Broccoli Tots for Kids- an Easy Veggie Win
Feb 24, 2025
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Broccoli Tots
If you’re a parent, I’m willing to bet you’ve tried to rebrand vegetables more than once to get your child to eat them (or just even……..look at them, allow their presence on their plates, touch them, etc). Who knew that as parents and caregivers, we’d also have to flex some marketing skills! But that’s what I’ve done here with these broccoli tots.
I’ve pretty much turned boring old broccoli into a cousin of french fries (well, tater tots), with these broccoli tots!
Why I Love These Broccoli Tots
I love this recipe because…my kids ate it. My kids ate vegetables! HA!
No, truly, this broccoli tot recipe is actually a fun and delicious way to get in a serving of vegetables in a way that’s very approachable for most kids. A bite-sized side dish served alongside a hamburger, with ketchup for dipping and boom! Your kid ate broccoli. You can thank me later.
Broccoli Tots
This recipe is super simple to make and doesn’t require many ingredients. It is made with steamed broccoli, cheese, bread crumbs, and an egg. The fat from the cheese makes it a little bit more satisfying (and tasty) and the egg and breadcrumbs help it hold together in tot form. I ate about half the batch, too, so adults will definitely enjoy these as well!
Ingredients Needed
- 12 oz broccoli (you can buy this pre-chopped, or if you chop yourself it’s about 6 cups)
- 3/4 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
- heaping 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- A sprinkle of salt and pepper
How to Make This Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- While the oven preheats, steam your broccoli florets for 10 min until fork tender (you can also microwave them until soft).
- Smash steamed broccoli with the back of a fork until it is broken apart but not entirely mush. You can also use a food processor for this, but it should be plenty soft to easily mash with a fork.
- Add broccoli mash and other ingredients to a bowl and mix.
- Shape broccoli tots into bite sized tot-shapes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375 F for 18-20 min. Check halfway through and flip if needed.
Recipe FAQs
What should I serve these broccoli tots with?
These broccoli tots are a great side for any main you’re serving. My mind goes first to something like a hamburger since they’re sort of a “swap” for a potato side. But they would also pair great with:
- Pulled pork
- Mac and cheese
- Lemon butter grilled chicken
- Chicken tenders
- Steak bites
- Pizza rolls
- Baked fish sticks
- Honey mustard tofu
- Garlic parmesan white beans
- Turkey meatballs
- Meatloaf
Can I use another cheese in this recipe?
Yes, you can! I chose mozzarella because I like that it’s a lower sodium cheese. If you’re making these for a baby or young toddler, I’d stick to a low-sodium cheese option, but you can definitely change it up for older kids!
Help me convince my picky eater to eat these!?
Okay, this is silly, but my kids have historically been a little iffy on green foods, so this is where my rebranding skills come in. I made these first around Christmastime, and I started calling them grinch bites. Didn’t even mention the word broccoli. It went over smoothly with my kid who usually picks green spice flecks out of pasta sauce; she ate like 5 grinch bites! So…whatever works!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
One thing I recommend serving these broccoli tots with, especially for picky eaters, is a dipping sauce they like. My family has been recently loving this True Made ketchup. There’s no added sugar, it tastes great, and it even has some veggies in there!
If you want to cut out an additional step (I almost always do these days when I’m short on time!), just grab a bag of pre-chopped broccoli!
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Red Lentil Pasta with Veggie Packed Tomato Sauce
Chocolate Veggie Smoothie Recipe
For You
Broccoli Tots Recipe
Broccoli Tots
Ingredients
- 12 ounces chopped broccoli, (or 6 cups)
- 3/4 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs, heaping
- 1 egg, beaten
- sprinkle salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- While the oven preheats, steam your broccoli florets for 10 min until fork tender (you can also microwave them until soft).
- Smash steamed broccoli with the back of a fork until it is broken apart but not entirely mush. You can also use a food processor for this, but it should be plenty soft to easily mash with a fork.
- Add broccoli mash and other ingredients to a bowl and mix.
- Shape broccoli tots into bite sized tot-shapes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375 F for 18-20 min. Check halfway through and flip if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is calculated by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. All nutrient values are approximations, as there are natural variations in ingredients and measurements.
