Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball starts with a brick of cream cheese and then gets mixed with loads of crispy bacon, freshly shredded cheddar, and lots of ranch seasoning. Perfect on crackers, veggies, or chips!

Here in the midwest, nothing says party like a cheese ball!

You Bring The Friends, I’ll Bring The Cheese Ball.

There are some recipes that just take you back…straight to childhood, straight to the holidays, straight to the comfort of home. For me, this bacon cheddar cheese ball is one of those recipes.

When Mom hosted, a cheese ball was the star every single time, sitting proudly at the snack table, surrounded by crackers, fresh veggies, and always a little bowl full of olives for good measure.

Friends and family would gather around the snack table, spreading and dipping, munching and chatting, and just generally enjoying each others’ company…and a delicious cheese ball.

This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is Mom’s recipe, rolled in just the right amount of crispy bacon, creamy cheddar, and buttery pecans.

Grab a plate, dig in, and help me keep the cheese ball tradition alive!

Why This Cheese Ball Feels Like the Past in the Best Way:

1. It’s a classic: Cheese balls were the go-to appetizer for parties back in the day, and they deserve a comeback.
2. Homemade Touch: Shredded cheddar, crispy bacon, and a little nostalgia make this taste better than anything store-bought. They just don’t compare!
3. Gathering Food: It’s the kind of snack that gets people talking, laughing, and coming back for more.

Ingredient Notes:

Cream Cheese – A must for any cheese ball. Use the block of cream cheese, not the spreadable kind in a tub.

Cheddar – Shredded cheddar adds sharpness and flavor. We’ve tested shredding our own cheddar and buying a bag. Either work here! The pre-shredded kind adds more texture while shredding the cheese yourself will make it blend in with the cream cheese nicer.

Ranch Dip Mix – Look for the packets of the dry ranch dip mix powder at the store. It’s going to add tasty ranch flavor to the bacon cream cheese ball!

Bacon – You’ll need some cooked, crumbled bacon for this recipe. Check out this guide on how to air fry bacon! It’s quick, easy, and mess free. Or just use the boxed kind or even bacon bits from the store to keep it super simple.

Chives – These add a nice touch without being too overpowering. Green onions would work as well.

Pecans – We love the buttery crunch of pecans on the outside of this cheese ball, but you can skip these if there are nut allergies.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Step by Step Instructions:

Add the softened cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, chives, and ranch mix to a large bowl.

Use a large spoon or a hand mixer to combine everything until it’s smooth and creamy.

Lay a sheet of plastic wrap out on your counter and spoon the cheese mixture into the center. Bring up the sides of the plastic wrap around the cheese mixture and shape it into a ball. Chill for 30 minutes.

Stir together the bacon, cheddar, pecans, and parsley on a small plate and then roll the cheese ball in it to coat the outside. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies.

Serving Suggestions:

I like to serve this bacon ranch cheese ball with Ritz crackers, but feel free to get creative and use whatever you like best! Here are some suggestions:

• Crackers – Ritz are my favorite but any brand or variety works.
• Veggies – Carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, etc.
• Bread – Crostini or any kind of crusty bread would work well.
• Pretzels – The pretzel thins work really well here.
• Pita Chips – Easy to purchase or make at home.
• Bagel Chips – Homemade or store bought!

If you like this bacon ranch cheese ball, you might also like…

• Oreo Ball – this dessert cheese ball is always a hit!
• Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball – I love the spicy flavor of this one!
• Peanut Butter Cheese Ball – if you love peanut butter, you have to try this cheese ball recipe!
• Goat Cheese Balls – these little bite sized cheese balls start with goat cheese, bacon, and pecans. So good!

MORE DIP RECIPES!

• Rotel Dip
• White Queso Dip
• Keto Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
• Dill Veggie Dip
• Cookie Dough Dip Recipe

Follow me on social for more recipe ideas & inspiration!

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Recipe

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

This cheese ball is packed with crispy bacon and ranch flavor. Just like mom used to make for dinner parties when I was growing up!

3.62 from 18 votes

Print Pin

Prep10 minutes minutes

Chill Time30 minutes minutes

Total40 minutes minutes

Serves 12

Ingredients

• ▢ 16 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar divided
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups crumbled cooked bacon divided
• ▢ 1 packet ranch dip powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• ▢ 2 tablespoons minced parsley
• ▢ 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
• ▢ crackers and fresh veggies, for serving

Instructions

• Add the cream cheese, 1 cup cheddar, 1 cup bacon, ranch mix, and chives to a mixing bowl and stir well to combine.
• Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on your work surface and place the cheese mixture in the center. Fold the plastic wrap up around the cheese and form into a ball.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
• Add the remaining cheddar and bacon to a small plate with the parsley and pecans and stir to combine.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the cheese ball and roll the cheese ball in the cheddar bacon mixture to coat.
• Serve with crackers and fresh vegetables.

Tips & Notes:

Chilling the cheese ball in the fridge is necessary to make it easier to work with. If you skip this step, you’ll have a hard time rolling the ball in the coating.

This recipe originally called for rolling the ball in crushed cheese crackers. Still a totally delicious option, but not great if you’ll have leftovers as the crackers get soggy after they go in the fridge. We now call for extra cheddar and bacon + pecans to coat the cheese ball. You still get a little crunch, but it holds up better.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 310kcal (16%)| Carbohydrates: 16g (5%)| Protein: 9g (18%)| Fat: 22g (34%)| Saturated Fat: 11g (69%)| Cholesterol: 67mg (22%)| Sodium: 680mg (30%)| Potassium: 108mg (3%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin A: 615IU (12%)| Vitamin C: 0.2mg| Calcium: 132mg (13%)| Iron: 0.3mg (2%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Snack

Cuisine:American

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