Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar Tots

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes

02 - Bring a medium pot of salted water to boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pat dry thoroughly 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 cylinder forms. Repeat with remaining mixture to create about 20 tots

06 - Lightly spray 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 - Serve tots hot with preferred dipping sauce

# Best Practices:

01 -

They're crispy on the outside and tender inside, making even broccoli skeptics reach for seconds.
Your air fryer does all the work while you handle other dinner prep, and cleanup is practically nonexistent.
One batch feeds a crowd or gives you frozen tots ready to reheat for those chaotic weeknight moments.

02 -

Pat your broccoli completely dry after blanching—I learned this the hard way when wet broccoli made mushy, falling-apart tots that steamed instead of fried.
Don't skip the halfway turn; it's the difference between golden and unevenly cooked with pale spots.

03 -