Your party prep just got easier. These appetizers made in muffin tins are perfectly sized for a poppin' party. Individually portioned appetizers mean more mingling and less slicing and serving. Plus, these muffin tin apps are super creative—the only muffin recipe you'll find in this list is for meatloaf muffins. You'll also find delicious muffin tin appetizer recipes like grown-up mac and cheese cups, mini tuna melts, and individual quiches.
Mini Turkey Meat Loaves with Fiery Tunisian Sauce
Don't let the size fool you; these mini muffin pan appetizer meat "loaves" pack a powerful punch. Their fiery sauce is made with coriander, cayenne pepper, cumin, and allspice. Serve with toothpicks or place them inside whole grain slider buns for a healthy game-day appetizer that's a total win.
Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Minis
Serve up this edible cocktail-inspired appetizer made in a muffin pan for a fun, family-friendly twist on a happy hour favorite. These mini cheesecakes are loaded with strawberry, lime, and a "salty rim" of homemade pretzel crust. The only thing missing from these margarita-like bites is the tequila.
Tuscan Mac and Cheese Cups
Mac and cheese isn't just for kids. These Tuscan-inspired mac and cheese appetizer cups feature grown-up ingredients—like tender kale and salty prosciutto—to complement a creamy Gorgonzola and Fontina cheese sauce. These rich ingredients make a hearty appetizer, so plan to serve one muffin cup per guest.
Pepperoni Pizza Cups
Frozen pizza dough can be the base for many mini muffin tin appetizer ideas, making this simple recipe easy as (pizza) pie. Perfect for game day, these pepperoni pizza cups are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Guests get all of the pizza goodness without committing to a whole slice.
Chicken-Feta Phyllo Cups with Tzatziki Sauce
These phyllo bites, bursting with fresh Meditteranean flavors, are a bright addition to any appetizer spread. Chicken and couscous salad are tucked inside warm phyllo dough to create these mini appetizers in cups. Serve them with a homemade tzatziki sauce for a tangy topping.
Savory Stromboli Cups
Refrigerated pizza dough is the shortcut ingredient that allows you to prep this muffin tin appetizer in 20 minutes flat. This finger food riff on the classic Italian-American turnover features salami and capicola deli meats for the signature salty flavor. Serve with additional pizza sauce for dipping.
Crab-Shrimp Cakes with Mango-Cucumber Salsa
Impress your guests with these crab cakes that wow. Real lump crabmeat and tiny shrimp combine to make this handheld appetizer meaty and delicious. Making them in a muffin tin ensures each cake is the same size.
Ham and Swiss Quiche Cups
Frozen appetizers are easy to make, but they don't quite taste the same as homemade. Instead of heading to the store for your quiche needs, whip up a batch of these made-from-scratch muffin tin quiche cups that can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Then, simply defrost, bake, and serve.
Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Pies
This playful muffin tin idea is perfect as a passable app or portioned-out snack. Creating a spaghetti nest sets the base, while freezer meatballs and pre-made sauce keep this appetizer recipe simple. Muffin tin meatballs without the mess!
Zucchini Cakes with Mushroom Ragout
Make these savory mini muffins for meatless Mondays or offer them up as a dippable appetizer with their own mushroom pepper sauce. This reimagined corn muffin mix recipe gets some help from zucchini, cheese, and cayenne pepper before getting topped with a mushroom and pepper sauce. Your vegetarian friends will thank you.
Muffin Pan Tuna Melts
Mini tuna melts are hearty yet healthy. These easy mini muffin tin appetizers come together with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
Bonus: One muffin cup packs 190 calories and 11 grams of protein.
Italian-Inspired Quiche Cups
These quiche cups are the perfect appetizer. Lined with pre-made pastry dough and filled with artichoke hearts, cheese, and eggs, these individual appetizers in cups work for brunch, lunch, or anytime. They're easy to eat, full of Italian flavor, and come in under 200 calories.
Baklava Tassies
Looking for something sweet? Look no further than these mini muffin pan appetizers. These tassies harness the flavors of baklava in a single bite.
Phyllo-Crusted Cheese with Bruschetta Topping
This easy appetizer made in a muffin tin is light and delightful. Better yet, the prep work is a breeze. Simply plop a piece of cheese into each phyllo dough base and top with a pre-made bruschetta topper, then bake for 8 minutes for a crowd-pleasing treat under 100 calories.
Turkey Cheeseburger Minis
Burger sliders are great, but this easy muffin tin recipe makes it an all-in-one bite-size treat. Canned biscuits make the up the base for the "bun" for an easy process.
