Simple Focaccia Muffins

Learn how to make simple focaccia muffins for savory bread bites that pair perfectly with all your go-to dishes, whether you’re serving up soups or salads, or just need a tasty snack. With bright tomatoes, briny olives, and melty cheese all tucked into fluffy bread, no one can resist these savory, mouthwatering muffins!

What Are Focaccia Muffins and Reasons You Need This Recipe

Focaccia muffins are basically bite-sized pieces of focaccia bread. Just as flavorful as they are adorable, they bake in a muffin tin, creating perfectly poppable pieces.

We use Mediterranean-inspired toppings, but anything goes! With our version, you don’t even have to spend time making the dough.

We’re sharing all our tips and tricks to create bakery-worthy focaccia bites with minimal prep time and a speedy cook time. They’re going to become your new go-to side dish recipe!

Hands indenting bread rolls in a muffin tin.

Recipe Ingredients

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to take a look at the recipe card below for the complete details and nutrition information!

Dinner Rolls – This is our secret to creating showstopping focaccia recipes with ease! We love Rhodes dinner rolls, but any frozen variety will work.
Tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes add a pop of color and a savory, acidic taste.
Olives – A combination of black and green olives adds a tangy, salty flavor that pairs wonderfully with the buttery rolls.
Cheese – Use feta crumbles and Parmesan cheese for extra gooey goodness.
Seasonings – Dried oregano and salt enhance the savoriness of the focaccia bites.
Olive Oil – This is crucial to creating a rich flavor and golden exterior! For the finest results, use a high-quality olive oil that has a bold, peppery taste.

Indented bread rolls in a muffin tin topped with olive oil.

Raw bread focaccia muffins with olives, tomatoes, and cheese in a muffin tin.

Focaccia But Make It Muffins

Rest the dough. Fill each muffin cup with a frozen dinner roll. Then, cover the muffin tin with plastic wrap. Set it aside, letting the dough double in size.
Indent. Gently press down on each roll, creating several indents with your fingertips.
Top the muffins. Drizzle each roll with olive oil, filling the indents. Then, add your toppings of choice.
Bake. Transfer the muffin tin to a preheated oven, and bake until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
Serve. Allow the focaccia muffins to cool slightly in the pan. Then, enjoy warm!

Tips for Success

Allow Plenty of Rising Time. It’s crucial to let the dough rest in a warm, dry place. Otherwise, the rolls won’t rise up and become soft and fluffy as they bake.
Don’t Skimp on the Oil. Not only does this add tons of flavor, but it also helps the toppings cling to the bread and creates an almost caramelized exterior.
Use Pizza Dough. Don’t have rolls on hand? Roll your go-to pizza dough into balls, and use it instead!

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for two to three days.
Freeze the muffins on a baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer them to a sealable bag, and keep them frozen for up to one month.
Reheat your focaccia bites thawed or frozen in the oven just until heated through. Be careful not to burn!

Close up image of focaccia muffins topped with tomatoes, olives, and cheese.

Common Questions About This Focaccia Muffins Recipe

Do I need to knead the dough?

Nope! We use rolls for a super speedy hack!

Do I need a special pan?

Nope! A standard 12-cup muffin tin works great. Just make sure to oil each cup well so the muffins pop out easily.

How should I serve them?

There’s nothing these focaccia muffins don’t pair well with! We love them warm with a swipe of butter or dipped into olive oil and balsamic. They’re also memorable with soups, salads, pasta, or even as a savory breakfast. Try serving them with soups, salads, pasta, and more. Or pair them with Boursin cheese pasta, spicy chicken rigatoni, or Moroccan spicy tomato soup.

Can I use this dough to make a full-sized focaccia too?

Yes! Just spread the dough in 9×13 pan, let it rise, press in your toppings, and bake!

More Drool-Worthy Focaccia Recipes

We are big fans of focaccia so we have no shortage of recipes for variations of this flavorful bread!

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 12 servings

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Resting Time: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 25 mins

Skip kneading dough and complicated steps, and make these simple, bite-sized focaccia muffins with your go-to toppings of choice instead! Email

Ingredients

12 frozen dinner rolls
Cherry tomatoes to taste sliced
Black olives to taste sliced
Green olives to taste sliced
Feta cheese to taste crumbled
6 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
Dash of salt
12 teaspoons olive oil for drizzling before toppings

Instructions

Place one frozen dinner roll into each muffin cup of an ungreased muffin tin.12 frozen dinner rolls
Cover the muffin tin with plastic wrap. Rest the dough at room temperature, letting it rise until doubled in size, approximately 6 hours or as per package instructions.
Once the dough has risen, gently press down on each risen roll using fingertips to create several indents, replicating the appearance of focaccia bread.
Drizzle each roll generously with a teaspoon of olive oil, ensuring the oil fills the indents created on the surface of the dough.12 teaspoons olive oil
Add toppings to each roll, filling the indents created earlier. (See notes.)Cherry tomatoes to taste, Black olives to taste, Green olives to taste, Feta cheese to taste, 6 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese to taste, 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, Dash of salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Once baked, allow the rolls to cool for a few minutes in the muffin tin before transferring them to a serving plate.
Serve warm, and enjoy the tasty flavors!

Equipment

1 Muffin Pan

Notes

Flavor Options:

Mediterranean Option: Place a few slices of cherry tomatoes, black olives, green olives, and crumbled feta cheese on top of each roll. Sprinkle with a pinch of dried oregano and a dash of salt.
Parmesan Option: Sprinkle each roll with grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of dried oregano.
Mixed Option: Combine various toppings like tomatoes, olives, and cheese on each roll to create a variety of flavors.