The Classic Bacon Cheese Ball

I’ve been dying to share my bacon cheese ball recipe with you. It’s that time of year, where family and friends get together for parties or activities and special treats are a must.

This recipe is at least 50 years old because I have made it for at least that many years! Who doesn’t love bacon, cream cheese, and sour cream? Add some grated cheese and it becomes a cheese ball!

The thing I love about cheese balls is the fact that most of us have all of the ingredients in our pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. I don’t typically stock the crackers because they go stale before we can eat them, but those are easy to pick up at the last minute.

In case you missed this post, Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip

What You Need In The Kitchen

• Handmixer
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Vegetable/Nut Chopper or a Good Knife
• Tray for Serving

The Classic Bacon Cheese Ball

Ingredients

I always like to gather my ingredients before I get started. That way I make sure I don’t leave anything out.

Step One

Place the cream cheese in a covered bowl and let it soften (for about one hour). Either buy cooked and crumbled bacon, or cook and crumble it yourself. Set it aside. Chop the green onion and set it aside too.

Step Two

Beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until creamy and fluffy. 

Step Three

Add the sour cream, the green onions, the Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth. 

Step Four

Grate or shred the sharp cheddar cheese. Finely chop the pecans and set them aside.

Step Five

Add 1-1/2 cups of the grated sharp cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the crumbled bacon. Mix until thoroughly combined. 

Step Six

Place the bowl in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for about 2 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator and shape the cream cheese mixture into a ball.

Step Seven

Combine the remaining 1/2 cup of bacon, 1/2 cup of cheese, and the chopped pecans. Carefully roll the cheese ball in the bacon, cheese, and pecan mixture. Press the mixture into the cheese ball to make it stick. Place the cheese ball back into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Finished Product

Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers or celery sticks.

Bacon Cheese Ball Recipe

How do I store the cheese ball?

Store the cheeseball in a tightly wrapped plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

Can I freeze the cheese ball?

I wouldn’t recommend it because I don’t like the texture of frozen cream cheese after it’s thawed.

How long is the cheese ball safe to eat after making it?

It all depends on the freshness of the ingredients you started with when you made the cheeseball. It will be good for 1-2 weeks at the most when stored in the fridge.

Can I switch out the type of cheese that’s used?

Yes, you can. I have made this recipe with spicy jack cheese as well as mozzarella cheese.

Can I skip the bacon in the recipe?

Yes, the bacon is just for added flavor, you can leave it out. But I wouldn’t unless you really don’t like bacon. Cheese balls are easy to switch out different ingredients.

Will low-fat cream cheese work in this recipe?

Yes, low-fat will work but NOT whipped cream cheese because it’s too soft.

Would chopped almonds or slivered almonds work in this recipe?

Yes, they would for sure. I use whatever nuts I have in the freezer when I make my cheese balls. I did want to mention that we have some family members who are allergic to nuts. We usually make two cheese balls and leave the nuts out of one of them. You may want to warn guests of the nuts when serving at a larger gathering.

Final Word

Please let me know if you try making my Bacon Cheese Ball recipe, I would love to hear from you. Please teach your kids and grandkids how to cook from scratch, if you aren’t already.

We must teach our family to be self-reliant. May God Bless this world, Linda