Muffin pans are incredibly versatile, and while you can make about as many different types of muffins as you can dream of, you can also make countless other goodies.
From egg bites and jalapeño poppers to taco cups and mini pizzas, here are 15 things you might not have known you can whip up in your muffin tin.
Hash Brown Nests
These crunchy, wickety potato beds are great for all kinds of things. Breakfast especially shines if you want to stick an egg in the middle or top it with a little bit of hot sauce and avocado.
Recipe: 4 Sons ‘R’ Us
Crunchy Taco Cups
Grab a pack of wonton wraps and hook yourself up with a tasty, greasy, cheesy snack. These things are killer appetizers, and an easy thing to impress guests from the start.
Recipe: Kevin & Amanda
Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes
You’ll wish you didn’t know how easy it is to make tiny little cheesecakes covered in chocolate and peanut butter, but that is a problem for another time. Right now, all you have to do is bust out the muffin pan.
Recipe: The Toasty Kitchen
Muffin Pan Frittatas
Everybody loves a frittata, you know? The best part of this kind of recipe is that it’s infinitely customizable. Any and all veggies welcome.
Recipe: allrecipes
Salami Antipasto Cups
I could probably eat 100 of these things, so it’s a good thing I am not your guest or child, depending on who you’re preparing this for. Or am I?
Recipe: Natasha’s Kitchen
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Soft and Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Puffs
English muffin pizzas are officially a thing of the past. Now it’s time for a new era, an era of muffin tin cheesy pizza bites.
Recipe: Sweet Peas and Saffron
Quiche Bites
Anything baked can be baked in a miniature form, especially when you’ve got a muffin tin. Quiche is no exception, and the crispier you can get those edges, the better.
Recipe: The Kitchn
Jalapeño Popper Bites
Who says you need a deep fryer to make jalapeño poppers? Bake ‘em to popper perfection in your muffin tin and call it a day.
Recipe: Hip2Keto
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Mini Tamale Pies
No need for the corn husk here! Pop these in the oven for about 15 minutes and enjoy.
Recipe: Delish
Zucchini Breakfast Cups
These bad boys aren’t too different from the mini frittata, but zucchini is the star of the show. Make sure you’ve got lots of garlic powder and shredded Gruyère on deck.
Recipe: Perchance to Cook
Spinach Artichoke Cups
Everybody’s favorite dip is available in bite-sized canapé form, it turns out. Swap the wonton wrappers for filo dough to punch this up with a little more Greek flair.
Recipe: Carolina Charm
Pancake Poppers
If pancakes are just cake, and cupcakes are just cakes made in a muffin tin, are these just cupcakes? Who cares? I would probably crush about 20 of these.
Recipe: Proverbial Homemaker
Egg Bites
For an easy breakfast (or snack that reheats easily later), pop some egg bites in the oven. They only bake for about 20 minutes, so you can get ready while they’re cooking.
Recipe: Love & Lemons
Apple and Onion Stuffin’ Muffins
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to only exist on the third Thursday of November; certainly not when you’ve got a muffin pan at your disposal. Make it rain with autumnal flavors with these tasty little apps.
Recipe: Rachael Ray
Mac and Cheese Cups
There is no way, shape, or form that mac and cheese is unwelcome, and that includes in tiny, crunchy, cheesy, perfect, baked bites.
Recipe: Fifteen Spatulas