Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls are crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and ready in just 30 minutes. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy broccoli cheese balls every time. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sushi Cups with Veggies and Spicy Mayo and Crispy Rum-Soaked Fried Pineapple with Coconut Coating.
Why This Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside
- Healthier than fried broccoli cheese balls
- Easy to make and ready in 30 minutes
- Perfect for busy weeknights or game day snacks
What You'll Need for Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Marinara sauce
- Optional: Ranch dressing
- Optional: Hot sauce
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli florets work well.
- Cheese: You can use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella for a stretchier cheese pull.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food Processor — Chops broccoli quickly and evenly for consistent cheese balls. → See on Amazon
- Baking Sheet — Evenly bakes the broccoli cheese balls for perfect crispiness. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
- Prepare broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets and steam until tender.
- Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, combine steamed broccoli, shredded cheese, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
- Form broccoli cheese balls: Using your hands, form the broccoli mixture into bite-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Coat the balls: Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with a mix of panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Coat each broccoli cheese ball in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the coated broccoli cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each ball. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet to ensure even browning and crispiness. If your broccoli cheese balls are not browning, try increasing the oven temperature slightly or flipping them halfway through baking.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare the broccoli cheese balls up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, simply coat them in the breadcrumb mixture and bake as directed.
- Nutritional tip: For a lower-carb option, skip the breadcrumb coating and simply coat the broccoli cheese balls in beaten egg and grated Parmesan cheese before baking.
Storing & Reheating Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover broccoli cheese balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the broccoli cheese balls up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator before baking.
Freezing Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
Freeze uncooked broccoli cheese balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warmed through. Note that this may make the broccoli cheese balls soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to the broccoli mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower or a mix of both for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your broccoli cheese balls are falling apart, try adding a bit more flour to the mixture or using a food processor to chop the broccoli more finely.
Want to level up this recipe?
Parchment Paper — Prevents the broccoli cheese balls from sticking to the baking sheet and makes cleanup a breeze. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Parmesan cheese
Optional Toppings
- Marinara sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets and steam until tender.
- Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, combine steamed broccoli, shredded cheese, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
- Form broccoli cheese balls: Using your hands, form the broccoli mixture into bite-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Coat the balls: Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with a mix of panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Coat each broccoli cheese ball in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the coated broccoli cheese balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each ball. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to the broccoli mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower or a mix of both for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your broccoli cheese balls are falling apart, try adding a bit more flour to the mixture or using a food processor to chop the broccoli more finely.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover broccoli cheese balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked broccoli cheese balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warmed through. Note that this may make the broccoli cheese balls soggy.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the broccoli cheese balls up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator before baking.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 17g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sat. Fat: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the broccoli cheese balls up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator before baking. See storage notes for more details.
If your broccoli cheese balls are falling apart, try adding a bit more flour to the mixture or using a food processor to chop the broccoli more finely. You can also try chilling the formed broccoli cheese balls in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before coating and baking.
Yes, you can freeze uncooked broccoli cheese balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
To make your broccoli cheese balls crispier, try increasing the oven temperature slightly or flipping them halfway through baking. You can also try adding a bit more breadcrumb mixture to the outside of the balls before baking.
The best way to reheat leftover broccoli cheese balls is in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Reheating in the microwave may make them soggy.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Baked Broccoli Cheese Balls Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
