Baked Broccoli and Cheese Balls (Printable Version)
Golden crispy broccoli and cheddar bites, cheesy inside, easy baked appetizer
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed and finely chopped
02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
→ Dairy
03 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Binders
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
→ Seasonings
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
→ To Finish
12 - Olive oil spray
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with olive oil.
02 - Steam the broccoli florets until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and finely chop.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, onion, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, eggs, and breadcrumbs.
04 - Add garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Mix until well combined and mixture holds together.
05 - Scoop about 1 heaping tablespoon of mixture and shape into a ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture.
06 - Lightly spray the tops of the balls with olive oil.
07 - Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp on the outside.
08 - Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They come together in under 20 minutes and bake while you pour drinks for guests
- Even vegetable haters will be reaching for seconds, thirds, and fourths
02 -
- Squeeze excess moisture from your steamed broccoli with paper towels or the balls will be soggy instead of crisp
- Do not skip the olive oil spray on top, it creates that golden crunch that makes people think these are fried
03 -
- Use a small cookie scoop for perfectly uniform balls that cook evenly
- Double the recipe and freeze half, because these disappear faster than you expect