Crispy Broccoli Fritters

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these Broccoli Fritters are ridiculously easy to make. If you’re attached to your food processor, this broccoli fritters recipe will give you one more reason to love it. This week, I had a house full of kids and served up fritters of all kinds—without them even realizing the audacity of my plan. Vegetables, cleverly disguised. To keep the trick alive, we called them “Shrek Pancakes.” (Insert evil laugh here?) The best part is, no one suspected a thing, and everyone went back for seconds.

Shrek pancakes or not, these broccoli cheese fritters are genuinely tasty. Think of them as little broccoli cakes: crispy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor. They make a fun snack for kids, a quick lunch, or even a surprisingly good side dish next to something hearty and cozy like Coq Au Vin.

What Make This Recipe Work

The beauty of these Broccoli Fritters is that they turn a humble vegetable into something irresistibly crispy, cheesy, and golden. The combination of fresh broccoli and Parmesan creates the perfect balance of flavor: rich, savory, and just enough bite to make you forget you’re eating vegetables at all.

Another reason this broccoli fritters recipe shines is its versatility. You can enjoy them as snackable broccoli cheese fritters, a fun side dish, or even as hearty little broccoli cakes stacked with toppings. They’re quick to make, family-friendly, and proof that a good fritter can win over even the most stubborn veggie skeptics.

What Goes Into Broccoli Fritters

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These Broccoli Fritters come together with just a handful of everyday ingredients, and the best part is you probably already have most of them in your kitchen.

• Broccoli: The star of the show, fresh broccoli adds nutrition, texture, and that vibrant green color that makes these fritters so fun to serve (especially to kids as “Shrek pancakes”).
• Parmesan Cheese: Salty, nutty, and melty, Parmesan gives these broccoli cheese fritters their signature flavor and keeps them deliciously addictive.
• Egg: Acts as the binder that holds everything together, ensuring your broccoli cakes don’t fall apart in the pan.
• Flour: Just enough flour gives structure and crispness. You can use all-purpose for classic fritters or almond flour if you’re keeping things lower-carb.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

How To Make Broccoli Fritters

1. Preheat and Prep Pans: Preheat the oven to 400°F 200°C. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.

2. Chop the Broccoli: Cut the broccoli into florets and trim the woody end. Pulse florets in a food processor until finely chopped.

3. Make the Mixture: Add the egg, onion, garlic, flour, and Parmesan to the bowl. Pulse about 5 seconds, then stir in the salt and pepper until evenly combined.

4. Shape the Fritters: Scoop the mixture into 8 to 10 mounds on the sheets. Flatten slightly, leave space between each, and mist lightly with olive oil spray.

5. Cook: Bake 15 minutes, flip, then bake another 15 until golden. Or pan fry in a nonstick pan over medium until golden.

6. Cool and Serve: Let the Broccoli Fritters rest a few minutes to set. Serve warm with ketchup, Greek yogurt, or fat free sour cream.

Keep things bright and zesty by pairing Broccoli Fritters with Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Fajita Salad, where smoky chicken and crisp peppers cut through the cheesy crunch; Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Taco Salad, whose tangy cilantro-lime dressing and juicy chicken turn the fritters into a hearty meal; and Loaded Greek Chicken Avocado Salad, with cool cucumber, briny feta, and creamy avocado to balance every crispy bite.