A cheese ball is a classic party appetizer that is made with a mixture of cheese, cream cheese, and various seasonings. There are many variations of cheese ball recipes, but the basic ingredients include:
This cheese ball has all the favorites: bacon, cheddar, and ranch seasoning. Use your favorite chips, crackers, or pretzels for dipping. People will love it!
Cheese Balls are the perfect Holiday appetizer to bring to any of your parties you have going on between now and Christmas. These Cheese Balls are loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch. What's not to like? If it's a small gathering or get together, I would recommend cutting the cheese ball recipe in half. If you have a cocktail party can you please invite me if you make this cheese ball? That would be fabulous and I'll bring the Rumchata.
Butter crackers are my favorite to serve with this. Those flat pretzel thins would be good also.
If you like appetizers try Crack Dip, Cranberry Baked Brie, or Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings.
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What Ingredients do I need?
- Cream Cheese: To help bind the ingredients together, cream cheese is often added to the cheese ball mixture. Use room temperature cream cheese to help mix all the ingredients together.
- Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix - Ranch seasoning is a popular blend of herbs and spices that is commonly used in recipes. The seasoning typically includes a combination of dried herbs such as parsley, dill, and chives, as well as garlic powder and onion powder.
- Colby Jack Cheese - Cheddar or Monterey Jack work as well
- Chopped bacon is a delicious ingredient that can add flavor and texture to a variety of dishes. Bacon is made from pork belly that is cured and then sliced into strips. Chopped bacon refers to these strips being chopped into smaller pieces, which can be used in various recipes.
- Chopped nuts, such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts, are a popular coating for cheese balls.
- Scallions - chopped
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Step 1 Take 2 packages of cream cheese (softened) and mix till slightly whipped. Add packet of ranch dressing and mix till incorporated. Fold in 1 cup shredded cheese, bacon, and scallions.
Step 2 Pour chopped walnuts in a plate or pie tin. Form cream cheese mixture into a ball with your hands. or plastic wrap.
Step 3 Roll ball in walnuts till covered. Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and place in the fridge.'
Step 4 When cheese ball feels firm, remove and serve with crackers
Variations to Try
- Cheese Options: Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, goat cheese, and blue cheese.
- Herbs and Spices: Adding herbs and spices to your cheese ball can give it a delicious flavor. Some popular options include garlic, onion powder, parsley, chives, and dill.
- Nuts: Pecans, walnuts, and almonds.
- Meat: Bacon, ham, and prosciutto.
- Vegetables: Green onions, bell peppers, and carrots.
Tips for Serving Appetizers
My family loves to serve appetizers on Christmas Eve. Here’s some tips I’ve learned during the Holidays for preparing or serving appetizers in a large family.
- Have a variety of appetizers available served warm or cold.
- See if there’s other ways to prepare the appetizer so you’re not constantly using the oven in your home or someone else’s. Slow Cookers or Air Fryers are great for this reason.
- Many appetizers can be made ahead of time. See what ingredients in the recipe can be cooked the day before.
- Have plenty of fancy serving platters around to arrange the appetizers on. Dips and fancy spreads look nice on a white serving tray.
Recipe FAQs
Cheese balls pair perfectly with a variety of crackers, including plain, wheat, or flavored crackers like rosemary or garlic.
Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Just make sure the food is sealed tight before storing in the fridge or freezer.
Other Recipes To Try
If you tried this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
This cheese ball has all the favorites: bacon, cheddar, and ranch seasoning. Use your favorite chips, crackers, or pretzels for dipping. People will love it!
Ingredients
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
- 1 (1 ounce) package hidden valley ranch dressing mix (dry)
- 1 cup shredded colby or 1 cup colby-monterey jack cheese or 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 (3 ounce) bottle hormel real bacon bits (or use bacon crumbled)
- ¼ cup of chopped walnuts
- 3 scallions chopped
Instructions
- Take 2 packages of cream cheese (softened) and mix till slightly whipped.
- Add packet of ranch dressing and mix till incorporated.
- Fold in 1 cup shredded cheese, bacon, and scallions.
- Pour chopped walnuts in a plate or pie tin.
- Form cream cheese mixture in to a ball with your hands. or plastic wrap.
- Roll ball in walnuts till covered. Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
- When cheese ball feels firm, remove and serve with crackers.
Notes
MY Personal Points: 3 (See what ingredients I used in the recipe builder here)
Smart Points 4
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 86
- Sugar: .6
- Saturated Fat: 4.6
- Protein: 2.2
Renee says
Love this recipe. I have made it for Thanksgiving the past 9 years. I turn it into a Turkey with pretzels. Delicious and festive.
Trish Lee says
I made the recipe with a friend, we both loved the cheese ball. We had alot left over and the next day she gave some to her daughter, her comment was she "amazing".
Jenna says
Thanks for the review Debbie.
Debbie says
This cheese ball is very good. After I scraped the bowl to make my ball. I ate what was left in my spatula. Very yummy. Very easy. Great for pot luck or parties.
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Karly says
Love simple cheeseballs like this!
Amy says
I love these cheese balls, I should make more of these during the year.