Cheese Ball Recipe

This simple Cheese Ball Recipe is a classic party appetizer that’s ideal for serving year-round. It only takes a few minutes of prep time to make, it’s packed with flavor and it’s rolled in toasted pecans for crunch. It’s a small bite appetizer the whole party will love!

What You’ll Love About This Cheese Ball

This cheese ball recipe takes only a few minutes of prep time using simple ingredients. It needs to be made in advance to let the flavors fully marry, making it a tasty choice for make-ahead party preparation and for planning purposes. It’s vegetarian, making it a delicious option that everyone can indulge in!

Ingredients to Make Classic Cheese Ball Recipe

Cheese balls are a retro appetizer that never get old. While they’re most often thought of as a holiday appetizer, you can also serve them year-round for wedding showers, baby showers, potluck parties, graduation parties, tailgating, entertaining and beyond. In this cheeseball recipe there’s cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese combined with simple seasonings, green onions and red bell peppers for crunch. After shaping into a ball it’s rolled in toasted pecans and fresh parsley, then chilled until firm. Ingredients to make an easy Cheese Ball Recipe: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

Cream Cheese – Full fat plain cream cheese forms the base of the cheeseball.
Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese amps up the flavor.
Pecans – One cup of finely chopped pecans for the coating.
Sauces – Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce expand the flavor profile.
Seasonings – Seasoned salt, granulated garlic or garlic powder and onion powder.
Vegetables – Green onions and red bell pepper add color and texture.
Herb – Fresh parsley combines with the pecans to coat the cheeseball.
Serve – You’ll need crackers, baguette slices, pita chips or veggies for serving.

How to Make the BEST Cheese Ball Recipe

Toast the Pecans – Preheat the oven and spread the pecans on a sheet pan in a single layer. Toast for 6-8 minutes or just until fragrant. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
Combine Cream Cheese and Seasonings – In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat together the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, seasoned salt, granulated garlic and onion powder until fully blended.
Combine with Cheese and Veggies – Lower the speed of the mixer. Add the cheddar cheese, green onions and red bell pepper. Beat until fully combined and evenly distributed.
Coat with Toasted Pecans and Parsley – Spread the pecans on a piece of plastic wrap and toss with the fresh parsley. Dollop the cream cheese mixture onto the middle of the pecan mixture and roll to coat. Wrap in a clean piece of plastic wrap and form into a ball.
Refrigerate: Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight, then serve with crackers.

Tips for Making Cheese Balls

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need: Large bowl, cheese grater, rubber spatula, baking sheet, sharp knife and cutting board and nut chopper.
Use Fresh Cheese: I highly recommend grating your own cheese for the best flavor. It should finely shredded so the cheeseball will come together easily.
Allow Stand Time: Take the cheese out of the fridge around 30 minutes prior to serving to allow it to soften just a bit. This will make it easier to spread.
How to Serve a Cheese Ball: You can serve cheese balls with fresh vegetable such as cucumber slices, mini sweet peppers, pita chips, a variety of crackers or baguette slices.
How Many People Does a Cheese Ball Serve? This is a tricky question, as it depends on how many other appetizers are being served and the size of the gathering. On its own, expect it to serve a smaller group and as part of a larger menu, it should accompany other appetizers so there’s plenty to go around.

Recipe Variations

Protein: You could add crispy bacon, dried beef or finely diced ham to the cheese mixture.
Cheese: You could use another flavor of cheese. Mild cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, mozzarella cheese or pepper jack cheese for spice.
Peppers: If you want a more spicy flavor, swap out the red bell pepper with jalapeno pepper or poblano pepper.
Seasonings: You can use Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning or Italian seasoning to change the flavor profile.
Herbs: You can use fresh herbs such as rosemary, fresh chives or thyme.
Nuts: You could also roll the cheese ball in toasted walnuts, almonds or pine nuts.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers: Store leftover cheese ball wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing cheese balls as the cream cheese can break down once thawed.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make

Shredded Zucchini Fritters made on the stovetop.
These Olive Cheese Puffs are addictive!
Cream Cheese Sausage Balls are perfect for casual gatherings and holiday parties!
These loaded Tachos are a crowd pleaser!
Add this Christmas Cheese Ball to your holiday snacks.
Serve these crispy Coconut Shrimp with cocktail sauce or Asian chile sauce for dipping.
Easy Corn Salsa for dipping with tortilla chips or on top of salads, tacos and more.
Make Potato Skins and watch them go.
This BLT Dip is great for holiday gatherings, picnics and game day snacking.
White Bean Dip from The Pioneer Woman.

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