Skip to main content

Brocco Poppers

A fun and unique way to add more veggies to your day. A tasty snack or appetizer!
Scoops of seasoned and baked broccoli and cheese mixture are displayed on serving platter .
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 to 20 minutes
Makes: 20 pieces
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
2 eggs
½ cup dry bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
12 ounces frozen broccoli, thawed, dried and chopped very small (about 2 ½ cups)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together the cheese, eggs, bread crumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  4. Add broccoli to the bowl and stir all ingredients to mix them evenly.
  5. Scoop a rounded Tablespoon of the mixture onto the baking sheet and form into a ball. Leave about 1-inch between each ball.
  6. Bake until poppers are golden brown and cheese is bubbling, about 15 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool for 1 to 2 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.
  8. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

This recipe was inspired by a culinary training session for child nutrition programs provided by Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council.

Notes

  • Try adding other herbs and spices such as Italian seasoning or hot pepper sauce.
  • Try different cheeses such as pepper jack or a mixture of mozzarella and parmesan.
  • No frozen broccoli? Use fresh broccoli that is lightly cooked and chopped.
  • Make your own bread crumbs from stale bread. Try using a box grater, rolling pin or food processor.
  • No bread crumbs? Use cooked rice or quinoa instead.
  • You can freeze the brocco poppers after step 5 and cook them later. Put the baking sheet in the freezer until balls are hard. Move balls to a labeled airtight freezer-safe container and return to the freezer. When ready to bake, remove from container and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Comments

I only had fresh broccoli on hand, instead of frozen, and it still worked great! These Brocco Poppers are perfect as a quick and easy appetizer. Will definitely be making these again and trying out some different seasonings.

This combination of broccoli and cheese was a hit! Brocco Poppers are a fun way to enjoy broccoli for kids and adults who are shy about all things green. It really does work to freeze them for cooking later. We liked them as a side dish and also served them as an afternoon snack for a group when family visited on a holiday.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Squash Blossom Quesadilla
Plate of corn tortillas folded over cheese and squash blossom filling with salsa.

Squash Blossom Quesadilla

Tortillas filled with tender sautéed squash blossoms and creamy cheese. Make them your own by adding salsa, peppers, cilantro or epazote.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
6 quesadillas
Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup
Bowl of orange, creamy soup with a dallop of sour cream

Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup

A creamy fall soup full of warm spices, hearty sweet potato and sweet pumpkin.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Eggplant Omelet (Tortang Talong)
Plate of pan-fried eggplant omelet served with rice.

Eggplant Omelet (Tortang Talong)

A delicious Filipino dish of baked eggplant dipped in egg and cooked in a skillet. Try it for any meal!
Prepare:
20 to 30 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 servings
Mix and Match Pasta Salad
Mix and Match Pasta Salad

Mix and Match Pasta Salad

Enjoy a pasta salad in under 30 minutes, made from the ingredients you have on hand! Change the flavors and match your food preferences with different proteins, veggies and dressing.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Asparagus Mushroom Melt
English muffins topped with chopped asparagus, mushrooms and broiled cheese are shown on plates.

Asparagus Mushroom Melt

English muffins topped with fresh veggies and cheese make this a flavorful appetizer, snack or meal.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
8 muffin halves
Cream of Celery Soup
Bowls of textured celery with a smooth creamy soup base.

Cream of Celery Soup

This one-pot recipe is the perfect meal on a cold day or alongside a salad as a satisfying summer lunch.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 cups