Vegan Broccoli “Tater” Tots recipe
Crispy baked golden vegan broccoli tater tots recipe. These delicious vegan broccoli tots are easy to make, healthy and loaded with nutrients, and absolutely perfect for dipping. Make a big batch and bake these glorious vegan tots. You don’t even need to feel guilty if you eat them all at once because they’re actually good for you.
Jump to RecipeMy easy vegan gluten-free broccoli tater tots recipe is simple to make and requires only a few easy-to-get ingredients. If you love broccoli then you’re sure to love these easy vegan tots that are also great Keto snacks.
These easy vegetable tots are a great healthy snack for kids and adults alike. Loaded with cheesy flavors, delicious and golden crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside, these broccoli nuggets are a tasty guilt-free snack ready to dip into all your favorite sauces (cue the Netflix series binge-watching).
These easy broccoli nuggets only require a few easy-to-get ingredients. We’re working with:
Olive oil – I like to use good quality olive oil, but any vegetable oil will work well. Try avocado oil, coconut oil, or a vegetable oil of your choice.
Broccoli florets – fresh or frozen broccoli florets. You can cut/break fresh broccoli into florets yourself or buy broccoli florets at the grocery store. If you’re in a rush you can also easily buy a bag of pre-chopped broccoli and use it to make these broccoli nuggets.
Flax eggs – we’re using flax eggs to bind all the ingredients together. Make the flax eggs by mixing 6 tablespoons hot water with 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds and set the mixture aside to thicken for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use another vegan egg substitute (check out my guide on vegan egg substitutes here)
Almond flour, or regular flour – almond flour adds extra nutrients, binds the ingredients together, and also makes these tasty broccoli nuggets gluten-free. Alternatively, you can use regular flour or chickpea flour at a 1:1 ratio.
Seasoning – garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Fresh basil – chopped fresh herbs are delicious and give the tots a fragrant flavor in every bite.
Nutritional yeast, (optional) – adding a generous amount of nutritional yeast to the broccoli nuggets gives the tots a delicious cheesy flavor that’s irresistibly good. Nutritional yeast also adds extra vitamins and minerals and is a great source of vitamin B.
Top tip for making perfect broccoli tater tots every time:
Try putting the broccoli tot mixture into a piping bag and squeeze the mixture into 2-3 inch long logs, depending on how big you like your tots. I usually squeeze out 2” logs, cut with a knife to get a clean edge, and repeat until the entire mixture is used.
Tips and tricks to making the best broccoli tater tots
The best flour – these easy broccoli tots are completely gluten-free. We’re working with almond flour to make everything stick together. If you don’t have almond flour at home, chickpea flour will also work. Regular flour is also fine if you don’t need a gluten-free recipe.
Leftover veggies – leftover vegetables work great in this healthy vegetable tots recipe. You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower, or replace half of the broccoli with zucchini or potatoes. Depending on the vegetables you use you may need to add a little more flax egg and almond flour to keep everything sticking together well.
Baking the tots – whether you’re baking your tots in the oven or in an air fryer the steps are all the same. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tots are crispy and golden brown. Flip them over halfway through baking to make sure they become nice and crispy on all sides.
Baking – place the tots on a lined baking sheet with a finger width space between them to allow the tots to get crispy on all sides. If you place the tots too close together the air can’t move around the tots and they may get soggy.
How to make the best easy vegan broccoli nuggets
Make the flax eggs by mixing 6 tablespoons hot water with 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds and set the mixture aside to thicken for 10-15 minutes.
While the flax eggs thicken, place all the remaining ingredients into a food blender: broccoli florets (keep a few florets back if you want to add little larger broccoli chunks later on), olive oil, seasoning, nutritional yeast, and almond flour. Process until the mixture is grainy and still a little chunky. You may need to scrape down the sides a few times. Now, add the flax eggs and process until everything is completely combined (just a few pulses should do the trick). Mix in the larger broccoli chunks at this point.
Shaping the tots
Either use two spoons to scoop up a small portion of the broccoli mixture and shape it into 2-inch log-shaped tots. Make 20 broccoli tots and place them on a lined baking sheet.
Second shaping op: Try putting the broccoli tot mixture into a piping bag and squeeze the mixture into 2-3 inch long logs, depending on how big you like your tots. I usually squeeze out 2” logs, cut with a knife to get a clean edge, and repeat until the entire mixture is used.
Baking the tots in the oven
Bake the broccoli tots in the oven at 400F (190 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes or until the tots are golden and crispy on the outside.
Easy way to bake Broccoli Tots in an air fryer
Place the broccoli tots in an air fryer dish neatly lined side by side with just a little space between them (if you have a small air fryer you may need to bake in 2 batches). Or you can use a baking rack to bake in two layers.
Bake at the highest temperature for 20 minutes, turning the tots over halfway through baking.
Delicious vegan dips to serve with broccoli tater tots and nuggets
- Easy vegan queso dip
- Super easy homemade hoisin sauce
- Easy creamy peanut sauce
- The best spicy salsa dip
- Easy vegan aioli recipe
- And of course, we can’t forget good ‘ole ketchup
Variations on broccoli tots
So I already ADORE these broccoli tots just as they are (because they’re irresistibly delicious and my favorite healthy snack) but there are also lots of delicious different variations you can make with this recipe. Here are some of my favorite ways to change up my broccoli tots depending on my mood.
Smoked paprika – adding a little smoked paprika to these tots is one of my favorite ways to spice it up
Rosemary – whenever I have fresh rosemary in the kitchen and I make these vegetable tots I always add a few sprigs of chopped rosemary. It gives the tots a hint of the Mediterranean.
Sun-dried tomatoes – I am a HUGE sun-dried tomatoes fan. I’d happily put them in everything. And that includes these tasty tots where the sun-dried tomatoes add extra sweetness and depth of flavor.
Zucchini – whenever I have leftover zucchini from the day before I make sure to add them to these tasty tots. It’s a delicious way to use leftovers.
Fresh herbs – parsley, cilantro, mint, and oregano all add a wonderful fragrant taste that transforms the tots depending on what herbs you’re using.
Frequently asked questions about vegan broccoli nuggets
No. Not with this easy broccoli tots recipe. Because I’m not a fan of multiple-step recipes with a gazillion different steps, I came up with this straightforward tot recipe. No blanching is needed. Just chop the broccoli in the food processor and get ready to bake.
Absolutely. You can make the mixture ahead of time and shape it into tots ready to bake.
You can store these broccoli tots for up to 3-4 days in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator.
Yes. You can easily freeze these tasty broccoli tots for up to 3 months. Just freeze them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Allow the tots to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
You can reheat vegetable tots in several easy ways.
Reheating method 1: Place the broccoli tots in a microwave-safe container with a lid and reheat at high temperature for 2 minutes. If the tots are still cold in the middle, heat them for 1 more minute.
Reheating method 2: Air Fryer method. Place the tots in the air fryer bowl and reheat at high temperature for 15 minutes. Turn the tots over halfway through.
Reheating method 3: Oven Method. Place the tots on a lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350F. Flip the tots over halfway through.
Yes. You can replace the flax eggs with any vegan egg substitute. Other great options are applesauce, silken tofu, or vegan yogurt.
You can take a look at my easy vegan egg substitute guide here
Easy Vegetable Nuggets Recipe
Easy vegan Broccoli Tots recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 cups (18oz, 500g) Broccoli Florets fresh or frozen
- 2 Flax Eggs mix 6 tablespoons hot water with 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- ⅔ cups (2.3oz, 64g) Almond Flour or regular flour if you prefer
- ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- 3 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 handful Fresh Basil or other herbs, chopped
- 5 tbsp Nutritional Yeast optional
Instructions
- Make the flax eggs by mixing 6 tablespoons hot water with 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds and set the mixture aside to thicken for 10-15 minutes.
- While the flax eggs thicken, place all the remaining ingredients into a food blender: broccoli florets (keep a few florets back if you want to add little larger broccoli chunks later on), olive oil, seasoning, nutritional yeast, and almond flour. Process until the mixture is grainy and still a little chunky. You may need to scrape down the sides a few times. Now, add the flax eggs and process until everything is completely combined (just a few pulses should do the trick).
Shaping the tots
- Either use two spoons to scoop up a small portion of the broccoli mixture and shape it into 2-inch log-shaped tots. Make 20 broccoli tots and place them on a lined baking sheet.Second shaping op: Try putting the broccoli tot mixture into a piping bag and squeeze the mixture into 2-3 inch long logs, depending on how big you like your tots. I usually squeeze out 2” logs, cut with a knife to get a clean edge, and repeat until the entire mixture is used.
Baking the tots in the oven
- Bake the broccoli tots in the oven at 400F (190 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes or until the tots are golden and crispy on the outside.
How to bake broccoli tots in an air fryer
- Place the broccoli tots in an air fryer dish neatly lined side by side with just a little space between them (if you have a small air fryer you may need to bake in 2 batches). Or you can use a baking rack to bake in two layers. Bake at the highest temperature for 20 minutes, turning the tots over halfway through baking.
