Move over blueberry and chocolate chip because we have some serious salty business to attend to today. These savory muffins are packed with cheese and herbs and veggies and might just become your new favorite way to carb.
1. Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Cups
This recipe definitely toes the line for savory muffins. They look like muffins but are actually spaghetti and meatballs baked right in a tin.
I am counting them anyway because they are just too cute to ignore. Prep time for the pasta nests takes a bit longer.
Seeing them fresh out of the oven makes it totally worth the effort though.
2. Leftover Ham and Cheese Breakfast Muffins
You probably have tons of leftovers after cooking a holiday ham. Use them up in a batch of these ham and cheese muffins to handle your salty cravings.
These treats feel more like miniature breakfast casseroles. They are packed with peppers, cheese, ham, egg, and potato for a filling texture.
Leftover turkey works great here too. I love adding tomatoes and lots of chopped green onions to mine.
3. Sun-dried Tomato and Pesto Savory Muffins
I have baked pesto and cheddar scones for years now. It is a smart way to get big flavor with almost zero effort unless you make the pesto yourself.
These sun-dried tomato and pesto muffins are naturally just as incredible. You mix in balsamic vinegar for a little kick and top them with parmesan cheese.
Feel free to swap that out for cheddar if you want.
4. Easy Cheddar Cheese Muffins
You have to try these amazing cheese muffins if cornbread is not your vibe. They pair perfectly with a big bowl of chili or some tangy BBQ.
You only need eight ingredients and five minutes of prep time. I suggest using a strong or smoky cheddar for the best results.
Make sure you grate your own cheese too.
5. Mini-Meatloaf Muffins
I love having a full table when feeding a big crowd. That is not always great for serving logistics or storing leftovers though.
These muffins are freezer friendly and portioned perfectly. Guests can just grab a mini muffin instead of slicing into a huge loaf.
6. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins
Mashed potato muffins are the perfect partner for meatloaf muffins. Both of them would be perfect for a camping trip.
The golden crust adds tasty texture to the creamy potatoes. Whip up a batch if you have leftover mash from a big dinner.
You can freeze them for later. You will be so thankful for a fast dinner when you are tired during the week.
7. Shepherd’s Pie ‘Muffins’
You need to try these shepherd’s pie muffins if you enjoyed the meatloaf idea. They look just like savory cupcakes with a meat and veggie base and mashed potato frosting.
Serve them hot right out of the oven because freezing them might mess up the shape. Make your potatoes super smooth and pipe them on top for a real frosted look.
8. Savory Oatmeal Muffins
Savory oatmeal is trending all over social media lately. I have seen some seriously delicious dishes out there.
It sounds strange since we usually eat oats with sugar and fruit. This is a great way to start the day though.
These feel like thick savory oatmeal cookies packed with onion and garlic and tomatoes and olives and parmesan. They are super chewy just like a cookie too.
9. Spinach, Bacon, and Cheddar Muffins
You will barely taste the spinach here just like with the zucchini recipe. You still get all the nutrients and fantastic color.
These are extra tasty with the bacon added in. Leave it out if you want though.
Sausage or ham make excellent swaps if you are out of bacon.
10. Vegetable Savory Muffins
Kids will basically eat anything shaped like a cupcake. These vegetable muffins might be the answer to getting them to eat more greens.
Carrots add sweetness while mild zucchini goes unnoticed besides the color. Corn is another addition the kids will enjoy.
I have used leftover sweet potatoes before and it was a huge hit.
11. Salmon and Chive Muffins
Adults will love these even if the kids are unsure. People often avoid salmon because they are not sure how to use it.
Adding it to cheese and chive muffins is such a unique idea. You use canned salmon here so prep is super fast.
Feel free to toss in leftover salmon if you have it.
12. Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
Do you lack the patience to make scratch pizza dough? No big deal.
These muffins deliver all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza in half the time. You will love these if you enjoy deep-dish style.
Add a thick tomato slice on top before baking. It softens in the oven and adds a fresh flavor to the cheese and pepperoni.
13. Vegan Savory Muffins with Kale and Chives
Most of this list is packed with eggs and cheese. It is time for a vegan option.
Mixing ground flax seeds with water mimics the consistency of eggs perfectly. It binds the batter while keeping things 100% vegan.
Try silken tofu if you cannot find flax seeds. You might need to add a little baking soda in that case.
14. Mini-Egg Strata Recipe in a Muffin Tin
Strata is a popular brunch dish that is basically savory bread pudding. You pour savory egg custard over cubed bread.
Add your favorite toppings and bake it until tender. This will be easy if you have made bread pudding before.
Let the bread and egg mix sit for a bit. The stale bread soaks up the custard and gets tender while baking.
Make it the night before and keep it in the fridge until morning.
15. Savory Carrot Muffins
Do not be fooled by the carrot cake cupcake appearance. These are strictly savory treats made with garlic and coriander and spelt flour.
You could totally add a savory cream cheese frosting to make a faux cupcake. Imagine how fun that would be for April Fool’s Day.
16. Savory Cheesy Zucchini Muffins
Zucchini bread is always so light and moist. You barely even notice the veggies in there.
These still count toward your daily intake even if you cannot taste them. I basically consider them healthy.
They are lighter than average thanks to skim milk and mozzarella. Drain the zucchini well or you will end up with a soggy mess.
17. Broccoli Cheddar Muffins
Fluffy broccoli and cheddar muffins are the perfect side for broccoli soup. This recipe uses fresh chopped broccoli but frozen works too.
I have used frozen before and it turned out great. Just thaw it and drain it well.
Use paper towels to press out the extra liquid.
18. Spinach & Cheese Savory Lunchbox Muffins
I suggest cooking the veggies in a hot pan even though the recipe does not say to. This softens the onions and wilts the spinach.
Add some garlic and let it all soften up. You avoid biting into raw onion chunks this way.
Cutting everything small enough works too. I just prefer the flavor of sautéed veggies.
19. Spicy Bacon Cheddar Zucchini Breakfast Muffins
These muffins are dense but incredibly tender. They are packed with flavorful extras like bacon and cheese and jalapeños.
Serve them as a side for a batch of chili. Mix chopped chilies throughout and add some slices on top.
The peppers soften as the cheese melts. Broil them for a minute at the end to crisp up the cheese.
20. Savory Sun-Dried Tomato & Olive Muffins
I am not usually a huge fan of olives. I can see why these would be appealing though.
The tomatoes and olives add an acidic saltiness that pairs well with the buttery base. Use almond flour if you do not have chickpea flour.
That adds a nice nutty taste beneath the spices.
21. Savory Vegan Polenta Muffins
This is another great vegan recipe for satisfying savory cravings. I usually eat creamy cheesy polenta with beef ribs.
That is obviously not vegan or a muffin. I love the sunny look and corn flavor of polenta.
It is not exactly sweet but not totally savory either. You only need seven ingredients and can jazz it up with corn or jalapeños.
22. Mac and Cheese Cups
These cheesy bites make the perfect appetizer for football parties. They are great for school lunches or taking to work too.
Baking them in cupcake liners means they won’t be super creamy. They are definitely not dry though.
Plenty of sauce keeps them tender and moist.
23. Mediterranean Savory Muffins
These are packed with olives and roasted peppers and feta. They are absolutely bursting with flavor.
Sour cream ensures they stay wonderfully moist. I used mozzarella instead of cheddar to make mine a little lighter.
24. Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins
Cornbread and jalapeños belong together. These are not too spicy but you can taste the heat.
I love homemade cornbread but sometimes it feels lacking. I add chilies and cheese and bacon to the mix.
Portion out some batter without jalapeños if you are feeding kids. Then mix them into the rest for the adults.