Name: Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese; 1 (1-oz) packet Ranch seasoning and dressing mix; 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded); 2 tbsp chopped scallions; 6 strips of cooked bacon (finely chopped to small bits)

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This bacon ranch cheese ball is an easy appetizer or snack for parties, holidays and game days.

I’ve always wanted to make a cheese ball. I don’t know why I waited for so long because it’s really easy and stress-free, which is what I want in a lazy weekend appetizer. And it makes a great presentation, especially when covered in bacon bits.

With football season in full effect, this is a great appetizer to eat while watching. Or if you are like me, you just pretend to watch so you can make and eat these fun snacks. It would also be great for Thanksgiving or for a Christmas party.

This bacon ranch cheese ball is easy to make in about 15 minutes, but it does need time to chill for a few hours before you serve it.

Ingredients

Room temperature cream cheese
Ranch dressing mix
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Chopped scallions or green onions
Finely chopped bacon

Cheeseball Instructions

Place the cream cheese in a food processor. For the ranch seasoning, start by adding ½ to ¾ of the package. Process until the mixture is smooth. Give it a taste and if you think it needs more seasoning add the rest of the ranch.

Add the cheese and scallions and pulse a few times until they are incorporated. Scoop the cream cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a ball.

Chill it for one to two hours in the fridge.

Before you serve it, unwrap the ball and roll it in the chopped bacon until it’s evenly coated.

If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or mix the cheese mixture in a large bowl with a hand mixer.

Serving Tips

There are a lot of different things you can add on the side:

Tortilla chips
Pita chips
Different kinds of crackers
Veggie sticks like carrots and celery sticks
Pretzel sticks or pretzel twists
Thin baguette slices

Variations

There are easy changes you can make to this recipe if you want to try different flavors:

Instead of coating it in bacon, coat it in finely chopped pecans or walnuts. They will taste even better if you toast them first.
Change the cheddar cheese for pepper jack, Parmesan cheese, Gruyere, or other shredded cheese you like.
Mix some chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives into the cream cheese mixture.

Making it Ahead and Storage

This is a great make-ahead appetizer because you can mix and form the cheese ball and keep it in the refrigerator a few days in advance. This helps it firm up and also allows the flavors to develop. Just make sure to wrap it tightly and don’t coat it in the bacon until you are ready to serve it.

Before you serve it, unwrap the ball and roll it in the chopped bacon until it’s evenly coated. Serve it with chips, crackers, or vegetable sticks.

I’ll definitely make this bacon ranch cheese ball recipe again.

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