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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

    Published: Jul 17, 2024 · Modified: Apr 27, 2025 by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    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! 

    A cheese ball is a classic party appetizer that is made with a mixture of cheese, cream cheese, and various seasonings.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • What Ingredients do I need? 
    • How to make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball 
    • Variations to Try
    • Tips for Serving Appetizers 
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Recipes To Try 
    • Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

    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.'

    How to make Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball step by step.

    Step 4 When cheese ball feels firm, remove and serve with crackers

    Variations to Try

    1. Cheese Options: Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, goat cheese, and blue cheese.
    2. 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.
    3. Nuts: Pecans, walnuts, and almonds.
    4. Meat: Bacon, ham, and prosciutto.
    5. 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

    What to serve with cheese balls?

    Cheese balls pair perfectly with a variety of crackers, including plain, wheat, or flavored crackers like rosemary or garlic.

    How to store leftovers?

    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 

    • Air Fryer Frozen Burgers
    • Air Fryer Canned Biscuits
    • Viral Brownie Balls
    • Chicken Parmesan Smash Tacos


    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

    Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball on a white plate served with some butter crackers.

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    Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
    • Author: Jenna
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 8 min
    • Total Time: 18 minutes
    • Yield: 24 1x
    • Category: Easy
    • Method: No Bake
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    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

    Scale
    • 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

    1. Take 2 packages of cream cheese (softened) and mix till slightly whipped.
    2. Add packet of ranch dressing and mix till incorporated.
    3. Fold in 1 cup shredded cheese, bacon, and scallions.
    4. Pour chopped walnuts in a plate or pie tin.
    5. Form cream cheese mixture in to a ball with your hands. or plastic wrap.
    6. Roll ball in walnuts till covered. Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
    7. 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

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Renee says

      November 16, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      Love this recipe. I have made it for Thanksgiving the past 9 years. I turn it into a Turkey with pretzels. Delicious and festive.

    2. Trish Lee says

      December 29, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      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".

    3. Jenna says

      December 24, 2019 at 8:34 am

      Thanks for the review Debbie.

    4. Debbie says

      December 24, 2019 at 8:31 am

      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.

    5. site says

      December 13, 2015 at 6:39 pm

      Bring your prescription insurance policy card with you to the pharmacy; if you do not have the card, fill in this type
      and inflict a drug store staff member.

    6. Karly says

      December 01, 2015 at 8:24 am

      Love simple cheeseballs like this!

    7. Amy says

      November 30, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      I love these cheese balls, I should make more of these during the year.

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    Hey, I'm Jenna! I'm a graphic designer, photographer, and home cook from From Fargo ND. I love my Ninja Creami, Air Fryer, and Blackstone. I created this blog to share recipe tips and tricks with everyone, enjoy!

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