Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

20 minutes

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5 from 33 votes

by Lisa Longley

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posted: 12/06/22

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

Jump to Recipe

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 12/06/22

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

Jump to Recipe

A Cheese Ball recipe is a classic appetizer that everyone can get behind. This simple and easy 5 ingredient recipe is the perfect party food.

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (2)
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

If you are still on the hunt for Christmas appetizers, you are in luck, because I am obsessed with appetizer recipes. These holiday appetizers are great all year round, and are perfect for parties this time of year and especially for New Year’s Eve!

On my list next is this classic Cheese Ball recipe. There are so many great ways to do cheese balls. I love savory recipes like my Olive Cheese Ball and sweet recipes like my Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Cheeseball. But you really can’t beat the classic basic recipe.

Reader Review

I love it! Thank you! Super easy and delicious!

How to Make Cheese Balls

This is a brief overview of how to make this delicious recipe. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post for the recipe card.

  1. Blend room temperature cream cheese. Using a handheld mixer, mix it until it is smooth.
  2. Add in the other ingredients. To the cream cheese you will want to add in finely grated cheddar cheese, Worchestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
  3. Roll it into a ball. On a piece of plastic wrap, roll the mixture into a ball. See more on this (and the photos) below. Wrap it completely in the plastic wrap.
  4. Chill the cheeseball recipe. Put the cheese ball into the refrigerator to chill for 8 hours.
  5. Roll in pecans. And then serve.
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Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (4)

How to Roll a Cheese Ball Recipe

The cream cheese mixture will be very sticky after it is combined. Do your best to pull it together into a ball like shape before putting it on the plastic wrap. Then pull the plastic wrap around the mixture and once it is completely covered, roll it into a ball within the plastic wrap.

When you take off the plastic wrap, there will be dents and creases from it in the cheeseball, but don’t worry about that. You are going to be covering the cheeseball with a topping that will hide that.

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What to Serve with Cheese Balls

I like serving cheese balls with a variety of crackers and a knife for spreading it. The longer it sits out the easier it will be to spread. That being said, you could also put out vegetables, like carrots and celery sticks, for serving.

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Alternatives to Pecans

If you are serving someone with a nut allergy, you are obviously going to want to avoid the pecans. Below are some alternatives for what to roll a cream cheese ball in. I suggest mixing and matching them.

  • Fresh parsley
  • Diced green onions
  • Minced chives
  • Diced roasted red peppers
  • Bacon bits
  • Toasted breadcrumbs
  • Parmesan cheese
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FAQ

How long can a cheese ball sit out?

Don’t let your cheese ball sit out longer than 2 hours.

Can you freeze a cheese ball?

While it would be perfectly safe from a food safety standpoint to freeze this, the texture is going to really change after being frozen. This is not my favorite recipe to freeze.

Is this cheese ball recipe gluten free?

Yes! But please keep in mind that you should always double check the ingredients you are using. Additionally, you will want to use gluten free crackers for serving.

Is this recipe vegetarian?

It is not. The Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it. If you are serving someone who is vegetarian, consider using a combination of soy sauce, lemon juice, and just a dash of hot sauce as a replacement. Note that soy sauce does contain gluten.

Is a cheese ball keto?

Yes, this recipe is keto. Make sure that what you choose to serve it with is keto as well.

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Other Cheese Ball Recipes

If you just can’t get enough cheese ball recipes, we have a list of 30 Cheese Ball Recipes. You find all sorts of delicious cheeseballs that everyone will love. We also have these great twists:

  • Crab Dip Cheese Ball
  • Taco Cheese Ball Recipe
  • Buffalo Bacon Cheese Ball

If you make this easy cheese ball recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (10)

5 from 33 votes

Cheese Ball Recipe

Serves: 20 people

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

A Cheese Ball recipe is a classic appetizer that everyone can get behind. This simple and easy 5 ingredient recipe is the perfect party food.

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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 cup pecans chopped small (if you are serving someone with a nut allergy, please see my list of alternatves)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl beat the cream cheese. Then mix in the chese, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.

  • Spread out a large piece of saran wrap. Place the mixture into the middle of it and and then using the plastic wrap form it into a ball. Chill for 8 hours.

  • Before serving, remove the saran wrap then coat the cheeseball with the pecans.

Author: Lisa Longley

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (11)

did you make this

Cheese Ball Recipe

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

you may also like…

  • Veggie Pizza
  • Hot Crab Dip Recipe
  • Easy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
  • Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (16)

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (17)

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MEAL PLAN LIKE A BOSSdownload my free top 10 easy dinner ebook!

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (18)

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

  1. Darlene says

    I don’t have a question now but thanks so much for the cheese ball recipe me and my husband who’s in the hospital loved it thanks

    Reply

    • Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (19)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad to hear that!

      Reply

  2. D.K. POPE says

    What do think about adding (1/2 to 3/4) cup of Crushed Pineapple??

    Reply

    • Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (20)Lisa Longley says

      I would suggest going with this recipe: Pineapple Cheeseball

      Reply

  3. Ethel Gawel says

    How far ahead can you make a cheese ball for a party?

    Reply

    • Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (21)Lisa Longley says

      For best flavor I would say 24 hours.

      Reply

  4. DIANA says

    thanks 4 the recipes. I can’t seem to find any for/ with mushrooms though. Any ideas? Blessed Be!!

    Reply

    • Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (22)Lisa Longley says

      Here are a few of my recipes that feature mushrooms that I love: Chicken Marsala, Cream of Mushroom Chicken, Stuffed Mushrooms, Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.

      I hope that helps! In the future you can use the search function in the upper right corner of the site :)

      Reply

older comments

Easy Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cheese ball so hard? ›

Why is my cheese ball so hard? You want your cheese ball to be firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to allow for easy spreading. To achieve this consistency, the key is making sure your cream cheese is softened before preparing.

How long will a homemade cheese ball last in the refrigerator? ›

Storing in Fridge: If you start with fresh ingredients, you can store the cheese ball in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. How to Freeze: I prefer a freshly made cheese ball, BUT you can freeze cheese balls.

What cheese are cheese balls made of? ›

Cheese balls are traditionally made with two kinds of cheese – cream cheese (or another soft cheese like quark cheese, mascarpone or ricotta) and a grated semi-soft or semi-firm cheese like cheddar, colby cheese, monterey jack cheese, or muenster.

How long does a cheese ball need to chill? ›

Cover the cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow it to firm up. Take it out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften just slightly. Serve with crackers, pretzels, vegetables or anything else you'd love to dip in cheese!

Why is my cheese ball not firm? ›

Your cheese ball is too runny: Once you have added all the extras, and it's all mixed in well, if the texture is more salad dressing-like than something you might spread on a bagel, you can tighten it up easily by adding unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing before you add more.

How do you make cheese not rubbery? ›

Remove from Heat

Watch the cheese sauce closely as it melts. Once it looks and feels smooth and has been evenly melted, give it a final stir, and then remove the pan from the heat. If you melt the cheese any longer than is necessary, it can result in a rubbery consistency and negatively impact the flavor.

What are the ingredients in current cheese balls? ›

Grab a pack of our Current Cheese Balls and experience the irresistible taste for yourself. Ingredients: Corn Grits, Rice Grits, Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein Oil), Cheddar Cheese Powder, Iodized Salt, Sugar, Maltodextrin (Ins 1400), Flavour Enhancer (Ins 621), Food Color (Ins 110) And Natural Cheese Flavour.

Can you freeze a cheese ball for later use? ›

Cheese balls freeze quite well. Again, it's best to wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to four weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Can a cheese ball be left out overnight? ›

The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than two hours — and that's certainly the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella.

What are the best crackers for cheese ball? ›

What to Serve with Cheese Ball. That's an important question and I obviously have a strong opinion. Here are some options: Crackers – Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, Milton's.

Why are cheese balls addicting? ›

Cheese contains casomorphins , a group of opiods that traverse the blood-brain barrier where they produce a mild feeling of pleasure by binding to dopamine receptors in the brain. Craving of this sensation is a definitional element of addiction.

What if my cheese ball is too soft? ›

Remove cheese ball from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the cheese has time to soften and become more spreadable. Why is my cheese ball too soft? A cheese ball can be too soft if reduced fat or nonfat cream cheese is used. Stick to regular, full fat block-style cream cheese.

Can cheese balls expire? ›

An unopened, store-bought cheese ball typically has a long shelf life and can easily last 1-2 weeks past the printed date on the package if it is stored correctly. Once opened, the lifespan drops to about 8-14 days. If bought freshly made from a deli, the cheese ball will usually only last about 7 days.

How are cheeseballs made? ›

The term “cheese balls” comes from the delicious cheesy filling that is encased in a mashed potato mix, covered in liquid, cornstarch, and breadcrumbs or panko crumbs for crunch, and then finally either deep fried or baked.

How do you fix hardened cheese? ›

Wrap the cheese in a damp paper towel, place it in a resealable plastic bag, and chill it for a day. Then remove the towel and store the cheese in the bag — it should be good to grate!

Is it OK to eat hardened cheese? ›

If you're tempted to throw an entire block of cheese away because the edges have hardened, don't. The inner portions of the cheese are most likely completely fine. If the cheese smells and tastes normal, and the surface isn't slimy or moldy, then it's still safe to eat.

Why does cheese harden when cooked? ›

This is a combination of the type of cheese and too much heat. Some cheeses melt more readily (mozzarella for example), but all of them will seize up if they are heated too much too fast - the proteins 'curl up' and separate from the fat and water in the cheese.

What makes cheese harden? ›

Ok hardness comes from the moisture level in the cheese. The more liquid you squeeze out the harder it will be. Aging cheese also hardens cheese because moisture evaporates in the aging process. The longer it is aged the more moisture is removed.

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