Baked Broccoli and Cheese Balls (Printable)

Golden, crispy baked bites filled with chopped broccoli and melted cheese. Ready in 45 minutes, these vegetarian appetizers are perfect for sharing or healthy snacking.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

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 Advice:

01 -
  • These come out of the oven with that magical contrast of crispy golden outside and molten cheesy inside that makes them completely addictive
  • They are actually a vegetable forward snack that even people who claim to hate broccoli will enthusiastically eat
02 -
  • Make sure your broccoli is really well drained after steaming, excess moisture will make the mixture fall apart
  • Let the balls cool for at least 5 minutes before trying to move them, they need this time to set up and hold their shape
03 -
  • If the mixture feels too wet to shape, add another tablespoon of breadcrumbs until it holds together
  • Use a small cookie scoop to get evenly sized balls that will bake at the same rate

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