Broccoli Cheese Balls are crispy fried baslls with a melty broccoli and 3-cheese interior. They are amazing!!
Broccoli Cheese Balls make a delicious finger food for holiday parties or game day. Make them as an after school snack and your kids will think you are the coolest parent ever. Next to Fried Mac and Cheese, I think these fried broccoli balls are the best kid snack ever.
Crispy on the outside with a Panko crumb coating and totally cheesy on the inside with 3 kinds of cheese. The little bits of fresh broccoli are totally coated in gooey, melted cheese.
Are Broccoli Cheese Balls Spicy?
I add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes to give them some spice. You can reduce it to 1/4 teaspoon if you like.
Make Ahead
You’ll need to go ahead and make the Broccoli Cheese Ball mix a little ahead of time and then shape them into balls. You want to refrigerate them at this point for at least 30 minutes so they hold their shape better.
Then they’re coated in flour, dipped in egg wash, coated in Panko crumbs, and fried until golden. For best results, use a thermometer to keep the oil at about 375 degrees.
More Awesome Appetizers To Try
- Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
- Spinach Cheese Balls
- Broccoli Crescent Squares
- Fried Jalapeno Popper Bites
- Pulled Pork Egg Rolls
Broccoli Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 heaping cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded Colby cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces Velveeta, cut into small chunks
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 1/4 cups Panko crumbs,, divided
- 1 egg,, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs,, lightly beaten
- Vegetable or Canola oil
Instructions
- Steam broccoli until slightly softened. Let cool.
- Finely chop broccoli. You want the pieces to be 1/4-inch or less. Place in a large bowl.
- Add cheese, red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup Panko crumbs, and 1 egg to bowl with broccoli. Stir well.
- Use your hands to shape mixture into balls using about a rounded tablespoon for each ball. You should get 12-14.
- Place balls on a plate and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Place flour in a bowl.
- Place the 2 lightly beaten eggs in a second bowl and mix in 1 tablespoon water.
- Place remaining 2 cups Panko crumbs in a third bowl.
- Pour about 2 inches of oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot. Heat oil to 375 degrees. For best results use a thermometer.
- Remove broccoli balls from refrigerator, coat in flour, dip in egg mixture, and then coat in Panko crumbs.
- Fry about 4 balls at a time cooking until golden brown on all sides.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from: Simply Done, Well Done
Originally posted November 9, 2017.
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I made too many for Superbowl and want to freeze the leftovers for later. Should I freeze before or after frying?
I would freeze before frying.
I wonder if these could be done in an air fryer, would they still hold together or just melt into a glob…. has anyone tried that?
Could not get them to hold shape and fell apart.
You might try what I did. I placed them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes after breading.
These are amazing! I’ve made them 3 times in 2 months. They were a hit at our holiday block party and I’m bringing them for Christmas dinner with my family. Big hit! One small adjustment… I really didn’t need 2 cups of panko to coat them all (and I got 15). I ended up throwing out quite a bit leftover and felt like it was wasteful.
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These are so amazing. I make them different every time. I added garlic minced, red paper flakes and grated cheese added to Panko as well. I have used cheddar, pepper Jack, Colby Jack cheese and they’re everyone’s favorite
These are delicious! I slightly boil the broccoli Al dente drain chopped and sauté in alittle garlic oil and salt and pepper.. removed and added to the cheese which was cheddar Parmesan and mozzarella the egg and panko mixed made the balls and refrigerate for an hour. Flour egg and panko and fried .. you can also put them on a baking pan spray with olive oil and baked turning them till there golden!
These were good and not too hard to make. I substituted American cheese for the Velveeta, which seemed to work just fine. Next time I will add a little bit of salt and make the balls smaller.
I can’t wait to make it.
There is a place in N. Myrtle Beach that makes something similar to these here. So I am glad to be able to find a recipe that I can make at home to try. These look amazing. I definitely want to try this and then the next time might even add some bacon crumbles to it as well.
Bacon would be a great addition.