10 Easy Muffin Tin Dinners for Seniors Living Alone (Perfect Single Portions)

10 easy muffin tin dinners for one or two. Every cup is a portion, most cost about $2 a plate or less, and each takes about 10 minutes on your feet. Most make 6 cups: 3 cups is a dinner. Extras freeze well. TIP: Line your cups with paper, foil or silicone liners, and spray them for anything with egg or cheese. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:07 Why a Muffin Tin Works 2:15 1. Mini Meatloaves 3:45 2. Spinach, Ham & Cheese Egg Cups 5:11 3. Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Cups 6:54 4. Baked Salmon Cakes 8:18 5. Wonton Lasagna Cups 9:52 6. Mini Chicken Pot Pies 11:15 7. Upside-Down Tortilla Taco Bowls 12:46 8. Turkey & Stuffing Cups 14:07 9. Chili Cornbread Cups 15:38 10. Little Shepherd's Pies 17:18 Final Thoughts THE RECIPES 1. MINI MEATLOAVES (6 cups, about $1.50 a plate) 1/2 lb ground beef, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 tbsp ketchup plus more for tops, 1 tsp dried minced onion, 1/4 tsp salt, pepper. 375°F. Mix gently, press into 6 lined cups, top with ketchup. Bake 22-25 min, to 160°F. Swaps: saltines or oats; fresh onion; ground turkey (to 165°F). 2. SPINACH, HAM & CHEESE EGG CUPS (6 cups) 4 eggs, 2 tbsp milk, 1/3 cup frozen spinach (thawed, squeezed dry), 2 slices deli ham, 1/4 cup cheddar, salt, pepper. 350°F. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper. Fill sprayed cups with spinach, ham, cheese, then egg to 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 min, until set. Swaps: broccoli; bacon or chicken; water for milk. 3. CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CUPS (6 cups) 1 cup cooked rice (day-old is best), 1 cup rotisserie chicken, 1/2 cup frozen broccoli, 1/2 cup cheddar, 1 egg, 1/4 cup cream of chicken soup. 375°F. Mix, press into 6 sprayed cups. Bake 15-18 min, to 165°F. Swaps: canned chicken; peas or green beans; 2 tbsp sour cream for soup. 4. BAKED SALMON CAKES (4 cups) 6-oz can salmon (drained), 1 egg, 6 saltines crushed, 1 tbsp mayo, 1 tsp lemon juice, pepper. 400°F. Flake salmon, mix in the rest, press into 4 sprayed cups. Bake 15-18 min, to 160°F. Swaps: canned tuna or chicken; breadcrumbs or oats; pickle juice for lemon. 5. WONTON LASAGNA CUPS (6 cups) 12 wonton wrappers, 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup frozen spinach (squeezed dry), 3/4 cup marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella, Italian seasoning. 375°F. Stir spinach and seasoning into ricotta. Layer wrapper, ricotta, sauce, cheese in sprayed cups. Repeat once. Bake 18-20 min. Swaps: tortilla circles; cottage cheese; add leftover meatballs. 6. MINI CHICKEN POT PIES (6 cups) 6 canned biscuits, 1 cup rotisserie chicken, 1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables, 2/3 cup cream of chicken soup, pepper, thyme. 375°F. Flatten biscuits to 4 inches, press into sprayed cups. Fill. Bake 15-18 min, to 165°F. Rest 5 min. Swaps: turkey; cream of mushroom or celery; pie crust circles. 7. UPSIDE-DOWN TORTILLA TACO BOWLS (2 bowls, about $1.50 each) Two 6-inch flour tortillas, 1/2 can black beans, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/2 tsp taco seasoning, 1/4 cup cheese, lettuce, sour cream. 375°F. Turn tin over. Microwave tortillas 20 sec under a damp towel, spray, tuck between 4 cups. Bake 8-10 min. Microwave beans, salsa, seasoning 1 min. Fill and top. Swaps: pinto beans or chicken; corn tortillas; tomato or cucumber. 8. TURKEY & STUFFING CUPS (6 cups) 1 cup stuffing mix, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 tbsp butter, 1 cup turkey, 1/4 cup frozen green beans, cranberry sauce. 350°F. Microwave broth and butter 1 min, pour over stuffing, rest 3 min. Add turkey and beans. Press into 6 lined cups, dent tops. Bake 15-18 min, to 165°F. Add cranberry. Swaps: chicken or ham; water plus bouillon; gravy. 9. CHILI CORNBREAD CUPS (6 cups, about $1 a plate) 8.5-oz box corn muffin mix, 1 egg, 1/3 cup milk, 1 cup canned chili with beans, 1/4 cup cheddar. 400°F. Mix batter. 1 tbsp batter in each sprayed cup, then chili, then remaining batter. Bake 15-18 min, cheese for the last 2. Swaps: sloppy joe or black beans; water for milk; biscuit mix. 10. LITTLE SHEPHERD'S PIES (6 cups) 1/2 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, 1/4 cup brown gravy plus more to serve, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire, salt, pepper, 1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes. 375°F. Mix beef, vegetables, 2 tbsp gravy, seasonings. Press into 6 lined cups, top with potatoes, rough up with a fork. Bake 25-30 min, to 160°F. Add warm gravy. Swaps: ground turkey (165°F); cream of mushroom; corn or green beans. Which one are you making first? Tell me in the comments. Subscribe for more simple cooking for one or two. Next up: sheet pan dinners for one. Take care of yourself. Hank, Hank's Little Kitchen #cookingforone #muffintinrecipes #seniorcooking