Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Broccoli Tots
Make crispy, kid-friendly broccoli tots in your air fryer. This recipe uses Parmesan cheese for flavor and achieves a satisfying crunch without deep frying.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 27 min
- Yield: About 16 tots
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups finely chopped or riced broccoli florets (steamed and squeezed dry)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (panko recommended for extra crispiness)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Steam the broccoli florets until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Immediately drain and press out as much excess water as possible using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. You must remove the moisture for crisp tots.
- In a medium bowl, combine the dried broccoli, Parmesan cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly combined and holds together when pressed.
- Shape the mixture into small tot or nugget shapes, about 1.5 inches long. Place the tots on a plate lined with parchment paper.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C) for 5 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the tots in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they do not touch. You may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the tots halfway through the cooking time.
- Continue cooking until the tots are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Squeezing the moisture out of the cooked broccoli is the most important step for crispy tots.
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray the tops of the tots with cooking spray before the final 5 minutes of air frying.
- If the mixture is too wet to shape, add 1 more tablespoon of breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tots
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 30
