Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Nuggets
After I make these nuggets/fritters/bites I always wish I had doubled the recipe so that I would have leftovers. They are easy to make and warm up beautifully the next day as a snack, side or appetizer.
The best part is that you can pan fry them in a small amount of olive oil or bake them in your oven or air fry them sprayed with some olive oil. Any which way, you and yours will love these little guys.
These nuggets pair beautifully with a nice marinara sauce but I used a simple ketchup and mayonnaise for the video here. These would also pair well with a yummy ranch or my Lazy Tzatziki sauce.
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Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 3/4 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, parsley flakes + salt
- 3/4 cup sharp cheddar shreds
- 3/4 cup mozzarella shreds
- 1 tbs olive oil
Instructions
- Steam your florets until fork tender about 7 minutes. Transfer to a tea towel, allow to cool slightly and then ring/squeeze out the liquids.
- Add cauliflower, egg, breadcrumbs, seasonings, cheeses to a large bowl. Stir to combine. Form your nuggets by pressing together tightly the mixture. Heat 1 tbs olive oil and cook your nuggets for about 4 minutes per side – until golden brown on both sides.
- You can also bake these at at 400° for 17 minutes, flipping halfway thru. Or air fry at 375° for 12-15 minutes spray the outside and flip half way thru.
can oat flour be substituted for the breadcrumbs? or will it be gooey?
I haven’t tried that but it might work.
I made this recipe. Forgot the cheddar so doubled up on the Mozzerella. I baked them in my Traeger pellet grill to get that smokey flavor. Dipped them in marinara sauce. They were amazing!
HI Bob, love the smokey flavor to them! Thanks for the review!
This is the most delicious way to eat cauliflower. My daughter turned down Wendy’s because she wanted to make these instead! That’s how you know they are super delicious! The sauce I make to dip it in is Mayo, sweet chilli sauce, and creamy sriracha!! So yummy!!!
I’m excited to try these. Could you use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?
Hi Danielle, I havent tried it but it should work as long as you defrost and squeeze out all liquids.
What Paleo ingredient could I use instead of the breadcrumbs?
Hi Linda, almond flour works with an extra egg.
what is considered a serving size? every recipe I’ve looked at neglects to state that. does it mean I can eat it all?
hi Bobby, you can eat as many as you like. This recipe’s nutritional info is broken down per nugget. So you can adjust that to your preferences.
These were fabulous (and I did a Keto version). Will def make again
How many servings does this make?
HI Diane, it should make 6 servings.
Could I use crushed pork rinds in place of bread crumbs?
Can these be frozen and used later to use as an app? They look Delish!
How many servings does this make?
I love your recipes. In this one, when you say breadcrumbs, do you mean dried breadcrumbs, or freshly made? Also, could panko be substituted?
Yes go for it. I used dried store bought breadcrumbs from Trader Joe’s or Panko
this was sooo good. added spinach and used feta, cheddar, and parmesan cheese and added an extra egg. worked out super well and half of them were gone within 10 minutes.
Is there a substitute for egg that you can recommend?
I made this recipe once a week, it’s so delicious. My Family loved it,
Hi Stella, do you think these could be frozen and if yes, better before or after baking?
What sauce did you use for dipping? Thanks
Amazing!! I think I would add slightly less salt next time. I used panko instead of bread crumbs (what I had) and fat free cheeses. I cooked them in the oven 425° about 18-20 min, then hit them with my broiler for 3 min to get some crunches. SOOOOO stinking good!!!
Hi Lori, sounds amazing to me! Glad they were enjoyed and thanks for sharing your feedback on baking them!
Great recipe! Definitely will make again. Even my husband liked them & he is not a cauliflower fan.
Hi Christine, awesome that you converted him! Cheers!