Description
Baked broccoli cheese balls bring comfort and cheesy goodness straight to your dinner table with minimal fuss. Crispy on the outside and packed with veggie nutrition, these little bites make snacking a delightful adventure for anyone craving a tasty, wholesome treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked broccoli
- ¾ cup shredded cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 green onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- ⅔ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ garlic clove
- Zest of ½ lemon
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 390°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Ensure your rack is positioned in the center for even cooking.
- Finely chop 2 cups of cooked broccoli into small, uniform pieces. Break down the broccoli slightly to help ingredients bind together.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and add 2 cups chopped broccoli, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 large eggs, ¾ cup shredded cheese, 2 sliced green onions, 2 minced garlic cloves, ¼ teaspoon salt, and black pepper.
- Mash and mix the ingredients thoroughly, pressing the mixture to create a cohesive texture that will hold its shape when rolled.
- Scoop out heaping tablespoons of the mixture and roll into compact balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place each ball carefully on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly coat the broccoli cheese balls with olive oil spray to help them achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Bake at 390°F for 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through to ensure even browning and crisp edges.
- While the balls are baking, whisk together ⅔ cup yogurt, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ minced garlic clove, 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Let the yogurt sauce rest for 20 minutes to blend flavors before serving alongside the hot broccoli cheese balls.
Notes
- Chop broccoli finely to ensure the balls hold together smoothly and cook evenly.
- Add extra breadcrumbs if the mixture seems too wet, which helps create a firmer texture for your cheese balls.
- For a gluten-free version, replace regular breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Experiment with different cheeses like sharp cheddar or feta to customize the flavor profile of your broccoli balls.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 172 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 286 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 76 mg