Air Fryer Broccoli Tots
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
Looking for a delicious way to eat more vegetables? Look no further than these air fryer broccoli tots which are packed with broccoli and cheese, soft on the inside, and perfect crispy on the outside! With just a handful of ingredients, you can have crispy broccoli tots ready in minutes!
I love vegetables but the rest of my family doesn’t quite share that same adoration. So, to get them to eat plenty of green vegetables, I have to make them super tasty. One of our favorite ways is to make them seem like something similar to things they love. In this case, tater tots. These broccoli tater tots are packed full of broccoli though in place of the traditional potatoes.
These homemade tots are cooked in the air fryer to make them extra crispy without the use of a much oil. You can bake them in the oven as well if you don’t have an air fryer. Either way, you have a super tasty way to eat more green vegetables.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nutritious and delicious. This recipe uses fresh broccoli which is packed with vitamins and other health benefits.
- Freezer friendly. You can make these broccoli tots and freeze them before cooking. Then, when you want some, pop the frozen broccoli tots into the air fryer and cook.
- Versatile. You can easily substitute cauliflower for the broccoli or choose a different cheese.
- Picky Eater Friendly. The combination of the crispy outside and the cheesy inside makes this a great way to get picky eaters to eat their green vegetables.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Broccoli Tots
- Broccoli – I use fresh broccoli when creating these air fryer tots but you can used thawed frozen broccoli if that is what you have on hand. If you used thawed frozen broccoli, be sure to pat it with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Bread Crumbs – I recommend panko crumbs but you could also use regular bread crumbs. Gluten free breadcrumbs would also work well here.
- Cheese – I use grated Parmesan cheese in this recipe. You could substitute finely grated cheddar, Swiss, or even pepper jack cheese.
- Egg Yolk – The egg yolk acts a binder to hold all the ingredients together.
- Seasonings – You can stick with classic salt and pepper or add in others like garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika for extra flavor.
Crispy Broccoli Tots Tips and Tricks
To keep these together when they are air fried, I usually pop them into the freezer for 5-10 minutes on a baking sheet. You can leave them for 30 minutes and then transfer them to a Ziploc bag and store for up to 2 months. Just pull them out and cook them when you want a few.
I lightly spray my air fryer basket or cooking sheet with avocado oil before cooking these. It helps make them a little bit crispier on the underside during cooking.
I usually serve these broccoli tots with a side of marinara for my family and they love it.
More Great Vegetable Recipes
If you love these air fryer broccoli tots, be sure to try these other great recipes that are perfect for adding more vegetables into your diet:
- Broccoli Casserole Bites
- One Pan Lemon Garlic Zoodles
- Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini
- Hidden Vegetable Sloppy Joes
- Cheesy Vegetable Breakfast Casserole
Air Fryer Broccoli Tots
Ingredients
- 1 large head broccoli cut into large florets
- 2 Tablespoons panko bread crumbs
- 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the broccoli florets until very tender. (I recommend steaming.) Drain and smash with fork or pulse in food processor.1 large head broccoli
- In a large bowl, combine the smashed broccoli, bread crumbs, Parmesan, and egg yolk. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well.2 Tablespoons panko bread crumbs, 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form broccoli mix into tots and freeze for 10 minutes.
- Lightly spray the basket of the air fryer with oil and place broccoli tots inside. Cook at 370 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned and crispy.
Notes
- You can freeze the broccoli tots on a baking sheet for 30 minutes and then transfer to a Ziploc bag or other airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for up to two months.
Nutrition
If you try this recipe for air fryer broccoli tots or any recipe from the blog, I’d love to hear about your experience. Let me know in the comments or snap a photo and tag it #MySuburbanKitchen on Instagram or Twitter. And be sure to pin this to your best vegetable board on Pinterest too.
