Jalapeno Cheese Ball
This Jalapeno Popper cheese ball recipe is a fun party appetizer that can be easily laid out for game day snacking. Or enjoy this starter for a holiday brunch party.
Whatever the occasion, this spicy cheese ball is versatile and pretty simple to make.
This bacon jalapeno cheese ball has all the flavors found in jalapeno poppers. Yet is made into a fun appetizer your friends and family will love this holiday season!
Why you’ll love this Spicy Cheese Ball
Make jalapeno popper cheese ball ahead of time. Cook and prepare ingredients while cream cheese and block cheddar cheese soften out at room temperature.
Easy to store. Cheese balls can be stored in the fridge for one week or stored frozen for up to one month. Just make sure to wrap the cheese ball in saran wrap, and aluminum foil. Lastly, store the cheese ball in a freezer bag to prevent freezer burn. Defrost the cheese ball in the fridge for two days when ready to eat.
Cheese balls are easy to make and only take about 15 minutes to prepare.
Jalapeno popper cheese balls are a great gift idea for the holiday season. Since you can store them easily for peak freshness.
This appetizer is versatile. Use block cheese of your choice. Try with pecans, dried cranberries, raspberries, or use breadcrumbs in place of nuts.
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball Recipe
Jalapeno popper cheese ball recipe is made using five key ingredients: Jalapenos, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and bacon.
To elevate the flavor, I add a few extra ingredients.
Here is what you need.
Ingredients
- Jalapenos
- Bacon
- Cream Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Chives
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Lawrys Seasoned Salt
- Black Pepper
- Almonds
Jalapenos: For an extra, hot, cheese ball look for jalapenos large in size and peppers that have lines on the outside.
For a milder cheese ball look for smaller peppers and remove seeds.
Bacon: I like to cut bacon with scissors and then cook bacon crumbles in a pan.
However, you can cook bacon in a pan and then crumble bacon if that’s your preference.
Cream Cheese: Soften cream cheese so the cheese ball is easier to mold into a ball shape.
For a fun game day appetizer. Shape cheese football shape
Cheddar Cheese: I love to shred my cheese. You can skip added chemicals and the taste is better! I used cheddar cheese. However, use any block cheese you prefer.
Chives: Chives add a fresh flavor to this appetizer and pair nicely with cream cheese.
I divide chives so I have enough for the inside of the cheese ball and enough to coat the outside.
Onion Powder: Onion powder adds a good flavor to the cream cheese blend.
Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is one of my favorite spices and goes on everything! Especially cheese balls!
Lawry’s Seasoned Salt: Lawry’s is my favorite brand of seasoned salt to use in this keto cheese ball.
Black Pepper: A little goes a long way in this recipe. Likewise, white pepper could also be used in this recipe.
Almonds: You do not have to roast almonds in this recipe. However, roasted almonds are crunchier and have a buttery, nutty flavor.
Alternatively, roasted pecans are also delicious in this recipe.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Make sure to soften cream cheese and cheddar cheese by laying it out at room temperature for about one hour.
- Wear gloves when chopping jalapenos and rolling cheese into a ball.
- Wrap the cheese ball in saran wrap and store refrigerated for one hour or overnight for the best flavor and form.
- Prepare this appetizer ahead of time: Make the cheese ball and store it overnight. Store divided ingredients in a bag until ready to coat the outer layer of the jalapeno cheese ball.
- How to coat the outer layer of the cheese ball: dump all ingredients out on a cutting board or lay saran wrap on the countertop and roll the cheese ball in divided cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, almonds, and diced jalapeno.
How to Make a Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
- Soften cream cheese and cheddar cheese by laying them out on the counter for about an hour.
- Roast almonds at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Once cooled place almonds in a zip lock bag and smash with a rolling pin or hard object found in the kitchen.
- Dice jalapenos, chives, and shred cheddar cheese block. In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and seasonings. Blend ingredients on low speed with a handheld mixer.
- Fold in divided cheddar cheese, jalapenos, chives, and crumbled bacon. Wearing gloves roll cheese into a ball. Wrap the jalapeno popper cheese ball with saran wrap and store it in the fridge overnight for best results.
- Store leftover bacon, jalapenos, chives, and almonds in a zip-lock bag until ready to coat the cheese ball.
- Place divided ingredients onto a flat surface and roll the cheese ball evenly into ingredients on all sides.
- Serve jalapeno popper cheese ball on an ice serving tray. Serve with crackers, bread, pretzels, veggies, or your favorite dippers!
More Recipes with Jalapenos
Jalapeno Grilled Cheese is full of spicy jalapenos and gooey, melted cheese.
Mac and cheese is one of my favorite side dishes.
That’s why I had to make Jalapeno Bacon Mac and Cheese
And of course it wouldn’t be football season without Jalapeno Poppers!
Football & Holiday Appetizers
Mini Tortilla Pizzas are the perfect game-day snack.
Beef Queso Dip is another appetizer perfect for game-day snacking.
Buffalo Chicken Dip is a spicy, cheesy, dip perfect for snacking.
And of course, you can’t forget about dessert! This Cherry Cheesecake Dip is the bomb!
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball Recipe
This jalapeno popper cheese ball has all the flavors found in jalapeno poppers yet is made into a fun appetizer everyone will love this holiday season!
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese block, shredded,
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 16 oz bacon, cooked, crumbled, divided
- 4 large jalapenos, diced, divided
- 1/2 cup chives, diced, divided
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, roasted
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Lawry's seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with a nonstick cooking spray. Roast almonds for 8-10 minutes in the oven and set aside. Once almonds are cooled, place almonds in a small zip lock bag and use a rolling pin to crush almonds into tiny bits.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and seasonings. With a handheld mixer on low speed, blend the mixture until smooth. ( About 1-2 minutes)
- Fold in 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup chives, 1 cup bacon crumbles, and 1 cup diced jalapenos. Stir ingredients with a spoon until well combined.
- Wearing gloves roll cream cheese mixture into a ball and wrap with saran wrap. Store for an hour or overnight for the best texture and taste.
- On a flat surface combine the remaining shredded cheddar cheese, chives, diced jalapenos, and almonds. Remove the cheese ball from the plastic wrap and roll it in the mixture, gently pressing the ingredients into the cream cheese ball so the ingredients stick.
- Transfer to an ice tray and keep out. Or store the cheese ball in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve with crackers, pretzels, bread, veggies, or your favorite dippers!
Notes
Roast almonds while waiting for cream cheese and block cheddar cheese to soften.
Easily prepare jalapeno cheese ball ahead of time. Cook bacon and chop ingredients store ingredients in individual zip lock bags until ready to use.
Use gloves while chopping jalapenos and rolling cream cheese mixture into a ball.
Store jalapeno cheese ball in the fridge wrapped in saran wrap until ready to eat. You can also wrap a layer of aluminium foil over saran wrap for extra support.
Place left over bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar cheese, chives, diced jalapenos, and roasted almonds on a chopping board, or place plastic wrap on your kitchen counter and roll cream cheese mixture in reserved ingredients.