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Home Collections Party Food

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls

By:Nagi
Published:29 May '17Updated:28 Sep '19
297 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Living, breathing proof that broccoli recipes don’t have to be boring…. These Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls are an outrageously delicious meat-free meal or fabulous bites to serve at a gathering. Make these with fresh or frozen broccoli, and watch as even the pickiest of eaters scoff them down!

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

“Freeze! Cut! Don’t move!”

“Faster, faster, faster!”

“Dozer, move! MOVE!”

“Chop chop chop, come on, let’s get this scene done!”

“Dozer. I said MOVE!”

One day, I need to use the sound that’s recorded on the footage that I shoot for the recipe videos. When I watch the clips, I’m always in hysterics when I listen to the ridiculous conversation: me batting Dozer away, listening to my mother getting all stressed out when I crack the whip to chop faster, her mocking my Baby Hands and throwing her weight around as the “talent” in my videos. And sometimes, I deliberately shout out “FREEZE!” when my mother is in a particularly awkward position – like half squatting, mid ball forming – just for my own amusement. Ba ha ha, I’m SO MEAN!

Such is life when you’re an amateur videographer, working out of your home with a make-do-with-what-you-have video set up, on a $6 Bunnings DIY fake marble shooting surface, with your mother as your hand model and a dog who…..well, a dog who contributes nothing except gets in the way. We create our own amusement!

Now – let’s talk Broccoli Balls!

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls: Perfect meat-free party snacks

Today is Monday Meatball Mania, yet another “thing” I do to create my own amusement. My friend Jo from Jo Cooks and I agreed to each share a meatball recipe on the last Monday of every month. And that’s just about the only rule there is.

Except….that it needs to be a meatball recipe… and these Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls are completely devoid of any form of meat. Hmm…..I wonder if Jo will declare this to be a foul? 😉 We shall see!

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

These babies certainly don’t taste healthy – but they are. You’ll be surprised how much broccoli you use – an entire very large head – and they are baked, not fried. They come out beautifully golden, they stay pretty round, and they’re really juicy and moist inside.

I haven’t served these Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls at a gathering yet but I definitely plan to in the near future because they reheat well and I think they’ll be a total crowed pleaser. And they’re fabulous as a meal too. In the photo below, I served this with a lemon pilaf and a quick sautéed kale side (recipe in the notes!). – Nagi x

More Fabulous Broccoli Recipes

If you love broccoli as much as me, have a browse of all my broccoli recipes! -> Broccoli Recipes

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

More fabulous Broccoli recipes

  • Broccoli Gratin

  • Super Quick Broccoli Pasta

  • Broccoli Salad with Lighter Creamy Dressing

  • Broccoli Fritters – plus Chicken Broccoli Fritters

  • Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

  • Browse all Broccoli Recipes

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls recipe video!

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Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls - outrageously delicious as a meal or bites to serve at a gathering! Served with a Yoghurt Lemon Sauce. recipetineats.com

Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls

Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 25 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins
4.94 from 81 votes
Servings3
Tap or hover to scale
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  • 15237
You'll be surprised how much broccoli is crammed into these! They certainly don't taste healthy - but they are. They are juicy and moist inside, golden on the outside, they stay pretty round after baking, and are gorgeous to serve as a vegetarian main or as bites! Serves 3 - 4 as a main. Recipe video below and Gluten Free option in notes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (packed) roughly chopped soft cooked broccoli (well drained) (~400g/13 oz raw broccoli) (Note 1)
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Colby or Tasty cheese are my usual)
  • 2 shallots / scallions , finely sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Black pepper
  • Olive oil spray

Garlic Lemon Yoghurt Sauce:

  • 2/3 cup plain yoghurt
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ garlic clove , minced
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil (adjust to taste, depends on fat % of yoghurt used)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200C/390F (all oven types).
  • Line tray with baking / parchment paper. (Note 2)
  • Place all ingredients (except oil spray) in a bowl. Mix well to combine, mashing up the broccoli as you go (like when you are cooking mince).
  • Scoop up a heaped tablespoon, then press in firmly. Flick out into your hand then form into a ball. Place on tray. Repeat with remaining mixture - should make 15 - 18 balls.
  • Spray with oil then bake for 25 minutes, or until the surface is slightly crisp and golden.
  • Serve with Lemon Yoghurt Sauce – it also goes great with ketchup!
  • Sauce: Mix ingredients together then set aside for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.

Recipe Notes:

1. This can be made with fresh or frozen broccoli. If using fresh, you'll need 1 giant head or 2 medium heads. Ensure the broccoli is cooked until soft so it is easier to “mash” and mould into meatball shapes.
Chopping and cooking fresh broccoli: Cut the florets off the broccoli then break up into medium pieces. Cut the thinner stem into about 2.5cm / 1 inch pieces. If you want to use the thick main stem, peel the outer skin (which is tough) then cut into 2.5 cm / 1” x 1cm / 2/5” batons. Boil water in a large saucepan (or do this step in a steamer). Plonk the stems in first, cook for 2 minutes. Then add the florets and cook for 3 minutes, or until soft. Drain well.
2. Storing: Cool then place in an airtight container. For a quick reheat, use the microwave, or otherwise reheat in the oven. These also freeze well once cooked, thaw then reheat at 180C/350F for about 5 minutes. Can be made ahead, form balls, then refrigerate (not freeze), then bake later.
3. Pictured in the photo in post with: Lemon Rice Pilaf and quick sautéed kale (tear off a few handfuls of kale, rip leaves off the tough centre stem, tear into bite size pieces. Saute in a bit of oil with a handful of pre shredded carrots (I always have Just Veg from Woolies on hand), season with S&P and finish with a sprinkle of crushed almonds.
4. GLUTEN FREE OPTION: Sub breadcrumbs with 3/4 cup almond meal. 
5. Nutrition is for 1/3 of the recipe which is a meal size serving (for an adult). Gluten free option: increases to 387 calories, carbs decreases to 17g.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 262gCalories: 374cal (19%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

If it isn’t bad enough that he can’t even go for walks until the cut on his paw heals a bit, now I’m making him wear a sock…..!!!

PS Before you mock me (and him), it is VERY practical rather than re-bandaging every day because it gets so filthy. I mean, I have four of these socks. So I only have to wash them every 4 days! 😉
PS Reminder: let’s not feel too sorry for him. He lives a darn good life.

 

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297 Comments

  1. Gina says

    December 16, 2022 at 12:44 am

    5 stars
    My whole family loves these! I steamed the broccoli, pressed it with a paper towel to squeeze out any extra moisture, used 4C Gluten Free Bread Crumbs, and mixed finely shredded cheddar and Pecorino Romano cheese. I rolled half the mixture into balls, and made patties out of the rest. I skipped the dip – they’re delicious on their own.

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    October 9, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    Hi,wondering if you could make these with cauliflower? My daughter is seriously fussy, if she sees the green she won’t go near them, thought cauliflower might work? Any tips on whether this will work?

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      September 29, 2023 at 10:46 am

      Can confirm, works with cauliflower!

      Reply
  3. Delphia says

    July 27, 2022 at 3:25 pm

    So easy & flavoursome. Served with cheese dip which was perfect

    Reply
  4. Gemma says

    July 15, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    5 stars
    Love these, and so easy!! I made a batch of these and had to make a second batch straight away as I wolfed down quite a few 🙂

    Reply
  5. Michelle says

    May 14, 2022 at 6:21 am

    5 stars
    Super easy and quick recipe. Turned out great. Next time I think I will add a bit of dried sage, thyme and garlic salt (personal preference). I didn’t have any plain yogurt to make the yogurt sauce, so I just used bottled Ranch dressing as the dip. Delicious! Thanks, Nagi!

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    April 16, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    Nagi, the broccoli cheese balls are fabulous, next party, these will be centre, I’m eating my way through them now 😁

    Reply
  7. Esther says

    April 16, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Easy..Delicious..Healthy.. Great hot or cold. A winner that I’ll be making again & again!! Thanks Nagi

    Reply
  8. Mandy says

    March 26, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    Hi there, can these be frozen successfully,… 🌹

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 27, 2022 at 8:23 am

      See Note 2 under the recipe – they freeze well once cooked! N x

      Reply
  9. Kashika Paliwal says

    February 12, 2022 at 1:34 am

    5 stars
    Dear Nagi, I’m in love with your recipes! I’m looking for egg free baking options for savoury as well as sweet food items. It would really great if you could post how can we make these broccoli balls without egg. Thank you so very much for delivering one delicious recipe after the other. I see that you’re in Australia and we are moving there later this year as well. Hope I can catch up with you sometime and learn a few recipes😊

    Reply
    • Neraki says

      March 2, 2022 at 2:05 am

      I’ve tried using oat yogurt (I used alpro) as an egg substitute. It binds super well! Only thing is it seems to have made the dough a bit soggier than eggs. I adjusted the oven temperature higher to 225C to absorb more of that moisture and it seemed to have fixed the problem.

      Reply
  10. Marvin marshall says

    February 10, 2022 at 11:50 am

    Excellent recipe . I added spinach in with broccoli . Enjoyed by all .

    Reply
  11. Heebee says

    January 27, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    So wonderful: children demolished them. I did not have quite enough weight in broccoli so added some lightly-microwaved grated carrot. Another fantastic Nagi recipe, thank you heaps!

    Reply
  12. Diane Hobden says

    November 26, 2021 at 6:46 am

    I have a couple of ’bring a plate’ affairs to go to, so will make these.

    What happened to dear Dozer?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 26, 2021 at 1:44 pm

      Dozer is fine…Thanks for asking! N x

      Reply
  13. Heidi says

    October 1, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    Have you cooked these in an air fryer?

    Reply
  14. Carol says

    September 23, 2021 at 5:52 am

    What can I substitute for dipping sauce?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 23, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      Hi Carol, you can use any dipping sauce you like! N x

      Reply
  15. Meg says

    August 31, 2021 at 2:45 am

    Hi Nagi, would it be possible to omit the eggs or is there a vegan friendly substitute I could use?

    Reply
    • Neraki says

      March 2, 2022 at 2:05 am

      I’ve tried using oat yogurt (I used alpro) as an egg substitute. It binds super well! Only thing is it seems to have made the dough a bit soggier than eggs. I adjusted the oven temperature higher to 225C to absorb more of that moisture and it seemed to have fixed the problem.

      Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 1, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      Hi Meg, they are the binder here, I haven’t tried with any egg substitutes though sorry! N x

      Reply
  16. Bec P says

    August 5, 2021 at 10:13 pm

    5 stars
    Sooo delicious! Loved these. So easy to put together. I made them in the day and then they were ready to pop in the oven at night for an easy dinner. They had such a lovely crunch to the outside and so fluffy inside. So yummy with the lemony yoghurt sauce too. Will definitely make again!

    Reply
  17. Judy says

    July 18, 2021 at 7:52 am

    Can I do them in the air fryer?

    Reply
  18. Marija says

    June 29, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    Thank you Nagi! I’am glad to find your recipe, looks great!

    Reply
  19. Be says

    May 17, 2021 at 8:44 pm

    5 stars
    I put the brocolli stems in a food processor so they were in nice small chunks, and pulsed the heads so they were chopped small but not teeny tiny. I also added 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and reduced the cheddar cheese to 1/2 cup. I didnt have shallots so put in some diced onion too. They turned out great!

    Reply
  20. Jo says

    May 2, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    5 stars
    Such a quick, simple recipe and absolutely delicious! Made these for my vegetarian daughter, but even us carnivores were super impressed.

    I added a little parmesan as well since I had some to use up, and next batch I’m thinking I’ll add a little smoked paprika.

    The lemon yoghurt complemented them perfectly too. Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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