This Bacon Ranch Jalapeño Cheese Ball makes a delicious appetizer for holiday entertaining. It’s easy to make with ranch dip mix, crumbled bacon, jalapeños and cheese!
NEVER MISS A POST! FOLLOW ME ON:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
Even though the holidays are sure going to look different this year (at least where we live, that is), we’re still looking forward to enjoying some delicious appetizers on New Years Eve. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a night in on a cold night, and this Bacon Ranch Jalapeño Cheese Ball is definitely going to make an appearance this New Years Eve!
Cheddar Cheese Ball Recipe Serving Suggestions
This Bacon Ranch Jalapeño Cheese Ball recipe is best served with your favourite crackers, breadsticks, or even homemade crostini made from toasted baguettes. But whatever you serve it with (veggies are an option too!!), it’s sure to impress your family and friends this holiday season – especially the spicy food lovers! And they’ll love it even more when you tell them you made it ahead of time and just pulled it out the fridge when it was time to serve!!
How to Make a Cheese Ball
Here are some tips to make the best cheese ball every single time:
- Use full fat cream cheese. Low fat cream cheese contains a high water content and therefore doesn’t solidify properly, even in the fridge. To help the cheese ball keep its shape, use full fat cream cheese.
- Don’t forget the seasonings. Nothing is worse than a bland cheese ball – make sure to use lots of delicious flavours including ranch dip mix, like in this recipe.
- Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese sold in bags at the grocery store contains fillers to prevent the cheese from clumping up in the bag. This can make your cheese ball difficult to shape, so using freshly grated cheese is best.
- Refrigerate before serving. Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap (tightly) and refrigerate for about 2 hours or overnight before serving. This will help the cheese ball keep its shape when you serve it to your guests.
- Don’t forget the crust. Roll the cheese ball in chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, crumbled bacon, or crushed tortilla chips or pretzels to create the perfect crust!
EASY NO-FAIL HOLIDAY RECIPES AND COOKING & BAKING TIPS
Get my easy no-fail holiday meals e-cookbook!
Looking for more spicy appetizers? You’ll love this Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip or this Buffalo Roasted Cauliflower!
NEVER MISS A POST! FOLLOW ME ON:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
I hope you love this cheese ball recipe as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below, what’s your favourite spicy appetizer? I’d love to know!
Kitchen products I love:
Looking for more appetizer recipes? You’ll LOVE these:
- Buffalo Roasted Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce
- Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip
- Creamy Mushroom Cup Appetizers
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
- Vegetarian Red Lentil Sausage Rolls
- Thai Peanut Salad Cups
- Christmas Cheese Ball
- Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
EASY NO-FAIL HOLIDAY RECIPES AND COOKING & BAKING TIPS
Get my easy no-fail holiday meals e-cookbook!
If you made this, share a photo!
Are you trying this recipe? Use the comment form below to share your take; now with support for image uploads and comment voting!
Bacon Ranch Jalapeño Cheese Ball
Recipe: Ingredients
- 16 ounces full fat cream cheese (about 500 grams)
- 1/4 cup full fat sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (we like 1 cup each white and orange cheddar)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1/4 cup chopped jalapeños
- sea salt (to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 10 slices bacon cooked until crisp and crumbled
- 1 jalapeno sliced
- crackers, pretzels, or veggies for serving
Recipe: Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and shredded cheese with a rubber spatula or with a hand mixer (if desired).
- Add the ranch dressing mix, chopped chives, chopped jalapeños, salt (to taste), and garlic and onion powders.
- Stir well to combine and using your spoon or spatula, roll the mixture into a rough ball shape.
- Place a large piece of plastic wrap on your work surface and add the cheese ball onto the plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap, roll the cheese ball into a smooth ball shape wrapping it tightly in the plastic.
- Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, remove the cheese ball from the plastic wrap and roll it in the crumbled bacon until the cheese ball is covered evenly. Press the jalapeno slices onto the top and sides of the cheese ball.
- Serve immediately on a platter with your favourite crackers, pretzels, baguette slices, or veggies.
Recipe: Notes
Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.