Al Roker’s Favorite Fast Food Order Might Surprise You

If there’s one thing I’ll never do, it’s pretend that fast food tastes bad. Who doesn’t crave a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme or a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder every once in a while? And what else are you supposed to eat on a long road trip or during that quick layover at the airport? 

Outwardly loving fast food is something “Today” show weatherman Al Roker and I bonded over when I recently interviewed him for the cover story of Allrecipes’ Allstar Summer Bash issue.

America’s favorite weatherman has consistently shared his love for McDonald’s—and McDonald’s copycat recipes—over the years. Just last summer, Roker veered off from a report about Dunkin’ to discuss his favorite fast food copycat.

“You know what’s a great breakfast sandwich?” Roker asked. “A couple of glazed doughnuts with a fried egg and some bacon. Sweet, salty...it’s kind of like a McGriddle.” 

Obviously, the sweet and savory McGriddle—traditionally made with meat and sometimes egg and cheese sandwiched between two maple-flavored griddle pancakes—is something Roker enjoys recreating at home. He even has a recipe for his version (dubbed the McRoker), made with homemade syrup-filled pancakes, bacon, eggs, and American cheese, coming out in his new cookbook “Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By: Easy, Memory-Making Family Dishes for Every Occasion.” 

“If you’ve ever walked into a McDonald’s hoping to quash a craving for bacon, eggs, and pancakes packaged together in the perfect salty-meets-sweet sandwich, only to find you’ve missed the breakfast cutoff, I feel your pain. You can take matters into your own hands with this delicious all-in-one recipe,” he writes in the cookbook, launching in October.

However, sometimes that hankering for a Mickey D’s special can’t wait for you to make it yourself. And, let’s face it, some menu items do just taste better straight from Ronald McDonald’s kitchen. So, I asked Roker what he heads to the Golden Arches for when he doesn't feel like making it at home.

Al Roker's "Controversial" McDonald's Order

“This will be very controversial,” Roker prefaced. “I would say the McRib.” 

While Roker said that some people consider McDonald’s McRib, which is a pork sandwich smothered in barbecue sauce and topped with pickles and onions on a toasted bun, an “abomination,” he’s one of the customers who rejoices when it returns. 

Despite its 2022 “Farewell Tour,” Mickey D’s usually brings the divisive McRib back annually. And while we haven’t heard word that it will return this fall yet, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it make yet another comeback.

Until then, Mr. Roker, you might want to think about adding a McRib copycat recipe to your next cookbook.