Broccoli and Cheese Bites

My ultra cheesy Broccoli Bites are a tasty savory snack, with veggies in every bite. Gluten-free and made with nourishing ingredients!

We need more grab and go snacks. As much as I love a classic carrots and hummus situation, sometimes that can get old. A peanut butter oatmeal bite is fine for when I'm feeling something sweet, but sometimes you just need something salty. If you're feeling stagnant in your snack rotation like me, it's time to make these cheesy broccoli bites.

Not only are these bites super easy to prepare ahead of time, but they're packed with fibre and nutrition. Each bite has 5g of protein, 2g of fibre and vitamin C. Plus, they're so tasty dipped in my dill Greek yogurt dip. Such a good savory snack to keep on hand!

Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

1. Nutrient-dense. I love that these broccoli bites are made with whole foods and packed with protein, fibre and other nutrients.
2. Meal prep friendly. You can easily make these broccoli bites ahead of time so you have a healthy snack option during the week.
3. Great for small hands. If you have younger kids, they will love these cheesy broccoli bites. They're the perfect size for small hands and can double as a lunchbox item or an afterschool snack.

Ingredients

Broccoli. Fresh or frozen broccoli both work. Fresh broccoli should be steamed prior to adding to the food processor. Please ensure the excess water is squeezed out after steaming to minimize the excess moisture added to the batter. I recommend doing this with a cheese cloth.

Eggs. These add additional protein while also binding the ingredients together. I have not tested this recipe using a flax egg, but if you try please let me know how it turns out.

Ground flax. My key dry ingredient for adding protein and healthy fats. This can be found in the health food section at the grocery store. I always recommend grinding your flax seed yourself to keep it fresh.

Nutritional yeast. This is an inactivated yeast commonly used in vegan recipes for its cheesy flavour. I love it as a dietitian because it's also high in plant-based protein and vitamin B12. If you’ve never used nutritional yeast you are in for a treat! 

Cheese. I like doing a blend of cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese for an extra cheesy flavour.

Spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and black pepper are the only spices you need.

Shallot. Shallots have a more mild flavour than onions so they bring the perfect amount of flavour to these without being overpowering. If you are looking for a replacement, I recommend using a yellow onion.

The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper. 

2. In a food processor combine, cooked broccoli (I recommend squeezing out excess water using a cheesecloth or paper towel), eggs, ground flax seed, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder paprika, shallot and 1 +¼ cup of shredded cheese. Blend until smooth. 

3. Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet. The batter will be sticky, but should easily hold their shape when dropped on the baking sheet.

4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. In the final 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle tops of the broccoli bites with shredded cheese. 

5. Allow to cool before enjoying. I recommend pairing with my Greek yogurt dill dip!

Substitutions and Variations

Both ground flax and nutritional yeast can be replaced with an equal amount of almond flour, oat flour or breadcrumbs (ie. if you would like to replace just the flax seed or almond flour substitute with ½ cup of one of the options above. If you would like to replace both flaxseed and nutritional yeast substitute with 1 cup total of the options above).

If you do replace the nutritional yeast, I recommend adding about ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese for additional flavour.

Equipment

• Food processor 
• Baking tray

Storage

Broccoli bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days or in the freeze for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Savoury Snack Recipes

Loved these broccoli bites and looking for more? Try these next:

• Air Fryer Pita Chips
• Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas
• Savory Cottage Cheese Muffins
• Zucchini Edamame Fritters

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5 from 3 votes

Broccoli and Cheese Bites

My ultra cheesy Broccoli Bites are a tasty savory snack, with veggies in every bite. Gluten-free and made with nourishing ingredients!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Make Ahead

Servings: 18 bites

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 2 cups steamed broccoli drained or excess water
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup flax seed ground *see below for substitution
• ½ cup nutritional yeast *see below for substitution
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ cup diced shallot (about 1 shallot)
• 1.5 cups shredded cheese divided ( i like doing a mix of parmesan and cheddar)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
• In a food processor combine, cooked broccoli (I recommend squeezing out excess water using a cheesecloth or paper towel), eggs, ground flax seed, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder paprika, shallot and 1 +¼ cup of shredded cheese. Blend until smooth.
• Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet. The batter will be sticky, but should easily hold their shape when dropped on the baking sheet.
• Bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. In the final 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle tops of the broccoli bites with shredded cheese.
• Allow to cool before enjoying! I recommend pairing with my Greek yogurt dill dip!

Notes

Both ground flax and nutritional yeast can be replaced with an equal amount of almond flour, oat flour or breadcrumbs (ie. if you would like to replace just the flax seed or almond flour substitute with ½ cup of one of the options above. If you would like to replace both flaxseed and nutritional yeast substitute with 1 cup total of the options above).

If you are substituting the nutritional yeast I recommend adding about ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese for additional flavour.

Frozen Broccoli can be used, just ensure it is defrosted first.

If you're noticing the batter is too sticky and wet, this may just mean the broccoli added too much extra moisture. To fix, add additional flax seed.

*I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bite | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg

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