Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites with Cheddar & Parmesan

Raise your hand if you have a broccoli hater on your hands. It’s not always easy to get kids to eat healthy foods but these yummy broccoli bites are a great way to do just that.

These baked broccoli bites are hands down, the best way to get kids to eat and enjoy broccoli. They’re cheesy, crunchy and flavorful and picky eaters won’t even know they’re eating veggies. My whole family loves these and even the older kids in my neighborhood devour them.

These broccoli cheddar bites have steamed broccoli, cheese, bread crumbs and a variety of spices. They’re formed into small bite-sized balls and baked until crispy. Super easy to make, guaranteed to be a big hit and make a perfect snack.

❤️ Why You’ll Love Broccoli Bites:

• Great side dish, quick snack or party appetizer.
• Serve with favorite dipping sauce.
• ​Great finger food for baby led weaning (BLW).
• Simple ingredients.
• Fun way to get kids to eat broccoli.
• Melted cheesy goodness…in a way you can feel great about serving.

🍲 Ingredients

Fresh Broccoli Florets

Cheddar Cheese

Breadcrumbs

Parmesan Cheese

Whole Eggs

Garlic Powder

Black Pepper

Avocado Oil Spray or Olive Oil

👩‍🍳 How to Make Broccoli Cheddar Bites

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
2. Finely chop the steamed broccoli. You can use a food processor for a finer texture.
3. In a large bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix the broccoli mixture until well combined.
4. Using your hands, ice cream scoop, or a spoon, form the mixture into bite-sized balls or small patties.
5. Place the broccoli bites on the prepared baking sheet, making sure to leave some space between each.
6. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the bites are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Allow the broccoli bites to cool for a few minutes before serving.

🪄 Tips and Tricks

• These are best when the broccoli is in very small pieces. Use a food processor to make them perfectly sized.
• Serve the broccoli bites as a snack or part of a meal. They can be enjoyed on their own or with a dipping sauce like honey mustard, ketchup, hummus, or sour cream.
• You can add other ingredients to the mix, such as finely chopped spinach or grated carrots, for added nutritional value and flavor.
• Experiment with different herbs and spices to suit your toddler’s taste preferences.
• If your toddler enjoys a crunchy texture, you can coat the broccoli bites with a thin layer of breadcrumbs before baking.
• Use cookie cutters to form them into fun shapes!

🗒 Substitutions

• Use any type of cheese: mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese and Gruyere are my favorite melty cheeses.

🗒 Best served with

• This is a great side dish to my Panko Chicken Tenders or my 3 Ingredient Meatloaf.

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover broccoli cheese balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Re-heat in the air fryer or oven to crisp them back up.

🤔 Common Questions