Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (2024)

By Laura Fuentes on Updated

4.95 from 18 votes

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The combination of broccoli and cheddar in these Broccoli Nuggets is sure to be a favorite for healthy school lunches

Looking for ways to get more veggies in your kid’s day? These broccoli nuggets are a great start.

While your kids might not eat a plate of steamed broccoli, these cheesy broccoli nuggets are a great way to get more veggies in their lunchbox. Made with four simple ingredients and seasonings, they make a quick side dish or school lunch.

Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (1)

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Ingredients

The secret for making these Broccoli Nuggets appealing is adding simple ingredients like cheese and enough seasoning. Check the complete list:

  • Broccoli:cut into florets. If using frozen, thaw it first.
  • Eggs:to bind the ingredients.
  • Bread crumbs:you can use regular or gluten-free bread crumbs, or evenpanko.
  • Cheddar cheese:helps to hold the dough while making these nuggets cheesy.
  • Italian Seasoning:it’s crucial to season these nuggets because, otherwise, they are bland.Creole seasoningis another great choice!
  • Garlic powder:more flavor!
  • Salt:just a little, to enhance the taste.

How to Make Broccoli Nuggets

If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely chop the broccoli by hand, in a blender, or in one of thosemini choppers. I’m a one-bowl-and-done kind of gal soI opted for thefood processor. One way or the other, if you can roll out meatballs, you can make these nuggets:

  1. Prep the oven
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Chop broccoli
    Place broccoli florets inside a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
  3. Add the other ingredients
    Add eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasoning to veggie mixture. Process a few pulses until every combined.
  4. Make the nuggets
    Using a small cookie scoop, place veggie nugget scoops onto a parchment linedbaking sheet. Gently press them down so all nuggets are the same height.
  5. Baking time!
    Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are golden. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly prior to serving. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

When I say they are easy to make, I mean it. Check out this quick video and see for yourself.

Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (2)

How to Pack Broccoli Nuggets for Lunch

Kids love nuggets of any kind, and the cheddar and broccoli combination is sure to get their stamp of approval. Here’s how to pack these for lunch:

  1. Prepare the nuggets
  2. Divide 4-6 in a lunch container or thermos
  3. Seal and pack with your choice of dipping sauce

If you want to make these nuggets ahead of time and refrigerate for later, make sure to reheat them in a microwave or toaster oven before packing them into a lunch container or thermos.

Don’t forget the sauce! My kids lovehomemade ranchorketchupfor dipping, but you could also pair them with honey mustard or marinara.

Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (3)

Broccoli Nuggets

Laura Fuentes

4.95 from 18 votes

The combination of broccoli and cheddar in these Broccoli Nuggets is sure to be a favorite for healthy school lunches

Servings: 4

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 16- ounce bag of broccoli florets, thawed
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  • Place broccoli florets inside a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.

  • Add eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasoning to the veggie mixture. Process a few pulses until every combined.

  • Using a small cookie scoop, place veggie nugget scoops onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently press them down so all nuggets are the same height.

  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are golden. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly prior to serving.

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 6broccoli nuggetsCalories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 27.5gProtein: 17.5gFat: 14.8gSaturated Fat: 6.9gCholesterol: 176.5mgSodium: 611.4mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3.5g

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  1. Liam

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (11)
    Best recipe! definitely will make more.
    My 7 year old son is very picky. Well, at least when it comes to vegetables. Whenever I try to serve him vegetables, he refuses to eat it. But when I made these broccoli nuggets, I was surprised and delighted to see them disappear quickly from his plate. He loved them and even asked for more!

    Reply

  2. Traci

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (12)
    These are in the oven as we speak! I’m a vegetarian so these are especially for me! My almost 3 year old might not go for it but we will see! So excited to see how they turn out and made a batch to freeze as well. They don’t look as nice as the picture though lol. I didn’t have a cookie scooper ;) thanks for the recipe!!!!

    Reply

    • MOMables

      How did you like them, Traci? This is one of our favorite recipes!

      Reply

  3. Neha

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (13)
    Hi…I like your recipe and want to try to make it for my kids but we are vegetarian and don’t eat eggs so please help me how can I make this yummy recipe without eggs?

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Hi, Neha! Since the recipe calls for 3 eggs, it may be difficult to replace them. But you may be able to try using 3 flax eggs, which would be 3 tablespoons of ground flax meal (ground flax seeds) mixed with 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon water. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for about 10 minutes before using in the recipe. Let us know how it works for you!

      Reply

  4. Sarah

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (14)
    Thank you so much for the great recipe! I gave them to my son right now and called them “dinosaur eggs.” He gobbled his up and even took mine off of my plate!

    Reply

  5. Diane

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (15)
    Hi Laura! My kids love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. I was planning to batch make them and store in the freezer, how long can I store them?

    Reply

    • MOMables

      I’m so glad Diane! In a freezer bag for 1-2 months. Enjoy!

      Reply

  6. sarah

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (16)
    Hi!
    These turned out SO yummy! Thank you for the recipe!
    I am wondering if Its best to bake all of the mixture at one time, or save the mixture in the refrigerator to bake fresh nuggets throughout the next few days?
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • MOMables

      You can do either. I like to pre-make the nuggets and freeze them as shown.

      Reply

  7. Sarah

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (17)
    I made these last night for my kids as a test run, and then made them today with my grades 3-6 health students. Despite being skeptical at the ingredients, they DEVOURED them and have all asked for the recipe! Thank you for a WIN!

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Thank so much for the feedback Sarah! I am thrilled everyone enjoyed them.

      Reply

  8. Judi

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (18)
    Can I just use fresh (cooked) broccoli instead of frozen? I buy as little packaged food as possible and with broccoli I don’t really see the point of paying more for frozen. Love your recipes! Also when you freeze prior to baking what temp and length of time do you bake them? I assume you bake from frozen?

    Reply

    • MOMables

      sure. you can use fresh or frozen broccoli. They only take minutes to thaw, so I bake them at the same temperature and possibly ad 1-2 minutes to baking time. Enjoy!

      Reply

  9. Ruthanne

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (19)
    Just wondering if there is a good gluten free sub for the bread crumbs? I’m guessing maybe almond flour or ground oatmeal? Thanks for this recipe!

    Reply

    • MOMables

      I use gluten free bread crumbs. I toast gluten free bread, then make bread crumbs with it. I haven’t tried it with almond flour or oatmeal so I can’t advise. Sorry!

      Reply

  10. Lisa Hobday

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (20)
    Is it possible to make these without the cheese? Is there something that you can substitute? My son can’t have dairy.

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Lisa, not these. The cheese is used to “bind” the ingredients. Sorry!

      Reply

  11. Holly

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (21)
    Just made these tonight and they turned out awesome. My daughter won’t eat them because she says she doesn’t like broccoli with cheese :( I guess I don’t really need to hide her broccoli!

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Bummer! but I am glad they turned out awesome. :)

      Reply

  12. Christie Gantt

    Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (22)
    Do you send these with your child cold or put in a thermos to keep them warm?

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Both. depends how your child likes it. One of my kids likes them at room temperature, the others like them warm in a thermos. Enjoy!

      Reply

  13. Marla

    Thanks for posting this! My 10yo son used to love broccoli, and lately he’s been turning his nose up at all veggies, so I’m looking forward to giving these a try. Question: can these be frozen after they’re baked?

    Reply

    • MOMables

      Marla, I usually freeze prior to baking but yes, I don’t see why they can’t be frozen after you bake them. Enjoy!

      Reply

Broccoli Nuggets Recipe (2024)

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