These easy, cheesy broccoli bites are perfect for baby-led weaning! Simple to make, freezer-friendly, these little bites are the perfect make-ahead snack.
HEY! Be sure to check out the update on this recipe below in the *notes* section to find out how I’ve recently updated this recipe for my toddler.
I’ve also updated a bunch of the photos on this recipe, so please enjoy all the *much improved* food photography 🙂
Truth be told, I am pretty much counting down the days until baby # 2 is old enough to eat solid foods.
Yes, she is only 2 months old, but there is something so exciting about seeing your baby try new foods for the first time. When we started solids with our first baby, we tried the baby-led weaning method and honestly, it was just downright fun.
- No baby food purees to make
- No force-feeding
Just watching your little one explore their food and learn to eat on their own.
One of the most exciting times in a baby’s first year is when they are able to eat meals with the rest of the family.
If I’m being honest, sometimes being a stay at home mom can feel sort of aimless, but once you introduce regular mealtimes into your daily routine, those long days at home with baby can feel more purposeful and fun.
Related: Best Foods for Baby-Led Weaning 6-11 Months
Starting around 7 months old, these easy cheesy broccoli bites quickly became a favorite food. And I love them for so many reasons:
- perfect for little hands to hold
- freezer-friendly
- 4 simple ingredients
- easy side dish for dinner or lunch
One of my favorite perks of using the baby-led weaning method is being able to eat right alongside my baby while she eats.
She feeds herself, and I get to feed myself as well! And these broccoli bites are one of my favorite easy snacks!
- They freeze really well so sometimes I like to double the recipe so I always have some on hand.
- These easy cheesy broccoli bites are the perfect side dish for chicken, burgers, mac & cheese, and really anything you want to serve them with.
As far as getting started with self-feeding, both of my girls’ “first food” was simply mashed avocado. After serving single first foods, we moved onto recipes like this one!
If you ever have questions about BLW, feel free to DM me on Instagram. Always love to hear from you!
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Alright, let’s dive into this super easy recipe for babies!
Easy Cheesy 4 Ingredient Broccoli Bites
Side Note: how adorable are those divided plates for toddlers? You can snag some on Amazon. We’re obsessed!
Yield: 20 mini broccoli bites, freezer-friendly
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups broccoli (can use fresh or frozen)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I used 1 cup shredded mild yellow cheddar and 1/2 cup shredded mild white cheddar)
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup plain whole wheat breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Chop broccoli into tiny florets and steam for 2-3 minutes until tender.
- Mix all 4 ingredients together in a large bowl.
4. Form small patties and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, then gently flip the patties and bake for another 10 minutes.
To Freeze
- Allow broccoli bites to cool completely on baking sheet.
- Transfer entire baking sheet (with parchment paper and broccoli bites) into the freezer.
- Freeze for 20 minutes until the broccoli bites are frozen.
- Transfer broccoli bites to a freezer bag.
- Label bag and freeze!
If you make these broccoli bites, be sure to tag me on Instagram – I’d love to see!
You can also see how I made these in this reel on IG.
Notes
- If you’re making these for baby-led weaning purposes, I recommend using plain breadcrumbs without any added ingredients. Most store-bought breadcrumbs contain lots of salt and sugar. I’ve used Whole Foods 365 brand and also homemade breadcrumbs.
- If making these for a toddler, feel free to add a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc. – for baby-led weaning, I personally wouldn’t add any salt.
- These keep in the freezer for about a month. Be sure to flash-freeze on the baking sheet first (as noted above) – otherwise they will all freeze together in one big clump!
- I have made these dairy-free before (for my husband) by using Daiya shredded cheddar cheese.
Recipe Update!
- I recently revisited this recipe and decided to pulse all of the ingredients in the food processor until fine in texture (I waited a few minutes for the broccoli to cool down first).
- After forming into little tots, I baked them using the same instructions above.
- These were a big hit with my 3.5 year old!
- See photo below (ignore terrible food photography – this photo was snapped in real time) 🙂
Recipe slightly adapted from Stacey Snacks Online
Pin it for Later!
For more baby-led weaning ideas, check out:
- Best Foods for Baby-Led Weaning
- Baby-Led Weaning Breakfast Ideas
- Best Gluten-Free Recipes for Baby-Led Weaning
What’s your favorite toddler or baby snack? Have any questions about our BLW experience? Ask in the comments below!
-
Ultimate Bento Box Lunch Guide$10.00 -
Toddler Meal Planning Cheat Sheet$4.00
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Everyday Baby-Led Weaning$10.00
Those look great and super easy to make!
Thank you! They are one of my favorite, easy snacks!
My daughter is a huge broccoli fan – I think she’d really like these (and I think they sound good, too!)
My daughter also LOVES broccoli any way she can get it. And yes – I find myself sneaking these when I make them! 🙂
It is SO difficult to get my kids to eat their broccoli. I am going to try this!
Adding cheese is always a winner! 🙂
These look super yummy! I’m going to give them a try this week!
Hope you like them!
We loved BLW! Broccoli was my little guy’s first food. These look good and easy to make.
BLW really is a fun experience! I bet broccoli was also a great first food!
My son HATES broccoli – he talks about how much he hates it on a daily basis, seriously!! I’m going to have to make these and see if he eats them! haha
I hope they work! Can’t turn down something with melted cheese 🙂
These look so awesome! I’d love to try using a dairy-free cheese and making these for my 2 year old. They seem super simple!
They come out pretty similar with the dairy-free cheese we used. My husband really enjoyed them!
Those look yummy even for adults!
They definitely work for all ages!
Hi. I loved the concept of this recipe. I tried these today and they turned out very crunchy. My 8 month old couldn’t eat them. Did I do something wrong. I would like to try to make them again. Thanks
Hey Shel, thanks so much! That’s strange! When I make them, they typically come out sort of cakey. It could depend on the type of breadcrumbs used. If you used panko breadcrumbs that could make them crunchier. You could also try playing with the ratios and adding more broccoli or more cheese?
Hi! Can you recommend the breadcrumbs you used for this recipe?
Hey Alicia! I used Whole Foods 365 Brand. The store by me has plain whole wheat breadcrumbs with nothing else in them! Sometimes if I’m out I just make my own in the food processor with good quality bread.