My Famous Cheese Ball Recipe
on Dec 23, 2011, Updated Jun 25, 2024
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You can never go wrong with a cheese ball recipe especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it’s the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other.
In the past, I’ve made mini cheese balls and cute little cracker packs to give to neighbors on holiday goodie plates. I thought a little salty would break up all the sweet nicely. To make the cracker packs, just tear off a 6- or 7-inch piece of parchment paper, fold it in half, and then cut it 3 times. Staple up each side to create a little pocket that measures about 3 inches tall by 4 inches wide.
This recipe will make one giant cheese ball or 8 mini cheese balls that are about 1/2-cup each. Wrap the big cheese ball or smaller ones individually in plastic wrap, tying off the ends with yarn. Chill them in the fridge for at least an hour to firm up before serving.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They are a classic appetizer or snack item at parties, potlucks, and holiday gatherings, often served with crackers, breadsticks, or fresh vegetables.
- From traditional flavors like cheddar and herbs to more adventurous combinations like bacon and jalapeño, cheese balls offer a wide range of flavor profiles to suit different preferences.
- Try coating your cheese balls in unqiue ways to make them extra special for those holiday gatherings.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Green onions — green part only
- Roast beef — optional
- Garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- Nuts — optional, I prefer pecans
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make a Homemade Cheese Ball
Step 1: Combine the cream cheese, green onion, roast beef, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.
Step 2: To make mini cheese balls, pat into a ball about the size of your fist and roll in nuts.
Step 3: Wrap in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
Step 4: To make a party-sized cheese ball, pat and roll to form a ball. Roll in nuts and reshape.
Traditional cheese balls are made of some sort of soft cheese with a few flavorful additions and rolled in chopped nuts. This recipe is super salty and savory, and is made of cream cheese, green onions, chopped roast beef (the secret ingredient that makes it SO good), garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped pecans for the outside (optional).
You can eat whatever you like with cheese balls! I prefer crackers, but you could also spread some on small slices of toasted baguette or dip sturdy chopped veggies in it, like cucumbers or celery.
Cheese balls stored wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge can last up to 5 days, but the sooner you eat it the better and fresher it tastes.
Because cheese balls are pretty thick, it’s best to use sturdier crackers for dipping. If you have a crumbly, buttery cracker, it’ll still taste good but they may break easier.
Expert Tips
- Try incorporating additional flavors and textures by mixing in ingredients like chopped cooked bacon, finely diced sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, or herbs like chives or parsley.
- Taste the cheese mixture before forming it into a ball. Adjust the seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.) to make sure it’s just right.
- After mixing, chill the cheese mixture for at least 30 minutes before shaping into a ball. This helps firm up the mixture, making it easier to handle and shape.
- For a traditional touch, roll the cheese ball in finely chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts) or herbs (like parsley or dill) for an extra twist.
More Party Food Recipes To Consider
From Scratch Recipes
Watergate Salad Recipe
Quick Dinner Ideas
Chili Dogs Recipe
Holiday Recipes
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
My Famous Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 6 to 7 green onions, green part only, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped roast beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Chopped nuts for rolling, optional (I like pecans), about 2 cups
- Crackers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, green onion, roast beef, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Using clean hands, blend everything together really well. The heat from your hands really helps to work everything together.
- Taste with the crackers you are using. Add salt if needed and more Worcestershire or garlic powder as needed. Taste again, and adjust to your liking.
- To make mini cheese balls, take a handful of the cream cheese mixture, and pat it into a ball about the size of your fist. Place ball on a plate and repeat until you have used all of your mixture. You should get about 8 balls. Roll each ball in nuts, if you choose, then wrap in plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
- To make a party-sized cheese ball, scrape as much of the cream cheese mixture as you can from the bowl into your hands. Pat and roll in between your hands to form a ball. Roll in nuts if you are going to, reshape, and then wrap in plastic wrap.
- Let it firm up in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
- To serve, unwrap the cheese ball, and place it on a platter with crackers.
- I often put the mini cheese balls on my neighbor goodie plates (along with cookies, fudge, and other homemade treats), and everyone LOVES getting something salty with all that sweet.
Notes
- Make one big cheese ball or divide it up to share — it’s up to you.
- Use good quality sharp cheddar cheese for a robust flavor. You can also mix in other cheeses like Gouda or blue cheese for some extra tang!
- Adjust the seasonings to your taste. You can add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper for a bit of heat if you’d like.
- Feel free to customize your cheese ball with different nuts, herbs, or even mix-ins like cooked bacon bits or diced dried fruit.
What a great idea for the plate of goodies…I love the cute little cracker packets too. way to go