Broccoli Tots

Healthy homemade broccoli tots are a delicious veggie-packed twist on classic tater tots! Vegan and gluten-free, this baked broccoli tot recipe is made with just 2 ingredients, broccoli and potato, plus customizable seasonings. No grains, eggs, or dairy! This allergy-free toddler-friendly side dish is perfect for meal prepping and stashing away in the freezer for busy weeknight meals everyone in the family will love!

Easy, peasy broccoli tater tots! These homemade broccoli tots are the perfect finger food for toddlers and kids, introducing them to veggies in the fun familiar format of potato tater tots! With riced broccoli, shredded potato, and some seasonings for flavor, this veggie-packed snack is perfect for little hands and adults too! No grains, flour, or eggs needed; by using frozen riced broccoli and frozen shredded potato, all you have to do is defrost, squeeze out the liquid, and bake!

Why You'll Love These Broccoli Tater Tots

No need to waste your money on frozen veggie tots when you can easily make them at home with just 2 ingredients! No oil or unnecessary fillers, and you control this sodium content. These tots are allergy-friendly, perfect for babies and toddlers, plus a sneaky way to pack in more veggies to picky kids' diets! Naturally gluten-free and vegan, hearty and satisfying, and perfectly dippable! These homemade broccoli tots are:

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan & Vegetarian
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
• Grain-Free, Paleo, & Low-Carb
• Oil-Free & Sugar-Free
• Kid-Friendly + Baby-Led Weaning
• Quick & Easy, 2 Ingredient Recipe
• Simple, Make-Ahead, & Budget-Friendly
• Healthy Side Dish, Finger Food, or Snack

Are Veggie Tots Healthy?

Broccoli is packed with vitamins and minerals, including folate, potassium, manganese, iron, vitamin C and K1! Plus broccoli contains antioxidants and plant compounds that help with overall health, reducing inflammation and boosting immunity. Low-calorie (35 calories in 1 raw cup) and low-carb (5.6g), but packed with fiber, it is the perfect veggie to pair with the satisfying texture of potato!

Ingredients For Broccoli Tots

• Broccoli: Pro tip is to use frozen riced broccoli. As long as the only ingredient is broccoli, you're good to go! (You can try this shelf-stable kind too.) If you have raw broccoli you need to use up, simply boil the broccoli in a rough chop (stems included!) and toss it into a food processor until you have a fine riced texture.
• Potato: Frozen or refrigerated shredded potato, sometimes labeled as shredded hashbrowns. Again, if you already have some russet potatoes you want to use up, simply peel, shred, and steam the potato.
• Seasonings: If you're making these for babies and toddlers, you can skip the salt and pepper, but my suggestions for family-friendly seasoning are salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Ingredient Variations

• Swap broccoli for cauliflower! The OG riced veggie, cauliflower is a perfect swap for making these veggie tater tots look identical in color to classic potato!
• Swap russet potato for sweet potato! If you want a truly colorful veggie tot and a little extra natural sweetness try using shredded sweet potato (even purple sweet potato!)
• Add a binder. If you feel you need a binding ingredient, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of arrowroot starch (potato or cornstarch) to keep these tots stable. I didn't need to, however, if you boil and rice/shred your own veggies, you may find they stay together better with the added starch. You can even try chickpea flour for added protein and binding power!
• Make them cheesy! Add about 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a savory cheezy flavor that also gives the broccoli tots extra protein, iron, and B vitamins.
• Other seasonings: Try some chili powder, curry powder, Italian herbs, or dried spices and herbs you have on hand will work! Finely chopped fresh herbs are easy to mix in as well!

How To Make Broccoli Tots

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F while you microwave the frozen riced broccoli and shredded potato hashbrowns (if needed).
2. If you are using raw broccoli and potato, chop the broccoli into florets and peel and shred the potato. Add the broccoli florets to a food processor to rice. Steam the potato and broccoli until soft but not falling apart (about 10-15 minutes).
3. Squeeze out excess liquid, using a towel or cheesecloth, from the riced broccoli and shredded potato before adding the veggies to a mixing bowl.
4. Add your choice of seasonings and mix and mash everything together with a fork until combined.

5. Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to portion out 1 tablespoon of broccoli tot filling and use your hands to shape the tot by rolling it into a small cylinder shape (about 18-20 tots).
6. Place the shaped veggie tater tots on a lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 12-15 minutes before carefully flipping them over and baking an additional 12-15 minutes on the other side until golden brown.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Make sure to tightly pack the tots when shaping them. This ensures the natural starches in the potato helps keep the tots together.
• The vegan broccoli tots stay together well, but you do need to be careful when turning them halfway through the baking time. If any fall apart when you flip them, press them back together before baking the other side.
• I recommend using a silicone Silpat or parchment paper when baking. Otherwise, use a well-greased baking sheet or foil.

Can You Air Fry Them?

Yes! You can make them in your air fryer! This is an easy way to make your gluten-free broccoli tots extra crispy!

1. Follow the same steps as above but after you shape the tots, arrange them in a single layer in an air fryer basket. Spray the basket with oil to prevent sticking. You can even lightly coat the tots with oil spray.
2. Air-fry the broccoli tots in your air fryer at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown. No need to flip them halfway if you leave enough space in between the tots (don't overcrowd the basket!)

How To Store Leftovers

Once the tots have cooled, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. Place a paper towel on the bottom of the container to soak up excess moisture.

How To Make Ahead & Freeze

To meal prep a large batch of veggie tots ahead of time for storing in the freezer, first follow all cooking instructions and then allow the tots to cool on a wire rack. Place the broccoli tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then you can transfer the frozen tots into a freezer-safe storage bag or air-tight container for up to 6-8 months.

How To Reheat

To reheat tots from the fridge place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and warm in a 375°F oven for 8-10 minutes or in a 375°F air fryer for 3-4 minutes. If reheating from frozen, bake for an additional 3-4 minutes and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes until crispy and golden brown. You can toss leftover tots in the microwave to make them soft and moist which is ideal for babies and toddlers.

Dipping Ideas

What should you dip your broccoli tots in? Well, anything you'd dip fries or tater tots in! Here are some suggestions:

• Homemade Ketchup
• Nightshade-Free Ketchup
• Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
• Homemade Vegan Mayo
• Homemade Vegan Sour Cream

More Kid-Friendly Veggie Recipes:

• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
• Crispy Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
• Purple Sweet Potato Tater Tots
• Potato Smiley Face Fries

Print

So easy and so delicious! These broccoli tater tots are perfect for everyone in the family!

So tell me:

+ Are you a tater tot fan?

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