This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball has a delicious creamy ranch base with plenty of crisp smoked bacon bits, sharp cheddar, fresh green onions, and sweet pecans. Serve it with pretzel twists, assorted crackers, or crostini. It is a cinch to put this make-ahead appetizer together and it is a real crowd pleaser.
A bacon ranch cheese ball is the perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas appetizer, soirees, neighborhood shindigs, wedding showers, game day parties, family movie nights, and much more. I love to serve it with Quick and Creamy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and Cream Cheese Wontons with Chicken and Pepper Jack.
Nothing goes better or faster at any party than a delicious classic creamy cheese ball. They are always such a hit and you can make them several days in advance. In fact, it is best to make it at least a day in advance of your event. This bacon ranch cheese ball recipe needs time to chill and mold into a nice round ball so it is sturdy when you roll it through all the ingredients that make up its coating.
How do you make a Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball?
Start by gathering, chopping, and shredding all your ingredients. Next using a stand or hand mixer on a medium speed work up that cream cheese until is smooth and creamy with no lumps. Now add the cheddar cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire Sauce, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Then turn the mixer to stir and add half of the chopped bacon and half of the chopped green onion.
Now lay out a large piece of plastic wrap. Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a ball shape and bring up the sides of the plastic wrap to cover the cheese ball. Using the wrapping process help shape the cheese into a ball. For best results refrigerate the ball overnight or for up to six days. Place it back in the coldest part of the fridge and this will help get it good and sturdy so you can roll it in the toppings.
When you are twenty minutes away from serving spread your toppings out on a shallow plate. Remove the ball from the refrigerator and carefully unwrap it. Now gently roll the cheeseball through the chopped pecans, bacon, and green onions. Finally place the bacon ranch cheese ball on a serving platter with assorted pretzels, crackers, or crostini.
What do you serve with a Cheese Ball?
- Assorted crackers
- Pretzels including sticks and crisps
- Crostini
- Pita Chips
- Apple and pear slices
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Bagel chips
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator in advance and bring it to room temperature.
- Use a good smoked nitrate-free bacon and cook it quite crispy so it maintains that crispiness.
- Take the chopped ingredients for the topping and sort them individually in separate sandwich bags in their best-stored environment. For instance, pecans are best stored at room temperature and the bacon and green onions in the refrigerator.
- Use a good quality tasty sharp cheddar cheese.
- Don’t get too hung up on molding this into the perfect ball. Some how it always works out and there will be several opportunities to shape it a little more.
- I have always found it best to refrigerate this bacon ranch cheese ball recipe for at least 24 hours. However, I have done it in a few hours by not softening the cream cheese quite as much, not working it as much with the mixer, and by cutting the sour cream in half.
- Very important tip! Do not roll the cheeseball in the toppings until 20 minutes before serving. If you know it is going to be several days hold up on cooking and chopping the bacon and chopping the green onions and pecans.
- If wrapped, re-wrapped properly, and stored in a cool spot in the refrigerator this cheese ball will last about a week.
More appetizer recipes to try
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
This party popular cheese ball brings all your favorite flavors together like ranch, sweet garlic, smoky bacon, fresh green onions, and buttery pecans.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: appetizer
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 (8 ounce) boxes cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese finely grated
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 (1 ounce) package ranch seasoning or ranch dressing mix
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 slices crispy cooked bacon coarsely chopped (reserve half)
- 1/3 cup finely chopped green onions (reserve half)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Using a stand with the paddle attachment or hand mixer on a medium speed work up the cream cheese until is smooth and creamy with no lumps. Add cheddar cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire Sauce, ranch seasoning, dried parsley, and garlic powder. Turn the mixer to stir and add half of the chopped bacon and half of the chopped green onions.
- Spoon the cheese into a ball shape on a large piece of plastic wrap. Bring up the sides of the plastic wrap to cover the cheese ball. Use the wrapping process to help shape the cheese into a ball. Refrigerate the ball for at least several hours up to overnight.
- Place reserved bacon, reserved green onions, and pecans on a shallow plate. Remove the ball from the refrigerator and carefully unwrap it. Gently roll the cheese ball through the toppings on the plate. Place it on a serving platter with assorted pretzels, crackers, or crostini.
Notes
- Pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator in advance and bring it to room temperature.
- Use a good smoked nitrate-free bacon and cook it quite crispy so it maintains that crispiness.
- Take the chopped ingredients for the topping and sort them individually in separate sandwich bags in their best-stored environment. For instance, pecans are best stored at room temperature and the bacon and green onions in the refrigerator.
- Use a good quality tasty sharp cheddar cheese.
- Don’t get too hung up on molding this into the perfect ball. Some how it always works out and there will be several opportunities to shape it a little more.
- I have always found it best to refrigerate this bacon ranch cheese ball recipe for at least 24 hours. However, I have done it in a few hours by not softening the cream cheese quite as much, not working it as much with the mixer, and by cutting the sour cream in half.
- Very important tip! Do not roll the cheeseball in the toppings until 20 minutes before serving. If you know it is going to be several days hold up on cooking and chopping the bacon and chopping the green onions and pecans.
- If wrapped, re-wrapped properly, and stored in a cool spot in the refrigerator this cheese ball will last about a week.
Keywords: bacon cheese ball, cheese ball, ranch cheese ball, appetizers using cream cheese, bacon cheddar ranch cheese ball, easy bacon ranch cheese ball, bacon ranch green onion cheese ball
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Jennifer Prince
I haven’t made a cheese ball in so long. I definitely need to try to make this recipe. It sounds perfect!
Clarice
Wow! This looks delicious and would love to try it. We usually just have the regular cheese ball and adding bacon is definitely an awesome way to level it up. Can’t wait to try it.
Sonia
I love cheese, and I love bacon. This is right up my street. I can’t wait to try this.
Paula
I may have to try this recipe using tempeh as a bacon substitute for the holidays.
Bedabrata
Great cheese ball with a ton of flavor. Thanks for the great recipe. We really loved it.
★★★★★
Dominique
This was so good! I am going to make it again at Thanksgiving, thank you so much for sharing~
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Rosey
Smart to make the cream cheese room temperature. I’m glad you mentioned that tip.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Rosey!
Mary
We loved the cheese ball. I made it this last weekend for a movie night with friends. They devoured it. I had hoped to have leftovers but this was not the case.
tweenselmom
This is a great cheeseball! Every time I make it everyone loves it! Thanks for the great recipe!
Chloe
okay these sound so fun! I love serving cheese boards, but this is such a fun way to spice it up! My in-laws would probably love these!
Alita
This is a great crowd-pleaser. Every party needs a great crowd-pleasing appetizer. Every time I make it everyone loves it! Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Tiffany
Oh wow this is the perfect thing to dip a wheat thin in. I have to make this!
★★★★★
Jacque
Perfect for any gathering! These would be perfect for gatherings, potlucks, and events. Pass me the crackers I can’t wait to enjoy this myself.
★★★★★
Maggie
No doubt this will be a huge hit at my house!
★★★★★
katerina
All my favorite flavors in one!! YUM! Definitely gonna try this, this weekend!
★★★★★
Dorothy
I could make an entire meal out of one of these babies! Give me all the bacon, ranch, and cheese!
Susie
I always love serving cheese balls at parties and this one is no exception! Looking forward to enjoying this with company this weekend!
★★★★★