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Home / Holidays and Events / Christmas / Appetizers

The Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

5
/5
15 minutes minutes
67 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 01/02/2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

The ultimate cheese ball recipe made with creamy ranch flavored cream cheese, and plenty of bacon, cheese, and other tasty add-ins. A great crowd-pleaser!

Every party needs a great crowd-pleasing appetizer, and this ultimate cheese ball recipe is definitely that!

The Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is absolutely LOADED with bold flavors, and a perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any party! #appetizer #partyfood #cheeseball #baconranch #bacon #ranchrecipe #easyrecipe #makeahead

So let me ask you, do you love bacon?  What about ranch?  Cheese?  Yes, yes, yes right?  Then trust me when I tell you that your next party NEEDS this bacon ranch cheese ball!  Everyone will be scrambling for seconds (or thirds), and then begging you for the recipe… making you the rockstar of the party.  Score!!

I know, I know, it’s January, and we’re supposed to be all New Years resolution-y and eating healthier and whatnot… and don’t worry, I have several recipes planned for this month that fit that bill, but I feel that every good healthy eating plan needs moderation.  So indulging a bit now and then is perfectly fine!  Plus, we still have more game days left in this football season, and of course the BIG football game in February.  So party on!

Bacon ranch cheese ball recipe on plate with crackers

HOW DO YOU MAKE AN EASY CHEESE BALL?

Cheese balls are the ultimate easy appetizer for two main reasons.

  1. They’re natural make-ahead recipes.
  2. You simply mix, shape, chill, then roll.

Just mix up the cream cheese and other flavor ingredients in a mixing bowl with either a rubber spatula or hand mixer, then plop the mixture down on a sheet of plastic wrap.  Use the plastic wrap to help you shape it into a ball shape, then chill until firm.  Roll the chilled ball in a mixture of textured ingredients (like bacon, nuts, etc), and keep chilled until ready to serve.  Easy peasy!

HOW LONG DO CHEESE BALLS LAST?

The answer gets a little tricky, depending on what you added to your cheese ball.  For this recipe, since we’re adding chopped green onions, I would say about 3 days.  If your cheeseball doesn’t use fresh herbs, fruits, etc, and is simply cream cheese, cheese and seasonings, then it can last up to 7-10 days.

Cheese ball on cracker

CAN YOU FREEZE CHEESE BALLS?

Yes!  You just need to freeze them before you roll them in the outer coating.  After forming the cream cheese mixture into a ball, add it to a freezer resealable bag, and freeze for up to 1 month.  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then roll in outer coating and serve!

CAN YOU USE THIS RECIPE TO MAKE CHEESE BALL BITES?

Aren’t those fun?  Yes, you sure can!  I haven’t officially measured it, but I think this recipe would yield about 22-24 mini cheese ball bites.  Instead of shaping the mixture into a ball, use a small ice cream scoop (I’ll link the one I use below), to form little balls.  Wrap those balls in plastic wrap and chill until firm.  Roll in outer coating and stick a pretzel stick or two in them to make them a fun, portable, personal party food!

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe surrounded by crackers

WHAT DO YOU SERVE WITH A CHEESE BALL RECIPE?

My personal favorite is buttery crackers, but pretzels, bagel chips, pita chips, or even some toasted baguette slices would be a nice accompaniment.  For a healthier alternative, go with carrots or celery sticks.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS CHEESE BALL RECIPE:

  1. Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.  If it’s chilled, you’ll have a really hard time mixing everything smoothly.
  2. The sour cream is optional, but I really love how it makes the cheese ball ever so slightly soft, so when you’re scooping some onto a cracker, it isn’t so hard that it snaps the cracker in half.
  3. This cheese ball recipe can be made 24 hours before serving, so it’s great to make ahead for a party.
  4. Don’t feel constrained to the round shape… play around with different shapes for your cheese ball, like football shaped for game day, a star for Christmas, etc.

SHOP THE RECIPE:

  • Ranch Dressing Packet – my favorite brand for a seasoning packet.
  • Disposable Gloves – to avoid cream cheese hands, use a pair of these!
  • Small Ice Cream Scoop – perfect for cheese ball bites!

 

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

The Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is absolutely LOADED with bold flavors, and a perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any party! #appetizer #partyfood #cheeseball #baconranch #bacon #ranchrecipe #easyrecipe #makeahead

The Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

5 from 44 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Calories: 234
Servings: 16 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
The ultimate cheese ball recipe made with creamy ranch flavored cream cheese, and plenty of bacon, cheese, and other tasty add-ins.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz cream cheese , room temperature
  • 3 Tbsp sour cream (optional but recommended)
  • 1 oz package ranch seasoning
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried minced onion
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese , finely grated (divided)
  • 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese , finely grated (divided)
  • 8 slices bacon , cooked and crumbled (divided)
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onions (divided)
  • 2/3 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds

Instructions

MAKE THE CHEESE BALL

  • To a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream (if using), ranch seasoning, garlic powder, minced onion, salt and pepper.  Stir until well combined with a rubber spatula.
  • Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, all of the pepper jack cheese, half of the bacon, and half the green onions.  Stir until mixed.
  • Lay out a large sheet of plastic wrap and drop cream cheese mixture onto it.  Cover tightly on all sides, and shape into a ball shape.  Refrigerate for several hours or overnight, until firm.

MAKE THE OUTER COATING

  • Add remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, remaining bacon and green onions to a small mixing bowl.  Add in poppy seeds and refrigerate alongside the cheese ball.
  • Before rolling the cheese ball, add pecans and stir well.

BEFORE SERVING

  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spread out the outer coating in an even layer.
  • Remove plastic wrap and roll cheese ball in coating, making sure all sides are coated.  You may have to pick up some of the coating and press it so it sticks.
  • Serve immediately, or cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

Prep time does not include chilling time, as that will vary from individual to individual.

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

 

The Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is absolutely LOADED with bold flavors, and a perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any party! #appetizer #partyfood #cheeseball #baconranch #bacon #ranchrecipe #easyrecipe #makeahead

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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5 from 44 votes

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Recipe Rating




  1. Rene' says

    Posted on 6/1 at 8:25 am

    I served this cheese ball for our Memorial Day family celebration. My family loved it! It is so easy and the best tasting cheese ball I have made. Even my daughter-in-law, who is vegetarian, ate it and she loved it! WE had some left over and was better the next day. I will make this on a regular basis now.

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    Posted on 4/23 at 3:58 pm

    Easy to make and delicious! I will most definitely make it again and again!

    Reply
  3. Crystal Carter says

    Posted on 12/31 at 1:20 pm

    Great recipe! Serving tonight along with a vegetable, meat, and cracker tray. So easy and very delicious! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  4. Jene Christine Mogollon says

    Posted on 12/24 at 2:07 pm

    I accidentally used fiesta ranch but it was bomb lol

    Reply
  5. Sharon Schulte says

    Posted on 12/18 at 10:52 pm

    Always great receipes!

    Reply
  6. Lee says

    Posted on 10/14 at 12:33 pm

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

    Reply
  7. NGON says

    Posted on 7/15 at 7:27 am

    Made it tonight and was a huge hit! Easy and delicious. Thanks…

    Reply
  8. Shelley G says

    Posted on 6/20 at 10:22 am

    Absolutely love this recipe! Have made it several times and it’s always a hit! Super easy and delicious!! Thank you! 

    Reply
  9. Laura C says

    Posted on 12/27 at 8:13 pm

    I made logs and they’re chilling now. WOW!! So glad that I went ahead and TRIPLED this recipe!! It’s going to an anniversary party tomorrow.   
    I wanted to amp up the bacon flavor, so I added a few dashes of LIQUID SMOKE. It is perfection!  
    By the way… I did not add any salt, and glad I didn’t. I suggest to add the salt at the end, if after tasting it you think it is needed. 

    Reply
  10. Tammy Valik says

    Posted on 12/27 at 1:45 pm

    Just made this at Christmas, everyone loved it! I had some left over so I stuffed halved jalapeno peppers with the mix and wrapped with bacon and my jusband lost his mind. Lol. Oh, p.s. I left out the nuts. Just my preference. Great recipe.

    Reply
  11. JBJ says

    Posted on 12/21 at 11:27 pm

    Oh my GOODness! This Cheeseball is DELISH! In the words of my teenage daughter it is Smacks! So not only is it adult approved, its teenage approved as well.! This will be my go to recipe from now on! Yummy!!!!

    Reply
  12. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 1/5 at 12:00 am

    This looks incredibly delicious! This couldn’t look any more perfect!

    Reply
  13. Abeer says

    Posted on 1/4 at 2:51 pm

    A must try recipe for our next movie night! Mouth watering!

    Reply
  14. Catalina says

    Posted on 1/4 at 2:50 pm

    My family will go crazy over this bacon cheese ball! Looks so inviting!

    Reply
  15. Allison says

    Posted on 1/4 at 1:06 pm

    OMG! Could a cheeseball be any more fabulous?! Thanks for sharing this tasty recipe.

    Reply
  16. Chrissie Baker says

    Posted on 1/4 at 7:24 am

    This was an excellent cheeseball! It was a big hit at our Christmas and others plan to make it themselves.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  17. Dee says

    Posted on 1/4 at 12:09 am

    So yummy! My husband is absolutely going to love this!

    Reply
  18. Melanie Bauer says

    Posted on 1/3 at 11:20 pm

    Oh my goodness, this look sensational! This will quickly disappear on our table, can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  19. Sabrina says

    Posted on 1/3 at 7:47 pm

    All of my favorite things rolled into one appetizer!! This is going to be hard to share!

    Reply
  20. Demeter says

    Posted on 1/3 at 2:56 pm

    This is always a hit at parties! Love that you can make it ahead of time and it’s a no stress appetizer. 

    Reply
    • Tamra says

      Posted on 1/3 at 2:50 pm

      The ultimate bacon ranch cheeseball was very good, but waaaay to salty. Next time I would definitely leave out the salt.

      Reply
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