Cheese Ball: the impressive party appetizer recipe for making bacon cheese ball

It’s that time of year when there seems to be a party around every corner. Family get-togethers, year-end functions, and even farewells—it’s a lot of entertaining! That means you need an appetizer recipe that comes together quickly and easily! This cheese ball is just what you need for the holidays. It’s an easy, but impressive, no-bake appetizer. Perfect for parties, holidays, and game days.

To make it, you will need cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, pecans, and seasoning. Serve the cheese ball with carrots and celery sticks, or your favorite cracker, in the same way you’d serve a spinach artichoke dip. It’s cheesy and nutty, with a creamy texture on the inside, and a crunchy texture on the outside. It’s the perfect make-ahead recipe for a busy day!

Bacon Cheese Ball Ingredients

Cream cheese – use full-fat, plain cream cheese.

Sour cream – can also be substituted with double-thick yogurt.

Spice mix – use your favorite seasoning.

Cheeses – pepper and cheddar cheese are used; if you can’t find pepper cheese, substitute with Monterey Jack, or Mature Cheddar.

Bacon – bacon needs to be crispy.

Spring onion – also known as scallions.

Pecans – adds crunch to the cheese ball; almond or walnuts can also be used.

How To Make A Cheese Ball

To make a cheese ball, the ingredients are first mixed until smooth. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, pepper cheese, cheddar cheese, mixed spices, garlic powder, and fried bacon to a large mixing bowl. Use a spatula to mix it well.

Use a sheet of plastic wrap or aluminum to form the mixture into a ball, then transfer the ball to the fridge to set. Mix fried bacon, green onions, chopped walnuts, and cheddar on a flat plate or board. Then carefully roll the cheese ball in the bacon mixture.

Tips For Making Easy Cheese Ball

Skip the seasoning and use flavored cream cheese instead.

Use gloves when forming the cheese into a ball. This will create less of a mess, and you won’t end up with sticky hands!

It’s important to refrigerate the cheese ball long enough so that it holds its shape when coating it with the bacon mixture.

Feel free to shape the cheese in other forms. Some folks make it in a shape of a turkey or pumpkin (for thanksgiving), but you can also use a Bundt cake mold. Simply lay sheets of plastic onto the cake tin, then transfer the cheese to the mold. Refrigerate, and sprinkle with the coating.

How To Serve Cheese Ball

You can serve the cheese ball with any foods that will naturally go well with a cream cheese spread. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• bruschetta or toasted ciabatta slices
• crackers
• breadsticks
• carrot sticks
• celery sticks

How To Store Bacon Cheese Ball

Store the bacon cheese ball in the fridge for about 3 days. If your cheeseball doesn’t use fresh herbs, fruits, etc, and is simply cream cheese, cheese, and seasonings, then it can last up to 7-10 days.

Can You Freeze A Cheese Ball?

The cheese ball can be frozen before it’s rolled into the bacon mixture.

Form the cheese mixture into a ball and wrap it with plastic wrap. Transfer it to a freezable Ziploc bag, and freeze it for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, before rolling in the outer coating.

More Recipes You'll Like

• Pumpkin cheese ball
• Cheese Balls
• Christmas cheese balls

Instructions

Add the cream cheese and sour cream to a large mixing bowl.

Add the pepper cheese, cheddar cheese, mixed spices, garlic powder, and fried bacon.

Use a spatula to mix it well.

Transfer the mixture to a sheet of plastic wrap or foil.

Wrap the cheese and form it into a ball, then refrigerate.

Mix fried bacon, green onions, chopped walnuts, and cheddar on a flat plate or board.

Wrap the cooled ball of cheese in bacon and cheese mixture.

Serve with crackers and raw vegetable sticks.

Notes

Why not make individual portions, by turning this giant cheese ball into miniature bacon cheese balls? Simply use an ice cream scoop to create small balls of cheese.