Think muffin tins are just for muffins and cupcakes? Think again. Muffin tins are an easy and convenient way to cook many fun dishes. Perfectly pre-portioned, foods made in muffin tins cook faster because each one is surrounded by heat. Kids love food made in muffin tins (cute, little, and resembling a cupcake, how can they resist?), so it’s a great way to get them to try something new. Many muffin tin dishes freeze easily right in the tin or you can freeze in the tins first and then pop them into a plastic bag for storage. Here are some great ideas for unexpected things you can make in a muffin tin.
Omelets
Add veggies, cheese, and meats and distribute the mixture among the greased tins. Try making them with a slice of ham placed in the tin first. They bake quickly in about 10 minutes and can be made ahead and reheated for a quick breakfast on the go. Press canned biscuit dough into the bottom of a jumbo muffin tin and top with eggs for breakfast sandwiches.
Meatloaf
Whether you’re using beef, turkey, or chicken, mini-meatloaves are quick to cook and can be personalized. Add mushrooms or spinach to yours and hide a chunk of mozzarella inside your kids’. Top them with cheese, ketchup, or a dollop of mashed potatoes before baking for a faux cupcake.
Sandwich Pockets
Refrigerated crescent dough in a tube is perfect for making sandwich pockets in a muffin tin. Center a triangle in the tin, pressing into the sides, and add your sandwich makings, then fold the edges of the triangle over the top and bake. These are cute and portable.
Kicked Up Potatoes
Leftover mashed potatoes mixed with veggies, cheese, diced meat, and some beaten egg to stabilize will cook up puffy and perfect for a meal made from leftovers that no one will complain about. Shredded hash browns combined with your favorite ingredients (like crumbled sausage or chopped corned beef) and an egg make a great meal.
Pasta Cups
Go traditional with spaghetti and meatballs or use any pasta, sauce, proteins, and flavors to make pasta cups. Mix the pasta with egg so it bakes to the shape of the tin. The edges turn brown, crunchy and delicious.