Description
Broccoli Cheese Balls combine crispy exteriors with soft, cheesy centers. Veggie-packed and comforting, they’re perfect for snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Binding Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Preparation Ingredient:
- 1 spray cooking spray
Instructions
- Activate your oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet by lightly coating it with cooking spray.
- Steam 2 cups broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes until they reach tender-crisp consistency. Let them cool completely, then chop finely.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the chopped broccoli with 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 eggs, and 2 tbsp flour.
- Season the mixture with ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until ingredients bind together smoothly.
- Shape the mixture into compact 1-inch balls using your hands, ensuring they hold together tightly.
- Arrange the broccoli cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving small gaps between each ball.
- Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through to ensure even browning.
- For extra crispiness, switch your oven to broil and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and let the balls rest for 3-4 minutes to set their structure and cool slightly.
- Serve warm alongside marinara or ranch dip for a delightful appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Chop broccoli super fine to help the balls hold together better and create a smoother texture.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain the same consistency.
- Experiment with different cheeses like gouda or pepper jack to change up the flavor profile and keep the recipe exciting.
- When mixing ingredients, use your hands to ensure everything is evenly distributed and the mixture sticks together perfectly for round, compact balls.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 21-27 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg