• Appetizers + Snacks
  • Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

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    A delicious cheese ball is such a great holiday appetizer and is so easy to make! Loaded with flavor, this bacon ranch cheese ball comes together quickly and is perfectly seasoned.

    classic bacon pecan cheese ball recipe served with crackers

    Whether you are looking for a stand-alone appetizer or want to add a little more flare to your charcuterie board, this bacon ranch cheese ball recipe is a wonderful choice!

    This easy cheese ball is the perfect cracker spread – it’s basically a cheese spread loaded with delicious ingredients bursting with flavor. Made for sharing and so easy to make, this will leave your guests happy for sure! It’s nutty and crunchy on the outside, and savory and creamy on the inside – an absolutely delicious easy holiday appetizer.

    For more appetizer recipes, be sure to check out my Ricotta and Prosciutto Crackers, Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites, and Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites.

    easy ranch bacon cheese ball holiday appetizer with crackers

    Why you will love this bacon ranch cheese ball!

    • Quick and easy: It takes no more than 15 minutes to make this classic cheese ball recipe and it’s made with simple ingredients.
    • Make ahead: This is the perfect make-ahead appetizer, ideal if you are serving a crowd.
    • Delicious! This is not your ordinary holiday cheese ball. It’s loaded with texture and flavor, you might want to make two!

    Ingredients for Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

    To make this delicious and savory bacon cheddar ranch cheese ball, you will need:

    • Bacon: Cooked and crumbled. If you can, use nitrate-free bacon.
    • Pecans: Chopped pecans add a great crunchy texture.
    • Cheese: I use a mixture of cream cheese and cheddar cheese. I prefer to use full fat for the richest flavor and best texture.
    • Sour cream: A little sour cream makes this cheese ball extra creamy and adds a slight tang.
    • Seasonings: Parsley, Worcestershire sauce, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, salt, and pepper.
    how to make bacon ranch cheese ball

    How to make a bacon ranch cheese ball

    • In a small bowl, combine half of the bacon, pecans, and 2 tablespoons parsley; set aside.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, chives, spices, and remaining bacon bits on medium-high until well combined and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
    • Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    • Using a plastic wrap, shape the mixture with your hands into a ball and roll in the prepared bacon-pecan mixture.
    • Serve with your favorite crackers or pita chips.

    Can you make it ahead of time?

    This ranch bacon cheese ball will keep well, covered in the fridge for up to two weeks! Just make sure that it is wrapped properly so that it doesn’t dry out. I like to wrap it in plastic wrap and then a layer of foil so that it doesn’t take on any of the smells in your fridge.

    If you plan to keep it for this long, I would hold off on rolling it in the pecans until you are ready to serve so that they don’t get soft.

    spreading ranch bacon cheese ball on a cracker

    Variations

    This keto bacon ranch cheese ball with pecans is pretty delicious as it is, but you can easily mix things up to suit your tastes:

    • Omit the bacon for a vegetarian appetizer.
    • Swap the pecans for other nuts like walnuts or almonds.
    • Add in a little hot sauce if you prefer things on the spicy side.
    • Use a different herb to roll the ball in. Dill or cilantro would work well.

    How to serve it?

    This classic bacon ranch cheese ball is great to serve on its own with some breadsticks and crackers, or, you can make it a centerpiece for your charcuterie board. Serve it with vegetable sticks, dried fruit, and spreads along with other cheeses and meats for a real treat.

    simple cheese ball with bacon pecan coating served with crackers

    Great for individual cheese ball bites

    You can use this recipe to make cheese ball bites. Use a small ice cream scoop and measure about 24 cheese ball bites. Wrap each one of them in foil and refrigerate them until firm. Roll them in the pecan bacon coating and stick a pretzel stick to make them individual party bites. You will only need to double the ingredients for the coating

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • Make sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing it. I like to take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before using it so that it combines well.
    • I prefer to mix the cheese in a stand mixer. You can mix it by hand, but it will take a little longer, and make sure that everything is well combined.
    • Cover and wrap the cheese ball with bacon well if making ahead of time.
    • You can use this recipe to make cheese ball bites.
    • If possible, shred your own cheese for best results. Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent (extra flour) and is hard to form a ball with the cream cheese.
    cheese ball with bacon and crackers

    More Delicious Appetizer Recipes

    classic bacon pecan cheese ball recipe served with crackers
    5 from 1 vote
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    Bacon Ranch Cheese ball

    A delicious cheese ball is such a great holiday appetizer and is so easy to make! Loaded with flavor, this bacon ranch cheese ball comes together quickly and is perfectly seasoned.
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Chilling time 2 hours
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 333kcal

    INGREDIENTS

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • In a small bowl, combine half of the bacon, pecans and 2 tablespoons parsley; set aside.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, chives, spices and remaining bacon bits on medium-high until well combined and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
    • Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    • Using a plastic wrap, shape the mixture with your hands into a ball and roll in the prepared bacon-pecan mixture.
    • Serve with your favorite crackers or pita chips.

    TIPS & NOTES

    • Make sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing it. I like to take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before using it so that it combines well.
    • I prefer to mix the cheese in a stand mixer. You can mix it by hand, but it will take a little longer and make sure that everything is well combined.
    • Cover and wrap well if making ahead of time.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1136IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Keyword cheeseball with bacon, easy cheeseball recipe, how to make a cheeseball
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    Comments

    Kate

    We have started our keto diet. I love that this recipe is also low carb. super tasty!

    Susan Dubose

    5 stars
    Easy and so tasty. I used all ingredients but according to my family’s taste and it is the Best cheese ball.

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