Want healthy meals your kids will love?

Broccoli Poppers Recipe

31 Comments

My kids actually truly love broccoli.  I can pretty much serve it anyway except for raw and they will eat it.  But for those of you whose kids struggle with eating broccoli, you may have to get a little more creative to get them to try it.  These broccoli poppers are gooey and cheesy on the inside, with a crunch on the outside and make eating broccoli super delicious.  A great alternative to spicy fried jalapeno poppers!

Broccoli Poppers Recipe. If your kids don't love broccoli yet, you'll be shocked at how irresistable they find these!

Begin with your broccoli.  You can use fresh or frozen, but I prefer fresh because there is less water.   You will eventually have to squeeze out the water, whether you use fresh or frozen, so it is totally up to you what type of broccoli you use.   Either with a food processor or a knife, chop your broccoli into super tiny pieces.  Next, steam your broccoli for a couple minutes until tender.  Then squeeze out the water.  Add the rest of your ingredients to your bowl, and mix.  This Broccoli Poppers Recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you can use any kind you want.  This round we used 1/2 Parmesan and 1/2 Mozzarella.  I kind of prefer the stronger taste of cheddar though.  Scoop out tablespoon size balls of the mixture and roll in Panko.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or sprayed.    Bake until golden and crispy.

Broccoli Poppers Recipe. If your kids don't love broccoli yet, you'll be shocked at how irresistable they find these!

We like to dip these in homemade ranch but they are yummy just by themselves.    They make a great appetizer, or even a side dish to your meal.  These would be yummy served with a pasta dish, or a slow cooker meal.

Broccoli Poppers Recipe. If your kids don't love broccoli yet, you'll be shocked at how irresistable they find these!

Broccoli definitely has a unique flavor that can take some acquiring to if your kids don’t like it.  We believe it is important to serve vegetables in different forms, because you never know what your kids will love.  These broccoli bites are another yummy way to serve broccoli. They may not like steamed broccoli or raw broccoli, but they may love roasted broccoli or broccoli poppers!

Broccoli Poppers Recipe. If your kids don't love broccoli yet, you'll be shocked at how irresistable they find these!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
3.4 from 79 votes

Broccoli Poppers

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 207kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place broccoli in a food processor and pulse into tiny peices.  (You can also chop with a knife)
  • Steam your broccoli for 2-3 minutes until tender.
  • Squeeze out the excess water by pressing on the broccoli with a towel.  Transfer to a bowl.
  • Add the rest of your ingredients to you bowl except for Panko, and mix.
  • Scoop out tablespoon size balls of the mixture and roll in Panko.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or sprayed.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F, for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 283mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
Keyword : Broccoli Poppers

www.superhealthykids.com

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

Leave a Comment:
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




31 Comments

These look so fun! It’s so true that you need to keep trying serving vegetables in different forms. My oldest will only eat raw broccoli, while my youngest will eat it sautéed or roasted, but not raw! It’s never easy, right? 😉

I bet these would freeze very well! I cannot wait to try these & I am sure my girls will love rolling them in Panko for me! Thank you for your work!

Martha Vargas: I’m assuming in step 4, where it says combine all other ingrediants except panko.
I’m going to give these a try this afternoon!! Sounds delicious!!!! 😀

kezia – you can definitely use bread crumbs. Panko just makes it a little more crunchy, but it will turn out fine with bread crumbs 🙂

I made these tonight. I used seasoned panko and also added salt, pepper and a little cayenne to the mixture (used extra sharp white cheddar for the cheese). I’m glad I added the extra stuff, because I still found them to be a little bland. I will definitely make again though. May try with cauliflower as well, though I suspect it will be wetter than the broccoli.

If you chop the broccoli into tiny pieces before you steam it, won’t it fall through the holes in the steamer basket?