🧀🥓 Bacon Cheddar Cheese Balls
Creamy, smoky, and perfect for parties — these bite-sized cheese balls are packed with crispy bacon and sharp cheddar.
🛒 Ingredients (Makes about 20–24 mini balls)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 2 tablespoons green onions, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional coating: extra bacon bits, chopped pecans, or parsley
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Bacon
Cook until crispy, drain on paper towels, and crumble finely.
2️⃣ Mix the Filling
In a bowl, combine:
- Cream cheese
- Cheddar
- Most of the bacon (reserve a little for coating)
- Green onions
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
Mix until smooth and evenly blended.
3️⃣ Chill
Refrigerate mixture for 30–45 minutes to firm up. This makes rolling easier.
4️⃣ Shape
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into small balls.
5️⃣ Coat (Optional but Delicious)
Roll each ball in:
- Extra bacon bits
- Finely chopped pecans
- Fresh parsley
- Or even crushed pretzels
🍽️ Serve With
- Crackers
- Pretzel sticks
- Celery sticks
- Toasted baguette slices
💡 Tips
✔ For extra flavor, add a dash of hot sauce.
✔ Use smoked cheddar for deeper taste.
✔ Make ahead — they keep well refrigerated for 2–3 days.
✔ For one large cheese ball instead of minis, simply shape into one round and chill at least 2 hours.
If you’d like, I can also give you a spicy jalapeño version or a holiday cranberry twist.
