If you're looking for a nourishing, protein-packed bread that's as delicious as it is healthy, this Easy Broccoli Bread is the best. Made with organic spelt flour, fresh broccoli, spring onions, a mix of cheeses, and a boost of whey protein, it's perfect as a snack, side, or even a main dish with a salad. The best part? It's simple to make and a great way to sneak extra vegetables into your meals.
This Easy Broccoli Bread is high in protein (22g of protein per slice - wow, I know!!) and it's proof that healthy eating doesn't mean boring. With its cheesy flavor, moist texture, and protein boost, it's perfect for meal prep, family dinners, or even packed lunches. Try it once, and it may just become your new favorite way to enjoy broccoli.
This was inspired by my Healthy Lentil Bread (Flourless), or this sweet high high-protein version, Easy Protein Brownie Recipe, and pairs really well with this Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce, Baked Aubergine With Cumin And Yoghurt Sauce. I will add more suggestions below. Check it out.
Jump to:
- 😍You'll Love This Broccoli Bread
- 🥦 Ingredients You Will Need
- 🔪How To Make Broccoli Bread
- 🤹🏻♀️Variations & Substitutions
- 👦🏻 Make it Kid-Friendly / Lunchbox Adaptations
- 🍴Serving Ideas
- 📦How To Store Leftover Broccoli Bread
- ❓Recipe FAQs
- 💚Health Benefits
- 🤩Looking for other recipes like this? Try these!
- 💞Pairing Broccoli And Cheese Bread
- 🍞 Healthy Broccoli Bread (High Protein)
😍You'll Love This Broccoli Bread
- It is High in protein - thanks to eggs, whey, and cheese.
- It's Veggie-packed - broccoli and spring onions add nutrients and freshness.
- It contains only Wholesome ingredients - the organic spelt flour brings fiber and a nutty flavor.
- It's so Versatile - works as a snack, lunchbox filler, potluck, taken to a garden BBQ party or picnic, or makes a perfect side dish or a superb appetiser.
- It definitely is such a Crowd-pleaser - cheesy, savory, and satisfying. In my experience, even children are fighting over it. It is the best broccoli bread recipe you will ever make. Just give it a try.
🥦 Ingredients You Will Need
Here's everything you'll need for this delicious high in high-protein, healthy broccoli bread:
- spelt flour - I used organic
- broccoli (finely chopped in a food processor - made into broccoli rice)
- spring onions/scallions (chopped)
- baking powder
- bicarbonate of soda
- eggs
- mozzarella cheese (grated, or any good melting cheese)
- whey (leftover from straining yogurt, or use buttermilk/milk as a substitute)
- olive oil or butter (for greasing the oven dish)
- mixed seeds (my mix consisted of hemp, linseed, sunflower, and pumpkin)
- sesame seeds
- hard cheese (Cotija, or feta/pecorino as alternatives)
- Parmesan cheese (for topping) - optional
See the recipe card below for all the exact quantities needed.
🔪How To Make Broccoli Bread
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Prepare the broccoli
- Grate the fresh broccoli ( both florets and stems) using a food processor or a grater.
- There's no need to cook it beforehand-it will soften as the bread bakes.
- No need to drain it either.
2. Preheat oven
- Set your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Grease a baking dish with olive oil or line it with parchment paper.
3. Combine the ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, add the spelt flour, grated broccoli, eggs, shredded mozzarella cheese, hard cheese, chopped spring onion/scallions, baking powder, baking soda, mixed seeds, and whey. Stir everything together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread dense.
4. Transfer to an oven-proof dish
- Transfer the batter into the prepared dish and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and sesame seeds.
5. Bake
- Bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool and serve
- Allow it to cool for at least 10 minutes (it will make it easy to remove it from the dish without it breaking). It will be much easier to slice it, too.
- Serve it warm or cold - it's delicious both ways.
- Step 1: Whizz the broccoli core first.
- Step 2: Add the florets, whizz more.
- Step 3: Whizz until you get a rice-like texture. Not too big, not too small.
- Step 4: Add the broccoli to a bigger bowl + finely chopped scallions
- Step 5: Add the two cheeses and salt if adding any (I did not).
- Step 6: Bring in the eggs and the mixed seeds + whey mixed with soda bicarbonate.
- Step 7: Add the sieved spelt flour and gently fold it in.
- Step 8: Mix the mixture and add to a greased oven-proof dish.
- Step 9: Sprinkle some more seeds over and the Parmesan cheese.
- Step 10: Bake until golden brown on top or until the toothpick/wooden stick comes out clean.
Hint: Avoid overmixing- this is crucial for achieving an airy and fluffy broccoli loaf. You do not need to squeeze the liquid out of the broccoli.
🤹🏻♀️Variations & Substitutions
This broccoli bread recipe is versatile and pretty customizable, and can be adapted to what you have on hand or a special dietary requirement, such as making it vegan:
- Flavor Boosts: Add garlic or garlic powder, chili flakes, or herbs (parsley, dill, basil) for extra flavor.
- Flour: Use wholemeal, rye, or a gluten-free blend instead of spelt.
- Cheeses: Swap Cotija for feta or pecorino. Try cheddar, Gouda, or mozzarella for the melty cheese.
- Veggies: Add grated zucchini, carrots, spinach, or kale. Just squeeze out excess water before mixing.
- Seeds & Toppings: Try chia, poppy seeds, or flax. Replace sesame with nigella seeds for a Middle Eastern twist.
- Make it a Vegan Broccoli Bread
- Replace eggs → use 3 flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water = 1 egg). Let it sit 5 minutes before mixing.
- Replace whey → use soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk mixed with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
- Replace cheese → use your favorite vegan cheese (both melty style and hard style, if available). Nutritional yeast also adds a cheesy flavor.
- Protein boost → add 2 tablespoon chickpea flour or pea protein powder to the dry mix.
The result of the vegan version will be slightly denser but still moist, flavorful, and wholesome.
👦🏻 Make it Kid-Friendly / Lunchbox Adaptations
- Use mild cheese (mozzarella or mild cheddar).
- Chop veggies extra small or grate carrots/zucchini for sneaky nutrition.
- Slice into small, fun shapes using cookie cutters.
- Serve with hummus, cream cheese, or yogurt dip for school lunch.
🍴Serving Ideas
- I love it with Greek yogurt dip, hummus, or guacamole.
- Alongside soups and stews.
- Toasted with poached or fried eggs or a nice omelette.
- Packed in a lunchbox with salad or roasted veggies.
- Serve with this Broccoli Sprouts And Red Cabbage Salad or this Fresh Broccoli Salad, or alongside this Baked Broccoli, Cheese And Pepper Omelette.
📦How To Store Leftover Broccoli Bread
- Store in an airtight container for 2 days at room temperature if not too hot.
- Keep in the fridge up to 5 days.
- Freeze slices for 2 months - reheat in toaster or oven.
❓Recipe FAQs
Yes, plain flour works fine. Wholemeal flour is also a good substitute for extra fiber.
You can replace whey with buttermilk, kefir, or plain milk with 1 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice.
Yes - swap spelt flour with a gluten-free flour blend. You may need an extra egg for binding.
A mix of melty cheese, like cheddar, mozzarella, or gouda, and a salty, firm cheese like Cotija, pecorino, or feta, to give the best flavor.
Absolutely! Grated zucchini, carrots, or even spinach work beautifully in this bread. Just make sure to squeeze out excess moisture. Check my sweet Apple, carrot and zucchini cake with ginger and turmeric version.
Yes, you can make this broccoli bread egg-free by using substitutes that add moisture and binding, such as flax or chia "eggs" (1 tablespoon ground seeds + 3 tablespoon water per egg), unsweetened full-fat yogurt (¼ cup per egg), silken tofu (¼ cup per egg), or aquafaba (3 tablespoon per egg). For the best texture in this recipe, yogurt will keep the bread soft and fluffy, while flax eggs give it a wholesome, rustic feel. Add an extra teaspoon of baking powder to help with the rise.
💚Health Benefits
- Broccoli: high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
- Spelt flour: Slow-digesting carbs for sustained energy.
- Seeds: High in omega-3s, protein, and healthy fats.
- Cheese & whey: High-quality protein and calcium.
🤩Looking for other recipes like this? Try these!
💞Pairing Broccoli And Cheese Bread
These are my favorite dishes to serve this broccoli and cheese bread with
If you make this high-protein broccoli bread, please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ! Ratings and comments help other busy readers or parents, and families discover this recipe. Plus, I would love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each comment.
🍞 Healthy Broccoli Bread (High Protein)
Equipment
- 1 food processor
- 1 chopping board
- 1 knife
- 1 glass bowl
- 1 oven proof dish
Ingredients
- 280 grams spelt flour
- 250 grams broccoli
- 10 medium spring onion / scallions
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon soda bicarbonate
- 3 large eggs
- 120 grams cheese (grated)
- 160 milliliters whey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil to oil the oven dish
- 2 tablespoons mixed seeds i used hemp, linseed, sunflower and pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 50 grams hard cheese I used Cotija cheese
- 30 grams parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Wash the broccoli and chop into smaller pieces ( separate the stem from the florets as those will need to be put in first.
- Blitz the broccoli stems first for a few seconds and then add the florets. Whizz a little longer ( a few pulses) if necessary to bring it to a rice texture.
- Transfer the broccoli into a glass bowl and add the chopped spring onion/scallions.
- Add the cheeses, eggs, seeds, and the whey mixed with the soda bicarbonate.
- Bring in the sieved spelt flour and fold gently. Add some Celtic salt now if you wish.
- Dish the mixture into the greased oven-proof dish and sprinkle evenly a few more mixed seeds, sesame seeds along with the grated or Parmesan flakes.
- Place into the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes at 175C/375F.
- Preheat the oven and grease an oven proof dish.
Claudia says
Easy high-protein broccoli bread — soft, hearty, and packed with nutritious greens!
leah says
this healthy broccoli bread is so delicious! i never thought of broccoli being a dessert until now.
Krystle Smith says
This recipe is so smart! I love how you pack in all that broccoli and protein but it still feels light and tasty.
Paula says
This broccoli bread was great! A fun, savory loaf and I love that it had added protein too!
Liz says
I love this healthy, tasty bread! It made a yummy side with our dinner last night
Ramona says
This is a truly wonderful broccoli bread recipe - I absolutely love the texture and the taste and I am not even a broccoli fan. I love having it with yogurt and some stra seeds. Still lots of options to explore. Delicious.