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Crispy, cheezy Garlic Parm Broccoli Bites! This quick snack or side is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and can be made oil-free. The perfect veggie-packed dish for any occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Introducing Garlic Parm Broccoli Bites! This is a recipe I came up with to give broccoli some extra pizzaz. As you may know, I’m a passionate broccoli stan and love broccoli as is, but I wanted to get creative and find new ways to prepare it. My first thought was frying because, you know, almost anything tastes good when fried, but I’m not much of a home fryer.
So instead, I whipped out the air fryer, and the result was a truly tasty, crisp broccoli bite with garlicky and cheezy flavour. I also tested these baked in the oven, and they’re delicious, too, just a little less crispy and a little more time-consuming.
These Garlic Parm Broccoli Bites would be an incredible side dish/appetizer or recipe to toss into nourishing bowls. In my humble opinion, even a vegetable hater (ahem, kids!) would love these! These Broccoli Bites are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and can be made oil-free too.
Ingredient Notes
To make these broccoli bites, you’ll need only 8 simple ingredients, plus salt and pepper to season!
- Broccoli → Our star ingredient! Did you know a cup of broccoli florets packs almost 3 grams of plant protein? It’s also rich in vitamins A, C & K, among other vitamins and minerals, and you can use fresh broccoli or frozen broccoli florets. Veggies for the win!
- Garlic → For some delicious garlic action, we’re using both fresh and powdered garlic! Mince finely, and throw it into the breading mixture.
- Garlic powder → Garlic powder is great because it mixes well into the breadcrumb mixture and really gives the crumb flavour.
- Nutritional yeast → This magical substance is the key to vegan cheezyness. Don’t skip this ingredient! In addition to flavour it also contains a whopping 8-10 grams of protein per 2 tbsp serving, alongside B vitamins.
- Gluten free breadcrumbs → You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs if you’re not gluten-free, of course! Sometimes, I also like to use crushed cornflakes, it works as a wonderful stand-in for GF breadcrumbs, which can be pricy.
- Smoked paprika → For a little extra something and kick.
- Neutral oil or dairy free batter → To coat, use either a neutral oil (I like to use a spray) or batter the broccoli with a gluten-free flour followed by plant-based milk and then the breadcrumb mixture per this recipe.
- And, of course, some vegan parmesan to garnish if desired, fresh lemon and/or ketchup to dip.
How to Make Broccoli Bites
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your bites:
- Toss broccoli with oil or batter with a mix of flour and non-dairy milk.
- In another bowl, mix together minced garlic, nutritional yeast, gluten-free breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add this mixture to the broccoli bowl and toss to coat. Place broccoli florets on a parchment-lined baking sheet or into the air fryer.
- To bake, bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through. To air-fry, cook for 8-10 minutes at 400F.
- When ready to serve, garnish with a generous amount of vegan shredded parmesan or nut-based parmesan, ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce, and fresh lemon if desired.
Secrets to Success!
- Make it fancy → To level up your bites with extra flavor, consider a little truffle oil, garnish with grated vegan parmesan or vegan cheddar cheese, add some chili flakes, etc.
- Boost the nutrition → Serve this broccoli alongside your favourite plant protein of choice, starch, and healthy fats, or throw it into a nourish bowl for a balanced meal.
- Equipment modifications → If you do not have an air fryer, you can make these bites in the oven by baking them until crispy. I personally find the air fryer to be more effective in terms of making the bites truly crispy, and it also takes less time, but both methods work well and result in delicious bites!
Serving Tips
Serve garnished with a generous amount of vegan shredded parmesan cheese or nut-based parmesan, ketchup, and fresh lemon if desired. You can also dip in a vegan ranch dressing if desired. Yum!
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to retain the crispy texture. You can reheat in the microwave, but they won’t be as crispy.
More Veggie-Packed Recipes
- Crunchy Broccoli Caesar Salad
- Cozy Lentil Pumpkin Soup
- Creamy Cauliflower Kale & White Bean Soup
- Teriyaki Tofu & Broccoli
If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below! Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes!
Quick and Easy Garlic Parm Broccoli Bites
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli chopped into bite sized florets
- 1-2 tbsp neutral oil or see notes below for oil-free option
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup gluten free breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- vegan parmesan to garnish
Instructions
- Toss broccoli in neutral oil to coat. If baking in the oven, preheat oven to 400F.
- In another bowl, mix together minced garlic, nutritional yeast, gluten free breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add this mixture to the broccoli bowl and toss to coat. Place broccoli florets on a parchment lined baking tray or into the airfryer.
- To bake, bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through. To airfry, cook for 8-10 minutes at 400F.
- When ready to serve, garnish with a generous amount of vegan shredded parmesan or nut-based parmesan, ketchup and fresh lemon if desired.
Video
Notes
Secrets to Success!
- Make it fancy → To level up your bites with extra flavor, consider a little truffle oil, garnish with grated vegan parmesan or vegan cheddar cheese, add some chili flakes, etc.
- Boost the nutrition → Serve this broccoli alongside your favourite plant protein of choice, starch, and healthy fats, or throw it into a nourish bowl for a balanced meal.
- Equipment modifications → If you do not have an air fryer, you can make these bites in the oven by baking them until crispy. I personally find the air fryer to be more effective in terms of making the bites truly crispy, and it also takes less time, but both methods work well and result in delicious bites!
- For an oil free alternative, follow the method used in this recipe to dredge the broccoli in gluten free flour, plant based milk and then the breading.
Serving Tips
Serve garnished with a generous amount of vegan shredded parmesan cheese or nut-based parmesan, ketchup, and fresh lemon if desired. You can also dip in a vegan ranch dressing if desired. Yum!Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to retain the crispy texture. You can reheat in the microwave, but they won’t be as crispy.Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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