Baked Broccoli Cheddar Bites
In short: Finely chopped broccoli and sharp cheddar baked in a mini muffin tin into golden, savory bites. A good way to get vegetables into lunchboxes. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 165 kcal
Broccoli is an easy vegetable to like when it comes with melted cheddar and a crisp edge. These bites are made with steamed, finely chopped broccoli, egg, cheddar and a little panko to hold everything together. They bake in a mini muffin tin in 20 minutes, travel well and taste good cold, so they suit lunchboxes, after-school snacks and make-ahead meal prep.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin generously with the oil.
- Steam the broccoli for 4 to 5 minutes, until just tender. Drain well and cool for 5 minutes.
- Chop the broccoli very finely, into pieces no bigger than a pea. Squeeze the chopped broccoli in a clean towel to remove as much water as you can.
- Mix the broccoli, cheddar, panko, eggs, spring onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. The mixture should hold together when squeezed. If it is loose, stir in 1 tablespoon more panko.
- Press a heaped tablespoon of the mixture firmly into each cup of the tin.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until golden and set in the middle.
- Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, run a thin knife around each bite and lift them out. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- Chop the broccoli finely and squeeze it dry. Large or wet pieces are the usual reason the bites crumble.
- Replace half the broccoli with grated zucchini (squeezed dry) or finely chopped cauliflower, and serve with plain yogurt and a squeeze of lemon.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze broccoli cheddar bites?
Yes. Cool them completely, freeze in a single layer on a tray, then bag them for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen at 180°C (350°F) for 12 to 15 minutes.
How do I get the bites out of the tin without sticking?
Grease the tin generously, let the bites cool for 5 minutes so they set and run a thin knife around each one. A silicone mini muffin tin releases them most easily.
Can I make them without breadcrumbs?
Yes. Use the same weight of rolled oats ground to coarse crumbs, or almond flour, in place of the panko. Oats or almond flour also make them suitable for gluten-free diets if the oats are certified gluten-free.
How long does it take to make Baked Broccoli Cheddar Bites?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Baked Broccoli Cheddar Bites?
About 165 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 165 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 375 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
