Valentina Ablaev
This cheese ball recipe makes the perfect holiday appetizer recipe. This recipe requires no cooking and makes for a great centerpiece. This cheeseball is loaded with crisp bacon, a variety of cheeses, nuts, and the best seasoning. Our not-so-secret ingredient that makes this cheese ball so addicting is the addition of ranch powder.
You can’t go wrong with cheese as the star appetizer, whether it’s this cheese ball recipe or our roasted burrata and tomatoes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make in advance. This is the perfect recipe to make before hosting because it doesn’t require any last-minute work!
- Perfect for a party. This is the ideal appetizer to serve a crowd.
- Easy to eat. No worries about reheating; enjoy throughout the night!
Ingredients for Bacon Ranch Cheeseball
- Bacon – cooked bacon cut into small pieces is perfect.
- Sour cream – adds a light tang and creaminess to the cheese ball
- Cream cheese – softened to room temperature is key for a spreadable cheese.
- Shredded cheese – for the best flavor, we love a combination of Mexican cheese and sharp cheddar cheese.
- Green onions – fresh green onion adds a great taste to the cheese.
- Nuts – we use walnuts, but you can also add almonds, pistachios, and even seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Seasoning – ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper are all you need.
- Top coat: To get that beautiful and colorful exterior, we use a combination of all of the add-ins!
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make a Homemade Cheese Ball
- Add the cheese ball ingredients into a large bowl and mix with a wooden spatula and shape the mixture into a ball.
2. Combine the bacon, shredded cheese, green onions, walnuts, and poppy seeds in a separate bowl for the coating. Spread this mixture onto a cutting board or a flat plate. Roll the cheese ball in the coating, ensuring it is evenly covered. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Expert Tips for the Best Cheese Ball Recipe:
- Make it in advance. If making this cheese ball for a crowd, we recommend making it the morning of or even the night before! Wrap tightly and store in the fridge before you’re ready to serve.
- Presentation. Serve this cheeseball with an arrangement of crackers! We love pita chips, ritz crackers, pretzels, and wheat thins.
- Add fresh herbs. Mix in fresh parsley, chives, and cilantro for an extra kick of flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Homemade crostini: Make the perfect vessel by toasting up your homemade crostini!
- Vegetables: Serve with an arrangment of carrots, celery, and peppers.
Recipe FAQs
This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
This recipe uses bacon crumbles that we get from air-frying bacon or you can use store bought bacon bits.
Lightly wet your hands and begin to mold the ball. It should take form rather quickly. You can also use plastic wrap, tightly wrap it, and roll it around until it is smooth.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Keep leftovers tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store for up to 3 days.
- Freeze. We don’t recommend freezing this cheeseball.
More Appetizer Recipes
If you enjoyed this easy cheese ball recipe, be sure to try our other popular and easy appetizer recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you try this bacon ranch cheese ball recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below—we appreciate it!
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
Cheese Ball-
- 6 oz bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 16 oz cream cheese room temp
- 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 Tbsps green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp Ranch seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
Cheese Ball Coating-
- 2 oz bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 Tbsp green onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- Mix the bacon, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onions, walnuts, Ranch dressing, garlic, pepper, and poppy seeds in a bowl.
- Combine the ingredients thoroughly with a wooden spatula and shape the mixture into a ball.
- Combine the bacon, shredded cheese, green onions, walnuts, and poppy seeds in a separate bowl for the coating.
- Spread this mixture onto a cutting board or a flat plate. Roll the cheese ball in the coating, ensuring it is evenly covered.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Storage. Keep leftovers tightly wrapped and in the refrigerator. Store for up to 3 days.
- Freeze. We don’t recommend freezing this cheeseball.
- Make it in advance. If making this cheese ball for a crowd, we recommend making it the morning of or even the night before! Wrap tightly and store in the fridge before you’re ready to serve.
- Presentation. Serve this cheeseball with an arrangement of crackers!
Nutrition
NOTE: Recipe developed by Valentina’s Corner and first published on Natasha’s Kitchen.
