My famous cheese ball recipe

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You can never go wrong with a cheese ball, especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it’s the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other.

I love how simple they are to throw together, and everyone loves snacking on them before a rich and hearty meal.

A blue cloth with beef and onion cheese balls wrapped in plastic wrap
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Homemade Cheese Balls

Cheese balls will forever remind me of my best friend Katie. She made a cheese ball one of the first times that she met my back-then husband-to-be. Mr. Fiance had turned his nose up at the cheese ball, and we just laughed. He had no idea that Katie had been making them for years for her mom’s deli. We were snacking on it, and before we know it, Thomas has the plate and literally eats the whole thing before we even had time to ask for another bite. We still tease him about the cheese ball stealing incident all these years later. But I can’t blame him… This cheese ball is definitely worth stealing!

In the past, I’ve made mini cheese balls and cute little cracker packs to give to neighbors on holiday goodie plates. I thought a little salty would break up all the sweet nicely. To make the cracker packs, just tear off a 6- or 7-inch piece of parchment paper, fold it in half, and then cut it 3 times.  Staple up each side to create a little pocket that measures about 3 inches tall by 4 inches wide.

This recipe will make one giant cheese ball or 8 mini cheese balls that are about 1/2-cup each. Wrap the big cheese ball or smaller ones individually in plastic wrap, tying off the ends with yarn. Chill them in the fridge for at least an hour to firm up before serving.

close up of beef and onion cheese dip on a cracker

What is a cheese ball made of?

Traditional cheese balls are made of some sort of soft cheese with a few flavorful additions and rolled in chopped nuts. This recipe is super salty and savory, and is made of cream cheese, green onions, chopped roast beef (the secret ingredient that makes it SO good), garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped pecans for the outside (optional).

What do you eat with cheese balls?

You can eat whatever you like with cheese balls! I prefer crackers, but you could also spread some on small slices of toasted baguette or dip sturdy chopped veggies in it, like cucumbers or celery.

You can never go wrong with a cheese ball, especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it's the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other. I love how simple they are to throw together, and everyone loves snacking on them before a rich and hearty meal. #cheeseball #homemadecheeseball #cheeseballrecipe #easycheeseball #easyappetizer #partyappetizer #holidayappetizer

How long do cheese balls last?

Cheese balls stored wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge can last up to 5 days, but the sooner you eat it the better and fresher it tastes.

What are the best crackers for a cheese ball?

Because cheese balls are pretty thick, it’s best to use sturdier crackers for dipping. If you have a crumbly, buttery cracker, it’ll still taste good but they may break easier.

How do you make cheese balls?

Simply mix up the cheese and other additions with your hands in a bowl, roll it into a ball, coat it in chopped nuts, and chill in the fridge for an hour for everything to mingle and firm up.

beef and onion cheese ball surrounded by crackers on a white plate

How to make a cheese ball:

  1. Combine the cream cheese, green onion, roast beef, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Using clean hands, blend everything together really well.
  3. To make mini cheese balls, take a handful of the cream cheese mixture, and pat it into a ball about the size of your fist. You should get about 8 balls. Roll each ball in nuts, if you choose, then wrap in plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
  4. To make a party-sized cheese ball, scrape as much of the cream cheese mixture as you can from the bowl into your hands. Pat and roll in between your hands to form a ball. Roll in nuts if you are going to, reshape, and then wrap in plastic wrap.
  5. Let it firm up in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
You can never go wrong with a cheese ball, especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it's the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other. I love how simple they are to throw together, and everyone loves snacking on them before a rich and hearty meal. #cheeseball #homemadecheeseball #cheeseballrecipe #easycheeseball #easyappetizer #partyappetizer #holidayappetizer
beef and onion cheese ball surrounded by crackers on a white plate
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My famous cheese ball recipe

You can never go wrong with a cheese ball, especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it’s the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other.
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 15 (Makes 1 large cheeseball)

Ingredients 

  • 3 packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 6 to 7 green onions, green part only, chopped
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped roast beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Chopped nuts for rolling, optional (I like pecans), about 2 cups
  • Crackers

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, green onion, roast beef, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Using clean hands, blend everything together really well. The heat from your hands really helps to work everything together.
  • Taste with the crackers you are using. Add salt if needed and more Worcestershire or garlic powder as needed. Taste again, and adjust to your liking.
  • To make mini cheese balls, take a handful of the cream cheese mixture, and pat it into a ball about the size of your fist. Place ball on a plate and repeat until you have used all of your mixture. You should get about 8 balls. Roll each ball in nuts, if you choose, then wrap in plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.
  • To make a party-sized cheese ball, scrape as much of the cream cheese mixture as you can from the bowl into your hands. Pat and roll in between your hands to form a ball. Roll in nuts if you are going to, reshape, and then wrap in plastic wrap.
  • Let it firm up in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
  • To serve, unwrap the cheese ball, and place it on a platter with crackers.
  • I often put the mini cheese balls on my neighbor goodie plates (along with cookies, fudge, and other homemade treats), and everyone LOVES getting something salty with all that sweet.

Notes

  • Make one big cheese ball or divide it up to share — it’s up to you.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 15 servings, Calories: 254kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 46mg, Sodium: 187mg, Potassium: 157mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 665IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 1mg
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Cheese balls are the perfect holiday party appetizer or snack, and they’re simple to make, flavorful, and fun to eat!

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