We used basic ingredients for this classic 10 minutes easy appetizer. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties and game day!
Jump to RecipeOur Classic Cheese Ball Recipe is a must-have appetizer at all of your parties and holiday gatherings! Any recipe that starts out with the word cheese and only takes 10 minutes, is a winner in my book. After trying this homemade cheese ball, you will never buy a store-bought one again!
You will love this Cheese Ball Recipe!
Now let’s be honest, it’s so easy to just run to the store and buy a pre-made cheese ball. They have so many options to choose from and it saves you the hassle of putting something together on your own.
But, once you make one at home for yourself, you will never go back to buying them from the store again. Here’s why: They are SO easy to make! Plus, they taste a whole lot better when they are homemade.
If you are looking for a new recipe to bring to a party, this has to be it! I’m telling you it’s seriously so delicious. It will be a hit. Not to mention, you can never have enough cheese in the appetizer line up. Right?
Simple Cheese Ball Recipe ingredients
I really recommend sticking with the cheeses listed below. They help to make the cheese into a ball at the end.
- 1 (8 ounces) block of cream cheese
- 1 jar of Kraft Old English Cheese
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter (softened)
- 1 ½ to 2 cups pecans (chopped)
You can leave out the pecans if you really don’t like them, but in that case, I would suggest coating the outside of the ball with some shredded cheese. Coating it in something helps to shape it and make it less sticky.
If you are looking for an alternative coating, take a look at ourBacon Chipotle Cheddar Cheese Ball!
How to Make a Cheese Ball
- Place all of the ingredients (except the pecans) into a medium-sized bowl.
- Using your hands, work the ingredients together. The heat of your hands will help soften the cream cheese. Don’t overwork it though, because it will make it too soft and then will not form into a nice ball.
- Then, form the cheese mixture into the shape of a ball.
- Place some of the chopped pecans onto the surface you’ll eventually place the cheese ball on, something like a serving platter works great!
- Next, place the ball onto the top of the chopped pecans and using handfuls of chopped pecans, begin to press the rest of the pecans all over the cheese ball until it is completely covered. This is when you will really want to make sure you are getting the ball shape that you desire!
- Once finished, wrap the ball in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to chill it until it is firm.
- Serve with assorted crackers or any side that you like! Yep, it’s really that simple!
What to serve with Cheese Ball
What wouldn’t you want to serve with cheese!? Frankly, I’d eat cheese on cheese. So, as you can guess I would recommend serving just about anything you like with this recipe. But, for those of you who are quite as crazy about cheese as me, here are a few more practical ideas.
I love serving this with an assortment of crackers! I usually get about 4-5 boxes of different style crackers and put them on a serving platter around the cheese ball. That way there’s something for everyone.
Another great item to pair with it is pretzels! I like to do the pretzel thins. They are kind of like crackers. Plus, they make so many different flavors! I love to do the buffalo flavor pretzel thins with this too. It is SO good!
You could also make this into a large platter with some meat choices and veggies as well. It would be great to combine a cracker, some cheese ball dip, and a veggie or piece of meat.
Cheese Ball Recipe Easy storage
You will want to first wrap it in plastic right. Then, wrap it again in aluminum foil. Wrap it up nice and tightly so it will keep its shape!
You can store your cheese ball in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks (as long as all of the ingredients you are using are fresh, so be sure to check those expiration dates)
Easy Cheese Ball FAQs
How do you firm up a cheese ball?
To firm up a cheese ball, refrigerate it for several hours or overnight; the cold helps the cheese solidify and hold its shape better. Ensure your mixture has the right balance of ingredients, as too much liquid can prevent it from setting properly.
Why is my cheese ball so hard?
If your cheese ball is too hard, it may have been over-refrigerated, which can excessively firm up the cheese. Another possibility is an imbalance in the recipe, such as using too much hard cheese or not enough creamy ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or mayonnaise to soften the texture. Allowing it to sit at room temperature for a bit before serving can help soften it.
More Easy Appetizers
- Rotel Dip {Only 3 Ingredients!}
- Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket
- Cranberry Brie Bites- The Perfect Appetizer
- Pizza Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
- Baked Salami Appetizer
- Beer Cheese Dip {Pub Style}
- The BEST Appetizers for a Crowd
- Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball
5 from 1 vote
Easy Cheese Ball
Author — Jennifer Fishkind
Serves — 16
We used basic ingredients for this classic 10 minutes easy appetizer. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties and game day!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce block cream cheese
- 1 jar Kraft Old English Cheese
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
- 1 ½ to 2 cups pecans chopped
Instructions
Place all ingredients except the pecans into a medium size bowl
Using your hands work the ingredients together. The heat of your hands will help soften the cream cheese. Don’t overwork it though because it will make it too soft and not form a ball.
Form the mixture into a ball.
Place some chopped pecans onto your surface.
Place the ball onto the chopped pecans and using handfuls of the chopped pecans begin to press the rest of the pecans all over the cheese ball until it is covered.
Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and chill until firm.
Serve with assorted crackers.
Video
Nutrition Info
Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
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Who knew that making a homemade cheese ball could be so easy? I certainly did not until I tried this recipe. It’s quick to put together and the perfect plate to pass at your next get together! Trust me when I say, everyone will go crazy for this one!
