This Classic Cheese Ball Recipe is a Ham and Cheddar Cheese Ball Recipe. It's made with cream cheese, green onions, ham and is a classic Holiday Cheese Ball. It's perfect for the holidays or any gathering, an easy make-ahead, no-bake appetizer.
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Holiday Cheese Ball
This classic cheese ball makes an appearance during every holiday season. It's a great appetizer recipe you can make in advance and pull out whenever you need it. It goes great with buttery crackers, tortilla chips, or even a veggie tray.
Ham and Cheddar Cheese Ball Video Tutorial
Cheese Ball Recipe Without Nuts
- This recipe can be made with or without nuts. Either way, it tastes great.
- If you're a nut fan, toasted pecans work the best. Sliced Almonds work great too. If you're planning to use almonds, I'd be sure to have them sliced rather than chopped just because they can be a tough nut to chew.
- Pecans are a little softer and are easier for everyone to eat.
- If you want a cheese ball without nuts, no problem, skip this step, wrap in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to a few days until you're ready for it.
- Crumbled bacon, green onions, and parsley are all great garnishes for this easy cheese ball recipe.
- For more nut-free party recipes, give this jalapeño and bacon cheese appetizer a try.
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 Do You Make A Cheese Ball?
This Ham and 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 classic 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.
- Add the chopped ham, sliced green onions, shredded cheddar, onion salt, garlic powder and mix it all together ) I like to add mine to my kitchen aide and mix with the paddle, It makes this recipe so easy!)
- Using a spatula, shape 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.)
- Toast the nuts in a pan on medium heat on the stovetop.
- Roll the cheese ball into the nuts to cover each side.
- Cover with plastic wrap until needed
- Lay on a platter with your favorite buttery crackers and veggies. Enjoy!
Tips for Making this Ham And Cheddar 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.
- 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.
Ham And Cheddar Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 Pkg Cream Cheese (8 oz each)
- 1 Cup Diced Deli Ham (can also use leftover holiday ham)
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Salt
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ⅓ Cup Green Onions (sliced thinly)
- ¾ Cup Chopped Pecans (toasted)
Instructions
- 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.
- Place cream cheese, ham, cheddar cheese, garlic salt, onion powder, green onions in a mixing bowl. (I like to add mine to my kitchen aide and mix with the paddle, It makes this recipe so easy!)
- Beat together until ingredients are mixed.
- Using a spatula, shape 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.)
- Toast the nuts in a pan on medium heat on the stovetop. Roll in toasted pecans until evenly covered.
- Cover with plastic wrap until needed. When you're ready to serve it, lay on a platter with your favorite buttery crackers and veggies. Enjoy!
Nutrition
If you’re looking or some of the best appetizer recipes, try these too.
- Garlic Steak Bites
- Loaded Potato Skins
- Italian Meatballs
- Steak Bites
- Mini Charcuterie Cups
- Flaming Hot Cheeto Chicken
- Easy Bruschetta Recipe
- Bacon Cheese ball
- Jalapeno Cheese Balls
More Cream Cheese Recipes...
- French Toast Cream Cheese Casserole
- Artichoke Jalapeno Dip
- Baked Jalapeno Poppers
- Popper Dip
- Fruit Dip
- More Dip Recipes
- Appetizer Recipes
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This great holiday cheese ball is a Classic Cheese Ball Recipe is a Ham and Cheddar Cheese Ball Recipe. It's made with cream cheese, green onions, and ham. Perfect for your next family gathering or potluck.
Megan
I only have like 4 people this year for Christmas but I still want to make this! Think it would be okay to half the recipe? Or would it just be too tiny to try form a ball? Thanks ????
The Carefree Kitchen
I think half would be great! great idea!
Penny
I have a whole cheeseball leftover from a party. Can it be frozen for another time?
Stacy Dodge
Just made this and added 3/4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (tip from my boss) and it's delicious! This was my first time ever making cheeseball. It's Thanksgiving 2020 so we typically have a ton of people at my parents' house and someone else always makes it. For a first timer this turned out great!
The Carefree Kitchen
Great idea with the worcestershire sauce! Sounds like a yummy addition!