We demonstrate that efficient broadband absorption of infrared radiation can be obtained with deeply subwavelength spherical dielectric particles covered by a thin metal layer. Considerations based on Mie theory and the quasi-static approximation reveal a wide range of configuration parameters, within which the absorption cross section reaches the geometrical one and exceeds more than by order of magnitude the scattering cross section in the infrared spectrum. We show that the absorption is not only efficient but also broadband with the spectral width being close to the resonant wavelength corresponding to the maximum of the absorption cross section. We obtain a simple analytical expression for the absorption resonance that allows one to quickly identify the configuration parameters ensuring strong infrared absorption in a given spectral range. Relation between the absorption resonance and excitation of the short-range surface palsmon modes in the metal shell of particles is demonstrated and discussed. Our results can be used as practical guidelines for realization of efficient broadband infrared absorbers of subwavelength sizes desirable in diverse applications. © 2019 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement.