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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Lunch Recipes

    Apr 8, 2020 · Modified: Jul 14, 2021 by Becca Heyes · This post may contain affiliate links · 48 Comments

    Carrot and Cheddar Bites

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    Total time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 15 balls
    5 from 20 votes
    Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe

    These cheesy little carrot and cheddar bites are the perfect finger food for a vegetarian party buffet - or just a mid-afternoon snack!

    Pile of cheesy carrot and cheddar bites on a plate with a pot of ketchup.

    Sometimes it's nice to cook something fancy, to make you feel super grown up and posh. Other times... party food is where it's at. Eating like a toddler at a birthday party can be so satisfying - a few of these carrot and cheddar bites dipped in ketchup makes the best snack.

    Bonus points if you serve them on a cocktail stick with a stripy paper napkin.

    Pile of carrot and cheddar bites on a plate with ketchup.

    Cheesy carrot bites

    These carrot and cheddar bites are brilliant. Little bites that are crispy on the outside, and soft and cheesy in the middle - the perfect combination.

    The carrot gives them a slight sweetness, and having a veggie in there makes you feel a little better about eating party food - but they still remain a fun, cheesy treat.

    They're easy to make, utterly delicious, and very toddler-friendly!

    Grated carrot, grated cheese and breadcrumbs in a mixing bowl.

    Simple recipe

    As always, the recipe for these cheesy bites is incredibly straightforward. Just mix some breadcrumbs, grated carrot, and grated cheese in a large bowl.

    You can add whatever additional flavourings you fancy. I added a bit of my beloved smoked paprika (I will post a recipe without it one day, I promise), but you could use whatever ground spices you like - a bit of chilli powder if you'd like some heat, some garam masala to add an Indian vibe, dried herbs... whatever you fancy.

    Then, just crack in a couple of eggs to help hold everything together.

    Grated carrot mixture in a mixing bowl.

    Baked carrot bites

    Form the cheesy carrot mixture into little balls, and lay them out on a baking tray.

    The balls are baked in the oven, so that's the entirety of the hands-on work done. They really are quick to prepare - grating the cheese and carrot is the job that takes the longest, and even that only takes a couple of minutes!

    Just pop the carrot balls in the oven until they're golden brown and crispy, and you're all done!

    Carrot and cheddar bites on a baking tray before and after baking.

    How should I serve these carrot and cheddar bites?

    These carrot and cheddar bites would be perfect served up as finger food at a party - either for kids, or grown ups (just like a good outfit, you can dress them up or down!).

    Alternatively, if you don't have any parties coming up, they're great nibbled on their own as a snack. I think they're best eaten warm, but they're totally yummy eaten cold too.

    We actually had ours for dinner, served on top of a big salad (and I don't just mean a pile of lettuce - I'm talking lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, pickled onions, feta cheese, creamy Caesar dressing... the works). I just plonked a few carrot bites right on top of each bowl - they were just the thing to turn a simple salad into a really irresistible dinner.

    Pile of carrot and cheddar bites on a plate with a pot of ketchup.

    Other vegetarian party food ideas

    One item on a buffet table isn't much of a party, so here are a few more vegetarian party food ideas to serve alongside your carrot and cheese bites:

    • vegetable sticks and some kind of vegetarian dip or hummus
    • vegetarian samosas
    • coleslaw
    • beetroot nuggets or any other kind of breaded veggie
    • lentil sausage rolls
    • bruschetta or crostini
    • slices of vegetarian tart or quiche
    • veggie-based salads
    • pasta salad / potato salad
    • bowls of crisps (chips)
    • bowls of spicy nuts
    • crackers or breadsticks

    Stick all of that on a table next to your cheesy carrot bites, and you've got yourself an amazing vegetarian buffet!

    A stack of cheesy carrot bites on a plate with a ramekin of ketchup.

    Carrot and Cheddar Bites

    These cheesy little carrot and cheddar bites are the perfect finger food for a vegetarian party buffet - or just a mid-afternoon snack!

    If you've cooked this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating!

    5 from 20 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 15 balls
    Calories: 166kcal
    Author: Becca Heyes

    Ingredients

    • 100 g bread (~ 2 medium slices)
    • 1 large carrot, grated (~ 185g / ~ 6 ½ oz)
    • 100 g cheddar cheese, grated (~ 1 cup when grated)
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • Salt
    • Black pepper
    • 2 eggs
    • Oil, for greasing the tray

    Instructions

    • Use a food processor to blitz the bread into breadcrumbs (or just crumble it finely if you don't have a food processor).
    • Add the breadcrumbs to a mixing bowl, along with the grated carrot and grated cheese. Mix to combine.
    • Add the remaining ingredients (apart from the oil), and mix thoroughly.
    • Use clean hands to shape the mixture into balls - I ended up with 15 balls in total. Place them on a well oiled baking tray, and bake at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 30 minutes, or until crispy and slightly browned.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3 balls - Calories: 166 kcal - Carbohydrates: 12.2 g - Protein: 8.9 g - Fat: 9.1 g - Saturated Fat: 4.9 g - Cholesterol: 86 mg - Sodium: 326 mg - Potassium: 119 mg - Fiber: 1 g - Sugar: 1.9 g - Calcium: 189 mg - Iron: 1 mg

    Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @EasyCheesyVeg or tag #EasyCheesyVegetarian!

    Catering for a party? A vegetarian mezze platter is the perfect solution!

    More Vegetarian Lunch Recipes

    • Smoked Cheese and Broccoli Tart
    • Mediterranean Scrambled Eggs with Feta
    • Creamy Mushrooms On Toast
    • 30 Super Quick Vegetarian Dinners (20 minutes or less!)
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    Comments

    1. Donna says

      August 06, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      Can these be frozen
      They look so yummy

      Reply
      • Becca Heyes says

        August 08, 2022 at 6:43 pm

        I've not tried freezing them myself but I don't see why not! I'd just reheat them in the oven to keep their crispiness :)

        Reply
    2. Glenda says

      October 14, 2021 at 2:27 am

      Can you use panco breadcrumbs.

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        October 18, 2021 at 9:44 am

        I've not specifically tested these using panko breadcrumbs, so I can't say for sure. I think breadcrumbs made fresh from a slice of bread will be better at binding the bites together - panko breadcrumbs are drier and crispier, so may not hold together as well. Worth a try perhaps?

        Reply
    3. Annabel Smyth says

      July 13, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      An easy sandwich-filler, if your daughter likes sandwiches in her lunch box, is cheese and carrot - grate roughly equal amounts of each, season, and bind with a bit of mayonnaise! Very good.

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        July 14, 2021 at 8:52 am

        Ooh not tried that one! :)

        Reply
    4. Kacey says

      April 21, 2021 at 8:38 pm

      Perfect for my daughter -she’s going through a fussy phase but she loved these :)

      More finger food recipes please? 5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        April 27, 2021 at 11:03 am

        Glad she enjoyed them! You could try something like this? :) https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/very-veggie-oat-bars/

        Reply
    5. Shelley Hartland says

      March 18, 2021 at 12:41 am

      This recipe is awesome!!! My go to treat to take to picnics. It is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner with a salad. All who taste them ask for the recipe. Yummo.5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        April 13, 2021 at 9:22 am

        Thanks Shelley! Really glad you enjoy it :)

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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