Super easy, make ahead (AKA stress free!) Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball takes just minutes to whip up and is always a total show stopping appetizer!
This supercharged Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball recipe is not only loaded with bacon and cheese but COATED in bacon, cheese, green onions and pecans for can’t-stop-eating-partaaaaaaaaaaaaay-deliciousness!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley® & Glad®. The opinions and text are all mine.
To me, every good party needs an amazing cheese ball or log. They are the the ideal cracker spread because it’s basically loaded cheese bursting with flavorful ingredients (just when you didn’t think cheese could get any better) and looks absolutely beautiful. So far I’ve made Bruschetta Cheese Ball, Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log and Garlic Herb Cheese Log. They have all been runaway hits so I decided the holidays need a cheese ball every year. I need a cheese ball every year. So if you answer yes to the following questions, I’ve found you the perfect cheese ball recipe!
Do you love bacon?
Do you love ranch?
Do you love cheese?
Me too! And so does everyone at your next party and they will love YOU for uniting them with their three loves once more with this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball!
This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball comes together very quickly. First, add cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, pepper Jack cheese, sharp cheddar, bacon, green onions and 1 package Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix to a large bowl – and mix to combine – hello flaaaaaavor!
If you aren’t familiar with Hidden Valley seasoning and dip mixes, they are awesome! They add bold ranch flavor to anything you heart desires from popcorn to veggies to any dip or appetizer. I love that you can infuse anything with delicious ranch flavor without having to add any caloric ranch dressing!
I buy everything Hidden Valley at my local super Walmart which makes shopping easy with everything I need all in one place! Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix is located in the dressing aisle, next to the dry mixes.
Next, we drop the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, cover tightly, and shape into a ball. Don’t worry about the shape being perfect – you can refine it later when you coat the cheese ball.
For the plastic wrap, I use Glad® Press’n Seal. This has always been my (and my husband’s!) favorite plastic wrap. Unlike many plastic wraps, the Glad Press’n Seal actually sticks and seals tightly on a variety of surfaces including paper, plastic, metal and wood – without having to use layers and layers of wrap. It’s also BPA-free safe to use in the microwave!
Next, we place our Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to harden up a bit. The amount of time really depends on how soft your cream cheese was to start with. Once the cheese ball is firm enough to roll in the Coating, you can either roll it right away if you are serving it within a few hours OR you can leave it in the refrigerator until the next day and then Coat it – totally up to you and your schedule.
When ready to coat your Bacon Ranch Cheeseball, we roll it in our already made and refrigerated mixture of crispy bacon, sharp cheese, green onions and chopped pecans…
…to create the ultimate layered flavor and textural bliss – nutty, crunchy on the outside, tangy and creamy on the inside and absolutely delicious all over.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball – quite possibly the world’s best party food.
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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings | servings |
- 2 8 oz. bricks cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 (1 oz.) pkg Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup finely grated Pepper Jack cheese
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons finely grated sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 6 slices bacon,cooked and diced divided
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions divided
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- crackers, celery, carrots, etc.
Ingredients
Serve With
| Rate this recipe! |
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, pepper jack cheese, 1 CUP cheddar cheese, half of the bacon and 2 tablespoons green onions to a large bowl and mix until well combined.
- Drop mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, cover tightly, and shape into a ball. Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to firm up (up to 24 hours if serving the next day) before rolling in coating.
- Meanwhile, add remaining 2 tablespoon cheddar cheese, bacon and green onions to a medium bowl. Refrigerate.
- When ready to coat cheeseball, whisk in pecans until evenly combined.
- Spread Coating in an even layer on cutting board/parchment lined counter. Remove cheese ball from refrigerator and roll in Coating mixture, pressing to adhere, until evenly coated. At this point you can refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve with crackers, celery, carrots, etc.
If you have leftover cheese ball, try adding it to scrambled eggs - soooo goood!
©Carlsbad Cravings Original
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley® & Glad®. The opinions and text are all mine.
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Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
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Squiggles says
Can this be made ahead and frozen?
It is exactly what I was looking to serve with my Christmas day lunch. But with all the things happening that day, I would like to make it ahead of time and freeze.
Thanks
Jen says
Yes! It is perfect to make ahead and freeze! Enjoy!
Suz says
This was an excellent cheeseball! It was a big hit at our Christmas and others plan to make it themselves.
Thank you!
Jen says
You are so welcome Suz, I’m so happy it was a hit! Merry Christmas!
Wilkins says
I made this recipe last week as the recommendation of a friend who saw the recipe on your site. It was absolutely delicious – didn’t change a thing!
Jen says
Awesome, I’m so happy it was a hit! Thank you!!
Monica says
This was AMAZING! I made it for Christmas and we kept munching away on it for the whole next week! Thank you so much for all of your yummy recipes. I just printed off 10 new ones to add to my Carlsbad Cravings Collection! 🙂
Jen says
YAY! I’m so happy you all loved the Cheese Ball so much and I’m honored you are enjoying my recipes! I hope you love the new ones you’re trying just as much!