Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites

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Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites are crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. The dipping sauce adds even more flavor to these delicious appetizers.  

I finally broke down and bought an air fryer. I had gifted air fryers to two of my daughters and I got tired of hearing them rave about them. Rosemary Garlic Potato Wedges was the first thing I cooked in the air fryer. They are so delicious! 

I then decided to go big or go home by recreating my favorite cheese balls. Broccoli Cheese Bites are served at my favorite Greek restaurant. I only eat them on special occasions because – hello – deep fried. But they are so good.

I made these cheese bites for the family and they are a huge hit. Yay! I’ve made them twice since then. 

What is An Air Fryer?

An air fryer is basically a countertop convection oven. It cooks food through convection. Hot air circulates around the food to crisp and brown the food, similar to frying. 

Here are some of my best tips for using an air fryer.

Always Preheat the Air Fryer

Whenever I use my air fryer, I always preheat it for 10-15 minutes. Your food will be crispier. I promise. 

Don’t Crowd the Basket

Just like deep frying, you don’t want to overcrowd the basket. Your food will steam instead of fry. 

Use Oil Sparingly

You don’t need a lot of oil when air frying. Remember, we’re aiming for a healthier alternative to deep frying. You only need 1-2 teaspoons for most recipes.

Your Food Will Not Taste Exactly Like Deep Frying

No, your air fried chicken is not going to taste exactly like deep fried chicken. But it’s delicious and knowing I’m eating healthier is a big bonus. 

The broccoli cheese bites don’t taste like the deep fried kind I get at my favorite restaurant, but they are very good.

An Air Fryer Takes Up A Lot of Counter Space

I have a huge air fryer because I don’t like to cook in batches. I’m that girl that times everything I’m cooking so that dinner is done at the same time. It does take up counter space. 

A walk-in pantry is a perfect place to store this baby between uses. 

Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites

Drain thawed chopped broccoli in a colander. Dry well with paper towels.

In a mixing bowl, whisk two eggs. Stir in the drained broccoli, cheddar and Hot Jalapeno & Habanero Jack cheeses, and Panko crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Note: I didn’t know how spicy the Hot Jalapeno & Habanero Jack cheese would be. They are not too spicy at all. If you don’t like any spice, use shredded Monterey Jack instead. 

Make The Dipping Sauce

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sour cream, chili sauce, cayenne pepper, and ground cumin. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Air Fry the Cheese Bites

Remove broccoli mixture from the refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls. 

Preheat air fryer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, grab three small bowls. Add one egg, lightly beaten plus one tablespoon water to one bowl. Add the flour to another bowl and remaining Panko to the third bowl.

Coat the broccoli balls with flour, then the beaten eggs and then Panko crumbs. 

Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray. Place balls in the basket, leaving space between each one. Lightly spray the balls with cooking spray. 

Cook at 390º for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and browned. Serve with dipping sauce. I usually flip the broccoli bites halfway through the cooking time. 

Note: You probably won’t use the entire 1/2 cup flour to cover the cheese bites. You only need a very thin coating of flour. 

The next time you’re craving broccoli cheese bites, make these in the air fryer. They are so good! 

 

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