Ways To Hack Your Toaster Oven

The oven isn't your only option for cooking up a storm. For days when you don't feel like standing over a hot stove, the small-but-mighty toaster oven is there for you: and not just for making toast or melting cheese on sandwiches. Use it to bake eggs, melt gooey quesadillas and even make banana bread with these nine recipes.

Though that bowl of cereal is certainly tempting, switch up your morning routine with baked eggs. Crack one or two eggs in a ramekin (depending on the size) and add any flavorful additives, like spinach and tomato, followed by cheese, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Pop in the toaster oven and cook on 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

When a craving for banana bread strikes, whip up your favorite recipe and pop it into the toaster oven. Pro tip: Easily bake those blueberry muffins in a six-cup muffin tin. 

Baked potatoes are practically meant to be cooked in the toaster oven. Crank that temperature up, prep your spud and let it cook until fork tender. Not a potato person? Most other vegetables work as well. Remember to not overcrowd the tray, though, as that will cause the veggies to steam rather than roast.

For an easy and healthy weeknight meal, cook your favorite fish like salmon or cod in the toaster oven in no time. Turn it into a mini sheet pan meal by adding a few vegetables to the mix.

Skip the store-bought stuff (and the added sugar) and make your own granola in the toaster oven. It's the perfect topper for your morning yogurt or that big bowl of ice cream. 

If you have leftover peppers, some shredded cheese and a few spare tortillas on hand, you're minutes away from perfect quesadillas. They also make great party apps, so prep a few ahead of time and cook them to order as guests arrive.

Trying to keep the heat outside this summer? Fire up the grill to cook those juicy burgers and use the toaster oven to make crispy baked fries. That way, any sweating you do will be purely meat related.

Most will agree that bacon makes everything better, and there's no need to turn on the oven or stove if you want to make only a few pieces for yourself. Put a couple slices on a thin sheet of parchment paper and pop it into the toaster. Be careful of excess grease—which can get very hot—when pulling the paper out.

These come in handy when you're entertaining and want to make a quick and easy appetizer. The oven helps melt and toast the cheese on top for the perfect party bite.