Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

I didn’t grow up with cheese balls at any of my family functions, but apparently they were/are a thing found in the homes of many across the country. I first experimented with them a couple of years ago at my roommate’s and my annual Christmas party. I can’t really recall what it was made of, but I do remember that I shaped it into a cone, covered it in herbs, and put a dried apricot cut into a star on the top to make it resemble a Christmas tree.

With this experience in tow, I made this cheddar bacon ranch cheese ball the following year—though I guess the term “ball” is not technically applicable in this case. You can really shape it into whatever you want, and this year I opted for a festive Christmas wreath. As for the flavor combo, we have the campus Subway restaurant from my college days to thank: one of my standard orders was the chicken bacon ranch sandwich and this recipe reminds me of that (minus the chicken, of course).

A version of this recipe was recreated for Tasting Table, but here’s the original that I served last year.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

With this combination of flavors, how can it *not* be good? Cheese balls are simple to prepare and serve as a great make-ahead party snack.

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Ingredients

• 6 pieces bacon, diced
• Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 8 ounces finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1-ounce package ranch dressing seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Crackers or crudités, for serving

Instructions

1. Add the bacon to a skillet and cook over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate layered with paper towels to drain.
2. Add the cooked bacon, cheeses, sour cream, hot sauce, and ranch dressing seasoning to a bowl and stir until evenly combined. Season with some salt and pepper.
3. Form the cheese mixture into the desired shape and cover with the parsley. Serve with crackers or crudités. (If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.)