Description
Delicious and crispy Three Cheese Broccoli Bites made with mashed red potatoes, tender broccoli florets, and a blend of cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses. These savory bites are coated in panko breadcrumbs and air-fried to perfection, making them a perfect snack or appetizer that’s both flavorful and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 lbs (900g) red potatoes, peeled and cut into even sized chunks
- 1 lb (450g) fresh broccoli, chopped into florets
Cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- ½ cup Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Other Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Cook Potatoes: Place peeled and cut potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, and bring to medium heat. Cook for 20-25 minutes until tender by testing with a fork.
- Cool Potatoes: Drain potatoes and transfer them to a cold water bath for 3-4 minutes, refreshing the water once or twice.
- Mash Potatoes: Once cooled, mash the potatoes thoroughly with a fork or masher until smooth and free of lumps.
- Steam Broccoli: Bring water to a boil and steam broccoli florets for about 10 minutes until tender.
- Cool Broccoli: Transfer broccoli to a cold water bath for 1 minute to stop cooking.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) to warm up while preparing the mixture.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, eggs, grated cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, plain breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well using hands or a wooden spoon.
- Form Bites: Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized rounds and place them on baking paper.
- Coat with Panko Breadcrumbs: Spread Panko breadcrumbs on a plate. Roll each ball in the Panko crumbs ensuring an even coating, then arrange on parchment paper again.
- Air-Fry: Spray the coated balls lightly with cooking oil and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 7-9 minutes until crispy and heated through.
Notes
- For best results, ensure potatoes are completely mashed with no lumps for a smooth texture.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, these can be baked at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes or until crispy.
- Customize the cheese blend based on preference or availability, but a mix of cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella offers optimal flavor and meltiness.
- These bites can be served with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ranch, marinara, or garlic aioli.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow even cooking and crispiness on all sides.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
- Method: Air-frying, steaming, boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites (about 100g)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: Three Cheese Broccoli Bites, cheesy broccoli bites, air fryer broccoli snacks, vegetarian appetizer, cheesy potato bites, healthy snack
