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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites

    Published: Jan 10, 2019 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 83 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Cheese Baked Broccoli Bites with a text title overlay.

    We could all do with finding ways to get more vegetables in to our diet and these little cheesy baked broccoli bites (broccoli tots) are the best way. Crispy, cheesy and comforting, but packed with broccoli too. Kids will love this finger food and you can be happy knowing they are eating some veg too. You can batch cook them and keep them in the freezer for an easy side dish/snack too.

    A wooden serving board piled high with Broccoli Bites.

    Broccoli isn't everyone's favourite food, but cheese makes everything better and it certainly makes this green vegetable more appealing to kids.

    If you have tried convincing your kids that these little green trees will make them big and strong and with not a positive result, then try giving it to them a different way.

    Mixing broccoli with cheese and breadcrumbs and turning it into broccoli tots (as they are called in the US) makes it much more exciting for kids and it's perfect for baby led weaning. Older kids will enjoy getting their hands dirty and making these broccoli bites too.

    If you are looking for some other vegetable packed recipes, then why not try our Vegetable Fajitas, Vegetable Pasta Bake, Creamy Vegetable Soup, or Cheesy Vegetable Pie.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love them
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Health benefits
    • Variations
    • What to serve with broccoli bites
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More Broccoli recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love them

    • An easy way to get more vegetables in your diet - It can be a struggle to eat more vegetables, especially with fussy eaters, but this is an easy way to sneak them in.
    • Kids love them - Kids will love making and eating them. They are really cheesy, which will appeal to kids (and adults).
    • Freezable - These freeze really well, so make a big batch to keep in the freezer for easy meals.
    • Ready in less than 30 minutes - These are quick and easy to make.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Broccoli - The star of the dish. You could use a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower.
    • Bread - This is used to make your own breadcrumbs. You could use store bought breadcrumbs if you prefer.
    • Onion - Make sure this is diced finely. You could use shallots, which would add a sweeter flavour.
    • Cheese - We used mature cheddar, as it has a strong flavour so you can use less. Some feta would work well too, or parmesan. We wouldn't recommend something like mozzarella, as it is too stringy.
    • Eggs - This helps to bind the broccoli bites together.
    • Garlic powder and dried oregano - These add some extra flavour, but they can be left out if you prefer.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Add the broccoli to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain and then add to a large bowl and mash until very fine.

    A bowl of mashed broccoli.

    Two: Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl.

    A mixing bowl containing mashed broccoli, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, chopped onion and herbs.

    Three: Mix well.

    Broccoli, onion, breadcrumbs and cheese all mixed together in a bowl.

    Four: Take out 1 tablespoon at a time and roll in to a small sausage and repeat until you have 20.

    Twenty uncooked broccoli bites evenly spaced on a baking tray.

    Five: Place on a lined or oiled baking sheet and cook in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F for 25 minutes until they start to crisp up.

    Twenty cooked broccoli bites evenly spaced on a baking tray.

    Six: Serve the broccoli bites with your favourite dip, like our healthy tomato ketchup.

    Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites on a wooden board with a pot of ketchup.

    Health benefits

    These broccoli bites are a really nutrient dense snack or side dish, and a great way to "sneak" vegetables in to fussy eaters. I say "sneak" very loosely, as these are very green, so clearly have broccoli in them. But, with the easy bite sized shape and the addition of cheese, it's a simple way to get kids to eat more vegetables.

    Broccoli is a good source of fibre (which helps with digestion) and protein, and also contains iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, E, K.

    Variations

    We love the specks of green you can see in these broccoli bites, but you could always swap the broccoli for cauliflower instead, or use a mixture of the two. For a little extra flavour, finely chop some spring onions or shallots and mix them in. You could also add some chopped spinach for extra greens.

    A really good quality mature cheddar is what we used to make this and because it's such a strong cheese, you don't need to use a lot of it. But, you could use a mixture of hard cheese like cheddar, Parmesan, Gouda or even add some mozzarella.

    You could really mix things up with the flavours here. Like things a bit spicy? Add some Mexican seasoning!

    Baked Broccoli Bites stacked on a board with tomato sauce. A red towel next to them.

    What to serve with broccoli bites

    Kids will love these are a snack, but they are also delicious as a side dish. Why not try them with one of these family friendly main meals:

    • Crispy Chicken Goujons
    • Oven Cooked Sausages
    • Easy Pizza Toast
    • Oven Egg and Chips
    • Hunter's Chicken
    • Sausage and Mash Pie
    • Easy Shepherd's Pie
    • Greek Chicken Skewers

    Storage

    Store: You can keep these broccoli bites in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freeze: These freeze really well and they hold together really well. Freeze them on a tray first and then once they are all frozen you can put them in to a freezer bag. Just take them out as and when you need them, defrost and reheat.

    Defrost: You can defrost them in the fridge in a few hours.

    Reheat: We reheat them in a frying pan in a little oil for a couple of minutes. This helps them to regain their shape after defrosting too.

    A Broccoli Bite being dipped into some ketchup.

    FAQs

    Can you fry broccoli bites?

    We baked these broccoli bites to keep them that little bit lighter as you don't need to use any oil (apart from a little on the baking tray). However, if you want to get them really crispy, then you can fry them for a couple of minutes each side. If you use Parmesan in the recipe instead of cheddar, this will help to get them really nice and crispy.
    You can also make these crispier by swapping the wholemeal breadcrumbs for Panko breadcrumbs.

    Can you turn broccoli bites in to meatballs?

    Yes! Roll them in to balls instead of sausage shapes and still bake them and then just gently stir them in to some pasta sauce before serving. No need for vegetarians to miss out on meatballs. 

    Are broccoli bites gluten free?

    If you use gluten free breadcrumbs and make sure there is no cross contamination, then these can be gluten free.

    Can I make double?

    Yes, you can double this recipe and there is no change to the method or cooking time.

    Can I use frozen broccoli?

    Yes, you can. You will need to steam the frozen broccoli first, and then drain it and squeeze out some of the liquid using a paper towel.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Use a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower, or just cauliflower to change things up.
    • You can stick to just mature cheddar, or you can use a mixture of cheddar, Parmesan and mozzarella.
    • Roll these in to balls, bake and then stir in to pasta sauce for some vegetarian meatballs.
    • Get creative with the flavours! If you like things spicy, then add some Mexican seasoning.
    • You can also make these crispier by swapping the wholemeal breadcrumbs for Panko breadcrumbs.

    More Broccoli recipes

    • Broccoli Salad
    • Quick Broccoli Pasta
    • Creamy Broccoli Soup
    • Broccoli Slaw

    If you’ve tried this broccoli tots recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites on a wooden board with a pot of ketchup

    Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites

    We could all do with finding ways to get more vegetables in to our diet and these little cheesy baked broccoli bites (broccoli tots) are a great way.
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.80 from 80 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 28 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 178kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 300 g Broccoli - chopped
    • 3 slices Whole wheat bread - blended into bread crumbs
    • 0.5 Onion - finely diced
    • 60 g Mature cheddar - grated
    • 2 Eggs - whisked
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Add the broccoli to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain and then add to a large bowl and mash until very fine.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mix well.
    • Take out 1 tablespoon at a time and roll in to a small sausage and repeat until you have 20.
    • Place on a lined or oiled baking sheet and cook in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F for 25 minutes until they start to crisp up. Serve with your favourite dip.

    Notes

    • Use a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower, or just cauliflower to change things up.
    • You can stick to just mature cheddar, or you can use a mixture of cheddar, Parmesan and mozzarella.
    • Roll these in to balls, bake and then stir in to pasta sauce for some vegetarian meatballs.
    • Get creative with the flavours! If you like things spicy, then add some Mexican seasoning.
    • You can also make these crispier by swapping the wholemeal breadcrumbs for Panko breadcrumbs.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 5"bites" | Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 735IU | Vitamin C: 67.9mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mel

      October 22, 2022 at 1:53 am

      5 stars
      So yummy!! Super easy to make and they're so tasty!! Thanks so much for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. OEM service

      February 05, 2019 at 6:01 am

      5 stars
      Really enjoyed this article post. Great article. Much thanks again. I am so grateful for your article. Much thanks again. Fantastic. Fantastic blog. Really thank you.

      Reply
    3. Eileen

      January 13, 2019 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely adores these!! What a great idea, thank you soo much.

      Reply
    4. AmySG

      January 17, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Hi, I am new to your site and have found so many recipes I can’t wait to try!

      These bites look delicious, however, please can you put on your recipes whether they are freezable or not as this would be super handy or even how long they will keep for in the fridge?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        January 10, 2019 at 9:01 am

        Hello! It says in the text that they are freezable :) They would keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Aish Padihari

      September 14, 2016 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      I can eat these all day long. I have pinned the recipe as well. Great recipe as always. You rock!!!

      Reply
    6. Chloe Ciliberto

      September 07, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      These sounds absolutely delicious!!! I would happily make a load of these and freeze them for my daughter (or me). x

      Reply
      • Claire Deakin

        October 04, 2021 at 10:25 pm

        Do you cook before freezing?

        Reply
        • Dannii

          October 05, 2021 at 10:58 am

          Yes, we cooked ours first and froze the leftovers.

          Reply
    7. Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness

      September 07, 2016 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I totally sneak veggies into my meals all the time too. My favorite recently has been using a bag of frozen berries with kale for smoothie bowls!

      Reply
    8. Stephanie

      September 05, 2016 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea, I have pinned! Nice to get some more veg in to you too.

      Reply
    9. nadia

      September 04, 2016 at 8:33 pm

      Yum! I used to make broccoli cheese bites all the time. Now I need to find a dairy-free version that tastes just as good!

      Reply
    10. Claire

      September 03, 2016 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      My friend would love tbese, she loves broccoli and cheese.

      Reply
    11. Melanie Edjourian

      September 03, 2016 at 12:16 pm

      These look delicious, I wonder whether my girls would eat them. It's worth trying.

      Reply
    12. WhatLauraLoves

      September 02, 2016 at 11:31 pm

      Ooh these are different to anything I've tried before but I love broccoli and cheese so I'm sure I'd enjoy them!! xxx

      Reply
    13. kerry norris

      September 02, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      I am definitely going to try these. Both my girls would love them. They look fab

      Reply
    14. Harriet from Toby & Roo

      September 02, 2016 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Oohh I love a good strong cheddar - this looks SO yummy! H x

      Reply
    15. Hannah

      September 02, 2016 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      I need to try these, they look so good!

      Reply
    16. Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed

      September 02, 2016 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      Mmmm! These look SOOOO good! I bet they are a bit addictive too. I shall have to try them on the kids.

      Reply
    17. Megan

      September 02, 2016 at 3:56 am

      5 stars
      I love this combination of flavors - can't wait to try these out for football munchies!

      Reply
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    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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