Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups broccoli florets (about 1 medium head)

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy

03 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

04 - 1 large egg

→ Dry Ingredients

05 - 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Method steps:

01 - Set air fryer to 375°F and preheat for 3 minutes.

02 - Bring a medium pot of salted water to boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.

03 - Finely chop the broccoli or pulse in a food processor until texture resembles rice.

04 - In a large bowl, combine chopped broccoli, onion, cheddar cheese, egg, panko, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined and mixture holds together.

05 - Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture and shape into small cylindrical tot forms. Repeat with remaining mixture.

06 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Arrange tots in a single layer, leaving adequate space between each piece.

07 - Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crisp.

08 - Remove from air fryer and serve immediately with preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

They crisp up perfectly in the air fryer without any deep frying mess or guilt.
Kids actually eat their vegetables when they're this cheesy and satisfying.
You can make a huge batch and freeze them for those moments when you need something real fast.

02 -

Moisture is your biggest enemy; if your broccoli mixture feels damp, these will steam instead of crisp, so blanch and dry thoroughly.
Don't skip the halfway flip—I learned this the hard way when my first batch was golden on one side and pale on the other, which taught me that even heat matters.

03 -