Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar Tots (Print out)

Golden broccoli and cheddar snacks cooked effortlessly in an air fryer. Crisp, cheesy, and perfect for anytime.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups broccoli florets (approximately 1 medium head)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy

03 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
04 - 1 large egg

→ Dry Ingredients

05 - 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
03 - Finely chop the broccoli or pulse in a food processor until mixture resembles rice grains.
04 - In a large bowl, combine chopped broccoli, onion, cheddar cheese, egg, panko, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined and mixture holds together.
05 - Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture and shape into small cylindrical tot forms. Repeat with remaining mixture.
06 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Arrange tots in a single layer, leaving adequate space between each piece.
07 - Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy throughout.
08 - Transfer to serving plate and serve hot with preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They crisp up beautifully in the air fryer without any deep frying mess or guilt.
  • You can make a huge batch on Sunday and freeze them for weeknight wins when hunger strikes fast.
  • Kids actually ask for seconds, which feels like a small miracle when broccoli is involved.
02 -
  • Don't skip the blanching step—it's the difference between tots that stay crispy and ones that turn mushy inside because of excess broccoli moisture.
  • Pat that broccoli completely dry after blanching; even a little leftover water will steam your tots instead of crisping them up.
03 -
  • Don't press down on the tots while they're air frying—let the hot air circulate freely around them to get maximum crispiness on all sides.
  • If your mixture seems too wet or won't hold together, add a tablespoon more panko and mix again; this usually fixes the issue without changing the final result.
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