A Starbucks breakfast burrito is a convenient on-the-go meal option available at Starbucks locations across the United States. But what exactly is inside one of these burritos? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutrition information of a classic Starbucks breakfast burrito to find out.
Main Ingredients
The primary ingredients in a Starbucks breakfast burrito are:
- Tortilla – The burrito is wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.
- Eggs – The burrito contains scrambled eggs for protein.
- Cheese – Melted cheese is added for extra flavor and texture.
- Meat – Different types of meat can be added, like sausage, bacon, or ham.
- Vegetables – Onions, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and other veggies are commonly included.
- Salsa or pico de gallo – Salsa or pico de gallo provide a spicy, fresh flavor.
Additional ingredients like avocado, beans, or hot sauce may also be added to create different burrito varieties. The classic sausage and cheddar breakfast burrito contains eggs, pork sausage, cheddar cheese, onions, and salsa.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information for a Starbucks breakfast burrito can vary depending on the specific ingredients, but here are some averages for a regular-sized burrito:
- Calories: 300-500
- Total Fat: 15-25g
- Saturated Fat: 5-10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 125-250mg
- Sodium: 800-1200mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 30-50g
- Dietary Fiber: 2-4g
- Sugars: 2-4g
- Protein: 15-25g
As you can see, a Starbucks breakfast burrito provides a significant amount of calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, and protein. The ingredients like eggs, cheese, meat, and tortilla contribute most of these macros. The burrito also contains some fiber, vitamins, and minerals from ingredients like onions, tomatoes, and peppers.
Detailed Ingredient Breakdown
Now let’s take a more in-depth look at the typical ingredients you’ll find in a Starbucks breakfast burrito:
Tortilla
The burrito is wrapped in a soft, warm flour tortilla. Each tortilla provides approximately:
- Calories: 150
- Total Fat: 1.5g
- Carbs: 30g
- Protein: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
The tortilla contributes a significant amount of carbohydrates and calories to the burrito. The small amount of fat and protein comes from the wheat flour.
Eggs
The burrito contains around two scrambled eggs, providing:
- Calories: 140
- Fat: 9g
- Carbs: 1g
- Protein: 12g
The eggs supply protein, fat, and minerals like selenium and vitamin D.
Cheese
About 1-2 ounces of melted cheese are added to the burrito. Cheddar cheese offers roughly:
- Calories: 110-220
- Fat: 9-18g
- Carbs: 1-2g
- Protein: 7-14g
The cheese provides a hefty dose of fat and calories, as well as protein, calcium, and vitamin A.
Meat
Different meats may be used in the burrito. Sausage often provides:
- Calories: 100-200
- Fat: 8-16g
- Carbs: 1-5g
- Protein: 5-10g
The meat adds more fat, calories, and protein. Ham or bacon have similar nutrition profiles.
Vegetables
Onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers are often included. For example, half a bell pepper contributes:
- Calories: 15
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Vitamin C: 95mg
- Vitamin A: 590IU
The vegetables provide important vitamins, minerals, fiber and water content.
Salsa
A couple tablespoons of salsa adds:
- Calories: 5-15
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 2-5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Vitamin C: 5-10mg
- Vitamin A: 50-100IU
The salsa incorporates more nutrients from the chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices.
Potential Allergens
Starbucks breakfast burritos contain some common food allergens to be aware of:
- Eggs – The egg-based scramble contains egg protein.
- Dairy – Cheese made from milk is included.
- Wheat – The flour tortilla contains gluten.
- Soy – Soybean oil may be used for cooking.
For people with an egg, dairy, wheat, or soy allergy, this burrito should be avoided. Speak to your barista about ingredient choices and preparation if you have a food allergy or sensitivity.
Preparation Methods
Let’s look at how Starbucks breakfast burritos are prepared:
Scrambled Eggs
– Eggs are cracked, beaten together in a bowl, seasoned, and cooked on a buttered griddle, stirring frequently.
Sautéed Vegetables
– Onions, peppers, potatoes, etc. are sautéed in hot oil until softened and cooked through.
Cooked Meat
– The sausage, bacon, or ham is cooked on the griddle or in the oven.
Tortilla
– A flour tortilla is warmed on the griddle.
Assembly
– The beaten eggs are scrambled directly on the griddle.
– The meat, veggies, eggs, and cheese are layered onto the center of the tortilla.
– The tortilla is folded in half and pressed to seal the burrito shut.
– The burrito is cooked for another 2-3 minutes on each side to melt the cheese.
Serving
– The burrito is cut diagonally into halves or thirds.
– Salsa, pico de gallo, or other toppings are added either on the side or spooned over top.
This preparation results in a hot, melty, portable breakfast meal!
Buying Tips
If you want to enjoy a Starbucks breakfast burrito, here are some useful buying tips:
- Know the menu – Look up options online or in the Starbucks app so you know the choices.
- Specify modifications – Request no cheese or meat if desired.
- Choose sides – Pair it with coffee, fruit, or yogurt for a balanced breakfast.
- Utilize mobile order – Order ahead on the app to skip the line.
- Ask for hot sauce – Request hot sauce packets to add your own desired spice level.
- Time it right – Get there mid-morning to ensure they still have stock.
Following these tips will help you get your ideal Starbucks breakfast burrito experience.
Nutrition Comparison to Other Options
How does the Starbucks breakfast burrito compare nutritionally to some other fast food breakfast items? Here is a nutrition comparison table:
| Breakfast Item | Calories | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbucks Breakfast Burrito | 400 | 18 | 40 | 18 |
| McDonald’s Sausage Burrito | 370 | 21 | 33 | 14 |
| Dunkin’ Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant | 670 | 39 | 59 | 27 |
| Panera Bacon, Egg & Cheese on a Muffin | 450 | 26 | 33 | 21 |
The Starbucks burrito is lower in calories and fat compared to the other options. However, it also contains less protein than some alternatives. The croissant sandwich from Dunkin’ is highest in fat and calories. Overall, the Starbucks burrito is a decent fast food breakfast choice in terms of nutrition.
Cost Analysis
What is the cost of a Starbucks breakfast burrito? Here is a breakdown:
- Burrito alone: $4.45 – $5.25 depending on variety
- Combo with coffee: $6 – $7 total
- Add-ons like fruit or yogurt: $1-3 extra
The burritos are priced in line with other grab-and-go type breakfast sandwiches. Adding a coffee and side pushes the total meal price to around $7-10. Compared to sit-down breakfast meals at restaurants, Starbucks burritos are a cheaper alternative. However, making breakfast burritos at home would cost less than buying them.
Regional Flavor Varieties
While traditional ingredients like eggs, cheese, and sausage are used across all stores, some limited-time regional flavors give a local twist to Starbucks breakfast burritos:
| Region | Limited-Time Flavors |
|---|---|
| American Southwest | Chorizo sausage, pepper jack cheese, guacamole |
| Pacific Northwest | Smoked salmon, dill cream cheese |
| Southern Region | Country ham, pimento cheese, jalapeño |
Exploring regional offerings when traveling can add variety to the normal breakfast burrito experience.
Customer Reviews
Here are some common pros and cons mentioned in customer reviews of the Starbucks breakfast burrito:
Pros
- Convenient, portable meal
- Open early for breakfast
- Ingredients are fresh and tasty
- Can be customized to your preferences
- Satisfying comfort food
Cons
- Expensive compared to making it yourself
- Can be messy to eat
- Inconsistencies in preparation across locations
- Packaging prone to leaking juices and grease
- Limited vegetarian options
Overall, most customers agree Starbucks breakfast burritos make a quick and scrumptious meal. However, the price is higher than making a similar meal at home. There is also room for improvement with packaging and prep consistency between locations.
Comparison to Breakfast Sandwiches
How do breakfast burritos stack up against another popular breakfast menu item – sandwiches? Here are some pros and cons of burritos versus sandwiches:
Breakfast Burrito Pros
- Fully sealed and self-contained
- Easy to eat on-the-go
- More filling with eggs, meat, cheese, etc. layered together
- More customizable with many filling options
Breakfast Sandwich Pros
- Easier to tackle smaller portions
- Bread provides nice texture contrast to fillings
- Less messy to eat than burrito
- Traditional taste many customers expect
In the battle between breakfast burritos vs. sandwiches, neither is objectively better. Burritos are more portable and filling, while sandwiches are less messy and better for smaller appetites. It ultimately comes down to personal preferences.
Copycat Recipe
Want to recreate the Starbucks breakfast burrito experience at home? Here is a copycat recipe to try:
Ingredients
- Large flour tortillas
- Eggs
- Cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack
- Onions, bell peppers, potatoes (optional)
- Cooked sausage, bacon, or ham
- Salsa
- Oil or cooking spray
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Scramble eggs with onions, peppers, seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Cook meat like sausage, bacon, or ham.
- Sauté potatoes or other veggies in oil if desired.
- Warm tortillas in skillet.
- Layer meats, eggs, cheese, potatoes, and salsa in tortilla.
- Fold tortilla over and heat for 2-3 mins per side to seal.
- Slice in half or thirds and enjoy!
Make it your own with different spice blends, veggies, or meat alternatives. Enjoy a DIY breakfast burrito on-the-go or at your dining table.
Conclusion
A Starbucks breakfast burrito makes for a satisfying grab-and-go morning meal. It packs protein, carbs, fat, and flavor into a convenient hand-held package. While the nutrition and cost may not be ideal compared to home-cooked options, the convenience and taste appeal to many busy customers. Try out regional flavors when traveling or follow a copycat recipe to enjoy at home. Whatever your thoughts are on this popular menu item, the breakfast burrito at Starbucks offers a punctual protein-packed start to your busy day.
