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Silky smooth and filled with crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, and a tangy ranch flavor, this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is sure to be the star of your next gathering. This easy appetizer is full of flavor, perfect for a crowd, and can be made in minutes.
Why This Recipe Works
Bacon, cheddar cheese, and Ranch seasoning are all combined in this perfect party appetizer that’s exploding with flavor. Each bite is smooth with a little crunch from the bacon and outer cracker layer.
This simple app can be made in minutes and needs only a little time to chill and firm up, but it can also be made in advance. It’s great for when you’re planning for a crowd and want to get ahead.
From Thanksgiving to Christmas or tailgating at the big game and watching the Super Bowl at home, this crowd-pleasing appetizer is one that will go quickly and quickly turn into a favorite. I recommend always making your cheese balls because you can create a unique flavor such as this one or this Smoked Cheese Ball.
Ingredients Needed
Ingredient Notes
- Bacon: pre-cook the bacon and crumbled it up before mixing it into the cheese mixture. You can also add more if you’re a bacon fan.
- Cream Cheese: for this recipe you’ll want to use full-fat cream cheese for a richer flavor and it will need to be at room temperature so you can easily mix it and then shape it into a ball.
- Ranch Seasoning: this mixture can be bought in packet form from the grocery store, but you can also create your own ranch seasoning mix too.
- Cheese: I prefer to use cheddar cheese mixed with Pepper Jack cheese, but if you don’t like either of those cheeses you can easily swap them for your favorite cheese. Shredding your own cheese is always a good idea because it doesn’t have the potato starch on in it that the shredded cheese in a bag has.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Cheese Ball
- In a large mixing bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, ranch seasoning, salt, and black pepper and beat using a handheld mixer until smooth.
- Add the cheddar cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, and bacon (you can reserve some to sprinkle on top) and mix into the cream cheese mixture until combined.
Add the Coating
- Pour the crushed Ritz crackers onto a rimmed baking sheet and carefully roll the cheese ball into the crackers. You may need to use your hands to press the crumbs into the ball for an even coating.
Serving Suggestions
Below are some ideas on what you can serve with your cheese ball. I prefer to use a simple cracker since there’s so much flavor in the mixture itself, but all the suggestions below are great options.
- Ritz Crackers or any kind of cracker.
- Melba Toasts
- Bagel Chips
- Thinly sliced baguette.
- Veggies such as carrots or celery.
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- You can roll the outside of your cheese ball in any topping you like. I choose crushed Ritz crackers, but you could do a combination of crumbled bacon and shredded cheese, crushed peanuts, Cornflakes, crushed nuts, or even leave it plain.
- Before you serve this cheese ball let it sit out for 15 to 20 minutes to soften slightly, which will make it easier to spread on crackers.
- Turn this into a bite-size appetizer by rolling the mixture into mini 1-inch sized balls and then coating them in the crushed crackers. Then insert a cracker or pretzel stick into the top for easy grabbing. You can use a cookie scoop to make it easier to portion them out.
- Use a spreading knife or a butter knife when serving. Even when serving the cheese ball at room temperature crackers will still break if you try to dip them into it.
FAQ’s
This depends slightly on what you’ve added to your cheese ball, but this exact recipe will last for 7 to 10 days if wrapped tightly and stored in the fridge. If you’ve added any fresh herbs, like green onions, though it will only last about 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Yes, cheese balls freeze well as long as you freeze them before you’ve added the outer layer such as the crushed crackers. Place it in a freezer-safe Ziplock bag and store it for up to 1 month in the freezer. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before you plan on serving it.
Of course! You will need to use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula and put some muscle into it, but you can just as easily mix it by hand.
If you made this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball I want to hear all about it! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram using @AimeeMarsLiving and #AimeeMars so I can see your beautiful work. Enjoy!
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Handheld Mixer
- Plastic Wrap
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Cream Cheese
- 3 tablespoons Sour Cream
- 1 ounce Ranch Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1¼ cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 cup Pepper Jack Cheese shredded
- 8 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1½ cup Ritz Crackers crushed
Instructions
Make the Cheese Ball
- In a large mixing bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper and beat using a handheld mixture (or mash them together with a spatula) until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cheddar cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, and bacon (you can reserve some to sprinkle on top) and mix into the cream cheese mixture until combined.
- Spread out enough plastic wrap to wrap around the cheese mixture and shape it into a ball. Place it on the sheet and chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Add the Coating
- Pour the crushed Ritz crackers onto a rimmed baking sheet and carefully roll the cheese ball into the crackers. You may need to use your hands to press the crumbs into the ball for an even coating.
Notes
- You can roll the outside of your cheese ball in any topping you like. I choose crushed Ritz crackers, but you could do a combination of crumbled bacon and shredded cheese, crushed peanuts, Cornflakes, crushed nuts, or even leave it plain.
- Before you serve this cheese ball let it sit out for 15 to 20 minutes to soften slightly, which will make it easier to spread on crackers.
- Turn this into a bite-size appetizer by rolling the mixture into mini 1-inch sized balls and then coating them in the crushed crackers. Then insert a cracker or pretzel stick into the top for easy grabbing. You can use a cookie scoop to make it easier to portion them out.
- Use a spreading knife or a butter knife when serving. Even when serving the cheese ball at room temperature crackers will still break if you try to dip them into it.
I made this again last night for a potluck and it is always a hit! Turns out delicious and elegant each and every time!
Thanks, Sarah! Happy to hear it was a hit!
wow so tasty and awesome for gatherings. The kids love it too! I cant stop snacking on it
Thanks, Nancy! Glad to hear the kids enjoyed it too!
This would be the perfect to that game day menu! You definitely cannot go wrong with bacon and Ranch combo. 😉
I agree! Bacon and ranch for the win! Thanks for stopping by!
So rich and flavorful! Can’t wait to make again!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Kris!
Nothing better than the combo of bacon, ranch, and cheese! But I really found that the pepper jack and little bit of sour cream take this cheeseball over the top. Seriously the best one I’ve made!
I am so glad you enjoyed this. The pepper jack is my favorite part too!