Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar Tots (Printable)

Crispy cheddar broccoli tots prepared simply in the air fryer, perfect for snacks or sides.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups broccoli florets (about 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 Cook:

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 thoroughly and rinse with cold water. Pat dry completely with paper towels.
03 - Finely chop the broccoli by hand or pulse in a food processor until it resembles rice grains.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped broccoli, onion, cheddar cheese, egg, panko breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt, and black 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 to form approximately 20 tots.
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 tots halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy exterior forms.
08 - Transfer to serving plate and serve hot with preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're genuinely crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, which is harder to mess up than you'd think.
  • Kids will eat these without the usual negotiation tactics, and adults will steal them straight from the serving plate.
  • The air fryer does all the heavy lifting so your kitchen stays cool and you're not standing over hot oil.
02 -
  • The moment you think the mixture is ready, it probably needs one more minute of mixing—when everything is truly combined, it should feel cohesive and not fall apart when you shape it.
  • Turning them halfway through makes the difference between one side golden and the other pale, so set a timer and don't skip this step even if you think they look done already.
03 -
  • If your mixture feels too wet after mixing, don't panic—just add panko one tablespoon at a time until it holds together when you squeeze it gently.
  • The air fryer temperature can vary slightly between models, so start checking at the 12-minute mark rather than waiting the full 15 minutes.
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