20 Meals You Didn’t Know You Could Make in a Toaster Oven
Ah, the toaster oven: a perfect tool for making… toast? While these miniature ovens do produce perfectly toasted bread, they can do a whole lot more. A toaster oven is also more energy efficient than a regular oven and has the ability to brown and crispify foods in a way that a microwave can't. From whole eggs still in their shells to pizza, fish, kebabs, and muffins—here’s how to use your toaster oven for more than just sliced bread.
What You’ll Need
Toaster ovens are, well, mini ovens. And since they’re so mini, it’s impossible to shove a giant cookie sheet in there. (Yes, we tried.) To make these recipes extra easy, arm yourself with these toaster-oven friendly tools.
- Small Cookie Sheet. An 8x11 inch cookie sheet fits most standard toaster ovens, but check your model’s instruction manual for size guidelines. Don’t want to head to the kitchen store? Tin foil always works in a pinch.
- Six-Cup Muffin Tin. It’s no surprise that a 12-cup muffin tin isn’t toaster oven friendly, but some 6-cup tins won’t either. Make sure to buy one that has less metal around the edges so it’ll fit. (Check the packaging for dimensions).
- Ramekins. These little oven-safe cups are great for oatmeal bakes, baked eggs, or individual fruit crisps.
- Bread Pan. A standard size loaf pan is likely a bit too large for a toaster oven. Look for one that’s no more than10x5 inches. Or go with mini loaf pans (or one that’s no more than10x5 inches).
Planning on becoming a toaster-cooking connoisseur? Invest in a toaster oven baking set! (This one includes a mini baking sheet, muffin tin, cooling rack, and cake pan.)
Breakfast
1. Mini Breakfast Pizza
Pizza for breakfast?! Throw an egg on it, and it’s totally a morning meal. We like to swap in whole-wheat English muffins for added fiber and protein and forgo the cheese for a dairy-free version—they’ve still got enough flavor from the egg and pizza sauce.
2. Maple Glazed Sausage and Figs
Fresh figs, which are in season from late summer through fall, are a nutritional powerhouse packed with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, potassium, and calcium. They also taste great and sweeten up the already sweet and savory sausage.
3. Greek Frittata
Frittatas are an easy way to start the morning with a healthy dose of protein and veggies. This version includes spinach, tomatoes, scallions, and feta. Combine in a small casserole dish and pop in the toaster oven for a simple breakfast with 26 grams of protein per serving. Tip: Throw in some olives for extra Mediterranean flare.
4. Hard "Boiled" Eggs
Skip the boiling water and cracked shells and pop eggs directly onto the toaster oven (keep the shells on!) for hard baked eggs. And go ahead, keep the yolk: Studies show whole eggs may not be as unhealthy as we once thought.
5. Whole-Wheat Blueberry Cornbread Muffins
Mmmm, blueberries and cornbread. These muffins get a healthy revamp with whole-wheat flour, unsweetened applesauce, and a bunch of fresh blueberries. Each muffin has only 115 calories and a healthy 4 grams of protein. Eat ‘em for breakfast or as a snack.
6. Baked Eggs
Fill ramekins with eggs, tomatoes, spinach, a little bit of milk, and some cheese. Just 15 minutes in the toaster oven, and you’ve got yourself a quick, comforting breakfast!
7. Zucchini, Mint, and Parmesan Frittata
Mint with eggs may sound like a funny combo, but it’s fairly common in French cuisine. Once all the ingredients are in a small casserole dish, breakfast is only 10 minutes away!
8. Harvest Granola
All it takes to whip up a batch of granola at home is a bunch of crunchy stuff and a little heat (from your toaster oven). This mix is slightly spicy with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger, and gets its base from oats, flax, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and almonds.
9. Baked Apple Oats
Toasting up cinnamon-dusted apple chunks is a simple, quick way to jazz up your morning oats. Add peanut butter and Greek yogurt for protein and creaminess.
10. Cinnamon Bananas
This recipe calls for only four ingredients: A banana, lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon. And for a lazy Sunday brunch (or dessert) top with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and some dark chocolate chips.
11. Whole Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins
These oaty bites are a healthier way to start the morning, with whole-wheat flour and oats. Feel free to omit the extra teaspoon of sugar (the honey will make them plenty sweet) as well as the canola oil (the bananas make for a healthier substitution).
Lunch
12. Chicken Quesadillas
These ‘dillas can be filled with all sorts of veggies, too. Instead of white tortillas, choose whole-wheat. Using fresh herbs will also give the meal extra flour so you can cut back a little on the cheese.
13. Roasted Broccoli With Crispy Prosciutto
This recipe is mostly (super healthy) broccoli. But here, it gets a tasty, salty companion: prosciutto, a dry-cured, thinly-sliced ham. The toaster oven makes the prosciutto extra crispy for a texture contrast to the baked broccoli.
14. Portobello Pesto Burgers
These “burgers” aren’t exactly burgers. The meat of the sandwich is pesto-seasoned portobellos. Serve them on whole-grain buns with a side of fresh carrot-fennel slaw. Each burger has 8 grams of fiber and comes in under 400 calories.
15. Tortilla Pizza
For a lighter take on pizza, try this healthy recipe: Use a whole-grain tortilla as the crust and then top with some marinara sauce, a sprinkle of reduced fat cheese, and tons of fresh veggies (whatever you have on hand works).
16. Baked Tofu
This is a super versatile lunch. Instead of battling a block of jiggly tofu in a skillet, toss it in the toaster. Press out some of the liquid first for firmer slices, and choose your favorite marinade. Cube the tofu and cook it a little longer for a bread-less crouton alternative for salads or serve it in a whole-wheat wrap with greens andjulienned veggies.
17. Squash and Zucchini Pizza Bites
Roll out small rounds of whole-wheat pizza dough (or use mini whole-wheat pitas), top with a thin layer of pesto and alternating slices of zucchini and yellow squash, and bake. The summer vegetables make for a pretty,potassium-filled lunch.
18. Paleo Pizza
The crust for this pizza is made from almond meal, egg whites, and flaxseed meal for a paleo-friendly lunch or dinner. Top it with your favorite sauce, cheese, veggies, and/or meats, and bake until crispy.
19. Open Faced Tuna Melt
Lighten up the classic tuna melt by using reduced-fat mayo or plain Greek yogurt, reduced fat cheese, and a whole-grain English muffin. Salsa and cilantro add some zest to a regularly bland meal without any extra fat or too much sodium.
20. Delicata Squash with Kale
Kale, one of our favorite superfoods, joins roasted squash in this very minimal recipe seasoned by just olive oil, salt, and pepper. Acorn squash and another green (like spinach or chard) would work too!
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