These cheesy, gooey, and crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites are not only easy to make, but they're also healthy. Made with chopped broccoli and cheddar cheese, then rolled in Panko, it’s my new favorite way to add broccoli to my diet.
Broccoli Cheese bites are perfect for any occasion, especially for a game night with friends or as an afternoon snack. I love how these golden broccoli cheddar balls are a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables while satisfying your craving for something crunchy and savory. May I recommend a few of my other favorite cheesy appetizers - Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Bites and Mashed Potato Jalapeno Balls, which will impress at any gathering or dinner with kids?
Each bite of Broccoli Cheese balls is filled with tender broccoli florets and ooey-gooey cheddar cheese, all wrapped up in a crunchy, golden-brown coating. Simply pop them in the air fryer and let the magic happen! With their addictively crispy texture, you'll forget you're even eating veggies.
Ingredients
Please find detailed recipe measurements, instructions, and nutrition in the printable recipe card below.
Gather all the necessary ingredients. You'll need:
- 2 cups of cooked chopped broccoli
- 1 cup of cheddar cheese
- Shredded Mozzarella or grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Seasoning (such as your favorite spices, garlic powder, and paprika)
- Panko breadcrumbs.
How long to Cook
Air fryer Broccoli Cheddar bites take 10 minutes to cook at 400°F (200°C) in a preheated air fryer. For more cooking times, download our free printable - Air Fryer cooking chart.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Bites
Mix the chopped broccoli and cheese together in a large bowl. Add the egg, and seasoning, and mix everything together with your hands until it forms a sticky mixture.
Shape the Broccoli Cheese Balls. Now, shape the mixture into small ball-sized shapes with your hands. Make each ball approximately 1 inch in diameter, but not bigger than 1 and ½ inches. Or else the balls may flatten into a patty or fall apart.
Tip. Using your finger push a hole in the ball and add a small cube of solid cheese, such as Velveeta, cream cheese, Mozzarella cheese, or Goat cheese (see Picture 1 above). Then close the hole and continue rolling the broccoli mix into a ball shape. Although it is optional, this will create the oozing cheese effect with an incredible cheese pull.
Coat in Panko. Roll each ball in Panko breadcrumbs and ensure that it is fully coated. (pictures 2 and 3 above).
Freeze the balls on a parchment-lined baking tray for 30 minutes to an hour. While this step is optional, this will ensure that the balls will not fall apart when air frying.
Preheat your air fryer to 400F. Don’t skip this step. It’s important that the Broccoli cheddar poppers start cooking immediately in a very hot air fryer.
Place each ball onto your greased air fryer tray, leaving enough space for the air to circulate around each piece. Lightly spray each ball with cooking spray. (picture 4 above).
Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the broccoli cheddar bites for 5 minutes on each side. This means flip each ball on the other side after 5 minutes. Tip. Use the help of two spatulas to gently flip them. Do not use tongs, as they may accidentally crush the balls.
Once they are done, remove them from the air fryer (I use this silicone spatula set to gently lift each ball) and place them onto a plate.
Enjoy your air fryer crispy broccoli cheese bites with your favorite dipping sauce. May I recommend serving them with this homemade Chick-fil-A Copycat sauce or making Homemade Chipotle Mayo in a blender?
Why Air Fryer Broccoli & Cheese Bites are Healthy and Delicious?
Not only are these broccoli bites delicious, but they are also incredibly healthy. Broccoli is packed with nutrition and antioxidants, while the cheese provides you with protein and healthy fat. By air frying these crispy bites, you'll get all the flavor without any of the added oil or fat that comes with traditional frying. You can enjoy this snack without worrying about adding extra pounds.
Variations
While this recipe is perfect as it is, you can always make some variations according to your taste.
- You can add some diced green onions or jalapenos to the mixture for extra flavor and crunchiness. This will instantly bring the Broccoli Jalapeno poppers to the next level.
- Feel free to substitute Panko bread crumbs with regular bread crumbs or even oats to make the bites gluten-free.
- It is best to use soft mushy broccoli florets for this recipe (boil broccoli for 2 minutes, then drain and pat dry), however, you can use frozen broccoli or Air-fried Broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, cook broccoli according to package directions. Squeeze them out of moisture if they are a bit watery.
- In addition to cheddar, feel free to add other cheeses like Parmesan, Mozzarella, Velveeta, Cream cheese, or Goat cheese.
The possibilities are endless, so feel free to experiment and customize this recipe to your liking.
How to Store and Reheat
If you find yourself with leftovers, place your Broccoli Cheese Bites in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days.
To reheat, you can either use your oven, microwave, or air fryer. If using the oven, preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the bites on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes. If using the microwave, place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30-60 seconds. I like to reheat them in the air fryer at 350F for 2 minutes per side. I love how it brings back the outer crisp.
Air Frying Tips
To get the best results, make sure to finely chop your broccoli florets so that they cook evenly.
Don't forget to preheat your air fryer before cooking. This ensures that your bites come out perfectly crispy and golden brown.
Add a touch of spice with a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce to take your broccoli cheddar bites to the next level.
Be sure to spray the air fryer basket before you place the Broccoli poppers. This ensures they will not stick to the basket or tray.
Do I need to use Eggwash before rolling the Broccoli Bites in Breadcrumbs?
You can skip the eggwash. I found that the broccoli mix was sticky enough for breadcrumbs to adhere without dipping the balls in eggwash.
Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli cooked and finely chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded (or shredded cheese of your choice)
- 1 Egg large
- ½ teaspoon salt salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Mix the chopped broccoli and cheese together in a large bowl. Add the egg, spices, and mix everything together with your hands until it forms a sticky mixture.
- Shape the Balls. Now, shape the mixture into small ball-sized shapes with your hands. Make each ball approximately 1 inch in diameter, but not bigger than 1 and ½ inches. Or else the balls my flatten into a patty.Tip. Using your finger push a hole in each ball and add a small cube of solid cheese, such as Velveeta, cream cheese, Mozzarella cheese, or Goat cheese. Then close the hole and continue rolling the broccoli appetizer into a ball shape. Although it is optional, this will create the oozing cheese effect with an incredible cheese pull.Coat in Panko. Roll each ball in Panko breadcrumbs and ensure that it is fully coated.
- Freeze the balls on a parchment-lined baking tray for 30 minutes to an hour. While this step is optional, this will insure that the balls will not fall apart when air frying.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F. Don’t skip this step. It’s important that the Broccoli cheddar poppers will start cooking immediately in a very hot air fryer.Place each ball onto your greased air fryer tray, leaving enough space for the air to circulate around each piece. Lightly spray each ball with cooking spray.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the broccoli cheddar bites for 5 minutes on each side. This means flip each ball on the other side after 5 minutes. Tip. Use the help of two spatulas to gently flip them. Do not use tongs, as they may accidentally crush the balls.
- Once they are done, remove them from the air fryer (I use flat silicone spatula to gently lift each ball) and place them onto a plate.
Notes
- You can add some diced green onions or jalapenos to the mixture for extra flavor and crunchiness.
- Feel free to substitute Panko bread crumbs with regular bread crumbs or even oats to make the bites gluten-free.
- It is best to use soft mushy broccoli florets for this recipe (boil broccoli for 2 minutes, then drain and pat dry), however, you can use frozen broccoli or Air-fried Broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, cook broccoli according to package directions. Squeeze them out of moisture if they are a bit watery.
- In addition to cheddar, feel free to add other cheeses like Parmesan, Mozzarella, Velveeta, Cream cheese, or Goat cheese.
Leave a Reply