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-party-deliciousness!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley® & Glad®. The opinions and text are all mine.
Watch: How to make a Cheese Ball
This Ranch Cheese Ball with bacon is a show stopping appetizer
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!
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball ingredients
- Cream Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Garlic POwder
- Pepper Jack Cheese
- Sharp Cheddar
- Bacon
- Green Onions
- 1 package Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
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.
How to make a 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.
- Mix to combine – hello flaaaaaavor!
- 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.
How to serve the Best Cheese Ball Recipe
To serve the best cheese ball recipe, follow these steps:
- Accompaniments: Provide an assortment of crackers, bread slices, and/or vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, bell peppers) around the cheese ball. Varying textures and flavors are ideal arranged neatly around the cheese ball.
- Garnishes: Add some fresh herb sprigs as garnish around the cheese ball for a pop of color.
- Temperature: Take the cheese ball out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly. This makes it easier to spread and enhances the flavors.
- Provide Serving Utensils: Have a cheese knife or spreader handy for guests to use when serving themselves.
Best crackers for Cheese Ball
- Artisan crackers: made with whole grains for a nutty and earthy flavor and crispy texture that pairs nicely with cheese.
- Butter crackers: such as Ritz or Club crackers, have a rich, buttery taste that complement the creaminess of the cheese.
- Multi-grain crackers: made with various grains for an added depth of flavor. Crunchmaster makes fabulously crispy gluten free options.
- Herb crackers: crackers with herbs, like rosemary, thyme, or basil, can add an extra layer of taste.
- Flatbread crackers: often come baked with herbs and salt for a flavorful, crispy bite.
- Seeded Crackers: crackers with seeds like sesame, poppy, or flaxseed can add a pleasant crunch and extra texture to the pairing.
How to store this Simple Cheese Ball Recipe
Tightly cover the cheese ball with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
How long is a Cheese Ball good for?
A cheese ball is good for up to 4 days; however, the nuts will start to lose their crunch. If making ahead, wait to add the nuts until ready to serve.
Bacon Cheese Ball FAQs
Remove cheese ball from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the cheese has time to soften and become more spreadable.
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. Additionally, excessive amount of moisture from ingredients like sour cream, mayonnaise, or other wet components can make it soft. Lastly, care the cheese ball has sufficient time to firm back up in the refrigerator after forming to better hold its shape. If the cheese ball is still too soft, try incorporating more dry ingredients, such as finely grated cheese, nuts, or breadcrumbs, to help absorb excess moisture and improve the texture.
LOOKING FOR MORE PARTY RECIPES?
- Jalapeno Popper Dip
- Bruschetta Cheese Ball
- Stuffed Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
- Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
- Buffalo Chicken Dip Stuffed French Bread
- Brie Spinach Dip
- Cheesy Chili Dip
- Key Lime Cheesecake Dip
- Artichoke Dip Bites
WANT TO TRY THIS BACON RANCH CHEESE BALL?
Pin it to your APPETIZER, PARTY or HOLIDAY Board to SAVE for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes! I am always pinning :)!
©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com
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Ingredients
- 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
Serve With
- crackers, celery, carrots, etc.
Instructions
Cheese Ball
- 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.
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.
Assemble
- 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.
Video
Notes
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©Carlsbad Cravings Original
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley® & Glad®. The opinions and text are all mine.
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!
Lisa says
I will make this again and again. Made it for Christmas everybody loved it it
Jen says
I love hearing that, thanks Lisa!
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!
Steph says
Hello!
I live in Canada and our local grocery store has the option of plain Monterey Jack Cheese, Habanero Monterey Jack Cheese or Monterey Jack Jalapeno cheese – which might you suggest for this recipe instead of PepperJack?
Thank you!
Jen says
Hi Steph, I would go with the Monterrey Jack Jalapeno. Enjoy!
Stephanie says
Great thank you for the recommendation! Also, it looks like we don’t have the hidden valley ranch package either 🙁 what substitutes would you recommend?
Jen says
If you google “homemade ranch seasoning packet” then there are some good options. You will want 2 tablespoons of the homemade mix. Enjoy!
Melanie says
Stephanie, Club House makes a ranch dressing & dip package that you can get up here instead of Hidden Valley.
Doris Whiten says
Love the cheese ball recipes!
Jen says
Thank you, me too! It doesn’t get much better!
Julie says
We have some family members with nut allergies. What could we substitute for the pecans?
Jen says
Hi Julie, you can omit them and increase the remaining coating ingredients or you can replace them with buttery, toasted panko (my preference) like I did in this recipe: https://carlsbadcravings.com/bruschetta-cheese-ball/
Jo says
What are the puffy cracker things on the plate with the cheese ball?
Jen says
Hi Jo, I don’t remember the brand, but they are some sort of puffed cracker.
Dianne says
The recipes look so awesome & tasty
Jen says
Thank you! I think you will love it!
Tammy says
We love cheeseballs! But don’t particularly care for Nuts. I was thinking, if you crush pretzels it would hold the form and work?
Jen says
Hi Tammy, I think pretzels would normally be a good idea except I that they might make the cheese ball too salty because the ranch mix is a bit salty. If you use pretzels, I would consider reducing the ranch seasoning mix or better yet, if you can find unsalted pretzels then those would be great.
Donna Sue says
AWESOME! You have some amazing recipes – so glad I found you. Thanks again, now I am making a cake and an appetizer for the Super Bowl Party.
Jen says
I’m so glad you found my page too, welcome! Happy Game Day with lots of great food!
Leia Scurry says
What kind of crackers are in the picture
Jen says
I honestly don’t know -just something I picked up – sorry!
Anne says
I have made the following recipe, which can be used as a base instead of expensive Boursin, for years: 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/4-1/2 cup butter, 1-2 Tablespoons Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing (not the dip), cracked black pepper. I will use my recipe as a base for your yummy sounding Bruschetta Cheese Ball. You can get the restaurant size Hidden Valley Dressing for much cheaper at Smart and Final.
Jen says
Thank you so much for sharing your boursin substitute Anne!
Adela says
Can’t wait to try this!! Reminds me so much of the Holidays from when I was little (the70’s )
Thank you
Jen says
You’re so welcome Adela! I hope you love it as much as us!
Adela says
I was just thinking to myself, “I should make these for little gifts!” and you suggested the same. I don’t know why I’ve never made a cheeseball, but that is about to change. Would love to hear if the bacon ranch was as good as it sounds!
Jen says
I hope you love them Adela!
Becca Skaggs says
Made for a big family party and everyone loved it! Super flavorful and impressive looking. First time I’ve made a cheese ball and not my last!
Jen says
Thanks Becca! I’m so happy your first cheese ball venture was a success!
Lizadams says
What can you use instead of worchester sauce.
Jen says
There isn’t any Worcestershire sauce in this recipe, enjoy!
Brenda Brittingham says
Can you freeze the Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball?
Jen says
Cheese balls can be frozen but they tend not to be as creamy once thawed. Also you will want to avoid adding the crunchy coating because it will become soft once thawed. Good luck!
Pam says
Looks yummy
Rochelle Dufour says
Thank you for the recipe. My family LOVES spicey foods so I added about 2-3 tsps of Siracha sauce to the mix.
It was a huge hit.
Jen says
A family after my own heart – yum!
Pam A says
Can I use Real Bacon Bits instead of cooking bacon? I hate cooking bacon.
Jen says
Have you tried baking it? Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, add the bacon in a single layer and bake at 400 degrees for 18-22 minutes, until crispy. So easy! I haven’t tried bacon bits but those could probably work too.
Ashley says
Hi, Jen! I’m making this for New Year’s Eve tonight, so not sure if you will see this question in time, but I was wondering if I should use both the white and green parts of the green onion, or just the green parts? I watched the video but it was hard to tell! Thank you, have a Happy New Year
Ashley
Jen says
Sorry I didn’t see this in time Ashley! You should just use the green parts. Generally, when a recipe calls for green onions it means the green parts only unless it specifically says to use the whites as well. Hope that helps. Happy New Year!
Barb says
This recipe looks yummy, I’m planning on making it for Christmas. Do you think finely chopped jalapeño peppers would taste good in this?
Jen says
Hi Barb, it depends on if your guests like spicy! You may want to only add them to half, or divide the mixture into two balls. We personally love spicy over here, but not everyone does!
Candice says
Hi Jen can you please tell me how long it is safe to store this in the fridge after making? Like 3 days or a week?
Jen says
It is good for about 5 days, enjoy!
Kasey says
My family loved it made it for a New Year’s party and was basically all gone for me I feel like is maybe do a little less ranch mix just thought it was a little to much salty but everyone else really enjoyed it!
Jen says
Thanks Kasey, I’m so pleased it was a hit!
Tom Beach says
Can we put relish in the cheese balls
Jen says
Totally personal preference!
Mka1979 says
What other kind of nuts would be as good to use instead of the pecans?
Jen says
I think pecans taste the best but you could also try almonds. Pistachios are tasty too but won’t be quite as crunchy. Enjoy!
Kelly Teichelman says
I used chopped walnuts…yummy
Jen says
Yum! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Karri Patterson says
Do you toast the pecans?
Jen says
I didn’t, but you are welcome to!
Karen Eichhorn says
This is one of the best cheeseballs I have ever had! I could eat it with a spoon! It is so easy to make too. Your recipes are always so flavorful!
Jen says
I could too haha! I’m so glad that you love it!