Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

I LOVE a good appetizer! My husband’s favorite kind of appetizers are cheese balls.

This Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is LOADED with flavor and delicious ingredients! It is a people-pleasing appetizer for sure!

Definitely give this a try at your next get together or party! People will be asking you for the recipe left and right ;)

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball... This cheese ball is LOADED with flavor and delicious ingredients! It is a people-pleasing appetizer for sure!

4.4 from 9 reviews
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
 
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Ingredients
  • 16 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cooked and chopped bacon
  • ⅛ cup DRY Ranch Dressing mix, you can use my homemade recipe (the kind with buttermilk powder)
  • ¼ cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, ranch mix, and green onions. Mix well and form into a ball. Roll cheese ball in pecans and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Enjoy!

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: appetizer

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Comments

  1. Brittany

    I make a similar cheesball and it's always such a hit. Everyone always asks how I make it and I always laugh because it's so simple!

    1. JANO

      BRITTANY ,could i also have your recipe ,as im from NEW ZEALAND could you please write your mayo recipe down for me ,as i carnt find the dry rancho mix here and i dont know the milk powder recipe .i hope im not bothering you but this cheese ball recipe sounds lovely ..many thanks your kiwi friend .JANO

  2. Mary @chattavore

    I love a good cheese ball. The flavors in this sound absolutely amazing. Thanks for the recipe!

  3. marlene groff

    Do you mean the powder kind in a envelope to use ?

  4. Marilyn

    This cheeseball looks wonderful :)) Hello from Iowa !!

  5. Linda

    3

    Do I use the dressing mix dry or do I mix it then use it?

    1. Chef in Training

      dry. So sorry for the confusion. I will clarify that in the recipe.

  6. Bobbie

    Nikki, I am old and a little confused. When you say 1/8 cup ranch dressing mix are you meaning the dry package mix or after you mix in the milk and mayonnaise and made the ranch dressing. Thanks, Bobbie

    1. Chef in Training

      dry mix

    2. Lisa Sloane

      5

      A co-worker made your cheese ball recipe and it was delicious. And she was kind enough to send it to me. I can't wait to make it myself.

  7. Rhonda

    hi, not sure if I sent the message earlier or not. Question was, is the bacon cooked (as I would think) or raw. Where can I find your ranch dressing recipe as I haven't seen it here is Australia.......not that I have looked for it or even heard of it

    1. Chef in Training

      yes bacon is cooked. I linked to the ranch dressing recipe in the recipe itself. Here is the link again just in case:
      https://www.chef-in-training.com/2015/03/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/

    2. Stephanie Muncy-feyh

      I don't like nuts, can you suggest something else to roll the cheese ball in?

    3. willis

      Can never have too much bacon. Try rolling in crumbled bacon or serve plain with out rolling in anything.

    4. julie

      bacon

    5. Catherine Taylor

      Lightly toasted sesame seeds.

  8. Evan

    5

    Tried it last night, and can confirm that it's a big winner -- my in-laws demolished it!

    I couldn't find dry Ranch dressing mix, and subbed in Knorr's vegetable soup mix. Worked great!

  9. kate

    Is it cooked bacon or bacon bits?

    1. Chef in Training

      cooked bacon :)

  10. Jane Wortman

    Could you use real bacon bits bought in bags that need to be kept in the refrigerator (not the simulated one) instead of cooking your own bacon and chopping it?

  11. Marthie

    I live in Scotland and do not know ranch dressing or buttermilk powder. What can I use instead of it Please?

    1. Connie

      Try french onion powder or your favorite dry mix dressing. Add any ingredients you want to the cream cheese and cheddar, it's all about what you prefer. Be creative and have fun. Just don't add any flavoring that would be overwhelming to all the ingredients.

  12. Sherry

    can I make this a week,two weeks before I serve it?

  13. Tiffany

    This looks so good. I would love to make it for my oldest son's graduation party. However, one of my younger children has a serious tree nut allergy. Any idea if this would work well without the pecans?

    1. Chef in Training

      yes, you can sub out the pecans for some chopped up cooked bacon :) That would be delicious too!

  14. Millie

    We're vegetarians but eat dairy; I'm going to try this with Stripples, the vegetarian bacon substitute. I bet it will work great!

  15. Whitney

    5

    I LOVE this recipe! Its always a HUGE hit, and takes but a few minutes to get together!

  16. Wil

    It says dry, and COOKED bacon!

  17. Trudy Watkins

    5

    Where can you get green onions? I've never made a cheeseball but I love them. So I am going to try it for it looks delious!

    1. Maurie

      Just in the produce section of the grocery store. Some people call them scallions

  18. JANO

    You have mentioned home made mayo ,made with butter milk ,or dry rancho dressing mix ..i carnt find these dressings here in NEW ZEALAND ,, what could i use instead and could i have your recipe please ..I think this CHEDDER ,BACON RANCH CHEESE BALL SOUND LOVELY ,,.MANY THANKS ..JANO YOUR KIWI FRIEND ..

  19. Atha Robinson

    This look good I will try it. I love cheese ball.

  20. Rhonda Tatum

    5

    Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for! 4th of July party!

  21. Linda Conley

    Will be trying this soon looks really good

  22. Sarah

    Can I make this cheese ball the day before serving .... Will it keep in the fridge?

    1. Kentuckylady717

      5

      Yes Sarah, you can keep them in the fridge for at least a week.....I always do......you just can't freeze them.....

  23. Janet

    can you freeze the cheddar bacon cheese ball?

    1. Kentuckylady717

      5

      Someone asked if you can freeze a cheese ball, I don't think you can ....... best to make the nite before .......if you can't eat nuts, just fry your bacon, crumble it up and roll your cheese ball in it.....I always use fresh fried bacon as I do not like bacon bits......not even the real bacon bits, I prefer to fry and crumble my own bacon....just seems to have a better taste......

  24. Catherine Taylor

    2

    I made this cheese ball for Superbowl using good quality Oscar Meyer low sodium bacon. I still found the spread very salty, I assume due to the dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix. Otherwise, nice combination of ingredients. If I make it again I think I will cut WAY back on the dry mix and add fresh minced parsley, tiny bit of garlic powder and a couple splashes of Tobaco sauce.

  25. Karen

    How far in advance cam this be made?

  26. Robyn

    I made this yesterday. It was Soooo gooood! I bought Ranch Wheat Thins to eat it with, and everyone loved it. Thank you for the recipe.

  27. Robyn

    I made this yesterday and it was soooo goood! Everyone loved it! That you for the recipe!

  28. Robyn

    This has become my staple contribution to any family gathering. It's easy to make, and tastes delicious!!! Great recipe!