Easy Broccoli Cheese Cups Recipe

Introduction

These Easy Broccoli Cheese Cups are a savory, crispy snack perfect for kids and adults alike. Made with simple ingredients like broccoli, cheddar cheese, and Ritz crackers, they come together quickly and bake into delicious bite-sized treats. Serve them alone or with your favorite dip for a healthy and tasty snack.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked and chopped broccoli
• 1 large egg
• 12 Ritz crackers (crushed)
• 1 heaping cup cheddar cheese (plus more for topping)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the cooked broccoli, egg, crushed Ritz crackers, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Mix until well incorporated.
3. Step 3: Grease a mini muffin tin generously. Evenly divide the mixture into about 16 muffin cups.
4. Step 4: Use your fingers to firmly press the mixture down so it’s compacted in each cup.
5. Step 5: Sprinkle more cheddar cheese on top of each cup for extra cheesiness.
6. Step 6: Bake on the center rack for 14-16 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the edges are crispy.
7. Step 7: Allow the cups to cool for at least 5 minutes before carefully removing them from the pan.
8. Step 8: Serve warm, alone or with ranch dressing or ketchup for dipping.

Tips & Variations

• If the mixture seems dry, this helps the cups stay crispy. For a softer, quiche-like texture, add an extra egg.
• For convenience, use microwavable frozen broccoli to save time.
• For extra crispiness, sprinkle a pinch of cheese in the bottom of each greased muffin cup before adding the mixture.
• Customize the seasoning by adding onion powder or black pepper, but keep in mind Ritz crackers already add salt.

Storage

Store leftover broccoli cheese cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes or until heated through to keep them crispy. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make them soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these ahead of time and freeze them?

Yes! After baking and cooling completely, freeze the cups in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container. Reheat directly from frozen in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.

Can I use different types of cheese?

Absolutely. Feel free to substitute cheddar with mozzarella, pepper jack, or a cheese blend to suit your taste. Just keep the quantity similar.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Cups Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 94 reviews

These Easy Broccoli Cheese Cups are a simple, savory snack or appetizer perfect for after school or any time you want a cheesy, crispy bite. Made with cooked broccoli, cheddar cheese, crushed Ritz crackers, and a hint of garlic powder, these bite-sized cups bake up crispy and flavorful in a mini muffin tin. They’re quick to prepare, kid-friendly, and great served with ranch or ketchup for dipping.

• Author: Nethan
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 16 mini broccoli cheese cups 1x
• Category: Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Broccoli Cheese Cups Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked and chopped broccoli
• 1 large egg
• 12 Ritz crackers, crushed
• 1 heaping cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375° F to get it ready for baking the broccoli cheese cups.
2. Mix ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the cooked and chopped broccoli, egg, crushed Ritz crackers, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Stir well until all the ingredients are fully incorporated into a uniform mixture.
3. Prepare muffin tin: Generously grease a mini muffin tin to prevent sticking, then evenly distribute the broccoli mixture into approximately 16 muffin cups, pressing down firmly with your fingers to compact the mixture tightly.
4. Add topping and bake: Sprinkle a little extra shredded cheddar cheese on top of each filled muffin cup. Place the tin on the center rack of the oven and bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
5. Cool and serve: Let the broccoli cheese cups cool for at least 5 minutes before carefully removing them from the muffin tin. Serve warm alone or with ranch dressing or ketchup for dipping.
6. Storage: Store any leftover cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.

Notes

• The mixture may seem dry, which helps achieve a crispy texture rather than an egg-heavy quiche consistency. Add an extra egg if you prefer a softer, quiche-like texture.
• Using microwavable frozen broccoli is a convenient shortcut and works great in this recipe.
• For extra crispiness, sprinkle a pinch of cheese at the bottom of each greased muffin tin well before adding the mixture.
• Feel free to customize the seasoning by adding onion powder, black pepper, or other spices, keeping in mind that Ritz crackers already contain salt.
• If you enjoy this recipe, try similar snacks like Crispy Broccoli Cheese Rounds for variety.

Keywords: broccoli cheese cups, easy snack, kid-friendly snack, cheesy broccoli cups, mini muffin tin recipe, healthy snacks, quick snacks, after school snack, vegetarian snacks