Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 5 Bite-Sized Appetizers You Can Make in a Mini Muffin Tin We dare you to eat just one. By Heather Meldrom Heather Meldrom Heather is a food stylist, recipe developer, and writer with over three decades of experience in print and digital publications. Highlights: * Worked in front and back of restaurants for a decade * Began her editorial career as a senior food editor at Martha Stewart Living * Went freelance in 2012 and her work has appeared in Cooking Light, People Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Food & Wine Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 1, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Heather Meldrom Who says a muffin tin is only for making muffins? With a little creativity, this perfectly good bakeware can be a kitchen workhorse. And if you're hesitating because you don't want to scrub it afterward, take it from us: There's actually an easy way to clean a muffin pan. Pimento mac and cheese bites, anyone? Yes, please. 01 of 05 Polenta Bites with Bacon, Dates, and Blue Cheese Heather Meldrom A perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory, these little polenta bites are sure to please. The polenta cups can be made up to two days in advance before filling and broiling. Simply cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap before refrigerating to keep them from drying out, and then uncover it just prior to filling. Get the recipe: Polenta Bites with Bacon, Dates, and Blue Cheese 02 of 05 Mini Herb Frittatas Heather Meldrom It's easy to mix it up with these mini frittatas. Swap finely grated cheese or minced ham for the shallot. Or use feta in place of the shallot and chopped fresh oregano for the thyme. As long as you keep the mix-in ingredient amount to roughly ¾ cup, the possibilities are endless. Get the recipe: Mini Herb Frittatas 03 of 05 Pimento Mac and Cheese Bites Heather Meldrom These pimento-flecked mac and cheese bites combine two comfort food favorites in one tiny package. Sharp cheddar cheese lends the mixture a rich, bold flavor, but if you'd like to add an even more "grown-up" edge, try swapping smoked Spanish paprika (pimento) for the cayenne. Get the recipe: Pimento Mac and Cheese Bites 04 of 05 Mini Crab Cakes with Lemon-Chive Mayonnaise Heather Meldrom Adding a dollop of bright, springy citrus mayo gives these diminutive crab cakes an elegant finish. And while baking breadcrumb-coated items in the oven can sometimes lead to uneven browning, toasting the panko breadcrumbs in a skillet ahead of time ensures they stay golden and delicious. Get the recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Lemon-Chive Mayonnaise 05 of 05 Goat Cheese Tartlets with Fig-Balsamic Compote Heather Meldrom These classy one-bite nibbles are packed with creamy goat cheese and kissed with a tangy drizzle of balsamic. If microgreens are too fussy for your purposes, simply sprinkle the fresh thyme leaves over the tartlets rather than folding them into the compote. Get the recipe: Goat Cheese Tartlets with Fig-Balsamic Compote Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit