Cheesy Green Giant Broccoli Tot Bites are a tasty, healthy veggie snack or side. Our Green Giant Veggie Tot Copycat recipe is low carb and is keto too!
Veggie Tots
The word,"Tots" has several different acronyms and meanings. For me, the most meaningful and playful definition is a small child or toddler.
Getting tots to eat veggies can be challenging for parents to say the least.
Veggie tots are a terrific substitute for tater tots as they're a a way of sneaking in the vegetables when no one's looking. Baked Cheddar Broccoli Tots are so popular with toddlers and adults alike, they're full of cheesy flavor and the reduction of unwanted carbs and fats found in regular potato tater tots is very appealing.
Switching from potatoes to vegetables is a healthier option, and cheesy broccoli tots are not short on flavor.
Broccoli tots are a tasty twist from the potato, and who doesn't love a good twist? LOL
Cheesy Green Giant broccoli tot bites make such an incredible side dish or snack, potato tater tots can be a thing of the past.
A lot of veggie tot recipes contain regular or sweet potatoes, but you won' find them here!
I'm such cheese fan, I can't imagine a world without it. ?
Using cheese as a dip instead of putting them in veggie tots crossed my mind. Then I thought broccoli and cheese go hand in glove and need to be together.
Broccoli bites can certainly be made without cheese and some believe using it as a dip makes them taste better. That's a perfectly good choice.
Baked, never fried, these cheesy broccoli tots are delightfully crispy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside.
Sidekicks like condensed cheese soup, cheese sauce or even ketchup enhance the flavor. So, if you're looking for a wonderful sidekick, take a peek at these Best Dips Ever.
Ranch dip is just one fine example and is a perfect fit for broccoli tots.
Discover a world of dips that work beautifully with these Cheesy Green Giant broccoli tots.You won't be disappointed.
Green Giant Veggie Tots
Green Giant Veggie Tots can be purchased in the freezer section of your local supermarket. And they don't pay me to say this either!
Like the popular shredded potato filled ball or tater tot, this dish is delicious and a much healthier alternative.
These Green Giant Veggie Tots come in several varieties such as Cauliflower, Cheese, & Bacon, Sweet Potato & Cauliflower, Corn, Broccoli, Broccoli with Cheese and Cauliflower.
For more information, have a look at the Green Giant website.
My version of their broccoli and cheese tots is even better than their brand.
The difference between the two is striking! My homemade version of the other types of Green Giant Veggie Tots are coming soon; so stay tuned. They are that good.
Perfect for toddlers and adults alike, these broccoli tots or broccoli bites are an easy way to add more veggies to meals, and I'd be willing to bet there won't be a single complaint!
Broccoli Tots
Frozen store bought Green Giant Veggie Tots includes small pieces or chunks of broccoli, and my recipe is no different.
Broccoli tots are similar to tater tots except they aren’t made with potatoes.
Made with finely chopped broccoli florets, combined with a few other simple ingredients like bread crumbs, onions, cheese and egg, these broccoli bites are simple to make and is such a fun way of getting those veggies in.
Feel free to put the broccoli and onions through the food processor. I discovered they had more texture and taste when finely chopped rather than through the processor.
In my view, small bites of diced onion and broccoli mixed with cheese has more flavor.
You may think otherwise. As always, the choice is yours.
Broccoli Bites
Broccoli bites can be totally addictive!
Just because they're made with broccoli doesn't mean you're giving up taste. Potatoes are not welcome here.
With a ton of broccoli on hand, I made a huge batch of broccoli bites while getting ready to watch a movie.
Living with a food blogger, my husband never questioned why broccoli tots would make a good movie night snack.
He's usually content with whatever's put in front of him and he was not complaining when he saw these broccoli bites. The ending didn't go well, if you get my drift.
Needless to say, in one sitting, we devoured every single one of them! Not a crumb was left behind. Waste is a terrible thing.
Green Giant Veggie Tots Copycat
In order to make the best Green Giant Veggie Tots Copycat, my first choice was broccoli and cheese.
Without a doubt, broccoli and cheese is my personal favorite.
Growing up, broccoli was a regular part of the table scenery as my grandfather grew lots of it.
When the season ended, my mother and grandmother would freeze bags of it.
My sister and I got such a kick out of picking broccoli from the garden for grandma.
Getting us to run back and forth from the garden to the house was a way of tiring us out and we were off to bed early giving my parents and grandparents a chance to spend time together.
A brilliant plan!
Being on their farm was great fun and the memories will last a lifetime!
Broccoli Cheese Bites
Cheddar is my cheese of choice when making these tasty little broccoli cheese bites. Other cheeses like Parmesan, Asiago, Goat, Blue and Feta are just a few examples that would taste fantastic. Choose whatever cheese you desire or have on hand. You can't go wrong.
I can't imagine these without cheese! It's an integral part of many of my recipes as I believe there's no such thing as too much cheese! ?
Cheese plays a vital role in this recipe and the taste is absolutely wonderful!
Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Tots
I have enjoyed broccoli cheddar cheese tots my entire life. Like peanut butter and chocolate, they go so well together!
When times were tough, my mother would make them with a can of condensed cheese soup on the side. Still, she never skimped on the cheddar cheese making these tots and I remember LOVING that!
Instead of the soup, I make a quick homemade cheese sauce for dipping.
Broccoli tots without cheddar cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. A quirky rhyme, I know. But you get the point.
Broccoli Tater Tots
Broccoli tater tots are perfect for school lunches. Ideal for lunch boxes, they stay fresh until lunch time.
In his younger years, my son Patrick would ask for extra broccoli cheese tots so he could share them with his classmates. His friends adored them and didn't know they were filling their bellies with a giant dose of veggies!
For "party day", Patrick would proudly bring broccoli tater tots and they were just as much of a hit as the pizza and ice cream. So easy to make and please a crowd.
Green Giant Broccoli Tots
Once, I set a table up in front of my house and did a quality taste test to see if my broccoli tots stood above the Green Giant version.
Everyone who participated picked my so called, Green Giant Broccoli tots as the best tasting. With a little effort and love, homemade is superior. Plus there's no freezer burn to worry about. Look out Green Giant. I'm coming for you...LOL
Ingredients in Easy Cheesy Broccoli Bites
- broccoli
- eggs
- green onions
- shredded cheese
- crumbs or almond flour (keto)
- salt
- pepper
- cooking spray
- ranch dressing or your favorite sour cream based dip, if desired
How to make Cheesy Green Giant Broccoli Tot Bites
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large pot, boil water.
- Place broccoli pieces in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Drain broccoli in a strainer and run cold water over top of it.
- Use paper towel or a dish towel to completely dry.
- Finely chop 2 to 2 ¼ cups of the broccoli and set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine broccoli, eggs, green onions, salt, pepper and cheese.
- Add ⅔ of a cup of bread crumbs or panko, and use your hands to mix well. Depending on how moist your broccoli is, up to another ¼ cup of bread crumbs may be added.
- Enough crumbs should be added to make small, 2 inch long, 1 inch wide tots that hold together.
- Put tots on baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Flip at the halfway point.
- Look for a golden brown color.
- Serve with a side of my favorite sour cream based dip or ranch dressing.
Enjoy!
These cheesy Green Giant broccoli tot bites can be frozen in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Vegetable Tater Tots
Call these vegetable tater tots what you will: tots, bites, fritters, latkes, burgers, cakes or pancakes, they are a kind of comfort food in an unexpected sort of way and so worth checking out.
Cheesy Zucchini Potato Pancakes
Keto Broccoli Tots
For a keto version, almond flour works amazingly well in this recipe as my friend, Rills can attest to. These keto broccoli tots are completely satisfying and beyond delicious!
Rills swears by them and if you're on a keto diet, you will too.
Low Carb Broccoli Tots
Switching from regular bread crumbs to panko, guarantees low carb broccoli tots that have a much better flavor (in my humble opinion).
Reducing starchy carbs can be so beneficial as you well know.
Finding new and healthier ways of cooking can ensure a longer and stronger future!
Broccoli Tots for Babies and Toddlers
Looking for ways to incorporate more veggies into the diets of our children is vitally important!
Broccoli tots for babies and toddlers are the perfect size to snack on. With a huge smile on his face, my little nephew would run around with a broccoli tot in each hand. His mother and I got such a kick out of watching him devour them.
When you need a healthy and delicious snack for your little ones, broccoli tots definitely fit the bill. They cool down quickly (but stay warm enough) so no little mouths or fingers get burned and these broccoli tots will please the palates of even the pickiest of eaters!
Cheesy Green Giant Broccoli Tot Bites Video


Cheesy Green Giant Broccoli Tot Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 - 2 ¼ cups broccoli, florets 1 bunch, include pieces of stem after florets are used if needed
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup green onions, diced
- ¾-1 cup cheese, shredded more or less to taste
- ⅔-3/4 cup bread crumbs, panko or almond flour (keto)
- ¼ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper more or less to taste
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- Bring out all of your ingredients.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil.
- Place broccoli pieces in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Drain broccoli in a strainer and run cold water over top.
- Completely dry using paper towel or a dish towel.
- Finely chop enough broccoli to measure 2 to 2 ¼ cups. Set aside.
- Place broccoli in a medium mixing bowl.
- Add eggs.
- Add green onion.
- Combine with salt, pepper and cheese.
- Add ⅔ of a cup of bread crumbs or panko and mix, using your hands until incorporated. Depending on the amount of moisture in your broccoli, you may have to add up to another ¼ cup of crumbs. Add crumbs until you are able to make small, 2 inch long, 1 inch wide tots that hold together.
- Place on baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Flip your tots halfway through.
- They should be a golden brown color.
- Eat as a side or snack with one of our Best Dips Ever or with ketchup, ranch dressing or your favorite sour cream based dip. Enjoy!
- You can freeze in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag for up to 2 months and these can easily be made ahead of time.
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Anonymous says
These are soo good
Karin and Ken says
Thank you for taking the time to comment! You made my day. I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves them! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care. Karin
kenya says
Absolutely delicious. We ate them with some condensed cheese soup. Definitely recommend recipe.
Karin and Ken says
Glad you enjoyed them! Cheese always tastes great with them. Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know. You made my day! Karin
Breanna says
So good and a great way to serve broccoli. My kids and husband loves them. Thank you for sharing
Karin and Ken says
I think so too. Glad your family loves them too! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much. Take care. Karin