Cheese Ball recipe - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

This Cheese Ball recipe is an easy appetizer that’s a crowd pleaser too! Made with cream cheese, bacon cheddar, green onions and nuts, it’s loaded with flavor.

Looking to make a whole spread of appetizer recipes? Check out these Baked Brie Bites, these Mini Quiche and these Jalapeno Poppers, too! (Bonus points if you serve this Cannoli Dip for dessert 😉).

One of my saving graces during the holidays is those super simple appetizers that everyone can snack on while you’re whipping up the main event. This Cheese Ball is one of those recipes!

This recipe takes no more than 10 minutes to prep and is so deliciously rich, creamy, cheesy, and flavorful. It also looks impressive, which is a total bonus. No one has to know it only took a few minutes. 😉

This recipe is also easy to make ahead of time, can be stored in the freezer, and can also be doubled or tripled to serve an even bigger crowd. Heck yes!

Ingredients Needed:

• Bacon: use thick-cut, chopped bacon. You can use thin cut, but you’ll want to add a couple extra slices.
• Cream Cheese: use a block of cream cheese rather than the tub so that it holds up and keeps its shape.
• Sour Cream or Mayonnaise: sour cream will lighten things up a bit, while mayonnaise will be richer. Either one is delicious.
• Sriracha Sauce: to add flavor without a lot of spice (trust me!).
• Dried Parsley: herbs and cheese just go together!
• Worcestershire Sauce: adds a little bit of tangy richness.
• Garlic Powder: because everything is better with garlic.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: cheddar is the usual choice, but you can really use any cheese you’ve got in your fridge that can be shredded. Stay away from soft cheeses because we want our ball to hold its shape.
• Green Onions or Chives: for some freshness and color.
• Pecans or Walnuts: chopped nuts add a delicious crunch to the appetizer.

How to Make this Cheese Ball Recipe

This recipe takes a quick 10 minutes to prep. It’s the perfect quick and easy appetizer for your next party!

1. Combine: In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, Sriracha, parsley, Worcestershire, and garlic powder.
2. Add in half the cooked bacon, shredded cheese, and two tablespoons green onions.
3. Shape and roll: On a plate, mix the rest of the bacon, green onions, and nuts. Shape the cream cheese mix into a ball and roll it in the bacon/nut mix to coat.
4. Chill and serve: Refrigerate for 1 hour, then serve as desired.

Cheese Ball FAQs

See Also

Layered Broccoli Salad Recipe -- The Recipe RebelCranberry and Bacon Cream Cheese Appetizer - The Recipe RebelAmish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe - The Rebel ChickEasy Turkey Brine recipe - 10-Minute Prep! The Recipe Rebel

Tips and Notes

• Let the bacon cool completely. Once the bacon is cooked and crisped, give it time to cool before you add it to the cream cheese mixture. If it’s too hot, it will just melt the cream cheese.
• Double or triple. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re serving a larger crowd. Plan accordingly!
• Don’t leave it out too long. Remember, this appetizer is just a big ol’ ball of dairy products. So, it can sit out while you’re serving it for a couple of hours, but I don’t recommend leaving it out longer than that.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Cheese Ball just like you would serve any cream cheese dip! Surround it with your favorite crackers, pita chips, freshly sliced veggies, pretzels, you name it.

It’s also really good just eaten with a spoon. Not that I tried that though. 😉

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