Is M&S's new sausage roll a match for Greggs? We put them to the test to find out

Their newly introduced freshly baked sausage roll is now available in Foodhalls across the country, priced at £2.25. The roll features seasoned pork filling wrapped in all-butter puff pastry. M&S says the sausage meat is RSPCA-assured outdoor-bred British pork, sourced from its select farms, while the pastry is baked until golden and ready to enjoy on the go.

M&S claim that "no other high street sausage roll even comes close", so naturally, we thought we'd put this to the test. Read on to see how it measured up against one of Britain’s most popular high street sausage rolls: the Greggs classic.

M&S vs Greggs sausage rolls: our official verdict

Greggs got off to a strong start with its pastry.

Served warm, it was light golden, crisp and buttery, with plenty of flavour even before reaching the filling. The pastry was noticeably flaky and made the roll feel particularly satisfying straight from the paper bag.

The sausage filling was savoury and pleasantly meaty, but its texture was much more paste-like. It also had a simpler flavour profile, without much in the way of herbs or extra seasoning.

Still, we felt it delivered the familiar Greggs sausage roll experience, and at £1.45 per roll, it comes in at a considerably lower price than the M&S version. M&S’s new roll had a deeper golden-brown appearance and a more rustic, homemade look. Its pastry wasn’t quite as flaky as Greggs’s, with a little more chew, although it wasn’t soggy or greasy.

Where M&S pulled ahead was the sausagemeat. The filling had a crumbly, more substantial texture, with discernible pieces of sausagemeat rather than a smooth sausage paste.

It also had noticeable herbs and extra flavour, giving it a more rounded and higher quality seeming taste. The downside? Our M&S sausage roll was served cold, so the pastry didn’t have quite the same freshly baked appeal as Greggs’.

We thought it tasted very similar to M&S’s existing sausage rolls from the 'food to go' section, so it didn’t feel dramatically different just because it had come from the bakery. Overall, Greggs won on pastry and value, while M&S offered the better sausage filling.

If you prefer a more seasoned, meaty centre, M&S is likely to be your pick. If crisp pastry and a bargain matter most, Greggs remains difficult to beat. See our breakdown of testing scores:

Greggs

Taste: 4/5

Texture: 3/5 Appearance: 4/5

M&S Taste: 4/5 Texture: 3/5

Appearance: 3/5

How to serve the M&S sausage roll

We would recommend warming up the roll slightly (best in the oven or air-fryer to keep it crisp) and serving it with ketchup or a little English mustard. You could also pair it with baked beans for a comforting dinner.

Otherwise, if serving cold, it would make a great addition to a picnic, packed lunch or casual spread alongside crisps, coleslaw and a simple salad. The new M&S freshly baked sausage roll is available in Foodhalls from today for £2.25.

It may not knock Greggs off its throne entirely, but its more substantial, well-seasoned filling gives sausage roll fans a tempting new option. Want to make your own version of this popular snack? Try our recipe for easy sausage rolls or take it to the next level with our caramelised onion & thyme sausage rolls .

For a meat-free version, try our vegan and veggie sausage rolls . Also check out more picnic ideas and classic British recipes .