
Start your day the most delicious way possible with these English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas! This easy breakfast recipe layers toasted English muffins with homemade sawmill gravy, fluffy scrambled eggs, savory breakfast sausage, and melty cheddar cheese. It’s a hearty, satisfying, and fun breakfast pizza idea perfect for any morning.
You’ll definitely want to keep this recipe for a guaranteed breakfast win!
