These Cheese Muffins taste like cheesy garlic bread, in muffin form!! I’ll take these savoury muffins over sweet ones any day. Quick to make and sinfully more-ish with golden crusty tops and incredibly fluffy soft insides, keep a stash for snacking, pop them in lunch boxes or serve a basket of these with dinner!
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!
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!
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.
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:
Garlic Bread. (Skip the artisan bread. Gotta use cheap French stick!)
Cheese and Garlic Crack bread (there are no words…)
Cheese, Herb and Garlic Quick Bread (loaf form, no yeast)
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!
Watch how to make it
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Savoury Cheese Muffins
Ingredients
Butter and Cheese:
- 3 tbsp / 50g unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , crushed using a garlic press or grated finely
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese (Note 1)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups 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)
- 1 cup milk (full or low fat)
- 1/4 cup sour cream (or plain yoghurt)
- 1/3 cup vegetable or olive oil (or any plain flavoured oils)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley , optional (Note 3)
- 1 garlic clove , crusted using garlic press or finely grated using microplane
Instructions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE:
- Melt butter with garlic, brush 11 holes generously (reserve bit for tops). Whisk Dry and Wet ingredients in separate bowls. Pour Dry into Wet, mix just 8 times. Add cheese, mix as little as you can. Fill 11 holes of muffin tin. Bake 25 minutes at 180°C/350°F (160°C fan), brush tops with remaining butter.
FULL RECIPE:
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan-forced)
- Garlic butter – Place butter and garlic in a microwave proof bowl and melt in 2 x 30 second bursts. Mix.
- Great muffin tin – Brush a 11 holes of a standard muffin tin generously with the butter, being sure to slather with some garlic. Use most – just reserve a bit for brushing the tops later)
- Make batter – Whisk Dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk Wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour Wet into the Dry ingredients bowl. Mix 8 times – some flour will remain not mixed in, that's ok.
- Add cheese, then mix as few times as possible just to incorporate remaining bits of flour – no more than 7 big stirs (secret to soft muffs). The batter can be lumpy, that's fine.
- Fill muffin tine – 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 25 – 27 minutes or until the muffins are domed, golden and crusty. A toothpick inserted should come out clean.
- Butter brush and cool – Brush remaining butter on the surface (re-melt again if needed). Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove onto cooling rack. Cool for at least 5 minutes before getting stuck into them!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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!!
These cheesy jewels will pair perfect with the crown roast we’re preparing tomorrow for the Harry and Meghan “Royal Wedding” lunch we’re having with friends.
Dozer looks like he lapping up all the attention. You know, from now on, he’ll want you to help him up. Glad to see the boy is doing so well.
Hmmph, dear friend! What happened to my ‘royal’ invitation . . . . 🙂 ?
Yeah! Where was MY invite too!! 😂
You guys are always welcome and will be on the VIP list for the next royal wedding luncheon we host.
Nagi: So glad to hear that Dozer is beginning to be “on the mends”. What a sweet, good boy he is. Now all that is left is the healing. It’ll take time but, in the end he will be a happier boy and so will his mom.
I am in hopes of getting a Golden at the end of this summer. Not sure how it will go at the moment as my husband has to have another hip surgery and then after that……..
I am so glad you are posting pictures of how Dozer is doing also.
Oh, and the cheese muffins look sooooo good. Can’t wait to make them. Love you and your boy.
Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. Did he recover ok from the first one?? Yes get a golden!!! Are you looking at getting a puppy or a quieter older one? I actually tried to get a rescue but was rejected!! 😂
These look amazing, but I’m a little confused about the garlic and melted butter. Does it go in the batter with the other ‘wet’ ingredients, or is it only for oiling the muffin pan? I really want to try these, but don’t want to screw them up to badly!! 🙂
Hi Lynn! Sorry you find that confusing 🙂 The garlic and butter are used to brush the pan, then to brush the top of the muffins when they come out 🙂 Only the ingredients under “Wet” go into the bowl for whisking. Hope you try and LOVE these!! N xx
Thank you so much for clarifying that for me! I’ll make them now! Love all your recipes, by the way! 🙂
Looks awesome, Nagi! Garlic bread in muffin form? I see a new addiction forming. =)
Throw some chillies in Mike! 😜
Haha, I just might!
Oh these cheese muffins have me drooling, and I just had breakfast! Cannot wait to try these! I like Neal’s suggestion of PepperJack cheese. Yum!
So glad that Dozer is home!! I imagine he is glad to be home among familiar surroundings and have his Mom take care of him.
He is the WORSE patient ever. He literally just busted his stitches open!!! He bit through them!! 😖
Hi Nagi I luv, luv, luv all your recipes specially these cheese muffins I’m a cheese lover in fact iv been told I take the luv of cheese to a whole new level😊 lol but it’s ok every one says they luv when I make recipes with cheese as I’m all for sharing with my friends😊 I’m going to make this recipe so looking forward to it i will be in Cheese heven 😲can I ask what has happened to Dozer iv been away and didn’t always have my mobile switched on due to bad reception where I was, i luv Dozer and he looks so sad😟 iv got 4 dogs and a Fat cat as we call her she is 12 years old my dogs are rescue dogs 2 Border Collies, a Maltese and a staffy x mastiff my husband passed away 18 months ago I live with my daughter Audrey wevmanage each day as it comes our pets have been our strength as you know they luv you unconditionally sorry for the long email hope you don’t mind please can you email me back to let me know what’s happened to Dozer I’m very worried 😢 give Dozer a big get better hug please😊 Regards Jennifer.
Hi Jennifer! Thank you for the sweet message about Dozer! He is totally fine now, he tore his ACL, his knee ligaments, and his joints were sliding out all over the place. It was icky 🙁 He had surgery last week and he’s home now, he is much MUCh better! Hug passed on and happily received by the patient!! You are wonderful for rescuing so may pooches 🙂 N xx
“technology hasn’t advanced quite far enough yet that I can deliver you fresh-out-of-the-oven Savoury Cheese Muffins through a screen” Damn! Come on science, I need one of these now!
you and me both!!! 😂
Hello Nag,
this recipe sounds fantastic. I am planning on making it for a party. Can I prep this in advance? Please let me know.
Thank you so much,
Marion
Absolutely!!! An entire plate of these will reheat very quickly in the microwave – about 30 seconds maybe? Or oven!
I made tonight and they were a hit. Next time instead of Monterey Jack cheese I will use Pepperjack cheese
That’s great Neal! So pleased to hear that! N x
Hi Nagi!
I’m really excited to try these. Savoury muffins over sweet anytime, anyday! Couple of questions though if you will bare with me. Because I am lazy haha… could I just melt the butter and garlic together and stir it straight into the batter, or will it not have quite the same effect? Also I think I’ll try room temperature and leave out the cheese but wanted to try stirring through spinach, feta, chopped jalapeños, and *maybe* some chopped bacon. I’m nothing if not excessive! 😅 Do you think these additions would work since I would be omitting the mozzarella? If so how much of each would you suggest? 😍 thanks! I’m excited!
Ps I am confused as to how my picture attached to this comment but… there I am! 🤣
I’m confused too, sorry! I don’t even know how mine got there! 🤣
Yep you can totally stir melt butter and garlic together 🙂 YES to your add ins! Yes yes yes!! I’d just have a small pile of each and stir them in until you “see” enough in the batter. That’s how I’d do it!
Amazing. Thanks! Now to dedicate a day to trying your beef rendang… 🤤
What if I substitute margarine for butter? Will the result be the same? Unfortunately, we have high cholesterol and have to watch our diet. ;( Also, do you think it’ll taste fine with dill instead of parsley?
That should be fine Alisa! I make this with oil sometimes 🙂 N x
Omg, I want to bake everything I see here. I was going g to try the garlicky cheesy bread but muffins will be better for us. Who thought this hidden site would be so many delicious things. Your the best and so glad I found you. Going shopping now.
Thank you for the compliment Sandy! Hope you try and LOVE some recipes! N xx
Any way to make these gluten free?
Love your recipes!!!
Sherl
I’m sorry I don’t know Sheryl, I haven’t tried 🙂 So glad you’re enjoying my recipes! N xx
Hi , thank you for sharing your recipes. I tried this garlic cheese muffins and some how it tasted a bit floury. Although i baked them at 200 degrees for 35 minutes , so i don’t them were undercooked. Oh and this is my first time baking anything 🙂 so can you help me figure out what went wrong? Thank you so much
Hi Ngan! What type of flour did you use?? Normal flour??
Hi Nagi, I used plain flour. I took a photo of my muffins. But I don’t know how can I attach it in the comment here.
My husband just loves garlic bread. When I saw these muffins, I decided to try them. Just reduced the ingredients and made for two. They were super yummy. We couldn’t even wait for them to cool down.
Thank you Meghan! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, and thanks for letting me know! N xx
So good when I made it ! I added a bit more milk to my batter, it looked a bit dry and I cooked it longer and added more garlic but they turned out amazing so good
The garlic muffins turned out so well ! I added a little extra milk to my battery because it Looked a bit dry and added more garlic but turned out amazing. I also added less butter on top of the balls so it was less fat and cooked them a bit longer but so good !
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Ally! Thanks for letting me know! N x
Hi! I’m dying to try this! Just wanted to ask; if i want to half the ingredients, should i keep the oven temperature and baking time the same? Also, i have shredded mozzarella instead of a block, will that work? Thanks in advance!
Hi Faiza! Yup for sure that will work with shredded and the bake time and temp will be the same 🙂 Well, maybe a couple of minutes less, but around the same!
Just wanted to let you know that I made it and everyone loved it! The only thing I would do next time is like triple the garlic and cheese haha! Not because the recipe was lacking, just because everyone in my family loves garlic and cheese. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks ❤️
BA HA HA! That could have been ME writing that message!!! So glad everyone enjoyed these Faiza! N x
Hi Nagi, just thought I’d let you know that we are about to go camping again and that I found some bigger , sturdier muffin papers at a cheap store and itching to try them out . I had no trouble before but I may have to adjust the cooking time now, Over the years I have just about made everything in our camp ovens, weather permiting,and had my share of flops, and now quiet a few of your recipes are in my campbook, I’m in my 70’s now and still love to cook. Thanks for sharing with us
I’m honoured that some of my recipes are in your camp book Lynette!!! What are you favourite things to cook when you camp?? I’m big into skewers over charcoal – such a treat to cook over real flames!
Love it!
Nagi, if you keep posting pics with oozing cheese like that, one day you’ll find me standing in front of your doorstep 🙂
Promises promises…. 😉