Step aside, tater tots. There’s a new family favorite in town and it’ll have you skipping the spuds in favor of a more figure-friendly alternative. Welcome to the potato-free party, Easy Baked Broccoli Tots! You’re lean, you’re green and you’re a veggie-packed machine.

So just how does one turn a cruciferous vegetable into a healthy snack worthy of dipping and dunking into a rainbow of condiments? It all starts with the good ol’ blanching of the broccoli, which contributes two key elements to tot production:

• It brings out the bright green color of the veggie and ensures your resulting tots won’t be a shade of brown.
• It tenderizes the broccoli just enough to ensure your tots will be pillowy rather than crunchy.

Green vegetable pillows, you say? Count me in! These baked broccoli tots also steer clear of the deep-fryer, which means you can indulge time and time again without the guilt.

I’ve provided notes in the recipe below for how to make these tots dairy-free and/or gluten-free, so read on for the dietary swaps and substitutions to make this snack friendly for the whole family.

And when it comes to dipping, the options are endless. Ketchup, Ranch dressing and hummus all get approval in my book. But feel free to dress up your dip a bit with basil pesto or garlic aioli.

Not a fan of broccoli but still a tot-aholic? Don’t miss my recipe for 5-Ingredient Baked Cauliflower Tots!

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