This Jalapeno Cheese Ball is the ultimate appetizer for any occasion and any time of year. It's made with cream cheese, Mexican blend cheese, jalapeno peppers, a robust blend of seasonings then rolled in crispy bacon and diced jalapenos (you had me at bacon!).
I'm excited to share with you this creamy cheese ball recipe! Why? Because it's quick and easy - only 20 minutes prep/cook time! Plus, it's simply delicious and everyone loves it. You will, too. It's very easy to make and the flavors are amazing!
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Why You'll Love This
Here are my top 5 reasons to love this jalapeno cheese ball!
Creamy and Spicy - Since this cheeseball is made with cream cheese and jalapenos, it's reminiscent of a jalapeno popper cheese ball. However, this cheese ball is nut free.
Versatile Appetizer - Whether you're having a family get together, or the gang over to watch a game on TV, cheese balls are the perfect appetizer. You can serve them with so many different kinds of foods from raw vegetables, pretzels, crostini bread, and crackers. We're big football fans so there's almost always a cheese ball served at game time!
Make-ahead Friendly - I usually don't have the patience to wait an hour or two to eat a cheese ball! However, you can make it several hours in advance (or even the day before). Cheese balls have been around since the beginning of time, lol. No, not really, but for as long as I can remember, they've always been part of the party.
Can Easily Be Doubled - This recipe makes about 10 servings so I would say this is an average size cheese ball. If you have a great assortment of all kinds of appetizers, then one cheese ball is all you need.
However, for very large crowds, you may consider making two cheese balls. Keep one in the refrigerator while the other is being served. If the other cheese ball gets devoured too quickly, take the second cheese ball out. I call it the backup cheese ball!
No Bread Crumbs - There is nothing starchy or carby about this cheese ball which means even the low carb eaters will partake in the awesomeness of this masterpiece.
Let's take a look at what this fabulous cheese ball is made of:
What Goes in It
For the absolute best results – scroll down to the recipe card!
- Thick bacon - cooked and crumbled. If you in a time pinch, you can use the pre-cooked bacon! Just heat it according to the package directions so that it will be crispy.
- Jalapeno(s) - seeded and finely chopped. Use one or more!
- Cream cheese - use the block cream cheese and not the whipped cream cheese. Whipped cream cheese has some ingredients that make it taste artificial.
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend - or use Fiesta blend cheese. Sharp cheddar works well, too.
- Smoked paprika - extra flavorful paprika because it's made from pimiento peppers that have been dried and smoked; over an oak fire, then ground into a fine powder.
- Dried Mexican oregano - Mexican oregano's flavor is a bit stronger than regular oregano, but if you can't find it, just use the regular oregano.
- Chipotle powder - a delicious blend of dried and ground chipotle chiles that gives this dip a flavor booster.
Do you love Bacon Dip Recipes? Be sure to also check out my BLT Dip Recipe! Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato never tasted so good in a bowl!
How to Make It
Step 1 - Combine cooked, chopped bacon with half of the chopped jalapeno.
Step 2 - Combine remaining chopped jalapeño, cream cheese, Mexican cheese, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, chipotle powder, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
Step 3 - Shape the cheese mixture into a ball with your hands and place in the refrigerator.
Step 4 - When ready to serve, roll cheese ball in bacon and jalapeno mixture.
What to Serve with a Cheese Ball
- Fresh Veggies - bell pepper strips, baby carrots, and cucumbers to name a few
- Hard Bread - crostini is a great hard bread choice and toasted mini bagel slices are good, too
- Crackers - wheat thins, Ritz, Triscuits, etc.
- Pita chips - or toast your own pita bread triangles
- Pretzels - sticks and twists
- Chips - corn chips, scoops
- Low Carb Options - pork rinds and toasted low carb tortilla triangles are tasty low carb options
Expert Tips
Four tips to get the best results from this Jalapeno Cheese Ball.
- Let cream cheese soften on your countertop for about 30 minutes before making the recipe.
- Double the recipe for a larger crowd (or make 2 cheese balls). Serve one cheese ball with crackers and pretzels, and serve the other cheese ball with salami and cooked sausages.
- If the cream cheese has softened too much, making it hard to form into a ball, refrigerate it for about 5 minutes and try again.
- If the cheese ball has been in the refrigerator for more than an hour, for best results, remove it from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes prior to serving.
Recipe FAQs
The best way to prevent a soft cheese ball is if you're going to prepare the day before, then wait until you're ready to serve it before rolling it in the cooked, chopped bacon.
It's OK to let the cheese ball sit out, but for no more than 4 hours.
April 17! There's a day for everything, right? June 4 is national cheese day so now we have 2 more reasons to eat a cheese ball lol. Cheese lovers can read more about National Cheese Day at National Today.
Keep the cheese ball covered or wrapped in plastic wrap, and it should last 2-3 days.
How to Freeze a Cheese Ball
You can freeze a cheese ball but in my opinion, the flavor and texture are best when eaten the same day or the day before. However, to freeze it, follow recipe steps 2-3. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Before serving, roll in cooked, chopped bacon and ½ chopped jalapeno.
More Appetizers and Dips
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If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.
Recipe
Jalapeno Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick bacon
- 1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (divided) use 2-3 if you prefer more jalapenos
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup Mexican-blend cheese, finely shredded
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon according to the package directions. (I like to cook bacon in the oven). Drain on paper towel. Chop or crumble. Transfer bacon to a large bowl, along with half the jalapeño pepper, and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Combine the remaining jalapeño pepper, cream cheese, Mexican cheese, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, chipotle powder, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir vigorously to combine.
- Shape the cheese mixture into a ball with your hands and transfer to a serving plate. Place in the refrigerator to firm up a bit, approximately 10 minutes. You can wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap if you're not going to eat it immediately.
- Remove cheese ball from refrigerator and gently roll in the bacon jalapeño mixture until thoroughly coated. Return to serving dish and serve immediately with sliced vegetables and/or crackers.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2022.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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