Air fryer croquettes? You betcha!! Not only are you getting a crispy air fried croquettes, you’re getting ones filled with delicious broccoli and cheese. This cheesy broccoli air fryer croquettes recipe is a great hot appetizer or everyday side dish.
I like the word croquette, it is French deriving from the word “croquer”, or to crunch in English. It is the perfect name for these little broccoli babies as they are crunchy on the outside, but tender and cheesy on the inside.
Yes, I know, it is another air fryer recipe, but I just like to try new stuff! Besides the air fryer is still a newish gadget in my kitchen, therefore, I have been using it more frequently. One of the main reasons why I like to use this air fryer is the speed, there is no need for preheating. Unlike most ovens, the air fryer heats up instantly so it saves a bit of time right there. Yes, you can easily cook this recipe in the oven if needed, just set your temperature to 400℉, wait for the oven to come to temperature and cook until they are golden brown!
Read some reasons why broccoli is so good for you!
Ingredients:
- 1 head of broccoli (4 cups of florets)
- 2 strips of bacon cooked until crispy
- 2 eggs beaten lightly
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or my favorite, pepper jack
- ½ cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs * use only 1/2 cup in the mix, the additional 1 cup will be used for rolling
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper/pepper flakes
Cheesy Broccoli Air Fryer Croquettes:
- cut broccoli into florets
- fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to a full boil and add broccoli
- cook broccoli for 5 minutes then drain in a strainer
- rinse broccoli in cold water and allow to drain completely
- when broccoli is completely drained, place it into a food processor or blender and pulse about 5 times, if your don’t have a food processor you can chop by hand into small bits
- in a large mixing bowl, mix together broccoli, ½ cup of breadcrumbs, chopped bacon, cheeses, and all the spices
- add in the beaten eggs and mix thoroughly
Shaping the Croquettes:
- place the remainder 1 cup breadcrumbs into a shallow dish
- shape a small amount of broccoli mix into a tight ball about 1½ ” in size
- roll the ball into the breadcrumbs until the it is completely covered in crumbs, place on a plate and continue to roll them until all mix is gone
- place the balls into the air fryers about 1 inch apart, one layer only
- set air fryer to 400℉ for 10 minutes or until nicely golden in color
[…] Cheesy Broccoli Air Fryer Croquettes Recipe […]