• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Straight Up Food
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
×

Savory Holiday Muffins

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This recipe makes twelve savory muffins by combining my Lentil-Rice Loaf and Mashed Potatoes recipes! You can serve them with Creamy Mushroom Gravy, Ketchup, or Cranberry Sauce! These are a fun and tasty alternative to a traditional loaf entree.

Savory Holiday Muffins
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Savory Holiday Muffins


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Cathy
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1¾ cups water
  • ½ cup dry/uncooked brown-green lentils
  • ½ cup dry/uncooked short-grain brown rice
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 5 medium white or cremini mushrooms, chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 1 large rib celery, sliced (about ½ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly chopped garlic (4 to 5 medium cloves)
  • ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
  • 2 ounces pecans or walnuts, chopped (about ½ cup; optional)
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage (or 1 ½ teaspoons dried rubbed sage)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary (or ¾ teaspoon dried)
  • Half recipe mashed potatoes (Yukon potatoes work best for this recipe)

Instructions

  1. Place the water, lentils, rice, poultry seasoning, and granulated onion into a medium saucepan over high heat. When it begins to boil, reduce the heat to low, then cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes with the lid still on. (Prepare your remaining ingredients while the rice and lentils are cooking.)
  2. Place 1 tablespoon of water into a medium frying pan over high heat. When the water starts to sputter, add the chopped onion, mushrooms, and celery, and cook while stirring for 3 to 5 minutes, adding a little water, as needed. Add the garlic and stir for 2 minutes more until the vegetables have softened. If you're using dried herbs, stir them in with the garlic; if using fresh herbs, you will add them in step 4. Remove from the heat.
  3. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a muffin pan with parchment paper liners.
  4. Place the oats, tomato paste, and nuts (if using) into a large bowl. If you're using frsh herbs (sage, thyme, and rosemary), add them to the bowl as well. When the cooked vegetables, rice, and lentils have cooled for at least 10 minutes, add them to the bowl, and stir until all of the ingredients have been mixed thoroughly. Set aside.
  5. Make the half recipe of mashed potatoes if you have not yet done so.
  6. Scoop the mashed potatoes evenly among the 12 muffin liners, and pack down firmly (I tried this with the mashed potatoes on top, but they dried out too much). Do the same with the lentil-rice mixture, mounding on top.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes, until medium brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve as is or with Creamy Mushroom Gravy, Better Ketchup, or Cranberry Sauce.

Equipment

Tupperware Mixing Bowl with Lid

Buy Now →

Parchment Paper Liners

Buy Now →

Notes

Herbs: During the holidays I like to use fresh herbs in this recipe, especially fresh sage, as its aroma and flavor are very "holiday." But fresh herbs aren't always practical, so feel free to use the measurements for dried. Or even a mix of fresh and dried.

  • Prep Time: 50 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @straightupfood and hashtag it #straightupfood - we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Above: Step 1, the cooked lentils and rice.
Above: Step 2, the prepared onion, celery, mushrooms and garlic.
Above: After cooking the veggies in step 2, there should not be any liquid left in the bottom of the pan.
Above: Step 4: all ingredients are ready to be mixed well.
Above: After mixing; it should be sticking together; moist but not overly wet or dry.
Above: Parchment paper liners work the best when not using any oil or fat in the mixture. (This brand shows "Large" but they are the regular muffin size.)
Above: Press the mashed potatoes into the parchment liners to make room for the lentil-rice mixture. I use a 2 tablespoon scoop, which makes it easier and cleaner.
Above: Add the lentil-rice mixture on top of the potatoes and pack down. Keep filling, the mixture will come above the top edge of the muffin liners. Just make a mound on the top.
Above: After baking! You want a nice, medium brown on top. You can also just use the lentil-rice mixture for each muffin, without the mashed potatoes; but both are fun and eye-catching! I love mashed potatoes, so I'd still make a large bowl separately.
« Crabless Cakes
Sweet & Spicy Chickpea Stew »

Share the recipe:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jim Savarese

    November 19, 2022 at 7:15 am

    Awesome

    Reply
    • Cathy

      November 27, 2022 at 11:36 am

      Thanks Jim! 😉 Hope you had a nice TG!

      Reply
  2. Susan

    January 25, 2024 at 5:44 am

    These are so good! Can they be frozen?

    Reply
    • Cathy

      January 25, 2024 at 9:56 am

      Hi Susan, I've not tried, but potatoes generally don't freeze well. They thaw a different texture, kind of chalky. But if you don't mind that, I think it would be fine. Next time you make them, freeze one and test it and out; and then let me know how it goes. 😉 Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Lauren

    February 16, 2025 at 8:13 pm

    We loved this recipe! Takes a long time, but it’s worth it. You don’t miss the salt and oil at all. We were also pleasantly surprised by how well the muffins stayed together (potato layer and topping layer) after removing the muffin papers.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Recent Recipes

  • Fresh Rolls with Mango Sauce
  • Irish Potatoes
  • Cauliflower Soup
  • Banana-Walnut Muffins
  • Cranberry Jelly
  • Stuffed Peppers
  • Yellow Split Pea & Butternut Soup
  • Nachos
  • Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
  • Sweet & Spicy Chickpea Stew
  • Savory Holiday Muffins
  • Crabless Cakes
  • Creamy Corn Pasta
  • Pumpkin Muffins
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
  • Tortilla Soup
  • Tabouli Salad
  • Black Bean Chili
  • Spicy Thai Salad

Footer

  • About
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • My Meals

COPYRIGHT © 2025 STRAIGHT UP FOOD · DESIGN BY CLDS

↑ back to top