This mini bacon ranch cheese ball recipe is so easy to make and delicious! You only need 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to put this appetizer together.
Sundays have been my favorite day of the week for a very long time. There is something about sitting down to watch football all day that really makes me happy.
Maybe it’s all the muscular men running around TV? Nah. It’s football food that really gets me going.
Sunday after Sunday, I watch football from noon to night – last year our team did badly but I still watched each week.
I am a football girl. I use the commercials to load up on plates of food and this year won’t be any different than years past.
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Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Finger foods are my favorite food group (that is a food group, right?) and this mini bacon ranch cheese ball recipe is right up my alley.
Not counting the pretzel sticks, this is a 5-ingredient appetizer recipe. And it takes about 10 minutes to make all of the mini cheese balls. Most of that time will be spent making the shredded cheese and cream cheese mixture.
How’s that for scoring big!?
The last time I made these mini cheese balls, I only put together half of the cheese balls. I saved the leftover cheese mix (with the bacon and parsley added of course) for a little get together I had.
Wouldn’t you know, my guests treated it like a cheese dip and devoured it all with chips. So if you decide not to make everything into cheese balls, you’re still set with a delicious recipe. Win, win.
A few recipe notes:
- You can substitute chives or green onions for the parsley.
- If you’re short on time, use precooked bacon or store-bought bacon bits.
- You can make dry ranch dressing mix from scratch.
- If you are watching your salt intake, use low-sodium bacon and half of the ranch dressing mix.
Looking for more bite-size recipes? Try my bacon wrapped dates or my slow cooker sweet and spicy meatballs.
Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
These mini bacon ranch cheeseballs are a great party appetizer. Serve on a pretzel stick or with chips on a platter. Small plates with individual portions would make a great display. You guests will love this popular holiday snack. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween - any reason to throw parties! This is a make ahead recipe!! Leave out the bacon and its vegetarian
Ingredients
- 12 ounces softened cream cheese
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning
- 1 cup finely chopped bacon (1 pound bacon)
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Add the softened cream cheese to a medium bowl and smooth with a spatula or a hand mixer. Add the cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning and mix until combined.
- In a small bowl, combine the bacon and parsley.
- Use a melon baller to scoop out a ball of the cheese mixture. Use your hands to make sure it is in a ball and then roll it in the bacon mixture. Set aside.
- Repeat until all of the cheese balls are made. Place a pretzel stick in the middle of each cheese ball and serve.
Notes
If you are watching your sodium intake, use low-sodium bacon and half of the ranch seasoning.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1 mini cheese ballAmount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 252mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g
Ashley
Friday 23rd of December 2022
Am I supposed to let these chill overnight?
Kathy
Friday 23rd of September 2022
Can any pimento cheese be incorporated?
Susie
Tuesday 23rd of November 2021
Could you tell me about how many mini cheese balls this recipe makes? Thank you so much ?
Bren
Friday 4th of November 2022
@Susie, recipe says it makes 30.
Patty
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
@Carrie, Recipe states it makes about 30
Carrie
Thursday 23rd of December 2021
@Susie, how many cheese balls does this recipe make ????
Sue
Friday 12th of November 2021
I made a little twist to it as well. Added some chopped jalapeno and then spread some jalapeno jelly on the dish before placing the balls on the dish...was delish!!!!
Sue
Friday 12th of November 2021
My only issue was the bacon bits wouldn't really stick to the cheese balls.