This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is a quick and easy appetizer. It's a 5 ingredient easy cheeseball recipe with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, hidden valley ranch seasoning, bacon bits, and green onions. It's a bacon cheddar ranch cheeseball everyone will love.
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Cheese Ball Recipe with Cream Cheese:
If you've ever wondered how do you make a cheese ball, you've come to the right place. I will tell you all the tips and tricks for making this easy cheese ball recipe and also give you loads of tips and tricks along the way.
This cheese ball recipe is really easy. It only takes a few minutes to throw together and stays good in your fridge for up to 5 days. You can make it around the holidays for an easy appetizer idea or just to snack on for a regular old Sunday evening.
You can make this Cheese Ball recipe without nuts or add nuts if you really love them. (some chopped up spicy siracha almonds would be great as a garnishment for this recipe)
My favorite is to roll the cheese ball in bacon bits after it's prepared. Talk about a crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves a great cheeseball.
What to serve with a Bacon Cheese ball:
The most popular way to serve this cheese ball is with some buttery crackers. I like to use Ritz crackers or Townhouse crackers, wheat thins work great too. Use whatever you like, a combination of those work great. Also, be sure to have a knife by the cheese ball so your guests can take a slice and put it on their plate. No one likes a bunch of cracker crumbs on the cheeseball. haha!
Celery sticks, carrot sticks, and red peppers are also a great side to serve with this cheese ball. Pretty much anything that is a little stiff that can scoop up the cheeseball.
Seasoning in Hidden Valley Ranch Cheese Ball:
This bacon cheese ball has so much flavor, you may be surprised at how simple the seasonings are--it's hidden valley ranch seasoning. That's what gives this a rich, tangy, and flavorful burst of flavor. It really makes this cheeseball easy because it makes this a 5 ingredient cheeseball.
This Hidden Valley Ranch Cheese Ball is one of the best appetizers for kids and adults alike. Everyone loves it.
Ingredients in Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe:
Cream Cheese: You can use a full or part-skim version of cream cheese. You'll just need the regular, 8-ounce bricks sold in the supermarket.
Cheddar Cheese: a finely shredded cheddar or cheddar cheese mix works great. You could even do a shredded pepper jack cheese if you'd like a little kick to your cheeseball.
Green Onions: Thinley sliced green onions give it so much flavor. If you're able to let this cheese ball sit for a few hours or overnight before serving, it will really give the green onions a chance to flavor the cream cheese.
Bacon: You can certainly make your own bacon bits but cutting up the raw bacon into 1/2" chunks and sauteing them in a pan until they are golden brown. If you choose to go that route, you'll need a pound of bacon.
The pre-cooked bacon bits from Costco also work really well. They really save a lot of time and mess in the kitchen.
All you need to do to prepare precooked bacon bits is to put the bacon bits on a paper plate with a paper towel on it and put it in the microwave on high for about 30-445 seconds. It will crisp up the bacon bits and you'll never know they aren't fresh bacon bits.
Seasonings: a Tablespoon of Hidden Valley Ranch powder is all you need to season this cheese ball. Yup, it's that easy. It gives this cheeseball the perfect blend seasonings.
How to soften Cream Cheese In the Microwave
If you forgot to set your cream cheese out so it could come up to room temperature, no worries. You can soften it in just a minute in the microwave.
- Unwrap the cream cheese.
- Place it flat on a paper plate. (You can add 2 cream cheese blocks at a time.)
- Put the cream cheese in the microwave for 30 sec. Take the cream cheese out and test to see if it's soft enough yet.
- Continue heating for 30 seconds at a time until it's easily spreadable.
How To Make A Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball:
This Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball recipe is SO easy! It’s honestly one of the easiest appetizers ever. Just follow the simple steps below. Scroll down for the printable cheese ball recipe.
- Be sure you set your cream cheese out for about an hour before you mix this cheese ball together. It is much easier to make this recipe if your cream cheese is soft. (if you forget to do this, unwrap your cream cheese, put in on a paper plate and microwave it for 30 seconds or until soft. )
- To prepare the bacon bits you can make your own or use the pre-cooked bacon bits from Costco. If you are making your own, take the bacon out of the packaging. With a sharp knife, cut the bacon into 1/2" strips. In a frying pan on the stove, on medium heat, saute the bacon bits for 5-8 minutes or until the bacon is sizzling and turns crispy. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the bacon bits to t a paper plate lined with a paper towel to cool.
- If you are using pre-cooked bacon bits, all you need to do is put the bacon bits on a paper plate with a paper towel on it and put it in the microwave on high for about 30-445 seconds. It will crisp up the bacon bits and you'll never know they aren't fresh bacon bits.
- Add the cream cheese, bacon bits, sliced green onions, shredded cheddar, and hidden valley ranch mix all together in a medium-sized mixing bowl ) I like to add mine to my kitchen aide and mix with the paddle, It makes this recipe so easy!)
- During mixing, use a spatula and scrape the sides of the cream cheese off the sides of the bowl. You can also use the spatula to shape the cheese ball mixture into a round ball. (You can use your hands if you'd like but the rubber spatula works almost just as well and you don't have to get your hands dirty.)
- Add a few sliced green onions and crisp bacon bits to the top of the cheese ball for garnish.
- Cover with plastic wrap until needed
- Lay on a platter with your favorite buttery crackers and veggies. Enjoy!
Tips for Making this Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe:
- You can make this up to 3 days before you need it. Just keep it wrapped in plastic wrap until you're ready to serve it.
- Nuts, crumbled bacon, green onions, and parsley are all great garnishes for this easy cheese ball recipe.
- Serve on a platter with your favorite buttery crackers and a veggie tray.
- Perfect for the holiday, an appetizer, birthday parties or a potluck.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 1 lb Bacon or 1 1/2 cups pre-cooked bacon bits, the bacon bits from Costco work great.
- 1/3 Cup Green Onions sliced
- 1 Tbsp Ranch Seasoning You can buy this in bulk or in the packets by the salad dressing. Either one will work great.
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese finely shredded cheese works best
- 2 8 ounce Cream Cheese full fat or part-skim work great
Garnish
- 1 Tbsp Green Onions sliced thinly
- 1 Tbsp Bacon Pieces cooked
Instructions
How to Prepare the Bacon
- Take the bacon out of the packaging. With a sharp knife, cut the bacon into 1/3" strips. In a frying pan on the stove, on medium heat, Saute the bacon bits for 5-8 minutes or until the bacon is sizzling and turns crispy. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the bacon bits to a paper plate lined with a paper towel to cool.
How to Make a Cheeseball
- Add the cream cheese, 1/2 cup bacon bits, sliced green onions, shredded cheddar, and hidden valley ranch mix all together in a medium-sized mixing bowl ) I like to add mine to my kitchen aide and mix with the paddle, It makes this recipe so easy!)
- Mix the cream cheese mixture all together. During mixing, use a spatula and scrape the cream cheese from the sides of the bowl. You can also use the spatula to shape the cheese ball mixture into a round ball. (You can use your hands if you'd like but the rubber spatula works almost just as well and you don't have to get your hands dirty.)
- Form the cream cheese mixture into a ball with a rubber spatula and place on a platter. If you can't get it smooth or into a symmetrical ball shape, you can use your hands.
- Once the bacon bits are cool, you can grab a handful of bacon bits and cover the sides and top of the cheeseball.
- Add a few sliced green onions and crisp bacon bits to the top of the cheese ball for garnish.
- Cover with plastic wrap until needed and serve with your favorite buttery crackers and veggies. Enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure you set your cream cheese out for about an hour before you mix this cheese ball together. It is much easier to make this recipe if your cream cheese is soft.
- To prepare the bacon bits you can make your own or use the pre-cooked bacon bits from Costco. All you need to do is put the bacon bits on a paper plate with a paper towel on it and put it in the microwave on high for about 30-445 seconds. It will crisp up the bacon bits and you'll never know they aren't fresh bacon bits.
- You can make this up to 3 days before you need it. Just keep it wrapped in plastic wrap until you're ready to serve it.
- Nuts, crumbled bacon, green onions, and parsley are all great garnishes for this easy cheese ball recipe.
- Serve on a platter with your favorite buttery crackers and a veggie tray.
- Perfect for the holiday, an appetizer, birthday parties or a potluck.
Nutrition
Easy appetizers to make:
Flaming Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!
This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is a quick and easy appetizer recipe made with cream cheese. It's a bacon cheddar ranch cheeseball everyone will love. It's a 5 ingredient easy cheeseball recipe with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, hidden valley ranch seasoning, bacon bits, and green onions.
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