If you love Christmas cheese balls, you’re going to go crazy for this easy Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball recipe. It’s not only super simple but the combination of ingredients take the taste and flavor over the top! This delicious homemade cheese ball recipe is a great holiday treat.
Easy Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
One of the biggest perks of this simple cheese ball recipe is that it has just seven ingredients needed to make it. It just doesn’t get any better than that, right?
But even more than that, making shapes out of the recipe is really fun, too. Anything that I can do to add a bit of uniqueness to my dishes that I’m serving up, I’m all about giving that a try.
And when it comes to this ranch cheese ball, I’ve found great success making it time and time again. This might be because it’s so simple and easy to do or it might be because I’m pretty much obsessed with trying out different shapes and sizes.
It also gives me a legit reason to make this cream cheese ball which makes that of course, I have to eat it right then and there, too.
If you’re looking for a fun idea for a Christmas cheese ball or just a simple appetizer at home, this homemade cheese ball is one that you really need to try.
How to make Cheese Balls
I get a lot of people that ask me “how do you make a cheese ball” and my answer is always the same. You just gather up the list of needed ingredients and go with the flow of the recipe.
Because truthfully, every time you make a homemade cheese ball, there’s a very high probability that it’s going to look different than it did the time before. This could be for a number of different things but the biggest is that it’s because it’s being created and molded with human hands.
Maybe this is why I like this easy cheese ball recipe so much…because when I use the cookie cutters to create fun shapes, they really all do turn out to look the exact same! It’s also great for presentation purposes as well.
I choose the star cookie cutter as you can see below. But you can easily choose any shape that you want.
Ingredients needed to make this Easy Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Just gather up the simple list of ingredients below to get started. To get the measurements and full list of directions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the recipe card.
- Bacon
- Mushrooms
- Cream cheese
- Garlic powder
- Parmesan cheese
Does it get any easier than that? And this list of ingredients is stellar! So much flavor and taste are guaranteed in every single bite.
Can I bake the bacon instead of frying it?
Sure. If you don’t want to fry the bacon, you can pop it in the oven and bake it instead. Just know that the recipe does have you using a bit of the bacon grease for the mushrooms so capture some of that to keep for later.
Cooking up the bacon in the oven is a great way to get it crispy for this recipe, too.
What food items can you dip into cheese balls?
This is what makes Christmas cheese balls so great. If you have a craving, try it out with the flavors of this simple cheese ball. Some food items that you can use to dip could be:
- Baked Bread
- Crackers
- Triscuits
- Pretzels
- Chips
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber Slices
- Bagel Chips
And anything else that you want to use. You can even just use a spoon and have a few bites as well. I would also recommend trying this cheese ball dip with a wide variety of food items because it will take on a different flavor with anything that you use.
Do you have to have a cheese ball stored in the fridge?
You do. Due to the main ingredient being cream cheese, you’re going to want to keep this stored in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it.
Removing it a few moments before serving is best as this dish does taste the best when it is chilled.
Fun Ways to Serve this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
I’ve never really attended a party where there wasn’t some sort of cheese ball sitting out on the table. I’m always excited to try the flavor and the taste.
If you’re debating on whether or not to make this cheese ball recipe, just know that this is a very popular appetizer that your family and friends will love.
This cheese ball recipe is great for parties, family gatherings, or just a simple appetizer to enjoy by yourself at home.
The simple combination of the bacon, mushroom, and ranch gives this a hearty flavor that pairs well with most entrees and dishes.
More Appetizer Recipes
Bacon and Mushroom Cheese Ball
Equipment
- large skillet
- cookie cutter to make individual cheese balls or in this case stars
Ingredients
- 8-10 slices bacon, diced
- 2 cups mushrooms, diced finely chopped
- 1 brick (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- green onions, diced
- ranch dressing
Instructions
- Place a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and place the bacon in it. Cook until bacon is crispy on both sides, this takes approximately 5 minutes - make sure you flip the bacon halfway through. Let it cool and chop it finely.
- Discard half of the bacon’s grease and add the mushrooms to the remaining grease.
- Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the bacon and mushrooms have cooled down, mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Place a star cookie cutter over some plastic wrap and use a spoon to fill the star with the cream cheese mixture.
- If the cream cheese is stuck to the cookie cutter, use a butter knife to help remove it.
- Keep refrigerated until serving.
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