Veg Nuggets are a delicious and healthy snack that’s perfect for everyone, including your broccoli hater kids. These broccoli nuggets are made with simple veg nugget ingredients like green bananas, broccoli, and cheese, delivering a crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior.
You can even prepare these nuggets in an air fryer for a low-fat option. This easy veg nugget recipe is great for meal prep since you can freeze them as veg nugget frozen snacks for quick use later. Whether you enjoy them as broccoli tater tots or classic nuggets, they’re a wholesome, crowd-pleasing treat for all occasions.
Kids or adults, everyone loves these nuggets as a snack or party appetizer. Step by step pictures and video included.
Crispy nuggets are a perfect healthy snack for kids or adults. Serve them as a party appetisers see the entire batch gone in minutes. The best part of this veg nuggets recipe is, it is completely healthy and low fat because I made them in the air fryer.
The recipe overall does not make much time, so you can make them anytime if you have ingredients in your fridge. But if you are like me and my family who love to eat snacks a lot, you might want to make them ahead and freeze them. I will explain how to freeze veggie nuggets later in this post.
I made these plain, without any crumb coating because I did not want to use any extra oil or use too much bread crumbs. But if you like those crispy bread crumb coated nuggets you can check my crispy Paneer Nuggets recipe.
Another Interesting Nugget recipe you must try is Raw Banana nuggets
Why Try This Recipe?
- Wholesome and Nutritious: Packed with veggies, protein-rich soy nuggets, and walnuts for a healthy snack.
- Quick and Easy: Simple steps and ready in under 30 minutes with the air fryer.
- Customizable: Adapt the recipe to fit dietary needs, from vegan to gluten-free.
- Perfect for All Ages: Loved by kids and adults alike, even picky eaters enjoy these crispy nuggets.
Ingredients Needed:
To make best nuggets with this easy recipe you will need these ingredients. Vegetables of your choice. I used broccoli and fresh peas along with potatoes. You can use your favourite veggies like cauliflower or carrots. But make sure to use fresh peas, frozen peas do not work in similar way.
- Potatoes: Boiled and mashed potatoes form the base, adding creaminess and binding the mixture together.
- Broccoli: Grated broccoli brings nutrition, color, and a subtle crunch to the nuggets.
- Peas: Crushed peas add natural sweetness and a dose of fiber to balance the flavors.
- Soy Nuggets (TVP): Soaked and crushed, they boost the protein content, making these nuggets wholesome.
- Bread Crumbs: Essential for structure and coating, they help achieve a crispy texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds a rich, creamy flavor and helps enhance the overall taste.
- Coriander Leaves: Freshly chopped coriander adds an herby aroma and freshness.
- Walnuts: Walnuts adds a great texture and healthy factor too.
- Green Chili: For a hint of spice and a touch of heat.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Enhance and balance the overall flavor of the nuggets.
- Italian Mixed Herbs Seasoning: Brings a burst of savory flavors with its aromatic blend.
- Oil: Used for brushing, ensuring the nuggets crisp up perfectly in the air fryer.
How to Make Veggie Nuggets
- This air fried nuggets recipe is one of most easiest recipe ever. All you need to do is mix few healthy ingredients like broccoli, peas, cheese, walnuts, soy textured protein with few herbs and spices. (Picture 1-2)
- Next you just shape them in your favorite shape. Squares, rounds, cylindrical all are great, (Picture -3)
- After shaping all the nuggets, brush them with oil or spray with non stick spray. (Picture – 4)
- Place the nuggets in pre heated air fryer basket (picture -5)
- Air fry at 200C for 12-15 minutes (Picture – 6)
- Crispy air fried veggie nuggets are ready.
How Bake Veggie Nuggets
As I said before, these nuggets can be pan-fried, shallow fried, deep-fried or air fried. You can also bake them in a preheated oven at 180 degrees delicious for 20 minutes.
Substitutions
- Potatoes: Use sweet potatoes or mashed yams for a healthier or sweeter alternative.
- Broccoli: Substitute with grated zucchini, carrots, or cauliflower for a twist.
- Peas: Replace with edamame or finely chopped green beans.
- Soy Nuggets (TVP): Swap with cooked lentils, chickpeas, or tofu for a protein boost.
- Cheddar Cheese: Use mozzarella, paneer, or a plant-based cheese for a vegan option.
- Walnuts: Try almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds for different nutty flavors.
- Italian Mixed Herbs: Use garam masala for an Indian twist or Cajun seasoning for spiciness.
Creative Variations
- Stuffed Nuggets: Add a small cube of mozzarella or cream cheese at the center for a gooey surprise.
- Spicy Nuggets: Mix in red chili flakes or sriracha for extra heat.
- Mini Tots: Shape the mixture into small, bite-sized tater tots for a fun twist.
- Baked Nuggets: Skip the air fryer and bake at 200°C for 15 minutes, flipping midway.
- Gluten-Free Nuggets: Use almond meal or crushed rice flakes instead of breadcrumbs.
- Protein-Packed Nuggets: Add cooked quinoa or hemp seeds to the mixture for an extra nutrient boost.
Expert Tips
- While selecting vegetables for the nuggets, cutlets or such snacks avoid vegetables with high water content as this will make them soggy.
- Pre heating the oven if you are making baked version or Air fryer if you are making Air fried version is a MUST.
- Try to consume them hot straight out of air fryer because when cold they tend to become soggy.
How to Serve
Serve hot with dips like ketchup, chili sauce. They will taste amazing with pair of fresh green salad or coleslaw for a balanced snack. You can also use them as a filling in wraps or sandwiches with lettuce and sauce.
Storage
Refrigeration: Place cooked nuggets in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in an air fryer or oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5–7 minutes to regain crispiness.
Freezing – Follow the recipe till shaping of the nuggets. Then place them in a tray lined with butter paper or parchment paper. Place them in a single layer so that they do not touch each other. Place the tray in the freezer for about hour. Once it is frozen from outside you can transfer them in a ziplock pouch or a glass container and freeze them. You can store these frozen veggie nuggets up to 8-10 week inside the freezer.
Which Air fryer I have Used
One question that I am always asked is about the equipment used. And whenever I post any air fryer recipe many of you ask which air fryer is best? Well! currently I use this Philips air fryer for all my air fryer recipes.
So I have made these veggie nuggets in Philips Air fryer as well. What I like most about this one is I can grill bake and air fry all in the same appliance. It saves me a lot of counter space. Also with it’s turbo star technology I can air fry anything with almost 90% less fat.
FAQs
How Can you Make Them Vegan
In these Air fried nuggets, I added cheese for the melt in mouth soft texture from within. If you want to make vegan nuggets you can skip the cheese and rest of the recipe is made with all vegan ingredients. Or if you like and have access to vegan cheese you can add that as well. It’s totally your choice.
What if the mixture is too soft?
Add extra breadcrumbs or a tablespoon of rice flour to firm it up.
How can I make them vegan?
Replace cheese with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese, and ensure the breadcrumbs are dairy-free.
Can I deep-fry these nuggets?
Yes, you can deep-fry them in hot oil until golden and crisp for a richer flavor.
Can I use frozen vegetables for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen broccoli and peas. Thaw them completely, pat them dry to remove excess moisture, and then proceed with the recipe.
What can I use instead of breadcrumbs?
You can substitute breadcrumbs with crushed cornflakes, rolled oats, almond flour, or rice flakes (poha) for a similar texture and crunch.
More Such Recipes
- Paneer Nuggets Recipe
- Raw Banana Nuggets
- Matar Paneer Cutlets
- Vegetable Cutlets
- Broccoli Fritters
- Potato Corn Cutlets
- Potato & semolina Cheese Squares
- Cheese Potato Bites
- Raw Banana Nuggets
- Semolina Fingers/sooji fingers
- Veg Nuggets in Air fryer
- Malai Broccoli Tikka
- Soya Chunks Curry – Meal Maker Curry
Step by Step Video
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Crispy Veg Nuggets
Equipment
- Non-Stick Pan (US)
- Mixing bowl
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 200 gm Potatoes boiled and mashed
- 100 gm Broccoli grated
- 100 gm Peas crushed
- 70 gm Soy nuggets TVP soaked and crushed
- 1 cup Bread crumbs
- 50 gm Cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped
- 3 tbsp Walnuts chopped
- 1 Green chillis chopped
- 1 tsp Salt to taste
- 1 tsp Black pepper powder
- 1 tbsp Italian Mixed herbs seasoning
- 1 tbsp Oil for brushing
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add boiled potatoes, grated broccoli, crushed peas, crushed and soaked soya nuggets, bread crumbs, coriander leaves, green chillies, walnuts, salt pepper and mixed herbs seasoning.
- Mix them and combine them well using your hands and make a soft dough.
- Now take a small portion of veg nugget mixture and shape it into square or round.
- Similarly make approximately 12 nuggets out of this total mixture.
- Brush the nuggets with oil.
- Preheat the air fryer at 150C for 3 minutes.
- Place these veggie nuggets in a single layer in air fryer basket and air fry at 200C for 7-8 minutes.
- Turn them over once in-between.
- Your air fried crispy veggie nuggets are ready.
- Serve them hot with tomato ketchup or hot chilli sauce.
Video
Notes
- While selecting vegetables for the nuggets, cutlets or such snacks avoid vegetables with high water content as this will make them soggy.
- Pre heating the oven if you are making baked version or Air fryer if you are making Air fried version is a MUST.
- Try to consume them hot straight out of air fryer because when cold they tend to become soggy.
