These easy savoury muffins are cheesy, garlicky with fluffy insides and crusty tops. They are incredibly simple to throw together and great for picnics, lunch boxes or just plain warm from the oven. In fact that is when they are at their most deadly.

This recipe is so easy and accommodating, it is my blue print for whatever I have left in the fridge and there is always, always cheese.
My children's favourite version are these Ham and Cheese Muffins but mine are Cheese and Chive......so moreish I cannot stop. The story of my life
*Scroll down for the full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.*
Savoury Muffins Recipe

Muffins are the workhorse of baking. They can take any flavour combo that works for you and yours. A cursory mix and a spooning into numerous paper cases and the oven does the rest time and time again.
I don't care if you're talking sweet or savoury, muffins can bring joy to the darkest corners of your kitchen especially if they are full of cheese or chocolate.
Choose your fillings well and then simply add to the batter. I always use cheese and my children are ham fans so that is what I mostly throw in.
I like to use the best ham I can so that is the least processed I can find. I do try to avoid the reformed ham. Leftovers from my Slow Cooker Gammon Joint are perfect as are real slices of ham.
I also like to use a tbsp of garlic oil. I just love the stuff and find it actually nicer and easier to use than garlic itself. It has a delicious mellowness that you usually only get from roasting garlic.
I find it genius in salads usually requiring raw garlic. Such as my Easy Chicken Caesar Salad.
*Scroll down for a full recipe card with exact ingredients and instructions at the bottom of this post.*
Recipe

- 300 grams (10.6 oz) plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 85 mls olive oil
- 1 tbsp garlic oil
- 150 grams (5.3 oz) mature cheddar cheese grated
- ½ tsp salt
- 50 grams (1.8 oz) ham
- 180 mls milk
- 2 large eggs
Method
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl very briefly. Don't worry that you can still see flour.
- Tip in the cheese and ham and briefly mix again.
- Mix as little as you can as muffins can become dense if over mixed. Less is more bakers.

- I then line a muffin tray with paper cases. For ease, this is by far the best way to bake muffins, however if you want to omit the paper cases and bake directly in the muffin tray then spray the muffin holes well with non stick oil spray.

- Bake for 15/20 minutes at 180 C/350F/Gas Mark 4 until golden and your kitchen smells of baked cheese and garlic.....
Muffin Variations
This recipe is adaptable to suit you sir. My children prefer the cheese and ham version but I absolutely adore cheese and chive.
- I omit the ham and add 7 grams of snipped chives. However there is always cheese. I use a mature cheddar because that is always what I have in my fridge.
- I have used an extra mature cheddar and found it a little too cheesy so remember to adapt the amount according to the strength of your cheese.
- I also make cheese and vegetable ones using frozen finely diced vegetables (carrot, celery and onion). I think they really need to be finely diced especially for my vegetable phobic children.
- I use 150 grams/5.3 ounces of frozen vegetables.

- I love this rather grown up version with Feta and Roasted Peppers.
- I use 50 grams/1.75 ozs of mature grated cheddar and 100 grams/3.5 ozs of crumbled feta. I throw in 70 grams/2.5 ozs of roasted peppers from a jar but you could also use 30 grams/1oz sun dried tomatoes for a real mediterranean savoury muffin.
- Then bake as normal.
Equipment Required
- Large mixing bowl
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
- Paper Cases or Non Stick Spray
- Large Spoon or Ice Cream Scoop
- Wire rack
- Oven Thermometer (optional)
- 12 hole Muffin Tray
Muffin Tips
- Adjust the amount of cheese to suit it's strength. This recipe is for a mature cheddar.
- Use non stick oil spray in the muffin tray if not using paper cases.
- Gently run a knife around the muffin until you feel it become loose before pulling it from the tray if you are not using paper cases.
- Interchange fillings to suit your tastes, family and what you have in the fridge.
- Mix only just enough to avoid the muffins becoming dense.
- I use a large serving spoon to dollop the mixture into the paper cases or holes. You can use an ice cream scoop.
- Reheat any left overs in a medium oven for roughly 5 minutes or 10 seconds in a microwave.
- Store any uneaten in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To make these muffins gluten free simply use gluten free flour. But add a splash of extra milk as gluten free flour usually absorbs more liquid.
- You can freeze these muffins by double wrapping them in clingfilm and silver foil. I usually then place them in a labelled carrier bag or tupperware container. To defrost I leave them out at room temperature for an hour before reheating them in a medium oven for 10/15 minutes.
I like to sometimes serve these muffins with soup for Lunch. Particularly my Celeriac Soup and Baked Onion and Garlic Cream Soup.
Check out some more fabulous baked cheesy love with these


Savoury Muffins
Ingredients
- 300 grams plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 85 mls olive oil
- 1 tbsp garlic oil
- 150 grams mature cheddar cheese grated
- ½ tsp salt
- 50 grams ham
- 180 mls milk
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Place all the wet ingredients into a measuring jug. I put the 180 mls milk in first followed by 85 mls of olive oil then a tbsp of garlic oil. Last to go in is the 2 large eggs and then the whole lot is beaten well with a small whisk.
- Pour the liquid into a large mixing bowl that has the 300 grams of plain flour, ½ tsp salt and 2 tsp of baking powder in. Give it all a couple of stirs and then throw in the 50 grams chopped ham and 150 grams grated cheese. Mix until only just mixed together.
- Spray non stick spray onto the muffin holes if you are not using paper cases. If you are then place 12 cases into the muffin holes. Spoon or dollop in the muffin mix as equally as you can.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool a little before devouring. I put them on a wire rack after 5 minutes.
- Apply To Bedraggled Face
Video
Notes
- Adjust the amount of cheese to suit it's strength. This recipe is for a mature cheddar.
- Use non stick oil spray in the muffin tray if not using paper cases.
- Gently run a knife around the muffin until you feel it become loose before pulling it from the tray if you are not using paper cases.
- Interchange fillings to suit your tastes, family and what you have in the fridge.
- Mix only just enough to avoid the muffins becoming dense.
- I use a large serving spoon to dollop the mixture into the paper cases or holes. You can use an ice cream scoop.
- Reheat any left overs in a 180 C for 5 minutes or 10 seconds in a microwave.
- Store any uneaten in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To make these muffins gluten free simply use gluten free flour. But add a splash of extra milk as gluten free flour usually absorbs more liquid.
- You can freeze these muffins by double wrapping them in clingfilm and silver foil. I usually then place them in a labelled carrier bag or tupperware container. To defrost I leave them out at room temperature for an hour before reheating them in a medium oven for 10/15 minutes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is approximate and intended only as a guide.
Do let me know how you got on in the comments below. I do love a good old hairy chin wag.
Donna
I've never made a savoury muffin! These look fab though, very tasty and I'd definitely be adding all of the cheese!
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A girl after my own heart!
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
Oh, your sodden vacation sounds like it was pure misery! You poor thing! Hopefully whipping up a batch of these delicious muffins made you feel better about life. GIVE ME ALL THE MUFFINS!
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Thanks it so did! I still can't stop!!!
Cat | Curly's Cooking
I love making savoury muffins. They're so easy and delicious. I'm definitely with your children here, cheese and ham sound like the perfect combination.
Jacqui
I like savoury muffins but dont make them nearly enough. These look particularly yummy!
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I'm so into muffins at the moment!
Monika Dabrowski
These look and sound super gorgeous and fluffy. Cheese and garlic are just so good together! Thank you for bringing your delicious recipe to #CookBlogShare
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Thanks Monika! One of my fave combos ever!
Lou | Crumbs and Corkscrews
Oh no... the weather has been horrendous hasn't it? I drove down to Devon for the weekend on Friday, and it was torrential all the way down. What normally takes 2 and bit hours, took over 5 hours. These muffins would have been a welcome sight when I there... and I completely agree they are most llethal when straight from the oven!
Lisa
Delish ?
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist
Always love a good savoury muffin. Especially one packed with cheese! ?