This jalapeño popper cheese ball is a delicious party snack that’s a little bit kitschy, a lot delicious, and sure to be a crowd pleaser!
To me, Christmas season is cheese ball season. Woe is the holiday gathering that does not have at least one cheese ball for me to dip a zillion crackers into. Have I told you the story about the work Christmas party where my BFF and I ate approximately 3/4 of the mango chutney cheese ball so that we could avoid uncomfortable interactions with our coworkers? I’m pretty sure I have. I am definitely a “linger by the refreshment table” sort of girl. It’s a blessing and a curse, really. 
I certainly do not need a holiday or a party to enjoy a cheese ball, though. Show me any random Saturday night and I will show you a cream cheese based snack that Philip and I can enjoy in front of our favorite shows on Hulu. Actually, we enjoyed this jalapeño popper on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, when I had been cooking all afternoon and just couldn’t quite bring myself to assemble a full meal. And then again for a mini-lunch on Thanksgiving day, because my family ate late in the day.
Cheese balls seem pretty kitschy, and I’m sure that you could dig around in your mom or grandma or even great-grandma’s recipe file and find a few cheese ball recipes. You know what, though? Kitschy food can still be darn tasty, and I promise you that I’m only on board for flavor. I don’t care too much about trends (though I’ll hop on board if they’re delicious). You probably won’t catch me posting any aspics on here, but I will never apologize for my cheese balls.
My jalapeño popper cheese ball has all the flavors that I think that a perfect jalapeño popper should have: jalapeños (duh), cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch. There’s no stuffing, roasting, grilling, or frying involved, though, and that makes this jalapeño popper cheese ball approximately 1 million times easier and less mess than an actual jalapeño popper. I used canned diced jalapeños, which meant that I didn’t have to slice and dice a bunch of peppers, but you could definitely sub in 1/2 cup of diced fresh jalapeños, or add them to the canned peppers to increase the spice level if you’re brave. Me, I found the faint tinge of spice provided by the canned peppers to be perfect for my wimpy taste buds.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 cheese ball 1x
Description
This jalapeño popper cheese ball combines cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and jalapeños for a flavorful, easy-to-make appetizer that’s perfect for any gathering.
Ingredients
- 2 8- ounce packages cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 8 ounces 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- 4 ounce can diced jalapeños (drained)
- 4 ounce can diced fire-roasted green chilies (drained)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
For the ranch seasoning (can sub in 2 packages of ranch dressing mix, like Hidden Valley)
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, diced jalapeños, diced green chilies, and ranch seasoning mix. Use a mixer on low speed or a sturdy spoon to mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into a ball using your hands. It may help to refrigerate the mixture for 15-20 minutes if it is too soft to shape.
- Spread the chopped pecans on a plate. Roll the cheese ball in the pecans until it is fully coated.
- Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the cheese ball to firm up.
- Serve with crackers or fresh vegetables for dipping.
Notes
For a spicier cheese ball, add fresh diced jalapeños along with the canned ones. The cheese ball can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Serve with a variety of crackers or fresh vegetables. If you prefer, substitute walnuts or almonds for the pecans.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 35
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cream cheese should I use for the jalapeño Christmas cheese ball?
You should use full-fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor in your cheese ball.
Do I need to remove the seeds from the jalapeños before mixing them in?
Yes, removing the seeds will help reduce the heat level and make the cheese ball more palatable for those who prefer a milder flavor.
Can I use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe?
While you can use pre-shredded cheese, freshly shredded cheese typically melts better and enhances the overall texture of the cheese ball.
Excellent!! I make this every year for lots of football games and shaped like a pumpkin for halloween!
Thanks for sharing Kira, I appreciate it!