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Home Muffin Recipes

Savoury Cheese Muffins

By Nagi Maehashi
496 Comments
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Published18 May '18 Updated18 Jun '25
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These Cheese Muffins will disappear in seconds! Quick and easy, sinfully more-ish, these savoury muffins are buttery and garlicky with golden crusty tops and fluffy moist insides.

Keep a stash for snacking, pop them in lunch boxes or serve a basket of these with dinner!

Overhead photo of golden Savoury Cheese Muffins in a gold muffin tin.

Cheese Muffins – a great savoury muffin recipe!

So basically, these muffins are every cheese-lovin’-Carb-Monsters’ dream come true.

Inhale deeply, and you’ll get a waft of buttery garlicky goodness mingling with that unmistakable smell of melting cheese.

Look closely, and you’ll feel the warmth radiating from these muffins, fresh out of the oven.

That top one’s got your name written all over it. Go on. I saved it for you!

Close up photo of a stack of Savoury Cheese Muffins

OK, technology hasn’t advanced quite far enough yet that I can deliver you fresh-out-of-the-oven Cheese Muffins through a screen.

But luckily, just 10 minutes of effort is all that stands between you and and a fresh batch of these!

Half a Savoury Cheese Muffin smeared with butter, slowly melting.

Add-in options for these savoury muffins

These Cheese Muffins are absolutely terrific as is, and it’s how I make them most of the time.

Having said that though, it’s a sensational base for all sorts of add ins. Imagine the possibilities! I’ve used sun dried tomatoes, olives and feta in the photo below. Try mushrooms, spinach, zucchini (grated and excess liquid squeezed out), BACON, ham, chorizo, even cooked chicken. You could really turn these savoury muffins into a mini meal!

I’ve added some more suggestions in the recipe notes – basically, just add 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of whatever add ins you want.

Savoury Cheese Muffins with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Feta and Olives on white paper, with olives on the side, ready to be eaten.

Give me any combination of cheese, garlic, butter and bread, and it’s all over. It’s almost worrying that I have not one, but FIVE versions of garlic bread in various forms on this blog:

  1. Quick Cheesy Garlic Bread

  2. Garlic Bread. (Skip the artisan bread. Gotta use cheap French stick!)

  3. Cheese and Garlic Crack bread (there are no words…)

  4. Cheese, Herb and Garlic Quick Bread (loaf form, no yeast)

  5. These Cheese Muffins.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to grab one of these Cheese Muffins while they’re still warm. One of the most torturous photo shoots I’ve done in a while! – Nagi x


MORE SAVOURY MUFFIN RECIPES

  • Bacon and Egg Breakfast Muffins – with a whole egg inside!

  • Cornbread Muffins – personal favourite!

Overhead photo of Savoury Cheese Muffins cooling on a baking rack, fresh out of the oven.

Close up photo of a Savoury Cheese Muffin with a golden dome.

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

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Close up photo of a stack of Savoury Cheese Muffins

Savoury Cheese Muffins

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 20 minutes mins
Total: 35 minutes mins
Appetizer, Breakfast, Sides
Western
4.95 from 193 votes
Servings11 muffins
Tap or hover to scale
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  • 1426
Recipe video above. They taste like cheesy garlic bread – in muffin form! If you want lovely high domes as pictured, this makes 11 muffins. It’s irritating, I know, but such is life. See notes for Add In options! 

Ingredients

Butter and Cheese:

  • 3 tbsp / 50g salted butter (unsalted + salt)
  • 2 garlic cloves , crushed
  • 2 cups / 200g grated cheddar cheese (Note 1)

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups / 300g plain flour (all purpose flour)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda / bi-carb soda (Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 egg (large, about 60g / 2 oz) , lightly whisked
  • 1 cup milk (full or low fat)
  • 1/4 cup / 60 g sour cream (or plain yoghurt)
  • 1/3 cup / 85 ml vegetable oil (or any plain oils, not olive oil)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley (Note 3)
  • 1 garlic clove , crushed
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F (standard) or 160C/320F (fan).
  • Place butter and garlic in a microwave proof bowl and melt in 30 second bursts. Mix.
  • Brush a 12 hole standard muffin tin generously with butter, being sure to slather with some garlic. Reserve some butter to brush tops.
  • Whisk Dry ingredients in a bowl.
  • Whisk Wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
  • Pour Wet into the Dry ingredients bowl. Mix 8 times. Add cheese, mix as few times as possible just to incorporate remaining bits of flour – no more than 7 big stirs (secret to soft muffs).
  • Divide between 11 holes in muffin in (I use an ice cream scooper). Batter should be thick and fill muffin tin to top (if in ball shape due to scooper, leave as is). See video.
  • Bake for 22 – 25 minutes or until the muffins are golden and crusty and spring back when touched in the centre.
  • Remove onto cooling rack, brush with remaining butter (microwave again if needed) and cool slightly before getting stuck into them!

Recipe Notes:

1. I typically use grated Cheddar or Tasty Cheese (common in Australia). Any flavoured cheese will be terrific here, as long as it melts. Avoid Mozzarella – it doesn’t have enough flavour. 
2. Baking soda gives these muffins a kick start with the rise so you get a lovely dome BUT if you don’t have it, then you can use an extra 2 1/2 tsp of baking powder instead. OR use self raising flour instead of plain flour and no baking powder and no baking soda. 
3. Can sub with 1 tbsp dried parsley or 1 1/2 tsp of stronger dried herbs (thyme, oregano, mixed herbs, basil), or just skip. Still lovely flavour without!
4. These stay fresh for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container. Best served warm. These can also be frozen for 2 – 3 months.
5. As always for baking recipes, I have made these using Australian cups (metric measurements used by the most of the world, including Europe, NZ) as well as US cups. I actually made these while I was in LA at a friend’s house and they came out just as they do when I made them at home!
6. Add In options: Up to 1 1/2 cups of stir ins of choice, add with cheese. Sun dried tomatoes, chopped or large chunks of feta, chopped olives, ham, cooked bacon, grated zucchini (salt, leave for 20 minutes then squeeze out excess water), grated carrot, chopped spinach, bell peppers/capscium (cooked). Cooked mushroom slices, cooked chorizo, even chopped chicken. Let your imagination run wild! Makes 12 high dome muffins, or 13 – 14 sensible muffins.
7. Nutrition per muffin, going all out as per the recipe. Skip the butter and it reduces to 248 calories each.
Cheese Muffins nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 275cal (14%)
Keywords: Cheese muffins, Savoury Muffins
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

He’s home! The first thing I thought when I saw his shaved leg was “Yessss!!!! 25% less fur droppage all over the house!” 😂

In all seriousness though, he is doing just fine. Zonked out for most of the day.

I am loving that harness he got sent home with. And so is Dozer – just that little bit of help to get him on his feet and hobble outside to the toilet. That’s the most action he’s going to get for a while!!

Dozer the golden retriever post ACL surgery

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496 Comments

  1. brenda says

    January 30, 2023 at 4:45 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe today and it is really tasty! I didn’t have enough parsley, so I diced some scallions to sub and they are delish! I actually made them to take to friends who we WERE going to pick up at the airport at 11:30 pm (I thought they might need something for breakfast tomorrow am). After splitting one with my husband to see how they turned out…nudge nudge…wink wink, we found out their trip is delayed until 1:30 am. We promptly ate another. The numbers are dwindling. Not sure they are going to make it.

    Reply
  2. Kit says

    January 26, 2023 at 9:25 am

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe and so forgiving. Was super quick to make too! Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  3. Julia says

    January 26, 2023 at 7:51 am

    5 stars
    Obsessed with everything on Nagi’s site – my go to food blog for pretty much everything. This recipe is another winner! We made half with sun dried tomatoes, half without. Delicious!

    Reply
  4. Michelle says

    January 18, 2023 at 2:16 pm

    5 stars
    These muffins are so good, I may never make a sweet muffin again! I was short 50g on the cheddar so added in some blue cheese…so delicious. Will definitely make a batch to supplement the next soup I make (that is…when it’s not 37 degrees outside)

    Reply
  5. Elise says

    January 12, 2023 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    Holy Dooley! Flipping delicious! I added cooked chorizo bits and fresh chopped spinach! Winner winer.

    Reply
  6. Pam Wright says

    January 8, 2023 at 11:56 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe. Having drifted off to a happy place while making, I accidentally brushed the remaining butter on the uncooked batter. They still turned out great despite Mt incompetence, so very forgiving. Thanks Nagi.

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      March 27, 2024 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      Searching the comments for someone who did the same thing as me haha.

      Reply
  7. Hann says

    January 3, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    5 stars
    Best muffins ever! Super easy and super tasty.

    Reply
  8. Hali Luria says

    December 13, 2022 at 2:39 am

    Hi! This recipe looks delicious! I haven’t made yet but am planning to for Christmas morning. I would like to use jumbo muffin pan, do you recommend any changes?

    Reply
  9. Wheaty says

    December 10, 2022 at 10:14 am

    3 stars
    I feel bad but they weren’t that good, I keep biting it thinking it’s gonna be sweet but then its garlicky and cheesy ;(

    Reply
    • Caron says

      February 12, 2023 at 10:40 pm

      What recipe were you looking at as this one doesn’t mention sweet at all? It clearly states garlic and cheese and these muffins are so delicious, give them a try

      Reply
    • brenda says

      January 30, 2023 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      Didn’t you see garlic and cheese in the recipe?

      Reply
    • Sam says

      December 25, 2022 at 6:33 am

      Well, the heading does say “savoury” and “cheese”, and the recipe story frequently mentions garlic. So, how on earth were you expecting a sweet muffin?

      Reply
  10. Sam says

    November 20, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe! An extra 50g of cheese and it easily makes 12

    Reply
  11. Nazifa says

    October 30, 2022 at 3:43 pm

    5 stars
    I made this completely dairy free with vegan cheese, vegan butter, oat milk, and vegan cream cheese (instead of sour cream), and it worked so well. I also added cooked veggies and lots of dried herb seasonings. One of the best muffins I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  12. mia says

    October 18, 2022 at 6:06 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious!, easy and they look good too! Definitely saving this recipe!

    Reply
  13. Vesna says

    October 7, 2022 at 6:14 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe, bullet proof. Much has already been said in the previous comments. I would just like to add that I love the brushing of butter garlic mixture as it gives the muffins such a nice crust.

    Reply
  14. Stephanie says

    September 1, 2022 at 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I was looking for a different take on breakfast muffins and this recipe did not disappoint! I’ve varied this recipe to add in green onions, bacon bits, peppers – all ended up wonderful! 10/10 would recommend!

    Reply
  15. Catherine says

    August 30, 2022 at 5:00 am

    How long should I bake your Savoury Cheese Muffins if I bake them in mini muffin tins?

    Reply
  16. Leo says

    August 15, 2022 at 12:43 am

    5 stars
    Amazing! Great for all ages.

    Reply
  17. Anna says

    July 28, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    Have you made these as mini muffins before? Just wondering how long to bake for and approx how many you get when mini size, thanks!

    Reply
  18. Amber says

    July 20, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    5 stars
    I use this as a blank canvas for savory breakfast muffins and it’s worked great! I normally sub whole wheat flour, greek yogurt, and use less oil and add another egg but trying to make them healthier. I skip the garlic butter topping even though I’m sure it’s super delicious. I’ve added ham, scallions, sauteed onions, sausage, spinach…the possibilities are endless! Thanks for such a versatile recipe

    Reply
    • Claire says

      March 20, 2023 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe. Easy to make,tastes delicious. A garlic lovers dream 😍

      Reply
  19. Alex says

    July 13, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    Hi Nagi, I made these today with my support worker & we had them for morning tea. They came out perfectly & were absolutely scrumptious to smell, then eat.

    Reply
  20. Ian says

    July 9, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    Made these with some chopped sun dried tomatoes and kalamata olives. Mixed some parmesan in with the cheddar. Went down a treat at the neighbourhood Friday evening drinks. This recipe is bookmarked!

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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