25 Mug Recipes You’ll Love Making

When you need a quick treat, there’s nothing better than a few good mug recipes to make just the right amount for one.

The beauty of mug recipes is that they’re perfectly portioned, so if you live alone, you’re not stuck eating leftovers for days on end!

If you’ve ever tried a mug cake and been disappointed, don’t worry.

These are tried and true – no rubbery cakes here, thank you!

Of course, mug recipes aren’t just about sweet treats! Did you know you can make lasagna in a mug? I didn’t either!

So let’s dive into this list of 25 marvelous mug recipes, from mac and cheese to cinnamon rolls, to see which you like the best!

1. Banana Bread Muffin in a Mug

Banana bread is my favorite of the quick breads. It’s sweet, tender, and great any time of the day. 

Unfortunately, it needs almost an hour in the oven! I don’t know about you, but I’m not always that patient.

This fantastic banana bread mug recipe will curb your craving in a matter of minutes.

Plus, it’s a great way to use up those brown bananas!

2. Cinnamon Roll in a Mug

Speaking of patience… if I can’t wait an hour for some banana bread, you know I won’t be able to wait all day for cinnamon rolls.

Like I said before, these recipes are about satisfying your sweet tooth fast!

And this one is one of the best shortcuts I’ve seen in a while. 

They won’t be quite as fluffy and tender as the real deal, but this recipe is excellent for one of those lazy Sunday mornings when you just need a cinnamon roll. 

3. Easy Microwave Apple Crisp in a Mug

If you haven’t tried these microwave baked apples, I highly recommend you get into the kitchen asap.

Once you’ve seen how easy they are, the next obvious step is to make an easy apple crisp!

If you want the top crunchy, try making this in a ramekin and popping it under the broiler for a few minutes before you serve. 

4. Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe

Picture this: the kids are in bed, the dog is snoozing on the couch, and your next great book is calling. 

All you’ll want is to cuddle up on the couch with something sweet, so you head to the kitchen to whip up this tender little cake in just 3 minutes!

To save an extra few seconds, feel free to use pumpkin pie seasoning (or apple pie) and top with caramel if you have it.

5. Microwave Mug Pizza

Frozen pizzas are pretty decent these days, but they can’t beat homemade. 

This pizza dough is impossibly easy and super fluffy. If you like your pizzas with a thick base, this is the perfect recipe!

If you don’t have marinara sauce, try adding BBQ sauce with chicken instead!

6. Microwave Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

Cooking your pasta in the microwave might upset your grandma, but when you’re in a rush, I say go for it!

Using small elbow macaroni means it will cook in just a few minutes, and then it’s just a matter of mixing through your cheese.

If you like it creamier, try adding some cream with the water or stir in some store-bought cheese sauce if you have it. 

7. Microwave Granola in a Mug

I was a little skeptical here: crunchy granola in the microwave?

The key here is to use honey or maple syrup, which will begin to caramelize as it cooks and helps to toast the oats. 

Just be sure to keep an eye on it. I worked in 30-second intervals, frequently stirring, so nothing burned. 

8. The Easiest Potato Soup Recipe (In A Mug!)

Just like making pasta in your mug, cooking potatoes in the microwave will save you heaps of time. 

They’ll be fork-tender in minutes, and once they are, you just need to add in your extras.

Bacon and sour cream are a must, as is the stock for added flavor. 

If you like your soup smooth, use a wide mug and an immersion blender to get rid of any lumps.

I like it with texture, so I just mashed the potatoes with a fork.

9. Microwaveable Cornbread in a Mug

When I make chili, I always make way too much.

Some goes in the freezer for a rainy day, and the rest is devoured through the week with everything from sweet potatoes to nachos. 

But another great option is to make a quick microwave cornbread!

It’s perfect for a busy Wednesday when you need something a little different.

10. Roasted Tomato Soup Mugs Recipe

I always opt for fire-roasted tomatoes when cooking.

It adds a sensational flavor and you won’t need to do anything different, which is great.

When I make homemade tomato soup, I always roast my ingredients first, so it makes sense to go for the fire-roasted in this recipe.

But it will still be tasty if all you have are regular canned tomatoes.

This is actually made on the stove-top, but it’s just the right amount for four mugs. 

11. 2-Minute Hot Chocolate By the Mug

Two-minute hot chocolate and no sugar packet? Sign me up!

Packets of cocoa mix are great in a pinch, but they lack depth of flavor.

And when it’s this easy to make great hot chocolate, why not go for the homemade stuff?

The best part is you’ll use real chocolate chips, making it extra creamy and extra rich.

12. S’mores Gooey Chocolate Mug Cake

Be warned – this is dangerously easy and addictive!

The cake is chocolatey, intense, and super dense.

Add to that the gooey marshmallow and crushed cookies, and it’s so close to a s’more you could close your eyes and almost smell the campfire. 

I like to add crushed cookies into the mug and top with the cake, so it bakes inside.

For that lovely roasted marshmallow, try using a chef’s torch or broiler. 

13. Oatmeal Mug Muffin – With Instant Oats

This amazing little recipe is vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free, not to mention, it’s like eating a chewy oatmeal cookie for breakfast!

I used mashed banana and mini-chocolate chips in mine to add flavor, but you could always top it with honey and dried fruits. 

14. Vegan White Peach Mug Cobbler With Cardamom

Have a peach that’s perfectly ripe and dying to be made into cobbler? Then you have to make this single-serve mug cobbler.

I like my cobbler with a fluffy and tender topping, which this recipe gives in spades.

If you prefer something with a crust, you might want to try broiling for a few minutes after it cooks through. 

15. Microwave Chicken Pie in a Mug

Since this is made with a heavenly herbed biscuit crust, it’s like a cross between a chicken pie and chicken and dumplings. 

The filling is a quick mixture of cooked chicken, frozen vegetables, cornstarch, stock, and milk.

If you’re in a rush, crescent rolls or Bisquick are fantastic, speedy substitutes for the topping. 

16. Brownie in a Mug

Full disclosure: I make this simple brownie multiple times a month.

It’s dense, full of chocolatey goodness, and just what you need for a late-night sugar craving. 

You’ll need decent chocolate for this as it will add flavor, and the melted chocolate is what makes it fudgy.

Cheaper chocolate won’t melt quite right, and you might end up with a lumpy mess. 

It doesn’t need anything else, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream wouldn’t do any harm!

17. Microwave Peanut Butter Cup Mug Dessert

If you go weak in the knees at just the sight of Reese’s, then you just have to try this one!

It’s creamy, nutty, full of rich chocolate, and best of all, it takes just 5 minutes.

This is less like a cake, and more like a warm mug of cookie dough.

If you want it to be more cakey, try adding a bit of flour to the mix. Or, just try the recipe below!

18. Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

As the name suggests, this one is more like a cake. It’s fluffy, moist, and totally irresistible.

The key to keeping these from being spongy is to omit the eggs.

You’ll have noticed that none of these recipes include eggs, which is why they work so well. 

As for the cake, I like to add extra chocolate chips to mine, or chopped up Reese’s for some gooey nuttiness.

19. Microwave Mug Blondie

A blondie is a divine hybrid, made with all the amazing flavors of a chocolate chip cookie, but served in the same fudgy slice of a brownie. 

As much as I love a nice thick chocolate chip cookie, this blondie is made with white chocolate and caramel, making it extra sweet!

One minute in the microwave, and you’ll have a mug full of yummy cookie flavors. 

20. Blueberry Mug Muffin

Here’s a great little treat for a busy morning.

All you’ll need is eight pantry staples and less than 10 minutes to have a wonderfully warm, fruity muffin. 

This recipe is especially handy because you can use frozen fruit and any fruit you like, it doesn’t just have to be blueberries!

Since this won’t be cooking too long, you don’t even have to worry about thawing and draining the fruit.

The excess moisture will only make this lovely and tender. 

21. Easy Vegan French Toast In a Mug

Using flax seeds to thicken the mix keeps this recipe totally vegan – no need for eggs to set anything.

I covered my bread in the liquid and left it to sit while I made my coffee.

That way, it had chances to soak in before I popped the mug in the microwave. 

22. Microwave Lasagna In A Mug

Lasagne in a mug is going to change your life!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the craving and been left with way too many leftovers. 

This way, you can have lasagne whenever the mood strikes, and there’s nothing wasted. 

As with the mac and cheese, you’ll cook the broken pasta sheets in the mug before layering everything up and microwaving it for a few minutes. 

If you like meat in your sauce, you’ll need to start with cooked meat, like ground beef or sausage.

Or I like to make it with spinach, ricotta, and leftover rotisserie chicken.

23. Microwave Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal in a Mug

If you’re bored with bland oatmeal, this will spice up your mornings. 

Full of cinnamon and brown sugar, you could easily add some of those baked apples in the mix, too.

But it’s the cream cheese glaze that will leave you wanting more. It makes the whole thing seem a little more naughty.

24. Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mug Cake

This won’t taste like the fried delights you get at your local Dunkin’, but it is fluffy and sweet, and wonderfully simple. 

You’ll need lots of cinnamon sugar for this, and it’s best if you can turn the cake out onto a plate first. 

25. Microwave Churro in a Mug

Do you love churros covered in cinnamon sugar, dipped in chocolate? Me too!

This has all the great flavors of a churro, without the need for frying or handling dough. 

I love the chocolate in the center that melts as you cook it, leaving you with a mouthful in every bite!