Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

You’ve found the perfect savory recipe for a cheese ball that is amazing at any party! This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is an easy-to-make favorite packed with simple, flavorful ingredients.

Cheese balls are a long standing hero when it comes to party appetizers. They are easy to make, delicious to eat, and the perfect party food. I don’t think they’ll ever go out of style.

This recipe is packed with flavor that comes from tons of crispy bacon, lots of savory cheese, and the delicious tang of ranch seasoning. Half of the flavor ingredients go inside the cheese ball, while the others are pressed into the outside of it, making it beautiful with lots of wonderful texture.

Whether you make this Bacon Ranch Cheeseball to include in a charcuterie board for a cocktail party, or you make it to share with your family while watching a game, you’ll be glad you did. 

If you’re a ranch lover, you need to make these Ranch Oyster Crackers and Ham & Cheese Roll Ups, and get the recipe for my Homemade Ranch Dressing too.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. No Cooking Needed: Cheese ball recipes are so easy because they don’t require any cooking. For this recipe, you’ll want to cook the bacon ahead of time, but other than that, you just mix everything up and chill it in the fridge. 
2. Perfect Party Food: A delicious cheese ball is the perfect party appetizer that will encourage your friends to eat and be social while they help themselves to some crackers spread with delicious bacon ranch cream cheese. 
3. Make Ahead: Appetizers that I can make ahead of time are my favorite. You can make a bacon ranch cheese ball up to 3 days ahead of time. Cheese balls can even be frozen for longer storage.

Key Ingredients

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Cream Cheese: a cheese ball is basically a cold cream cheese dip, formed into an easy to eat and beautiful to display shape. 
• Sour Cream: Mixing the cream cheese with sour cream makes the cheese ball softer than using just cream cheese, and therefore easier to spread. 
• Shredded Cheese: A combination of cheddar and Monteray jack cheese is perfect in this recipe. 
• Ranch Seasoning: Use 1 packet of ranch dressing or dip seasoning, or 1 ounce or three tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning.
• Other Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder add more savory flavor. 
• Bacon: Cooked, crumbled bacon is so delicious in this recipe. I like to cook my back so that it’s nice and crispy. 
• Green Onions: I love the mild onion flavor of spring onion tops, and the bit of green on the outside of the cheeseball is very pretty. Chives can also be used. 
• Pecans: Any good classic cheese ball recipe includes nuts. Toasted pecans, chopped, add great texture to this outer layer of this recipe.

How to Make a Cheese Ball

1. Mix: In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese with sour cream, ¾ cup of the cheddar cheese, all of the Monterey jack cheese, ranch seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, half of the bacon, and half of the green onions. Mix well until combined. 
2. Shape and Chill: Transfer the cheese mixture to a piece of plastic wrap, wrap tightly and shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours, and preferably overnight. 
3. Make the Crumb Layer: In a large plate or sheet pan, combine the remaining cheese, bacon, green onions, and pecans.

1. Coat and Serve: Remove the cheese ball from the fridge, unwrap, and roll into the crumb layer until covered. Serve with assorted crackers.

Recipe Tips

• Soften the cream cheese: Don’t try to mix up your cheese ball ingredients until your cream cheese is at room temperature. You want the seasonings to be smoothly incorporated into the cheese.
• For a round shape: Place the cheese ball in a small bowl while it’s chilling in the fridge, to avoid the bottom flattening too much. 

Cheese Ball Variations

Make it vegetarian: Omit the bacon, or replace it with a vegan bacon substitute.

Switch up the cheese: Use pepper jack, Colby, or your favorite type of cheese in place of the types called for in the recipe.

Try almonds: Instead of pecans, use almonds or any other type of nut.

For more texture: Try adding chopped french fried onions or crushed pork rinds to the outer coating mixture.

More Easy and Delicious Appetizers

For your holiday parties, this Christmas Charcuterie Board will be gorgeous in the center of the appetizer table. 

My favorite hot appetizers are this Cheesy Hot Crab Dip and Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. 

Need some crunchy snacks to add to the mix? Try making Honey Mustard Pretzels or Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas.

Homemade Pimento Cheese is always a hit too!  

FAQs

You need to make this delicious Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball for your next party! It’s going to be a huge hit and everyone will beg you for the recipe. Win!