Healthy Egg and Veggie Muffins
High in protein, these healthy egg and veggie muffins are so yummy and easy to customize to your veggie taste buds. They also freeze great for a make-ahead breakfast, snack or quick lunch!
As with all Januarys in the history of my blogging career, I always vow to myself that I won’t post a dessert recipe until at least January 9th. You know, to honor all you brave souls embarking on healthy eating plans (not gonna say the word diet).
I’m not one for intense New Year’s resolution planning, especially with eating/food, and I even tossed around the idea of doing a low-key, no-blatant-sweets January for any of you that wanted to join me, but I wasn’t motivated over the holidays to actually put anything together, so you’ll have to tell me what YOUR healthy eating goals are this year if you are setting any.
I know myself well enough to know that I can probably only give up sweets (especially chocolate) for about 2 1/2 hours, so instead I’m focusing on lean protein as part of each of my meals, and these healthy egg and veggie muffins are the perfect way to kick off Mel’s Set The Bar Low Healthy Eating January Challenge.
The best part about these amazing little egg muffins, aside from the fact that they take literally minutes to prepare, is that they freeze great.
And that makes them a perfect breakfast, snack, or quick lunch to stash away in the freezer for when you need it. Loaded with veggies and super high in protein, I’ve been making a version of these babies for years. It goes without saying that the vegetables, cheese, and meat (optional) are super easy to customize. And no batch really every looks the same.
Toss in whatever veggies you have on hand – adding and taking away based on taste preference. Same goes with the cheese and meat. I very highly prefer using feta cheese because a little bit goes a long way and it adds great flavor. But Parmesan works great too, as well as cheddar and Monterey Jack.
I know some of my cottage cheese haters out there are going to be tempted to give the cold shoulder to these healthy egg and veggie muffins, but I’ll be so very sad if you do. Because the cottage cheese is blended up with the eggs, you don’t even know it’s there (for you texturally averse people), and not only does it pump up the protein, but it adds a creaminess to the muffins that is really wonderful.
I’m excited to see what variations you come up with! Make sure to report back. It makes me happy.
And good luck with any New Year’s resolutions you go after this year! If it involves no sugar/no sweets, you may want to avoid checking back here in, say, a week and two days. Just warning you. 🙂
P.S. In case you missed the big announcement about those awesome custom meal plans, you can check out all the details here! AND…I just added a 30-day quick and easy meal plan to the app!
One Year Ago: Tender Greek Pork {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}
Two Years Ago: Chicken Tortilla Soup {Instant Pot, Stovetop, Slow Cooker}
Three Years Ago: Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps {30-Minute Meal}
Four Years Ago: Korean Beef and Rice {Or Quinoa}: Simple 20-Minute Meal
Five Years Ago: Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Soup
Healthy Egg and Veggie Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 8 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon salt, I use coarse, kosher salt
- Pinch of black pepper, I use coarsely ground black pepper
- ¼ to ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (see note)
- ½ cup chopped spinach, more or less
- ½ cup chopped bell pepper, more or less
- ½ cup chopped ham or other cooked meat of choice, more or less (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a nonstick muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, salt and pepper. Process until well combined and fairly smooth. Add the feta cheese and pulse a few times until the cheese is in small pieces (I like the feta cheese pretty finely chopped, but it’s really a matter of personal preference).
- Sprinkle the chopped veggies and meat, if using, in the bottom of each muffin cup. I just eyeball it, but I use about 2-3 tablespoons of veggies and meat total per muffin cup.
- Pour in about 1/4 to 1/3 cup egg mixture on top of the veggies and meat. Add less at first to make sure each muffin cup gets some and then evenly distribute any remaining egg batter. The muffin cups should be anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 full.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until no longer jiggly in the center. The egg muffins may puff quite a bit while baking; that’s normal. They’ll settle as they cool. After removing the pan from the oven, let the muffins cool for a few minutes before taking them out of the pan. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled. These egg muffins freeze great to thaw or reheat as needed.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
This is my favorite grab-and-go breakfast. I always double the recipe, then have them ready in the freezer. I love that the recipe is very adaptable depending on what I have on hand–for my latest batch, I used ground sausage in place of the ham, shredded zucchini instead of spinach, and pepper jack cheese instead of feta.
How long do these last in the fridge?
Probably 3-4 days.
We love these. At our house we call them “egg cups” haha. I love how adaptable they are. Today I made them with cheddar, ham, mushrooms, spinach and green onions. So many options and delicious every time!
These are my FAVORITE. I’ve made them several times! They are always delicious and SO FAST and healthy and easy!! I’ve only made them with ricotta because I accidentally bought ricotta instead of cottage cheese the first time and it was delicious so I stuck with it. I have a feeling you can change up a lot in this recipe and they will still be divine. Thank you Mel!!
Thanks for the feedback, Celia! Glad they are so adaptable!
These tasted just as good as they look in the pic. I love the spinach, pepper & feta combo in these egg muffins, & for us, the bacon only added to the deliciousness. All six of our hens are still laying every day. I will look forward to making this one again & again. I loved how easily the muffins popped out of the pan. Thx, Mel~
These are so yummy! I pre-made these to take camping with us. They held up well in the cooler and heated up nicely in foil over the cook stove. An easy way to have eggs while camping without having to bring all the ingredients. Definitely on the camping menu for next year!
I’ve made this many times and it’s always delicious. But this morning I decided to bake it in a pie dish and turn it into a crustless quiche. I baked it at 375 for probably 55ish minutes (I lost track after checking and adding 5 more minutes several times). It didn’t dry out and was just as perfect as the muffin version 🙂
I went to Walmart and bought me a Wilton no stick pan and have been making these for about 3 to 4 months using all kind of meat veggies and spices. Have never sprayed the pans and nothing has ever stuck, most simplist clean up in kitchen I ever had.
Hey Mel,
I made these a while back and they were wonderful! My husband and I loved a something-other-than-cereal-but-just-as-fast breakfast option. But cleaning the pans was a test of my perseverance. I totally get the lady that through out one of her pans! 😀 I sprayed the pans last time, but I’m going to try again spraying the heck out of them and see how it works.
Question: I feel like I remember a while back on your instagram stories you said you were trying out a silicone muffin tin? (Did I make this up? Or dream it? For reals I’ve had dreams about you. Ha!) Anyway, if that did actually happen, what did you think of the silicone tins?
Haha, I’m sorry you have such dreams – more like nightmares! 🙂 I honestly can’t remember if that was me or not. I haven’t tried a silicone muffin tin, but I’d guess they would clean up much better than metal ones. What brand of muffin tin do you have, if you don’t mind me asking?
I have a USA Pan muffin tin (and it’s what Mel has in the pictures above). I’ve made similar egg muffins in it without even spraying my pan and they popped right out. I HIGHLY recommend! (And it is a silicone non stick coating)
I’ve made these lots of times (no mess, ever. They pop right out with no cooking spray in my USA pans). Today I went with monterey jack, mushrooms, red onions, and spinach. Soo good! We have tons of leftover toppings from homemade pizzas, so I’ve been changing it up and I haven’t found a bad combo yet!
Do you think you could substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese?
Yes, I think so.
Would it be ok to use parchment muffin tin liners?
I haven’t tried it, but I think so! I’d probably grease them lightly before filling.
These are amazing! A hit the first time so much that the 2nd time I made them, I did a double batch! I told two other people about them & they tried making them. They are hooked now, too! How long do you think they keep in the freezer & how best to store them?
I think they should keep in the freezer for a month or so (especially if they are in a sealed container or bag).
These are so delicious!!! With such humble ingredients, it kind of took me by surprise how good they are! I used finely chopped ham, fresh spinach, and sharp cheddar cheese. I was worried about them sticking to the muffin pans from other reviews, but I liberally sprayed each little well with Pam, and they came right out. Thank you Mel!
We have a similar recipe only plain Greek yogurt is used instead of cottage cheese and it is wonderful! I’m excited to try the cottage cheese too!
What is the best way to reheat these if I make ahead of time them for a brunch party?
I’m not sure I would reheat them because they cool off so fast…I think I’d serve them at room temperature.
Wrap in a paper towel and microwave for about 20 seconds. If they are frozen start with 30 seconds.
Great results
I have made these muffins every week! Great to heat up and grab in the am. Amazing.
I finally got around to making these today and they are delicious! I am looking forward to freezing the leftovers for a quick, healthy breakfast on crazy days.
Hi Mel, would these cook up fine if I left out the cottage cheese and the feta, to make them dairy-free?
The texture will definitely be different – not quite as light and fluffy.
I made a double batch and put half in the muffin tins and half in an 8 x 8 pan. Used sausage crumbles for the meat and hot jalapeno & habanero jack cheese. Also added a dash of cayenne pepper – we like it spicy! They were delicious! I think I’ll add a diced jalapeno next time for a little more heat! Like Kate (one of your commenters), I had a heck of a time cleaning the muffin tin! (Sprayed with olive oil cooking spray.) So, I might just stick with a pan to cook these for easier cleanup. Thanks for a “keeper,” Mel!
I love your recipes! I’ve never left a review, but since this is a new recipe, I thought I’d add a comment. I made them just like the recipe and they turned out fantastic. I did add a little green onion. I used PAM olive oil spray and they did pop right out. My daughter and I have been looking for a quick healthy breakfast idea and this is it! So excited!
These were super good, but oh my goodness made the WORST mess to clean out of my muffin tins I have had in 18 years. We don’t use non-stick spray and even though I oiled them GENEROUSLY the muffins completely stuck. It took an hour to clean out one pan and I threw the other one out, I just couldn’t do it. Usually I have good results using oil in place of nonstick pray but not this time. I would heartily warn anyone with out spray on this one. Next time I will make it in a glass pan that is easier to clean!
Oh dear, that sounds awful!
I have made some similar before and Ive had good luck with cutting circles of parchment paper to lay on the bottom of the tin and spray/oil under and over it. It seems like kind if a pain, but I just trace them out and let the kids cut!
I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a week now, and today was the day. I didn’t have feta or the recommended vegetables or any meat, but I did have chopped onion, some good Asiago cheese (or Parmesan — not sure which), and some cream cheese. So I blended the grated Asiago with the egg mixture, put the onions in the bottom of each cup, then added a decent pinch of cream cheese to the middle of each cup. The muffins came out flavorful and really really moist! I will experiment with different ingredients, but this combo is a winner.
Two more things to mention: The onions were slightly crunchy, which I like. And IMO the cream cheese was important because I wasn’t getting any of the moisture that feta would have provided.
I have ten sitting on the counter now — it’s noon. We’ll see if any make it to this evening for my husband to
Thanks for the review, Margaret – loving all the variations you creative people come up with. 🙂
Ten days later, and a double batch this time. Oops — forgot to get cottage cheese. But I did have some heavy whipping cream that needed to be used up, so I just subbed that in — about 2/3 cup in each batch, no cottage cheese, no feta. Cream cheese in the middle again, some grated Parmesan tossed into the egg mixture. Turned out just fine 🙂
My kids (and I) are obsessed with these!! They are so yummy.
Side note: Mel, have you ever tried Penzey’s Sunny Paris seasoning? It (+salt) is my absolute favorite thing to put on eggs, and it was fantastic sprinkled on top of these egg muffins. Sunny Paris is also an easy way to take plain old tuna salad and make it out of this world. Highly recommend adding it to your next order if you don’t already have it!
Ok, I will be ordering that seasoning ASAP. Sounds amazing and since I eat eggs almost every day for breakfast, sounds like a no brainer!
1/4 to 1/2 CUP? crumbled feta cheese?
Yes, cup. Sorry about that.
Delicious! I used freeze dried broccoli and red peppers (blended them up with the egg mixture). So yum!
I’ve been racking my brain all morning with new versions I want to try, because these are so yummy! My 4 year old was opposed to vegetables in his breakfast, but he liked it once he actually tried it (eye roll). Thanks for an easy, healthy breakfast option! These will be a staple for sure.
Let me know any fun delicious variations you come up with! I made a mushroom swiss version the other day that was fantastic (although probably not super kid-friendly if they are a mushroom hater)!
I made a batch of these the other day and plan on making another asap. DELISH! Thank you for the recipe!
Yay! Thanks, Elizabeth!
I seldom comment on recipes, but this was amazing! I do not like cottage cheese at all, but I took a leap of faith and used it in these muffins. Amazing! The cottage cheese seems to give a bit of sturdiness to the muffins, as well as upping the protein. Win, win! I also sautéed my veggies and spinach briefly, before putting in the cups. They turned out perfect and so flavorful, great go to for breakfast! Love them❤️
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, Elaine! I’m glad you tried these!
We’ve been eating the “eggwich” ((breakfast sandwiches without the bun- so egg-meat- cheese slice- egg)
We used your egg muffin recipe and our muffin top pans. Made perfect egg sandwiches for a quick breakfast. So easy! So delicious! Thank you!
What a fun and GREAT idea!
These are AMAZING!!! Made them for dinner tonight along with pancakes and hash browns. I doubled the recipe so I could freeze some for later for quick breakfasts. I didn’t have a much left over and I hoped and will need to make more! Everyone loves them. Thanks Mel for ANOTHER winner. You rock my world with your recipes.
Yum, sounds like a FABULOUS dinner! 🙂
Made these last week with leftover broccoli and ham and the shredded Mexican-blend cheese from Costco. The broccoli flavor is a little overpowering so that might not be my first choice again, but overall I love the recipe! I have been making the egg muffins from the ATK Quick cookbook for a long time, and they’re great, but they rely on two dozen ritz crackers. I love that your recipe is so protein packed with the addition of cottage cheese, and I’m looking forward to trying new veggie/meat combos.
Thanks for checking in – happy you liked these, Vicky (thanks for the tip on the broccoli – might help others who want to try it)!
Could you make here with just egg whites instead if the whole egg.
I haven’t tried it, but you could definitely experiment!
I’ve tried eggs in a muffin tin with cooking spray (crisco brand) and there was definitely a chemical taste. Do you recommend Pam? Can one spread regular veg oil? Otherwise I don’t want to waste the eggs
You could try using regular oil – I use the Kirkland brand of cooking spray and haven’t noticed an after taste but it also might be due to the pan. What type of pan are you using? Is it dark/nonstick?
Do you think I could substitute whole milk greek yogurt for the cottage cheese? Accidentally left cottage cheese off my shopping list.
Definitely worth a try!
What to do with those odds and ends we have after holiday parties and get togethers? This. This is what you do. I added ham, sauteed mushrooms and a swiss/gruyere mix to one batch, and bacon, jalapenos and cheddar to another. These absolutely held together and are so, so tasty. Used silicone muffin cups and they released these little gems best when warmed first.
Holy moly, both of those “leftover” versions sound AMAZING!
I have made egg muffins in the past with not so great results. But I trust you, Mel, so I tried these. Wow! That’s all I can say. I used mushrooms, onion, yellow pepper, she, and ham. Since I prefer my veggies well cooked (especially the onion), I sauteed my vegetables in a little butter before adding to the muffin tins. Couldn’t have turn out any better. I’m excited to try different cheeses and veggies. Love these!
Very good! The feta cheese makes this recipe!
I totally agree! Love the feta in these!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe. It is so great to make them ahead and refrigerate or freeze some for days when you are busy. Yummy!!
Thank you!
Made these yesterday. I only had broccoli on hand, so cut that up small and used ham and colby cheese. They were really good! All gone! Will have to make some more. Perfect easy breakfast and will be great to freeze.
Glad you enjoyed them, Jen! Broccoli sounds delicious in these!
Could you use ricotta instead of cottage cheese?
I watch my sodium intake & ricotta has less.
Thanks!
I haven’t tried it, but yes, I think you definitely could!
How do you thaw out? Thinking of making some for my college son. Can he just microwave one each morning ?
Yes! Just a minute or so on 50% power will do the trick. Or popping them in the fridge the night before to thaw.
What is the unit of measure on the cheese?
Thanks!
Probably about 1-2 ounces.
I just got a USA muffin tin for Christmas and the instructions that came with the pan say to NOT use spray…but it sounds like you do use cooking spray with yours? Can you clarify for this rule follower
Interesting, Nicole! Apparently I didn’t read the instructions very well – oops! I do use cooking spray especially with this egg recipe…I’ll have to look into why they don’t recommend it and figure out where to go from here! I’ve used that pan many times with cooking spray and haven’t had an issue, but I definitely don’t want to recommend doing it if it will leave a residue or something and mess up your pan.
I have made egg muffins in my USA pan and didnt use cooking spray. They came out just fine!
Good to know!
The cooking spray can stain the pans/tins. I don’t think it will hurt the pan…just make it unsightly! I like fairly close to the factory…and they have amazing factory sales in the spring and fall. I’ve really expanded my collection of pans for a steal!
Oh how fun to get access to factory sales!!
I haven’t committed to a healthy January goal either, but I did buy the ingredients for your almond joy balls so I could have a healthier chocolate snack in January. 🙂 They don’t really taste healthy, so I’m not sure that counts. These look delicious — I’m adding cottage cheese and feta to my grocery list. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh yes, those dark chocolate treats are just the ticket this January (and always!).
Have you tried these in the instant pot?
I haven’t, sorry!
I’ve done a very similar recipe in the instant pot with silicone baking cups. I lost the recipe
And need to track it down again but it was for knockoff Starbucks egg cups
I’ve followed this recipe (https://mycrazygoodlife.com/copycat-starbucks-egg-bites-recipe/) to make similar egg bites in the Instant Pot and found the texture to be so much creamier than when I make them in the oven. I first tried it with small mason jars stacked (the bites got a little stuck) and then bought the silicone baking molds online, which work like a dream. I’m sure your recipe would turn out well this way too, Mel!
Thanks for always sharing the best recipes: your sticky toffee pudding and raspberry swirl cheesecake were the hit of our holiday dessert table!
Thanks, Danielle!
Hey Mel, I’ve had the Starbucks egg veggie cup, but yours sounds more delicious and much healthier. Not that theirs is unhealthy. But this way I know what’s going into it. Can’t wait to make these. I’ve never thought of using feta with an egg dish. But it’s one of my favorite cheeses, so shopping today for egg cups tomorrow. Yummmmmy. Thx
I love this idea! Can I do just egg whites? And if so, does that change how many to use? Thanks!!
I haven’t tried that, but I bet you totally could use all egg whites, but for the same proportions you’d probably need 14-16 egg whites, I’d say.
My healthy eating plan is just to go back to what I was doing before December– 2 dinners per week low or no carb and only eating from 10 am to 6 pm.
New element for the new year: dessert of the month club! I’m the founder, president and sole member. I can do no sugar for months at a time but it makes me sad (albeit healthy). Since once a week treat turns into 4 days of “keep eating the cake until it’s gone”–once a month indulgences seem to be more on par with my weight goals. But you better believe those select recipes will be from your blog!
I love the idea of that dessert of the month club, Diana! It will make indulging all the more special (although if it were me the anxiety of choosing just the right dessert would be debilitating – haha).
You’re the best – in a world where New Year’s Resolutions are prevalent, I can be forced feel guilty for not setting a huge amount of goals. Thank you for helping me face my reality & make me feel “normal”. Thanks also for putting your recipes into the app. I downloaded it the other day, but still need to play around to get used to it and how it works!
Very Happy 2019 to you and your family! Thank you for all you do for this blog & helping us with our meals!
Thanks, Melissa! Here’s to the year of no guilt! 🙂
These look perfect for January! I made your hashbrown breakfast casserole for Christmas brunch. That was so yummy! This looks similar without having to commit to a big 9×13. Thanks, Mel!
Yes! It’s kind of the same idea (sans hashbrowns) just in smaller sizes. 🙂
I made these today. They are surprisingly filling! Go protein! I sautéed my peppers & onions. Other than that, I followed recipe exactly!! Very tasty!
Thanks for the input, Kelly! Glad you liked them!