12 High-Protein Dinners You Can Make in a Muffin Tin

These muffin tin dinner recipes make meal prep Sunday easier than ever.
Image Credit: fermate/iStock/GettyImages

Most of us use our muffin tins to make, well, muffins or cupcakes. But that's so limiting. With a little ingenuity, muffin tins can transform into multifunctional kitchen tools to create as many meals as your imagination desires.

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Don't believe us? These tasty muffin tin recipes make for perfectly portioned dinners packed with 10 grams of protein or more.

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1. Slow Cooker Carnitas Taco Bites

These tiny tacos come with mini tortilla cups made in a muffin tin.
Image Credit: A Beautiful Plate
  • 33 grams of protein

These tiny tacos come with the cutest homemade mini tortilla cups. Made by pressing classic corn tortillas into a muffin tin and baking them, these bite-sized cups turn crispy and golden brown in the oven.

While you'll have to plan ahead to make these tasty taco bites, the convenience of the slow cooker allows you to set it and forget it. Trust us: These mouth-puckering pork carnitas — topped with guacamole, onion and cilantro — will be worth the wait.

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Get the Slow Cooker Carnitas Taco Bites recipe and nutrition info at A Beautiful Plate.

2. Mama’s Cheesy Meatloaf Minis

These mini muffin tin meatloaves are full of vitamin-rich veggies.
Image Credit: Love & Zest
  • Protein: N/A

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Mouthwatering meatloaf just like your mama used to make! These cheesy meatloaf mini versions come loaded with vitamin-rich veggies like onions, peppers, carrots and zucchini. Not only do these additions make this meaty dish more nutritious, but they also take your loaf's moistness to the next level.

Get the Mama’s Cheesy Meatloaf Minis recipe and nutrition info at Love & Zest.

3. Ham Spinach Egg Cups

These muffin tin ham spinach egg cups make the best breakfast-for-dinner dish.
Image Credit: Love & Zest
  • 14 grams of protein

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If you're looking to simplify your breakfasts, these ham spinach egg cups are your solution. Made with only four ingredients — ham, eggs, spinach and cheddar cheese — this breakfast-for-dinner dish comes together on your table in 20 minutes and requires minimal cleanup. Pair these cheesy egg minis with a grainy slice of whole-wheat toast for a complete meal.

Get the Ham Spinach Egg Cups recipe and nutrition info at Love & Zest.

4. Mac and Cheese Bites

Made in a muffin tin, these mac and cheese minis are the quintessential comfort food.
Image Credit: Feel Good Foodie
  • 15 grams of protein

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With a gooey center and crispy edges, these mac and cheese minis are little mouthfuls of comfort food heaven. By using high-quality hard cheese, you don't even need eggs to bind the bites together.

Pro tip: Sprinkle a layer of cheese on the bottom of the muffin tins before adding the macaroni mixture. Not only will this make each portion pop out of the pan smoothly, but it also adds even more cheesy goodness to each salivating serving.

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Get the Mac and Cheese Bites recipe and nutrition info at Feel Good Foodie.

5. Kale and Sweet Potato Baked Frittata Cups

These finger-food-size frittatas serve up a ton of veggies and flavor.
  • 20 grams of protein

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These finger-food-size frittatas might be mini, but they're big on tastiness thanks to classic flavorful ingredients like olive oil and fresh basil. Crumbly goat cheese becomes bubbly in the oven offering even more palate-pleasing flavor. These savory egg bites are so delicious, you won't even notice all the nutrient-dense veggies in the recipe like raw sweet potato and baby kale.

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Get the Kale and Sweet Potato Baked Frittata Cups recipe and nutrition info here.

6. Vegetarian BBQ Meatloaf Minis

These plant-based mini meatloaves are made with walnuts, lentils and mushrooms.
Image Credit: Dishing Out Health
  • 12 grams of protein

Love your loaf with a little less meat? This vegetarian version of the classic meat-centric meal will even have carnivores craving more. With a moist, melt-in-your-mouth interior and lightly crisped edges, these hearty mini loaves owe their meaty texture to a trio of walnuts, lentils and mushrooms.

But the best part is undoubtedly the homemade barbecue sauce that serves up savory notes of umami due to its combination of sweet, salty and spicy flavors from maple syrup, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to tabasco and smoked paprika.

Get the Vegetarian BBQ Meatloaf Minis recipe and nutrition info at Dishing Out Health.

7. Pizza Quinoa Bites

These muffin tin pizza bites provide extra protein and fiber thanks to quinoa.
Image Credit: Feel Good Foodie
  • 12 grams of protein for 3 bites

These plant-based bites boast everything you love about pizza: shredded mozzarella, Italian seasoning and tasty toppings like olives. Plus, they sneak in a little extra protein and fiber with the addition of quinoa. Bake until golden brown, then pop them in your mouth plain or dip them in a zesty marinara sauce.

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Get the Pizza Quinoa Bites recipe and nutrition info at Feel Good Foodie.

8. Chicken Taco Wonton Cups

These crispy wonton taco cups are a quick and convenient weeknight dinner.
Image Credit: Feel Good Foodie
  • 11 grams of protein

These crispy wonton taco cups are a genius way to repurpose last night's leftover chicken. Flavored with taco seasoning, fresh salsa and shredded cheddar, this simple weeknight meal is ready in under 30.

For another quick, convenient option, you can also purchase pre-made rotisserie chicken too. Serve with rice and beans for a dynamite dinner with even more protein.

Get the Chicken Taco Wonton Cups recipe and nutrition info at Feel Good Foodie.

9. Chicken Pot Pie Muffins

These chicken pot pie mini muffins make a marvelous, high-protein dinner option.
Image Credit: The Cookin' Chicks
  • 10 grams of protein

These chicken pot pie mini muffins are a terrifically tasty twist on the traditional dish. With tender chicken, veggies, cheddar cheese and a flaky biscuit base, they're guaranteed to be a huge hit around the dinner table.

No chicken in the fridge or freezer? No worries. You can pack these pies with any meat you have on hand like leftover ham, turkey or pot roast.

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Get the Chicken Pot Pie Muffins recipe and nutrition info at The Cookin’ Chicks.

10. Muffin Tin Mexican-Inspired Bowls

These single serving tortilla bowls are brimming with refried beans, shredded chicken, chunky salsa and a blend of Mexican cheeses.
Image Credit: Boulder Locavore
  • 14 grams of protein for 2 bites

These single-serving tortilla bowls are brimming with refried beans, shredded chicken, chunky salsa and a blend of cheeses. Red cabbage provides a pop of color and crunch for even more layered texture. Finish with a squeeze of lime for a little extra zest.

Get the Muffin Tin Mexican-Inspired Bowls recipe and nutrition info at Boulder Locavore.

11. Chili Mac and Cheese Bites

This muffin tin dinner combines spicy chili plus bubbly mac and cheese.
Image Credit: The Recipe Well
  • 12 grams of protein for 3 bites

Spicy chili plus bubbly mac and cheese in a bite-sized format —what's not to love? Ground beef, macaroni, cheddar cheese and warm spices like chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika pair together for a perfectly filling p.m. meal with a hint of heat to keep you warm on cold winter nights.

Not a fan of red meat? Simply sub in ground chicken or turkey.

Get the Chili Mac and Cheese Bites recipe and nutrition info at The Recipe Well.

12. Pizza Bites

These muffin tin pizza bites provide more protein than store-bought varieties.
Image Credit: Feel Good Foodie
  • 14 grams of protein for 2 bites

Though they're just as tasty, these customizable pizza bites are way better for you than store-bought varieties. Indeed, these homemade mini pizzas provide 14 grams of muscle-building protein for two bites compared to Bagel Bites Pizza Snacks, which offer zip in the protein department (literally zero grams for four bites).

The secret to these petite pizzas' protein punch is in the dough, which is made with protein-rich Greek yogurt.

Get the Pizza Bites recipe and nutrition info at Feel Good Foodie.