Baked Broccoli and Cheese Balls (Printable Version)

Crispy baked bites packed with broccoli and melty cheese. Perfect appetizer or snack for any occasion.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups broccoli florets (about 1 medium head), 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 (use gluten-free if needed)

→ 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 (optional)

→ 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 Hints:

01 -
  • They manage to be both legitimately healthy and genuinely crave-worthy, which feels like finding a unicorn in your own kitchen
  • The mixture comes together faster than you can preheat your oven, making them perfect for last minute appetizers or weeknight snacks
02 -
  • Squeeze as much excess moisture as possible from your steamed broccoli, or the balls will be soggy instead of crisp
  • If the mixture feels too wet to hold together, add another tablespoon of breadcrumbs until it behaves properly
03 -
  • Roll the shaped balls in extra breadcrumbs before baking if you want an extra crispy crust
  • Substituting half the cheddar with mozzarella makes them even gooier, which some people absolutely love

Go Back