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!
“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: 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!
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
More fabulous Broccoli recipes
Browse all Broccoli Recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls recipe video!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls
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:
Nutrition Information:
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.
Wow, absolutely amazing thankyou so much for sharing this and being able to reference the nutrition panel is fantastic.
Overtakes our cheesy broccoli bake and better for us 😁
High praise!!! Thanks so much for the feedback Luke, so glad you enjoyed it! N xx
I saw this and had to make it. These are so good and really easy to make. I didn’t have the pinko crumbs so I used what I had.
Should have taken a photo but my daughter and I ate them up. So good and able to freeze. Thank you..
Whoot! So glad you and your daughter enjoyed this Sandy, thanks for letting me know! N x
Hi there,
In New Zealand I went and bought shallots, they are brown little onions. Then I watched the video and you use what looks like a spring onion to me?
Am I ok to use the brown shallots, or should I return and get some green/spring onion?
cheers 🙂
Maddy
Hi Maddy! What you have is fine 🙂 We call them eschallots here. It is so very confusing. But all and any type of onion will work great in this! N xx
Is the cheese needed in this recipe?
Yes, flavour and to make it golden! N xx
Hi Nagi.
Wondering if I could use a bag of broccoli rice for this recipe? I am a least amount of work kinda cook….
Pretty sure you can Tiff!
Hi, my sister shared this on Fb and I am going to make it, but I do keto so I am using Pork Rinds as a binder, which have zero carbs, how will that affect the carbs for the recipe? I saw you calculated it for the almond meal, please will you for the pork rinds? Also does the nutritional value include the dipping sauce? TIA, so excited to make these.
What could I substitute the cooking spray with? Thanks
Hi Sandra! Little drizzle of oil will work just fine! 🙂 N x
Maybe melt some butter and brush lightly on balls???
— LOVE THEM – I didn’t add the salt (kidney issues) but they do need the sald – figured with the cheese that I would be fine not adding salt — for the rest of you who can handle adding a little salt – ADD it! LOL ….. LOVE the yogurt dressing .. a little odd mixture of flavors but refreshing – I am sure these would be a huge hit at a gathering – will definitely make again. 🙂
AWESOME!!! So pleased to hear that Cheryl, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Just made these along with the lemon yogurt sauce. So delicious! One issue: I should have watched the video again and chopped my broccoli much more finely before adding to the mixture. As a result, I ended up having a bit of a challenge getting my chunks of broccoli to form into nicely packed balls. However, once they were cooked, they held together just fine despite my error. Nice surprise! Love the crispy exterior and soft interior.
I first dipped them in the yogurt sauce and loved that lemony contrast, and then I thought “Mustard!” Tried them with a little Dijon and that was equally delicious. I’d serve these to guests in a heartbeat, whether as an appetizer or part of an entree. Thanks Nagi!
Whoot!!!! So pleased to hear that Marcia! The thing with this recipe is that the broccoli is cooked until soft so it kind of “mashes” together when forming the rolls. So it didn’t really matter if you didn’t chop the broccoli finely enough! N xx
Yep, I finally realized I just hadn’t cooked the broccoli quite to the “mushy” stage. Still, they sure turned out great! This recipe is a keeper. Thanks again, Nagi.
Nagi how DO you find the time to respond to each comment!!!??? I am making these in an hour or so! Can’t wait – thanks for sharing the recipe… 🙂
I make it a priority in my daily tasks 🙂 I think if people take the time to write in or have a question about a recipe, given that this is what I do as my full time job, I should always respond! N xx
Is this scallions or shallots? Or both
It’s scallions. Scallions are also called shallots as well as green onions. It is confusing! 🙂 N xx
What are the carbs if you use almond meal instead of panto breadcrumbs?
Hi Jacqui! Reduces to 17g – added nutrition into the notes 🙂
I made this for a party and it was really good! I didn’t have yogurt so I just had ranch dipping for sauce which was fine but I like the aioli sauce idea from another’s comment! I would try that next time. I put cooked broccoli in food processor so it had even texture. They rolled well and looked beautiful! A nice “different” appetizer from the normal usuals. Everybody loved them!
That’s so fantastic to hear Linda! So pleased that everyone enjoyed these! N xx
Made these just in time to watch an AFL game and loved them! I used almond meal instead of panco bread crumbs as I don’t eat wheat or rice products. Highly recommended. Thank you for the recipe! 😀
WHOOT!!!!!
Am I able to use normal breadcrumbs?
Yep! You sure can 🙂
Ok, Nagi… what the WHAT!?!?! These were so good my husband & I devoured the whole batch in one sitting. I didn’t have the ingredients for the yogurt-lemon sauce, so I made a horseradish aioli which was pretty tasty. I don’t love broccoli, but my husband does, so I’m always happy to find brocco recipes that we both enjoy.
It’s funny given that we live in different hemispheres, but you frequently post recipes that include ingredients that I’ve just had delivered from our lovely, local produce service, including this one.
Thanks for providing fairly simple, delicious recipes that never fail to please. I look forward to adding this to my party repertoire as well.
Hope Dozer’s paw is feeling better. He lives a pretty plush life but still… that face!
Cheers to you both!
I love hearing that Fiona!!! Especially that you made this with your fab local produce 🙂 Dozer is all good, thankfully, he was becoming a nightmare with over 2 weeks of no exercise at all, not even a little walk!!
A friend posted your recipe on Facebook and I am intrigued! Question though- It appears the balls are approximately one rounded tablespoon and yield 15. Is this correct? I look forward to making them for a Canada Day celebration and I may have to double or triple the recipe.
Hi Pam! It is one rounded tablespoon PACKED. 🙂 The mixture looks like there is a lot more because it’s fluffed up, it is about 30% less when pressed into balls. 🙂
Thank you kindly Nagi I will be making these sweeties this weekend!
These broccoli cheese balls are great and made another batch for tonight’s meal by special request by all – thank you
Now that is a HIGH PRAISE!!! 🙂 So pleased to hear that Alex, thanks for letting me know! N xx
WOW Nagi !!!! These broccoli cheese balls were absolutely fantastic !!!! Great taste and so easy and quick to make without the fuss of frying !!!! Love that they baked so well with just a quick spray of oil. So good that I’ll need to do a double recipe next cook. LOL Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipes. Straight forward, no fuss, sensible cooking for awesome tasting meals !!!!
Fantastic! So pleased to hear that Diana, thank you for letting me know! N xx
Just made these, had no shallots so left them out, added a little more bread crumbs and another egg. SO SO GOOD!!!
Fantastic! So pleased to hear that Christina, thank you for letting me know! N xx