Description
Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls deliver a crowd-pleasing snack perfect for game day or quick appetizers. Crispy outside and cheesy inside, these little bites pack serious flavor that disappear faster than you can make them.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 large eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to precisely 400°F (200°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Steam 2 cups fresh broccoli florets for exactly 5 minutes until tender, then finely chop the cooled vegetables into small pieces.
- Blend the chopped broccoli with 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until the ingredients fully integrate.
- Roll the mixture into compact spheres measuring roughly 1 inch across, ensuring your hands create uniform balls that will cook evenly.
- Arrange the broccoli cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow consistent heat circulation.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, rotating the tray midway through cooking to guarantee a uniform golden-brown exterior with a crisp texture.
- Remove from the oven and let the broccoli cheese balls rest for 3-4 minutes, which helps them maintain structural integrity before serving with your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Chop broccoli extra fine for a smoother texture that helps the balls hold together perfectly.
- Let the steamed broccoli cool completely before mixing to prevent the eggs from starting to cook prematurely.
- For a gluten-free version, swap panko breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Use a small cookie scoop to create uniform balls that cook evenly and look professionally made.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg