Tim Hortons has become a staple for many looking for a quick breakfast or coffee fix. As plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, more customers are inquiring about vegan options at the famous Canadian coffee chain. One menu item that often gets overlooked is the Simply Sausage breakfast sandwich. Can vegans enjoy this tasty sandwich? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients.
A Brief History of Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons first opened its doors in 1964 in Hamilton Ontario. Founded by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton, the small doughnut shop quickly exploded in popularity. Today Tim Hortons has over 4,800 locations across 14 countries.
While best known for its coffee, doughnuts and Timbits, Tim Hortons has evolved its menu over the years to appeal to changing tastes. In recent years, Tim Hortons has added more breakfast sandwiches, wraps, soups and even burger options.
The Rise of Plant-Based Options
In response to growing demand, Tim Hortons began experimenting with plant-based proteins in 2019. They initially tested Beyond Meat sausage patties and burgers at select locations in Canada. The Beyond Meat breakfast sandwiches and wraps proved so popular that the chain decided to roll them out nationally.
However, in 2020 Tim Hortons pulled Beyond Meat from its menu, citing decreased customer demand. The removal of Beyond Meat left few plant-based options at Tim Hortons.
The Addition of Impossible Foods
In early 2022, Tim Hortons announced it was bringing plant-based meat back to its menu through a new partnership with Impossible Foods. Two new breakfast sandwiches featuring Impossible sausage were added.
For vegans, this was welcome news. But ingredients still needed to be examined more closely.
Breaking Down the Simply Sausage Sandwich
The Simply Sausage sandwich features Impossible sausage, egg and cheese on an English muffin. Clearly not vegan as is. But by ordering it with “no egg, no cheese” this sandwich can be customized to be vegan. Or can it? Let’s look at the ingredients of each component.
Impossible Sausage Patties
The Impossible sausage is made entirely from plants. Its main ingredients are soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil and natural flavors. Impossible uses heme, an iron-containing molecule that comes from the roots of soy plants, to recreate the meaty flavor in its products.
English Muffins
Tim Hortons’ English muffins contain unbleached enriched wheat flour, water, yeast, cornmeal, sugar, salt, soybean oil, vinegar, dough conditioners, wheat gluten, and may contain traces of milk ingredients. The basic ingredients are vegan, but “may contain traces of milk” means cross-contamination is possible.
Egg
Obviously not vegan. Ordering without egg is necessary to make this sandwich fully plant-based.
Cheese
Like egg, cheese is an animal product and not vegan. Be sure to order “no cheese” for a vegan sandwich.
Customizing a Vegan Breakfast Sandwich
The Simply Sausage sandwich can be made vegan by ordering it with “no egg, no cheese” on an English muffin. But cross-contamination is still a potential concern due to the “may contain milk” warning on the English muffins.
To be extra safe, the sandwich can be customized further by:
- Ordering on a plain bagel instead of English muffin
- Adding tomato, lettuce or other vegetable toppings
- Using oil and vinegar as sandwich spread instead of dairy-based sauces
While not on the menu, creating a DIY vegan breakfast sandwich is easy at Tim Hortons. Just remember to hold the egg and cheese.
Other Vegan Options at Tim Hortons
Beyond the modified Simply Sausage sandwich, what else can vegans order at Tim Hortons?
- Oatmeal – ask for it without milk
- Bagels – plain, everything, sesame seed and more
- Hash browns
- Coffee and tea – order with non-dairy milk
- Iced Capps – ask for it made with non-dairy milk and no whipped cream
- Fruit smoothies – ask for non-dairy milk and no yogurt
- Chili – ask for no dairy toppings
Tim Hortons has also expanded its non-dairy milk options. Most locations now offer almond, coconut or oat milk for beverages and smoothies.
The Future Looks Bright for Vegan Options
While Tim Hortons’ menu isn’t overflowing with plant-based choices just yet, progress is being made. The addition of Impossible Foods sausage is a step in the right direction. And more customers are asking for vegan and dairy-free items every day.
Tim Hortons has shown a willingness to test and add more
Tim Hortons Tim Selects Simply Sausage Homestyle Biscuit review
FAQ
Is Tim Hortons sausage vegan?
What is simply sausage at Tim Hortons?
What is Tim Hortons sausage patty made of?
Are Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches vegan?
Tim Hortons’ new Harvest Breakfast Sandwich features Impossible Sausage with egg, cheese, and chipotle sauce on an English muffin. The Harvest Breakfast Wrap features egg, cheese, hashbrown, and chipotle sauce and is served in a burrito wrap. To make either of these items vegan, customers can ask to omit the egg, cheese, and chipotle sauce.
Does Tim Hortons still make breakfast sausage?
Beyond Meat and Tim Hortons first collaborated on breakfast sausage in May 2019, where initial testing success led to a national rollout in Canada that summer. But several months in, the chain began pulling Beyond Sausage from most of its 4,000+ locations, scaling back availability to select locations in Ontario and British Columbia.
Does Tim Hortons have plant-based meat?
Two years after pulling Beyond Meat from all locations, Canada’s largest coffee chain, Tim Hortons, has added plant-based meat back to its menu. The New Harvest Breakfast Sandwich and Harvest Breakfast Wrap both feature Impossible Sausage patties served with non-vegan eggs and cheese.
Does Tim Hortons have a meat-free menu?
The two new menu items were added to the chain’s lineup for customers who are looking for a meat-free meal. Tim Hortons’ new Harvest Breakfast Sandwich features Impossible Sausage with egg, cheese, and chipotle sauce on an English muffin. The Harvest Breakfast Wrap features egg, cheese, hashbrown, and chipotle sauce and is served in a burrito wrap.