Jamielyn Nye
Published
- View Recipe
- ratings
54
- 43 comments
This classic cheese ball recipe is always a must-have appetizer at every holiday party! So easy to make with cream cheese, green onions, spices and pecans.
Love easy appetizer recipes? Try my bacon ranch cheese ball, apple dip and cranberry orange cheese ball.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
- Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
- Recipe Ingredients
- Cream Cheese Ball Variations
- How to Make a Cheese Ball
- 5 star review
- Serving Options
- Make-Ahead, Storing and Freezing Instructions
- Recipe FAQs
- More Easy Appetizers
- Cheese Ball Recipe Printable Recipe
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
This cream cheese ball is one of my nostalgic favorites when entertaining and is a true party staple. It makes the perfect Christmas or Thanksgiving appetizer.
Place it out with some crackers and a veggie tray at your next gathering along with a few other crowd favorites like pigs in a blanket, easy potato skins, homemade pretzel bites or buffalo chicken dip. The adults and kids all love it!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Cream cheese: You can’t make a cream cheese ball without the cream cheese! Make sure to soften the cream cheese before mixing for the best creamy texture.
- Green onions: Chop them fine so that there’s not too much onion in one bite!
- Ranch dressing mix: The main flavor source for this easy cheese ball recipe. Look for the dry mix (not the liquid bottle). My favorite brand is Hidden Valley.
- Pecans: For coating the exterior. Chopped pecans provide a nice crunch as well as a buttery and nutty taste.
- Dill: Adding fresh or dried dill is optional, although I highly recommend it. The flavor of the dill pairs perfectly with the cream cheese, ranch mix and green onions.
Cream Cheese Ball Variations
While I love the simplicity of a 4 ingredient cheese ball, feel free to get creative!
- Coating: Try walnuts, almonds, chopped pretzels or crackers. You can even use chopped bacon, candied pecans or opt for no nuts.
- Beefy: If you love chipped beef in your cheeseball, add up to 1/2 jar of dried sliced beef. You can also add a splash of Worcestershire sauce as well.
- Spicier: If you love spicy food, add some hot sauce, sriracha or make a jalapeno popper cheese ball.
- Even cheesier: Add some freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the mixture.
How to Make a Cheese Ball
This is honestly one of the easiest holiday appetizers ever and makes a great centerpiece to any snack board!
- Mix together ingredients. Mix the softened cream cheese, green onions, ranch dressing mix and fresh dill in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Place on plastic wrap, cover and form the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Coat with pecans. Put pecans on a plate. Remove from plastic wrap and roll in pecans until well-coated.
- Serve and enjoy! Place on a platter with crackers and serve.
5 star review
Everyone LOVED this! It was so easy to make. I will be making it again and again for parties!
– Tina
Serving Options
There are plenty of delicious serving options. Here are some of our favorites to pair with this classic holiday appetizer!
- Ritz crackers
- Pretzels
- Pita chips
- Veggies (cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery)
Make-Ahead, Storing and Freezing Instructions
This recipe is great to prep ahead of time. Making it a day ahead gives the flavors time to marry together and taste extra delicious.
To make-ahead: Assemble cheeseball without coating it in the nuts. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Place in a bowl to prevent the bottom from going flat if desired. Before serving, roll in nuts.
To store: Assuming your ingredients are fresh, you store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Assemble without coating in nuts. Wrap tightly then place in a freezer safe bag and keep frozen up to a month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and coat with nuts before serving.
Recipe FAQs
How long can it sit out?
This simple cheese ball recipe can sit out at room temperature for about 2 hours. Due to it’s dairy content, it shouldn’t sit out any longer for safe consumption.
How long does it last?
It will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks, although I’m sure it will get eaten up before then since it’s so delicious. :) We love using the leftovers as a snack with fresh veggies.
Can I use this recipe to make a mini version?
Absolutely. Mini cheese ball bites are so fun! Mix the cream cheese mixture as instructed, then cover and chill in the fridge until firm. Shape into 1-inch balls, then roll into the chopped pecans.
What are some ideas to shape a cheese ball?
Other than the classic large ball shape, feel free to get creative depending on the event! Shape into an oval football shape for game day, a pumpkin for the fall, a snowman for Christmas or even into a log for any type of platter.
Looking for more party appetizers? Try these easy 3-ingredient sausage balls, cranberry salsa with cream cheese or cheesy pigs in a blanket.
More Easy Appetizers
Browse all- How to Make the Best Charcuterie Board
- Knorr Spinach Dip
- Best 7 Layer Dip Recipe
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Cheese Ball Recipe
5 from 54 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Hands down one of the easiest classic recipes to serve at your next holiday party! This easy cheese ball recipe is always a huge hit!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr
Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings: 16
Video
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese , softened
- ¼ cup green onions , chopped fine
- 1 Tablespoon ranch dressing dry mix (like Hidden Valley)
- ½ teaspoon dill , optional
- ½ cup pecans , chopped
For serving: Favorite snack crackers or vegetables
Instructions
Mix all ingredients except pecans with an electric mixer until smooth.
Place mixture on plastic wrap, cover and form into ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Put pecans on a plate. Remove from plastic wrap and roll in pecansuntil well-coated.
Place on a platter with crackers and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t want to use nuts, you can use chopped bacon or crushed crackers instead (similar to my bacon ranch cheese ball).
- If you’d like more cheese, you can mix in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese with the cream cheese.
- Make-ahead: Follow steps 1 & 2, then let chill in fridge overnight. Before serving, roll in chopped pecans until well-coated.
- Storage: Will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks if covered or stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 56mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Appetizers, Christmas, Super Bowl, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
Related posts
- Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
- French Onion Dip
- Cranberry Brie Bites (3 ingredients)
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
Add a comment
43 comments
- Gail
I love your whole site!! Been following you for years! Also, your Print button actually works on my phone, (not like lots of other recipe sites!) So I’ll stick with you and your yummy tried and family tested wonderful recipes❣Thank you for sharing so freely!
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad, thank you for your glowing review. So kind!
- Reply
- Lioa
Loved this cheese ball recipe! thank you !
- Reply
- Gayle Fox
This was so easy to make, my girlfriends loved it! I will definitely make it again!
- Reply
- Lily
This was the most amazing recipe for fight night, we were watching a UFC fight and I made a snack tray and this cheese ball was by far everyone’s favorite thing on it, I swear you can dip EVERYTHING into it!
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Yay, so glad it was such a hit for the game!
- Reply
- Stephanie
This is such a perfect recipe, so easy and so delicious! Everyone at my house loved it. I think this would make nice little neighbor Christmas gifts this year!
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Love that idea! :)
- Reply
- Judy Gromowsky
I am going to make a cheese log sometime soon
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I hope you enjoy!
- Reply
- Robyn Spano
Made this, added a little chopped green pepper and crab meat. Rolled it in chopped hickory smoked almonds! Fantasic!
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
Sounds delicious!
- Reply
- LSU Tiger Fan
Simple and Delicious!
- Reply
- Melody Green
Hi, I recently made this for coworkers when we had a snack day on a short work week. It turned out great! Everyone remarked how good it was. Thanks for this great and easy recipe! It is definitely going in my recipe box to keep!
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Melody!
- Reply
- Valerie
This would disappear quickly around here. I love the inside of this cheese ball, so it might not actually make it to being a cheese ball if I made this one LOL.
- Reply
- Rachael Yerkes
I’m obsessed with this cheese ball!
- Reply
- April
I love this cheese ball! You just can’t go wrong with it. :)
- Reply
- Erin
Love how easy this is to make – always a hit at parties and I mix up the coatings to make it different.
- Reply
Load More
