Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
This easy cheese ball recipe makes a simple but delicious classic appetizer that’s great for any party and holiday gathering. Cream cheese and cheddar cheese serve as the base, with chopped pecans and bacon bits adding the perfect flavor and texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
As a girl, I remember my mom making a homemade cheese ball every year when the holiday season rolled around. I couldn’t wait to dip a Ritz cracker into some of that cheese ball! It just seemed so festive and a “must have” for every Christmas or New Year’s party.
Along with a cheese ball, chocolate star cookies, and peppermint bark are other great choices when you need a holiday crowd favorite.
The classic cheese ball recipe my mom made used simple ingredients like French onion dip, Parmesan cheese and beef deli meat. And while I still love making Mom’s good cheese ball recipe, this cheese ball made with bacon and pecans is just as delicious!
You can literally whip all the ingredients together in only about 5 minutes. It’s really that easy, and only needs a little more time in the fridge before it’s ready to serve.
If you’re needing easy appetizers for a holiday party try this recipe. You may end up agreeing that this is the best cheese ball recipe. It’s a true crowd pleaser!
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Supplies Needed for This Recipe
- Medium bowl
- Electric hand mixer
- Nut chopper
- Plastic wrap
- Shallow bowl or serving platter
Ingredients
- Cream cheese: forms the base of your cheese ball.
- Shredded triple cheddar cheese: You can use a different type of shredded cheese but triple cheddar adds a great flavor.
- Bacon bits: Bacon bits add that nice “meaty” flavor to your cheese ball that melds well with the cheeses.
- Chopped pecans: Pecans add extra flavor and texture to the cheese ball. I recommend taking chopped pecans and then putting them through a nut chopper to make the pieces smaller.
- Sliced scallions: Also known as green onions, you’ll use both the green top and the white bottom for flavor.
- Milk: you can use non-dairy milk if you prefer.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: You’ll get a delicious blend of sea salt and spices with Everything Bagel Seasoning.
- Onion powder: for flavor
- Garlic powder: more spice flavor!
- Salt: This is my favorite type of sea salt.
- Black crushed pepper: add to taste.
How to Make This Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
- In a medium-sized bowl add the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, all the seasonings, and milk. Mix with an electric mixer until well combined.
2. Then add half of the bacon bits, half of the scallions, and half of the pecans. Make sure to chop those in smaller pieces first.
3. Put a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and put the cheese ball on it. Then fully wrap it up with the plastic wrap and form it into a ball.
4. Put the cheeseball in the fridge.
5. In a shallow bowl, add the remaining chopped pecans, bacon bits and scallions.
6. Remove cheeseball from the fridge.
7. Roll the cheeseball around in the prepared shallow bowl and make sure the whole ball is coated with the remaining coating.
8. Serve with crackers, vegetables or pretzels.
How to Store This Easy Cheese Ball
Store your cheese ball in the fridge in plastic wrap or an airtight container. It should stay fresh for about 3 days.
More Holiday Party Recipes
- Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe
- Chocolate star cookies
- Peppermint bark
- Pretzel hugs
- Chocolate reindeer bark
- Thumbprint cookies
- Christmas sugar cookies
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Electric hand mixer
- Nut chopper
- Plastic wrap
- Shallow bowl
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup triple cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt to taste
- black ground pepper freshly ground, to taste
- 2 tablespoons milk may use non-dairy
- 1/2 cup bacon bits
- 1/4 cup scallions sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans finely chopped
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl add the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, Everything bagel seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and milk. Mix with a hand mixer, until well combined.
- Then add half of the bacon bits, half of the scallions, and half of the finely chopped pecans.
- Put a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and put the cheese ball on it. Then fully wrap it up with the plastic wrap and form it into a ball.
- Put the cheese ball in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- In a shallow bowl, add the remaining chopped pecans, bacon bits and scallions.
- Remove cheese ball from the fridge.
- Roll the cheeseball around in the shallow bowl with remaining chopped pecans, bacon bits, and scallions. Make sure the whole ball is coated with the remaining coating.
- Place cheese ball on serving tray or platter, and serve with crackers, vegetables or pretzels.
