Muffin Pan Recipes: Brilliant Bite-Size Meals and Snacks

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Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups

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Muffin tins aren’t just for muffins -- okay, or cupcakes! They can be a real workhorse in the kitchen as long as you're armed with the right recipes. Here are our favorite unexpected things to make with these versatile tools, ranging from mac and cheese cups and mini pizzas to sticky buns and tartlets.

Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups

Muffin tins crank out perfect single servings of your favorite savory breakfast trio. You can also skip the bacon and opt for these phenomenal Scrambled Eggs in Pumpernickel Toast Cups.

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Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

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Ground turkey makes these domed little beauties a healthy weeknight supper. Bonus: baking them in a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan means they cook in a fraction of the time.

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Denver Omelet Cups

Standard

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The traditional Denver omelet add-ins (ham, onions, and bell peppers) are nestled in a golden hash-brown crust and topped with perfectly runny baked eggs.

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Cranberry Tartlets

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It’s amazing what you can do with leftover cranberry sauce, pie dough, and a muffin tin. Best day-after-Thanksgiving treat ever!

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Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins

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All you need for this delectable weeknight side dish is potatoes, butter, and cream. It pairs beautifully with roast beef, steak, chicken, or sauteed fish.

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Mushroom-and-Spinach Cups

Andrew Purcell

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A surefire crowd-pleaser! Crisped up tortillas are filled with a healthy mix of sauteed mushrooms, baby spinach, and pepper Jack cheese and finished with creamy avocado. If you're craving something sweet, opt for our Tortilla Cups with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit instead.

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Cheesecakes with Raspberry Hearts

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For those who can't resist sneaking one more sliver of cheesecake (that's all of us, right?), muffin-tin desserts offer built-in portion control. Try this classic version streaked with raspberry puree or go for our rich Mini Mocha Cheesecakes.

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Mini Deep-Dish Pizzas

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Personal muffin-pan pizzas? Yes, please! Use store-bought dough to get them on the table even faster and be sure to pile on all your favorite toppings.

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Mini Frittatas

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Use a muffin pan to quickly crank out dozens of these bite-size hors d'oeuvres. They'll be the first to go at your next brunch!

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Eggplant-Feta Phyllo Pies

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Roasted eggplant, feta, and pistachios make a healthy, hearty filling for these individual pastries. Serve alongside a salad or veggies-and-hummus platter for a delicious vegetarian supper.

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Easy Peanut Butter Cups

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You’ll never linger in the candy aisle of the grocery store again once you try these four-ingredient wonders made in mini-muffin tins.

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Brown Sugar and Pecan Sticky Buns

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Break out your jumbo muffin pans for this impressive make-ahead recipe. Everyone will love the flaky, rich dough and sticky-sweet glaze.

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Upside-Down Mango Tartlets

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Use store-bought puff pastry and a muffin pan to make a quicker, cuter version of the classic French caramelized tart. A splash of dark rum brings out the flavor of the mango topping. Feeling more savory than sweet? Don't miss our Upside-Down Mushroom Tartlets.

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Cherry-Lime Cups

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A buttery golden crust and rich custardy filling are the best way to showcase ripe summer cherries. The dessert cups can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge.

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Mini Cranberry Meringue Pie

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A pie for every piehole! These individual desserts boast a tender crust brightened with orange and lemon zest, a blood orange-cranberry filling, and a fluffy cloud of meringue.

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Popovers

Ryan Liebe

Popovers 101

You don't need a popover pan to bake the titular roll; a muffin tin works just as well. We break down our classic recipe step by step and then experiment with variations galore -- gruyere and thyme, dark chocolate, chive, cinnamon sugar, bacon and black pepper, and orange.

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Phyllo Cups with Cappuccino Cream

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Bake sheets of frozen phyllo dough into delicate golden cups and fill with an espresso-and-cardamom whipped cream. A sprinkling of cocoa powder completes the elegant dessert. Phyllo makes a lovely vehicle for appetizers as well, like in these Mushroom Wellington Cups.

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Stock Up

How to Freeze Stock in a Muffin Tin

Freezing stock in muffin tins means you'll always have a fresh, flavorful base for soups and stews. Try all of Martha's Homemade Stock Recipes.

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Mini Ham-and-Cheese Quiches

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These retro treats call for an easy crust made of white sandwich bread instead of the usual tart dough, which means you can get them on the breakfast buffet table in a flash.

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Tomato Hand Pies

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A great make-ahead recipe, these hands-free pastries can be baked a day in advance and refrigerated. They’ll come to room temperature on your way to the potluck or picnic.

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Individual Mac and Cheese Cups

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We take our classic macaroni and cheese and up the cute factor by divvying it up in a muffin tin. Watch Sarah Carey demonstrate how to make the adorable Individual Mac and Cheese Cups.

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Wonton Cups with Cream Cheese and Chutney

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We like to think of these tasty bites as open-face dumplings. Use a mini-muffin pan to turn wonton wrappers into petite cups, then fill them with cream cheese, mango chutney, and Dijon and garnish with walnuts and chives.

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Orange Spiral Rolls

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Add unexpected flavor to your breadbasket with orange zest-spiked dinner rolls. They go well with ham or any roasted meat.

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Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pear

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You just need three ingredients -- prosciutto, pear, and fresh lemon juice -- to put this easy salty-sweet appetizer together.

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Pecan Tassies

Bryan Gardner

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These miniature versions of pecan pies are a cross between a tart and a cookie and make the perfect after-dinner bite.

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Muffin Pan Recipes: Brilliant Bite-Size Meals and Snacks

1 of 25

Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups

Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups

1 of 25

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Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

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Denver Omelet Cups

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Cranberry Tartlets

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Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins

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Mushroom-and-Spinach Cups

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Cheesecakes with Raspberry Hearts

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Mini Deep-Dish Pizzas

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Mini Frittatas

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Eggplant-Feta Phyllo Pies

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Easy Peanut Butter Cups

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Brown Sugar and Pecan Sticky Buns

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Upside-Down Mango Tartlets

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Cherry-Lime Cups

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Mini Cranberry Meringue Pie

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Popovers

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Phyllo Cups with Cappuccino Cream

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Stock Up

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Mini Ham-and-Cheese Quiches

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Tomato Hand Pies

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Individual Mac and Cheese Cups

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Wonton Cups with Cream Cheese and Chutney

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Orange Spiral Rolls

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Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pear

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Pecan Tassies

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