Delicious Gluten-Free Ham & Rice Muffin Tin Eggs Benedict with Cranberry Hollandaise

Holiday brunches hold a special place in my heart! While the children eagerly anticipate presents beneath the tree, I often find myself dreaming of those long, leisurely, and festive brunches shared with cherished family and friends. And if anyone in your circle navigates gluten allergies or sensitivities, this incredible Gluten-Free Ham & Rice Muffin Tin Eggs Benedict with Blender Cranberry Hollandaise sauce recipe will be your holiday culinary hero!

This post was sponsored by USA Rice Canada. I was compensated monetarily but all opinions are my own.

This delightful recipe is not only naturally gluten-free, but it’s also incredibly Weight Watchers friendly! My inspiration for using rice as the base stemmed from a common pantry situation: I rarely have gluten-free bread on hand, but always have an abundance of rice. This makes it a go-to for a hearty, wholesome, and compliant meal. What I adore most about this recipe is its ingenious use of leftovers. You can effortlessly transform both leftover rice AND leftover ham into a gourmet brunch experience. If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking creative ways to repurpose holiday leftovers, not just during the festive season, but throughout the entire year!

Why You’ll Love This Muffin Tin Eggs Benedict Recipe

Eggs Benedict is a classic brunch staple that I find almost impossible to resist when dining out. However, I prefer cooking at home for several reasons: it’s more economical, and crucially, I have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring quality and catering to specific dietary needs. This homemade version is not only quick and easy to prepare, but it’s also packed with wholesome ingredients, making it a healthier alternative to traditional Eggs Benedict. The use of a muffin tin simplifies the cooking process, allowing you to bake perfectly set eggs without the fuss of poaching. It’s a truly innovative twist on a beloved dish.

Rice is a cornerstone of my diet, offering numerous benefits beyond its convenience and budget-friendly nature. It’s a versatile grain that provides essential nutrition and sustained energy:

• Sustained Energy Source: Rice, especially brown rice, is a delicious and versatile slow-burning complex carbohydrate, providing long-lasting energy perfect for starting your day.
• Naturally Allergen-Friendly: It’s naturally sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and gluten-free, making it an excellent low-allergen choice for many dietary requirements.
• Ideal Pre & Post-Workout Fuel: Its slow-burning complex carbohydrate profile makes rice an ideal food for both pre and post-workout meals, helping to fuel your body and aid recovery.
• Nutrient-Rich: Beyond energy, rice contributes to overall well-being with various vitamins and minerals.

🥘 Essential Ingredients for Your Muffin Tin Eggs Benedict

To create these delightful muffin tin eggs benedict and the vibrant cranberry hollandaise, you’ll need a selection of fresh and pantry staples. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in building the unique flavor and texture of this festive dish:

• Rice: I highly recommend brown rice for its nutty flavor and added health benefits, though any cooked rice will work.
• Ham: Perfect for utilizing holiday leftovers! Diced ham adds a savory depth.
• Green Onion: Provides a mild, fresh onion flavor and a pop of color.
• Old/Sharp Cheddar Cheese: I opt for low-fat cheddar to keep it lighter, offering a sharp, creamy element.
• Eggs: Central to any Eggs Benedict! You’ll need eggs for both the rice base and the topping, plus yolks for the hollandaise.
• Unsweetened Applesauce: A surprising but brilliant addition to the hollandaise, adding natural sweetness and body without extra sugar.
• Sriracha Sauce: Introduces a fantastic mild heat to the hollandaise, giving it a modern twist. Adjust to your spice preference.
• Lemon Juice: Essential for the classic tang and brightness in Hollandaise sauce.
• Cranberries: I use frozen whole cranberries (defrosted) for the festive and tart cranberry hollandaise.
• Olive Oil: Used in the hollandaise for richness and smooth texture.
• Unsalted Butter: Another key component for the luxurious texture of the hollandaise.

*Refer to the detailed recipe card below for precise quantities.

💭 Top Culinary Tip

If you have concerns about consuming raw egg yolks in the hollandaise sauce, there’s an easy solution! You can learn how to pasteurize eggs safely in the microwave HERE. This ensures peace of mind while still achieving that rich, creamy texture for your sauce.

🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Brunch

Crafting these muffin tin eggs benedict is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a seamless and delicious brunch experience:

1. Prepare Your Muffin Tin: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). This ensures even baking. Next, generously spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. It’s crucial to be very liberal with the spray to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can line the muffin cups with parchment paper liners for easy removal.
2. Create the Flavorful Rice Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine your cooked rice, diced ham, chopped green onion, grated cheddar cheese, and two eggs. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until well combined. This mixture forms the delicious and sturdy base for your Eggs Benedict.
3. Fill the Muffin Cups: Divide the rice mixture evenly among all 12 muffin cups. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, pack the mixture down very firmly into each cup. Each cup should be about half full. This compression is vital to ensure the rice base holds its shape and doesn’t fall apart after baking.
4. Add the Eggs: Carefully break one whole egg directly onto the packed rice mixture in each muffin cup. Take care to ensure the yolk remains intact – this is key for the classic Eggs Benedict experience.
5. Bake to Perfection: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the eggs are set. You’ll know they’re ready when the egg whites are no longer runny and are cooked through, while the yolks should still be slightly soft and jammy for that perfect Benedict texture. While the eggs are baking, this is the perfect time to prepare your Quick Blender Cranberry Hollandaise sauce.
6. Allow to Rest and Loosen: Once baked, remove the muffin tin from the oven. Let the Ham & Rice Egg Cups sit for about 3 minutes. Then, carefully run a thin knife around the edge of each cup to help loosen them. Let them sit for another 3 minutes, then run the knife around again before attempting to remove them from the tin. This crucial step prevents the bases from breaking apart.

*The recipe card below provides full, detailed instructions for both the eggs benedict and the cranberry hollandaise sauce, including precise timings and quantities.

📖 Creative Eggs Benedict Variations & Nutritional Insights

While the traditional Eggs Benedict is a timeless classic, the culinary world offers a plethora of unique and exciting twists, from savory pulled pork renditions to exotic Matcha Eggs Benedict. However, I can confidently say that this Gluten-Free Muffin Tin Eggs Benedict is truly unlike any other you’ve encountered! By utilizing brown rice as the base, we not only cater to gluten-free needs but also significantly boost the nutritional value of this breakfast favorite. Brown rice is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, including fiber, magnesium, selenium, and manganese, contributing to a healthier, more balanced meal.

Did you know that a single cup of cooked long-grain brown rice contains more magnesium (21% Daily Value) than 3.5 cups of spinach (20% Daily Value)? Magnesium is absolutely vital for proper muscle function, and considering the heart is the largest muscle in our body, its importance cannot be overstated. Furthermore, let’s talk about fiber – one cup of brown rice boasts almost 4 grams of fiber, whereas 3.5 cups of raw spinach offer only 2.2 grams. It’s a sobering fact that many people, including 9 out of 10 Canadians, don’t consume enough whole grains. I am constantly seeking innovative ways to incorporate more natural fiber into my diet, and this recipe delivers! Just one cup of cooked brown rice fulfills two of the three recommended daily servings of whole grains. You’d be hard-pressed to find such a nutritional punch in a typical restaurant Eggs Benedict!

Customize Your Muffin Tin Benedict

• Rice Variety: While brown rice offers superior health benefits, feel free to use any type of cooked rice you prefer – white, wild, or even a mixed grain blend.
• Ham Alternatives: If you don’t have leftover ham from a recent holiday meal, thinly sliced deli ham works wonderfully. You can also experiment with other cooked proteins like shredded chicken, turkey, or even crumbled breakfast sausage. For a vegetarian option, consider sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
• Spice Level: I love the kick that sriracha sauce adds to these Eggs Benedict, both in the hollandaise and as a garnish. If you’re not a fan of spice, you can easily substitute it with a drizzle of ketchup, a dollop of mild salsa, or simply omit the spicy garnish altogether.
• Hollandaise Twist: For a different flavor profile, or if you prefer a lighter sauce, try my Healthy Hollandaise Sauce instead of the cranberry version.
• Cheese Choices: While sharp cheddar is fantastic, feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or even a smoked gouda for a different flavor dimension.
• Fresh Herbs: Incorporate fresh herbs like chives or dill into the rice base or as a garnish for an extra layer of flavor.

🍽 Essential Equipment for Easy Preparation

The star equipment for this recipe is, undoubtedly, a reliable **muffin tin**! I’m a huge fan of recipes made in muffin tins because they simplify cooking and portion control, and Eggs Benedict in a muffin tin is truly revolutionary. For years, I struggled with poaching eggs to perfection, often ending up with watery messes or overcooked whites. With this method, those worries are a thing of the past! The eggs bake beautifully and consistently in the muffin tin, yielding perfectly set whites and delightfully runny yolks every single time. Besides the muffin tin, a good **blender** is essential for whipping up the smooth and tangy Cranberry Hollandaise sauce with minimal effort.

👪 Adjusting Serving Size

This fantastic gluten-free eggs benedict recipe is designed to yield 12 generous servings, filling one standard muffin tin completely. However, if you’re cooking for a smaller gathering or a larger crowd, adjusting the recipe is incredibly simple! You can easily halve, double, or even triple the recipe to suit your needs. Just click on the blue servings number in the recipe card below, select your desired number of servings, and the ingredient amounts will automatically adjust for you. If you decide to make more than 12, remember you’ll need additional muffin tins or a larger capacity muffin pan to accommodate the increased volume.

🌡️ Storage and Reheating Tips

Preparing this easy eggs benedict ahead of time or enjoying leftovers is simple with proper storage. Store the cooked muffin tin eggs benedict in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For the best flavor and texture, it’s advisable to store the cranberry hollandaise sauce separately. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply reheat as needed. The rice component of this dish is also very versatile for storage: cooked rice can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days, or frozen for up to 6 months, ensuring you can enjoy this delicious dish whenever the craving strikes.

This recipe truly delivers on all fronts: it’s proudly gluten-free, boasts a festive flair, is packed with healthy ingredients, incredibly easy to make, conveniently baked in a muffin tin, and brilliantly utilizes your holiday leftovers! Whether you’re searching for a unique and memorable holiday brunch idea, a clever way to use up that leftover rice and ham, or the perfect, inclusive meal for a friend or loved one with a gluten allergy or sensitivity, this recipe is tailor-made for you. And if you’re on the hunt for even more creative leftover rice or ham recipes, be sure to explore my other popular dishes: my savory Leftover Ham Pasta with Peas, the wholesome Leftover Ham, Rice & Beans (also Gluten-Free), and my comforting Cranberry Gingerbread Stovetop Rice Pudding (Gluten-Free)!

And for the perfect sweet (but not too sweet) accompaniment to your holiday brunch spread, I highly recommend giving my Holiday Biscotti (also Weight Watchers friendly) a try! They’re crisp, subtly sweet, and wonderfully festive.

Happy Holiday Brunching, everyone! Enjoy creating wonderful memories and delicious food.

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🎄More Festive Holiday Breakfast Ideas!

• Easy Sheet Pan Huevos Rancheros (Gluten-Free)
• Mexican Sheet Pan Eggs (with Tortilla Toast) – WW friendly and Gluten-free
• Christmas Morning Casserole (Wife Saver)
• Raspberry Mocha Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Lasagna
• Overnight Cinnamon Sticky Buns
• Baileys Irish Cream Overnight French Toast Casserole
• Watermelon Granola Trifle
• Rum & Raisin Sheet Pan Pancakes