Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

This take on a classic cheese ball is crazy good! A zesty seasoned cream cheese & cheddar base is rolled in a bacon pecan crust.

It has all of the basic ingredients with tons of flavor, perfect for scooping with chips, crackers, and veggies!

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (1)

A Classic for Good Reason

A cheese ball has been around a long time for good reason!

  • So much cheesy goodness and flavor!
  • It’s perfect for get-togethers because it can be made ahead of time.
  • This recipe is versatile, add in your fave seasonings, herbs, and cheeses!
  • It’s easy to make, no baking required!
  • It’s not just a dip, spread on a sandwich (or a bagel), add to a wrap withham or melt it with a bit of milk for an amazing pasta sauce!

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (2)

How to Make a Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are easy to make. Garnish with extra sprigs of parsley or green onions and serve with crostini!

  1. Beat cream cheese with seasonings (per recipe below).
  2. Fold in cheddar cheese and half the bacon bits. Cover and chill.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (3)

  1. After the cream mixture has chilled (so it will hold its shape) roll it into a ball (or a cheese log) and roll in the bacon pecan topping.
  2. Chill again.

Serving Tip

Remove the cheese ball from the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. This allows it to soften enough for dipping.

If you’re serving with fragile crackers or chips, add a butter knife to the platter.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (4)

Tips to Make Ahead

Make classic cheese balls in advance and take them to a potluck or a party anytime the season calls for a tasty appetizer!

  • Cheese balls can be stored for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator if they are tightly wrapped (before rolling in the coating).
  • Freeze for up to two months and thaw in the fridge overnight.

Perfect Party Dishes

  • Pineapple Cheese Ball – a twist on a classic!
  • The Best Spinach Artichoke Dip – creamy cheesy goodness
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites – use fresh or frozen steak
  • Blooming Onion Bites – with dipping sauce
  • Crispy Oven Baked Potato Skins
  • Shrimp co*cktail – a crowd favorite
  • Roasted Chestnuts
  • Antipasto Skewers – so easy to make
  • Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms – ready in 30 minutes

Did you make this Cheese Ball recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (5)

5 from 23 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Classic Cheese Ball Recipe

Cheese Balls are so easy to make, and are full of savory flavors! Serve with crackers or veggies for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

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ReviewPrint

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (6)

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Chill Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 55 minutes minutes

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (7)

Servings 24 servings

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (8)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
  • cup sour cream
  • 1 green onion thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
  • ¾ cup bacon bits or crumbled bacon, divided
  • ½ cup pecans
  • 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped

Instructions

  • Bake pecans in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes or until fragrant. Cool completely and chop.

  • Meanwhile, place cream cheese in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until fluffy.

  • Add sour cream, green onion, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Beat until combined. Stir in cheddar cheese and ½ cup bacon bits. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

  • Remove from the fridge and shape into a ball. Combine remaining ¼ cup bacon, chopped pecans, and parsley on a small plate. Roll the cheeseball in the mixture pressing to adhere. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

  • Remove from the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Start with softened cream cheese (this can also be done in the microwave for about 10 seconds or so).
  • Sharp cheddar gives the best flavor.
  • If desired, a packet of ranch mix can replace the seasonings in this recipe.
  • If using store-bought real bacon bits, microwave them on a paper towel until crisp and cool.

Be sure to refrigerate the cheese mixture before forming it into a ball or it won't hold its shape.

To make-ahead, prepare cheese ball but do not roll in the topping. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Once thawed, roll in pecan mixture as directed.

5 from 23 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 140 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 387IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (9) Course Appetizer, Dip, Party Food, Snack

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (10) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Categories:

Appetizer Recipes, Christmas, Dips and Dressings, Holidays, Low Carb, Recipes

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Classic Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Who made the original cheese ball? ›

They're sort of retro, they're easy to make, and let's face it: They're fun. "According to legend," writes Michelle Buffardi, author of Great Balls of Cheese, "the first cheese ball in recorded history was made in 1801 by Elisha Brown, Jr. on his farm and presented to President Thomas Jefferson" at the White House.

How do you firm up a cheese ball? ›

Cover the cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow it to firm up. Take it out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften just slightly.

How to thicken a cheese ball? ›

Your cheese ball is too runny: Once you have added all the extras, and it's all mixed in well, if the texture is more salad dressing-like than something you might spread on a bagel, you can tighten it up easily by adding unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing before you add more.

Are UTZ cheese balls baked or fried? ›

From there, they are baked in an oven to remove any excess moisture. The tasty cheese flavor is a seasoning that starts with vegetable oil and an all-natural cheddar cheese powder, which are mixed together and sprayed over the cheese balls in a tumbling seasoning barrel until they are completely coated.

What is a fun fact about cheeseballs? ›

The earliest mention was found in a 1944 cookbook called "Food of My Friends". The recipe came from a Minnesota housewife. A "cheeseball" also refers to someone trying to be funny or corny. Cheese Balls are a great snack for a home movie night.

When did they stop making planters cheese balls? ›

In 2006, Planters discontinued the snack, and in 2014, DiMarcello published a petition on Change.org called “Bring back Planters Cheez Balls and P.B.

Are cheese balls healthy? ›

Cheese balls are healthy? Beyond delicious, the cheese balls have a good balance of nutrients, with high-quality carbs and fat, rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins. So, we can certainly say it's a healthy and nutritious snack.

Why is my cheese ball so hard? ›

Why is my cheese ball so hard? You want your cheese ball to be firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to allow for easy spreading. To achieve this consistency, the key is making sure your cream cheese is softened before preparing.

Does a cheese ball need to be refrigerated? ›

Serve the cheese ball immediately or store it in the fridge. Wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. The two layers keeps the cheese ball fresh and helps it keep its shape.

What are the best crackers for cheese balls? ›

Here are some options: Crackers – Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, Milton's. Pretzels or Pretzel Crisps.

What is LeBlanc's famous cheeseball? ›

LeBlanc's Fabulous Cheese Ball

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, cayenne, paprika, Tabasco, Worcestershire, Accent seasoning and Lawry's seasoning. Shape into one large or two small balls; roll in chopped pecans to coat. Chill overnight. Serve with assorted crackers.

Why are UTZ cheese balls so good? ›

These are pretty standard, and nothing mind-blowing—just a solid execution of a classic puffed cheddar snack. They're cheesy, salty, crunchy, and everything you'd expect. A 1-oz. serving of Utz Cheese Balls contains 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, and 300 mg of sodium.

What are cheese balls also known as? ›

Cheese puffs, cheese curls, cheese balls, cheese ball puffs, cheesy puffs, or corn curls are a puffed corn snack, coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese-flavored powders. They are manufactured by extruding heated corn dough through a die that forms the particular shape.

What is the difference between cheese puffs and cheese balls? ›

For one, while Puffs and Balls are equally airy during the first bite, Cheese Balls maintain their delightful crunch throughout the chewing process. The Puffs, on the other hand, immediately melt and stick to anything and everything. They mercilessly cake to every nook and cranny your mouth has to offer.

Who made the original cheese doodles? ›

Originally developed and manufactured by King Kone Corp. of the Bronx, Cheez Doodles were developed by the company's owner and operator, Morrie Yohai (1920–2010). King Kone had been founded in the 1920s and manufactured ice cream cones, cheese crackers, popcorn, and Melba toast.

Who made the original cheese puff? ›

Cheese puffs are the by-product of animal feed. The brightly coloured snacks were created by animal food manufacturer Flakall Corporation in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1935. To make the feed, a grinder was used to flake corn. In order to clean the machinery, staff fed moist corn into the grinder.

Who was the first man who made cheese? ›

Ancient Greek mythology credited Aristaeus with the discovery of cheese. Homer's Odyssey (late 8th century BC) describes the Cyclops producing and storing sheep's and goat's milk and cheese: We soon reached his cave, but he was out shepherding, so we went inside and took stock of all that we could see.

Who founded cheer cheese? ›

In 1926, American entrepreneur and cheesemaker Edward William Coon of Philadelphia patented a method for fast maturation of cheese via high temperature and humidity, His method explicitly excluded pasteurisation, which kills all bacteria and therefore allows cheese to last for much longer when stored.

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