Broccoli Nuggets Recipe

Name: Broccoli Nuggets
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 16- ounce bag of broccoli florets (thawed); 3 eggs; 1 cup bread crumbs; 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jan 16, 2025

4.95 from 18 votes

Recipe

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The combination of broccoli and cheddar in these Broccoli Nuggets is sure to be a favorite for healthy school lunches.

Looking for ways to get more veggies in your kid’s day? These easy broccoli nuggets are a great start.

broccoli nuggets in a small lunchbox with dip

Lunchbox Broccoli Nuggets

While my kids won’t eat a plate of steamed broccoli, these cheesy broccoli nuggets are a terrific way to get more veggies in their lunchbox. Made with four simple ingredients and seasonings, they make a quick side dish or school lunch.

I’m all about easy meals that help kids eat more vegetables -especially the green ones they usually turn their noses up at. That’s how I created recipes like broccoli tater tots and cheesy spinach balls, and they love them!

And these nuggets are always a hit. I mean, whenever you want your kids eat something they refuse to eat, turn it into a nugget! The best part for us is how simple they are to make. You prep them in 10 minutes and the oven does the rest!

Ingredients

The secret for making these Broccoli Nuggets appealing is adding simple ingredients like cheese and enough seasoning. Check the complete list:

Broccoli: cut into florets. If using frozen, thaw it first.
Eggs: to bind the ingredients.
Bread crumbs: you can use regular or gluten-free bread crumbs, or even panko.
Cheddar cheese: helps to hold the dough while making these nuggets cheesy.
Italian Seasoning: it’s crucial to season these nuggets because, otherwise, they are bland. Creole seasoning is another great choice!
Garlic powder: more flavor!
Salt: just a little, to enhance the taste.

How to Make Broccoli Nuggets

You can chop the broccoli by hand, in a blender, or in one of those mini choppers. I’m a one-bowl-and-done kind of gal so I opted for the food processor. One way or the other, if you can roll out meatballs, you can make these nuggets:

Prep
Preheat oven and chop the broccoli.
Combine
Add eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasoning to the veggie mixture. Process until combined.
Make the nuggets
Place veggie nugget scoops onto a lined baking sheet. Gently press them down so all nuggets are the same height.
Baking time!
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are golden.
Pack for school
Allow the broccoli nuggets to cool before packing in the lunchbox. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

When I say they are easy to make, I mean it. Check out this quick video and see for yourself.

Healthy School Lunch Packing Tips

Kids love nuggets of any kind, and the cheddar and broccoli combination is sure to get their stamp of approval. Here’s how to pack these for lunch so they stay fresh:

Pack them separately
To keep the nuggets’ texture and flavor intact, pack them separately from other ingredients.

Add a dip
Don’t forget the sauce! Use a small leak-proof container to pack your favorite dipping sauce. My kids love homemade ranch or ketchup for dipping, but you could also pair them with honey mustard or marinara.

Save time
If you want to make these nuggets ahead of time and refrigerate for later, make sure to reheat them in a microwave or toaster oven before packing them into a lunch container or thermos.

More Healthy School Lunches with Veggies

Adding veggies to your kids’ lunches doesn’t have to be any complicated when you have easy recipes like these broccoli nuggets and many others I’ve been packing for my kids for years! Some tasty ideas? Cauliflower pasta salad, bell pepper nachos, and zucchini waffles!

Other kid-friendly recipes with vegetables that guarantee the lunchbox will come back empty are this ham and veggie wrap, veggie mac and cheese soup, and these easy veggie nuggets.