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Muffin pan meals: Recipes for sweet and savoury dishes

Craving something healthy but it's too early for lunch and you've already had breakfast? Try these easy and tasty ideas to fill them up that requires only a few ingredients and a muffin pan.

Zucchini slice muffins

Taste.com.au foodies love a muffin pan so much that they’ve started making all kinds of weird and wonderful things in theirs.

We’re talking potato bakes, cheesecakes, quiches, jelly cups and even a chicken dinner.

As most people already have one lying around in their kitchen cupboards, it could become your favourite piece of kitchen equipment.

Here are some recipes for both sweet and savoury options.

SAVOURY

Muffin pan Irish potato pies

These rustic, hearty little pies tick all the carb-loving, full-flavour boxes. Irish potato pie is normally made as one big tart, but we couldn’t help ourselves making them in a muffin pan (more crispy crust we say).

Irish potato pies made in muffin trays.
Irish potato pies made in muffin trays.

Muffin-pan pizza pies

These freezer-friendly muffin-pan pizzas are perfect for the school lunch box.

Muffin pan cheddar crumbly puffs

Coated with crunchy McVities biscuits, these cheddar cheese bombs will be the perfect option for your next party. These cheesy appetisers are so easy to make and so quick to bake. They are so addictive, you will not stop at one.

Muffin pan mac ‘n’ cheese cups

Make these bright lunch box filler mac ‘n’ cheese cups with the kids – if you batch-cook they’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months.

Try these cheesy delights. Picture: Supplied
Try these cheesy delights. Picture: Supplied

Muffin pan cheesy potato fricos

What do you get when you combine grated potato, cheese, butter and garlic, pop it in a muffin pan and bake until golden? The ultimate carby, cheesy comfort food snack.

Muffin pan cheesy scrolls

There is nothing like the smell of bread baking, except maybe when you add cheese and herbs. Use just one herb or a mixture – whatever you have on hand or takes your fancy. Parsley, chives, rosemary, thyme, sage or dill are all suitable. Any leftover scrolls can be wrapped individually then placed into an airtight bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven. We love these served with chicken soup.

Try this muffin tray chicken dinner recipe.
Try this muffin tray chicken dinner recipe.

Muffin pan chicken dinner

If you love a neatly portioned meal – this is for you! Use your muffin pans to easily contain all the elements of your complete chicken dinner before popping them in the oven. You could use different veggies if you like, depending on what you have on hand.

Easy muffin pan vegie fricos

Frico is an Italian dish usually made with leftover potatoes and cheese. Our mini versions, made in a muffin pan, are packed with plenty of vegies and are perfect to make ahead for picnics and lunch boxes.

Crispy vegie muffin-pan fritters

Get the kids eating their vegetables with these crispy vegie fritters made in a muffin pan.

Muffin pan sushi cups

Put your muffin pan to work to create these cute sushi-inspired snacks. Here’s how to perfect these easy, customisable canapes.

Sushi – just shaped a bit differently.
Sushi – just shaped a bit differently.

Muffin pan prawn frittatas

Marion’s Thai twist on the classic frittata brings so much flavour in one little package. It’s the fragrant curry paste and the fresh herbs that add all the character (and make these so addictive). Using coconut milk instead of milk or cream adds a lovely creamy coconut flavour and makes these dairy free, too.

SWEET

Muffin pan salted Caramilk crackles

This Caramilk treat is sweet, sticky, creamy … shall we go on? Chewy, caramel-y, salty … oh, and so easy to make.

Lemon custard tarts. Picture: Supplied
Lemon custard tarts. Picture: Supplied

Muffin pan Gaytime cheesecakes

With absolutely no cooking required, these muffin pan Gaytime cheesecakes have taken everyone’s favourite ice-cream and turned it into a dessert to wow dinner guests and impress friends at picnics.

Muffin pan lemon custard tarts

This cheat’s version of classic custard tarts has a lemony twist and uses a muffin pan and packet of butternut snap cookies to create the bases.

Muffin pan apple and custard tarts

Using a muffin pan, these bite-sized custard tarts are not only cute and delicious, but also super easy to make (thanks to tinned apples and ready-made custard). Serve them up at your next party, and your guests will definitely be impressed.

Muffin pan mango quick-cakes

These mini cakes can be mixed together super quickly in one bowl so they’re perfect when you need something sweet but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The extra sprinkle of freeze-dried mango dust on top gives your tastebuds an instant mango hit.

3-ingredient salted caramel cookie cups

Wow your guests with our easiest-ever dessert cups.

Salted caramel cookie cups. Picture: Supplied
Salted caramel cookie cups. Picture: Supplied

Neapolitan muffin pan scrolls

Fill your house with the smell of freshly baked chocolate and cinnamon scrolls. Topped with a strawberries and cream cheese icing, each scroll is a little moment of neapolitan heaven.

Creamy lemon jelly cups

Using just five ingredients, these mini cups are very simple to make. The crumbly base is a whole butternut snap biscuit while the filling is a smooth mixture of jelly and cream cheese.

Patty pan Pineapple Lump pies

Pineapple Lump lovers this one’s for you – these little pies pay homage to the retro treat, and are so simple to make. The mini bases are just softened Choc Ripple biscuits while the filing is made up of cream cheese and jelly, topped with one half of the classic lolly.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Muffin pan meals: Recipes for sweet and savoury dishes

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/food/recipes/muffin-pan-meals-recipes-for-sweet-and-savoury-dishes/news-story/60d591348fb41e397805244beeb3065a