Last Updated May 21st, 2023 at 11:49 pm by Lisa
Dip into a Bacon Cheese Ball with crackers or pretzels, and enjoy every bite of this easy delicious appetizer. It is made with simple ingredients and quick prep time. Roll it in crispy bacon crumbles or assorted mixed cheeses.
Get creative and add your twist to this bacon ranch cheese ball with one of the dozens of flavor ideas...
Bacon Cheese Ball Recipe
Whip this party food fappetizer together in just a few minutes. And if you are serving it for a game day, take a look at how to shape it just like a football 🏈, and make a Football Cheese Ball!
Cheese Ball Ingredients
- cream cheese (2 boxes)
- sharp cheddar cheese
- pepper jack cheese
- crispy crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- green onions or chives
- packet ranch seasoning mix
- garlic powder
- sour cream
Garnish Toppings
- crumbled crispy bacon
- green onions
- grated cheddar or pepper jack
- Serve with crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.
Pull the 2 packages of cream cheese out on the kitchen counter for at least 30 minutes so they are easier to mix.
Make the crumbled bacon (it's worth the time!) but good bacon bits work great too and save time. Cook bacon the way you like to and crumble it, you will need 1 cup for this recipe.
1 pound of sliced bacon makes about 1 ½ cups of crispy crumbled bacon so you will have some extra. 🥓🥓🥓
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To cook in a large skillet or cast iron pan, slice a package of bacon slices into ½ pieces, and saute over medium heat, stir the chopped bacon pieces with a wooden spoon until crispy. Takes about 12 minutes. Drain the crumbled bacon on a paper towel.
Grate the cheddar cheese and pepper jack on a box grater or food processor. Pregrated pregrated-cheeses are fine too!
In a large bowl, add the two cream cheese blocks, grated sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, crumbled crispy bacon, green onions, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and sour cream. Use a hand mixer or stir with a large spatula until well combined.
Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula, and place the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic around, and form a round ball and wrap the plastic tightly.
Chill on a serving platter or large plate in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
When ready to serve, remove it the from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Roll in crumbled bacon bits, cheddar, and or green onions. Serve on a platter with assorted crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container, and use them within a week.
Flavor Variations
Use some ingredients you prefer or have on hand. Here are a few ways to mix things up.
Seasonings: Instead of the Ranch seasoning packet, add a teaspoon of the seasoning salt blend, some Worcestershire sauce, or Everything Bagel Seasoning.
Veggies & Herbs: In place of green onions, add fresh parsley, or some chopped basil and rosemary. Or add some chopped Sun Dried Tomatoes or confetti of chopped colorful bell peppers.
Meats: Add in chopped salami, slice some ham or pepperoni into thin small ribbons.
Nuts: Roll in crushed toasted or Candied Pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, or toasted pine nuts.
Good Grated Cheeses: This will make your cheese ball really tasty, add in Monterey jack, parmesan, goat cheese, pecorino romano, white cheddar cheese, or Colby jack.
Cheese Truffle Bites: Use a mini scoop or teaspoon and portion out small scoops formed into little ball shapes, then rolled in chopped herbs, nuts, crushed cracker crumbs, and chopped dried fruit. And it is fun to push a small pretzel stick pushed in for a "grab and go" easy appetizer.
The origins according to Michelle Buffardi, author of Great Balls of Cheese, are that in 1801, a farmer named Elisha Brown, Jr. in Massachusetts created the original cheese ball weighing in at over 1,200 pounds! It was presented to President Jefferson at the White House.
More Cheese Balls & Appetizer Recipes
Make Holiday Cheese Balls appetizers this year. There are four flavors of these Christmas appetizers to serve as party food all season. The flavors are White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Pimento Cheese, Garlic Chive Goat-Cheese, and Cranberry Pecan.
Serve a "pumpkin-shaped" Everything Bagel Cheese Ball appetizer for your next Fall party, Thanksgiving, and it's always a hit! Easy to make ahead in 15 minutes, chill, and take to a gathering.
Gorgeous Layered Cheese Appetizers with deli-style sliced cheeses and a creamy filling loaded with chopped nuts and dried fruit. Eat them as a snack or fancy finger food hors d'oeuvres! People will be fascinated by the elegant stacks, and they are so pretty on charcuterie boards.
Everyone loves appetizers, and there is nothing easier than Marinated Mozzarella Balls on a gorgeous Charcuterie Board with some crackers, crusty bread, and drinks to get the party going.
Cheese Truffles are loaded with delicious flavors and toppings. Serve with crackers or pretzels for an easy appetizer and fun party food!
Boursin Cheese whips together in just minutes for an easy appetizer. One of the best ways to eat it is simply with toasted warm bread or crackers.
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Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
Cheese Ball Ingredients
- 2 - 8 ounce boxes cream cheese
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese
- ½ cup crispy crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- ¼ cup green onions or chives
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup sour cream
Cheese Ball Garnish Decorations
- ½ cup crumbled crispy bacon
- 1 tablespoon green onions
- ¼ cup grated cheddar or pepper jack
- Serve with crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.
Instructions
- Pull the 2 packages of cream cheese out on the kitchen counter at least 30 minutes so they are easier to mix.
- Make the crumbled bacon (it's worth the time!) but good bacon bits work great too and save time. Cook bacon the way you like to and crumble, you will need 1 cup for this recipe.
- 1 pound of sliced bacon makes about 1 ½ cups of crispy crumbled bacon so you will have some extra.
- To cook in a large skillet or cast iron pan, slice a package of bacon slices into ½ pieces, and saute over medium heat, stir the chopped bacon pieces with a wooden spoon until crispy. Takes about 12 minutes. Drain the crumbled bacon on a paper towel.
- Grate the cheddar cheese and pepper jack on a box grater or food processer. Pregrated cheeses are fine too!
- In a large bowl, add the two cream cheese blocks, grated sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, crumbled crispy bacon, green onions, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and sour cream. Mix cream cheese mixture with a hand mixer or stir with a large spatula until well combined.
- Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula, and place the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic around tightly, and form a round ball.
- Chill on a serving platter or large plate in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
- When ready to serve, remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Roll in crumbled bacon bits, cheddar cheeses, and or green onions. Serve on a platter with assorted crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.
Super easy, and so good. We added extra bacon and everyone loved it!