These Mini Egg Muffins with cheese and veggies are a go-to for quick and easy toddler breakfasts on busy mornings. These savory muffins are packed with nutritious ingredients and are so quick to bake up—and they work so well to make ahead.
Mini Egg Muffins
Rich in protein and fats that toddlers need, eggs are a wonderful toddler food. You can make a batch a batch of the egg muffins one day and keep them in the fridge until you need them. My family loves eggs all sorts of ways, but I love this recipe since they are so perfect for quickly reheating come meal time.
Having these breakfast egg muffins in the fridge, just ready and waiting to be reheated for a quick breakfast (or lunch) is a total time-saver.
They’re also delicious enough to make for a holiday breakfast, such as Easter or Christmas, to share with the whole family.
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Ingredients You Need
For this recipe you’ll need the following ingredients ready to go.
- Eggs: The base of this recipe is large eggs. You can use whichever type you prefer.
- Cottage cheese: This adds moisture, calcium, and protein to the recipe. It blends right into the batter.
- Shredded cheese: You can use cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or another shredded cheese your family enjoys.
- Shredded butternut squash, grated carrot or minced broccoli: Or another vegetable that you like.
- Minced or grated fresh onion or onion powder: Either of these add a little more flavor to the mixture.
- Parmesan cheese: I like to add Parmesan cheese (or Pecorino Romano) cheese for additional flavor in these egg muffins.
TIP: These are packed with protein and have a nice dose of veggies in the mix that are easy to chew. And they boast a solid dose of calcium, plus vitamin A from the eggs, cheeses, and squash.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in this easy recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe.
- Stir together the ingredients.
- Add your veggie of choice
- Spoon into the greased muffin cups.
- Bake! Remove from oven, let cool for about a minute, then use a knife to gently loosen the cups from the pan. Cool a bit and serve warm or store to serve later.
TIP: The batter comes together really quickly as all it requires is some easy grating and stirring. You can whip these up whenever you have a spare 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
We like these with both grated raw or leftover roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, shredded raw carrots or chopped broccoli florets. Use whichever you have or prefer. You could also add snipped spinach or kale or finely chopped bell pepper or mushrooms.
You can cut in half or serve whole for baby to gnaw on baby led weaning style. Their semi-soft texture also means that they are great for babies, younger toddlers or toddlers still getting the hang of more complex textures.
(In fact, this was the recipe that helped a friend of mine start to wean her daughter off of a feeding tube!)
When buying eggs for toddlers, know that from chickens with access to grass and pasture typically have more of these healthy poly- and monounsaturated fats than conventional eggs. Look for the terms u0022free rangeu0022 and u0022grass-fedu0022. Eggs—any way they are raised!—are also a good source of B12, which is particularly important for toddlers who don’t eat meat.
The batch is relatively small so you won’t have leftovers lingering forever (though they actually freeze really well should that be an issue). Store them, once cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Serve cold or warm for a few seconds in the microwave.
Each is a two-bite affair for my girls and they almost always insist on dipping them in salsa or ketchup. (I love them on top of salads!)
I’ve made this recipe a lot over the years and the one time the muffins stuck was when I brushed on oil, rather than using nonstick spray. So do use the spray if you can. And use a good nonstick muffin tin.
You’ll also want to let them cool for a few minutes in the pan, then use a paring knife, if needed, to help loosen the edges.
How to Store
Store them, once cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Serve slightly warmed up or at room temperature.
Best Tips for Success
- We like these with both grated raw or leftover roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, shredded raw carrots or chopped broccoli florets.
- Add snipped spinach or kale or finely chopped bell pepper or mushrooms to these egg cups if you’d like instead of squash.
- Chop up as desired for babies or younger toddlers.
- You can also pack these mini muffins in a packed daycare lunch or school lunch.
- Chop them up over salads for your own lunch.
- Try mozzarella instead of cheddar. Try ricotta instead of cottage cheese.
- Double the recipe and bake a whole pan of 24 mini muffins at once.
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I’d love to hear what you think of the recipe, so please comment below if you try these!
Mini Egg Muffins with Cheese and Veggies
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon onion, peeled and grated (or ¼ teaspoon onion powder)
- 1/2 cup butternut squash, finely grated (or leftover diced roasted squash, minced broccoli, grated carrot, or minced spinach)
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese (drained if needed)
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease 12 mini muffin cups with nonstick spray very well.
- Stir together all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Spoon into muffin cups, filling about to the brim.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until firm to the touch and golden brown around the edges.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes in the pan before serving to allow them to firm up a bit. Use a paring knife around the edges to help remove them if needed Serve warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container or store in the freezer in a zip top bag and reheat for 30 seconds in the microwave before serving.
- We like these with both grated raw or leftover roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, shredded raw carrots or chopped broccoli florets.
- Add snipped spinach or kale or finely chopped bell pepper or mushrooms if you’d like instead of squash.
- Chop up as desired for babies or younger toddlers.
- You can also pack these egg and cheese mini muffins in a packed daycare lunch or school lunch.
- Chop them up over salads for your own lunch.
- Try mozzarella instead of cheddar.
- Try ricotta instead of cottage cheese.
- Double the recipe and bake a whole pan of 24 mini muffins at once.
Nutrition
This post was first published September 2017.
I usually don’t comment but…..my picky 2 year old granddaughter loved these muffins! She ate 2 (and I made these in a regular muffin tin!) I myself have been eating them the last few mornings as well. 🙂 Thanks for a great, easy and healthy breakfast 🙂
You’re so welcome!
Hi Amy, what would the cooking instructions be if I were to use a full size muffin pan? I can’t wait to try this recipe out!
If you use 1/4 cup batter, maybe 2-3 extra minutes.
I never comment on these things but man, this recipe is definitely comment worthy! Such a hit for my picky 2 year old, perfect to bring on the run, and packed with protein! I had to stop myself from eating the whole batch!
So glad to hear it!
I made these using grated carrot and my son actually ate them! I tried one and was surprised by how good they tasted. I will definitely be making these from now on.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Just made these for my baby. Ended up eating quite a few myself! Delicious! Next time I am going to double the recipe. Thank you!!!
Hi Amy – my 2yo son LOVES these egg muffins and it’s one of the few things he’ll eat – they’re so tasty! I usually freeze and then warm in microwave before serving, but he’s starting preschool and they don’t warm anything up there. How do you suggest I serve from freezer to lunch box? Thank you!
I’m so glad he enjoys them! The easiest option would be to get a thermos to use so then you could warm them at home, pack them in the thermos and they’d be warm for him at lunch.
Amazing! I have three little kids and two of the three loves these (the other won’t even try new food.) I also loved them. Thanh you so much.
easy to make! delish but difficult to get out of the pan!
Nonstick spray may make it a little easier next time.
Hi Amy,
Can you use mini muffins cupcake liners to put into the pans?
Will that help with sticking?
thank you for your expertise.
Helen
Hi- They will likely stick to paper liners. I use a nonstick pan and nonstick spray and it works well. OR you can use greased silicone muffin liners. I hope that helps.
I have loved the silicon muffin tins that you can pop out the muffin. I found them at walmart.
Is this correct? Says 2 eggs?
Yes, it makes a small batch. Feel free to double it as you like.
These are soooo good! My son loved them. My husband too haha. I used bell peppers because that’s all I had.
Definitely gonna make them again and maybe make some bigger ones for me and my husband. And maybe add some meat for us! 😜
YUM! These are delicious Amy! I love how flavourful and easy these are to make. Thanks for the incredible recipe!
Made this for my super picky 3 year old toddler and he loved it so much! The cottage cheese makes the muffins really soft and spongy and I think texturally that made a huge difference as he usually doesn’t like eggs (I know! Picky I tell you!). Love this. And it’s one of those recipes that even if he doesn’t like it, I can eat it so worth trying in my book. Thanks so much for this great recipe!
How long can these be stored in the freezer?
Around 6 months, though try to remove as much air from the bag as you can.
what can I substitute cottage cheese with? non fat greek yogurt?
The only thing that works similarly is ricotta cheese. Otherwise, omit it and double the other cheese.
Hi,
I want to make these but need a dairy free alternative to the cottage cheese? Any tips on something that’s equally tasty?
Thank you!
Hi- The easiest option is probably to double the shredded cheese and use a really good df one (the Forager brand is great) or a dairy-free ricotta like the one from Kite Hill. Green Valley makes a lactose free cottage cheese which is also great if that’s an option (I realize it might not be)