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These Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls are crispy on the outside with ooey gooey cheese and tender broccoli on the inside. They are an amazing low carb and gluten-free appetizer or snack!
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These Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls are a delicious finger food idea for your holiday parties or game day gatherings.
They are also a fabulous after-school snack that kids of all ages will enjoy.
Crispy on the outside with a lightly seasoned pork rind coating and cheesy on the inside with tender bits of broccoli. They are a favorite of adults and kids at my house!
Are Broccoli Cheese Balls Keto?
Traditional broccoli cheeseballs use all-purpose flour and panko bread crumbs.
If you used those ingredients in this recipe it would add an additional 9 grams of carbs per ball.
But, with the substitutions of almond flour and ground pork rinds, these broccoli cheese balls have only 1 net carb per ball!
These broccoli cheese balls are a perfect make-ahead snack or appetizer as well.
Have a big party planned? Throw these guys together the day before, form them into balls, and put them in the refrigerator until you are ready to fry them up.
I have even frozen them and placed them in the fridge overnight to thaw before frying them.
Broccoli cheese balls were one of my go-to appetizers and snacks for years before I went low carb but for some reason, they were not at the top of my list of recipes to adapt.
I have no idea why because we all loved them SO much!
Now that I have finally gotten my rear in gear and created this recipe I have happily been gorging errrr noshing on them multiple times a month.
This was even my sneaky way of getting the grandkids to eat broccoli!
I am such a smart Nana ?
In This Post
🥘Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls Ingredients
These are the ingredients necessary to make Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls.
- broccoli florets
- Colby Jack cheese
- sharp cheddar cheese
- pink salt
- ground pork rinds
- eggs
- Cajun seasoning blend
- Wholesome Yum almond flour
- avocado or olive oil
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
🔪How to Make Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls
This is a basic breakdown of the steps involved in making Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls. The full directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Add the cheeses, salt, 1/4 cup pork rinds, and 1 egg to the bowl with broccoli.
Use your hands to shape the mixture into balls.
Coat the broccoli balls in the almond flour, dip in egg mixture, and then coat in pork rind mixture crumbs.
Fry about 4 balls at a time cooking until golden brown on all sides.
Hint: make sure to place the broccoli balls on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season the balls with more salt.
🍽Equipment
This is the equipment you will need to make Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls:
- Steamer
- Large cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Grater
- Measuring cups and spoons set
- Large skillet
Storage
Store any leftover Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
I have not tried freezing the leftover Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls.
💭Top tip
Make sure you refrigerate the keto broccoli cheese balls for at least 30 minutes before frying them. If you skip this step, the cheese can melt before the outer coating can crisp up, and you will have a big cheesy mess.
FAQ about Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls
I use my homemade Cajun seasoning blend, which I have dialed in to meet our family's spice level. Only one tablespoon of the blend is mixed into two cups of pork rinds, so I don't think it is very spicy at all. You can always add the seasoning one teaspoon at a time and taste it to make sure it is perfect for your family.
Yes, they aren't as crispy, but I have made "naked" broccoli balls by using 1/2 cup almond flour instead of the pork rinds in the mix, adding the cajun seasoning to the mix, and then baking them in a 400-degree F oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. Make sure to spray the outside of the balls with avocado or olive oil to help them brown up a bit.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I reheat them in the oven at 400 degrees F until warm all the way through.
More Keto & Low Carb Appetizer Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Low Carb Texas Trash Dip
- Cheese Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Keto Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Easy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
- Keto Lil' Smokies
- Homemade Boursin Cheese
Keto Broccoli Cheese Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 heaping cups fresh broccoli florets
- 4 ounces Colby Jack cheese shredded
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon pink salt plus more for seasoning
- 2 1/4 cup ground pork rinds divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning blend
- 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Superfine Almond Flour
- Avocado or olive oil
Instructions
- Steam broccoli until slightly softened. Let cool.
- Finely chop broccoli. You want the pieces to be 1/4-inch or less. Place in a large bowl.
- Add the cheeses, salt, 1/4 cup pork rinds, and 1 egg to the bowl with broccoli. Stir well.
- Use your hands to shape the mixture into balls using about a rounded tablespoon for each ball. You should get about 16 balls.
- Place balls on a plate and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the almond flour in a bowl.
- Lightly beat the 2 remaining eggs in a second bowl and mix in 1 tablespoon of water.
- Place the remaining 2 cups of ground pork rinds and the Cajun seasoning in a third bowl. Stir to combine.
- Pour about an inch of oil into a large flat-bottomed skillet.
- Heat oil to 375 degrees. For best results use a thermometer.
- Remove broccoli balls from the refrigerator, coat in flour, dip in egg mixture, and then coat in pork rind mixture crumbs.
- Fry about 4 balls at a time cooking until golden brown on all sides.
- Remove from the oil and place them to drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Season the balls with more salt.
Disclaimer
Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs will not be included as it has a glycemic index of 0 (meaning it does not spike blood sugar) and it’s not metabolized. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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