The Best Cheese Ball Recipe - Simple Green Moms (2024)

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If you have been searching for the best cheeseball recipe, you just found it! Our cheeseball recipe is very easy to make and will be perfect for your next party- a party isn’t complete without a good cheeseball!

The Best Cheese Ball Recipe - Simple Green Moms (1)

Party Cheese Ball

A cheeseball is one of the easiest and most flavorful appetizers that you can serve at a party. It is better than just putting out plain cheese and looks quite impressive on a buffet table. Don’t let looks deceive you though- this cheese ball may look fancy but it is super simple to make. Cheesy, herby and super filling, we know that this cheese ball recipe is going to be one that you love.

How to Make a Cheeseball

Making a cheeseball is one of the easiest party foods to make. It really only takes about 5 minutes of your time and you will have a perfect appetizer that will quickly become your favorite party treat. Here is how we put together our recipe:

  1. Mix together the cream cheese, softened, with all the other ingredients except the sliced almonds (Italian dressing mix, chopped pastrami, cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce and herbs of your choice).
  2. Roll the mix into a large ball using your hands.
  3. Roll the cheese ball in the sliced almonds (or chopped pecans), covering it completely to coat the outside with nuts.
  4. Place on a plate and serve cold with crackers.

Your party guests will love spreading the flavored cream cheese mix on their crackers and will definitely be begging you for this recipe. They will also love how little time it takes to make this recipe. Don’t be surprised when your cheeseball disappears quickly- it really is the best!

The Best Cheese Ball Recipe - Simple Green Moms (2)

How Long Is a Homemade Cheese Ball Good For?

Cheeseballs can definitely be made ahead of time and are a perfect appetizer to prep in advance for your party. When stored properly, a cheese ball can last up to two weeks. Wrap your cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap and place in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, simply remove the plastic wrap and place the cheese ball on a plate with your favorite crackers. Cheese balls do taste best when cold so this recipe can go right from the fridge to the party table.

Can You Freeze a Cream Cheese Ball?

If you want to make this cheeseball recipe way ahead of time, you can choose to freeze it. Here are our tips for freezing a cheeseball:

  • Wrap the cheeseball tightly in plastic wrap
  • Place the wrapped cheeseball in a gallon sized, freezer safe zippered bag.
  • Store the cheese ball in the freezer for up to a month.
  • Take the cheeseball out of the freezer and place it in the fridge to thaw the day before you would like to enjoy it and it will be ready to serve the next day!
  • Serve the cheeseball with crackers once thawed.

Having a cheeseball on hand in the freezer is a great idea in case guests pop by unexpectedly. You can just take out your pre made cheese ball and serve up an amazing, tasty dish! Our recipe is perfect to enjoy while conversing with friends- you will likely all talk about how this is the best cheeseball ever!

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Delicious Cheese Ball Ingredients

We kept our cheese ball recipe nice and simple, using only a few choice ingredients. However, here are a few ideas of other ingredients you can use to make this cheese ball recipe even more fantastic and suited to the taste of those in your family.

  • Add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the mix. Fresh minced garlic cloves also go well in the recipe. Roasted garlic is a wonderful option as well and will give you that delicious garlic taste in a sweeter way. Garlic powder salt will work well too!
  • Use chopped pecans in place of sliced almonds. ou can also coat the outside of the cheese ball in a chopped nut mix, using almonds, chopped pecans and even some chopped hazelnuts.
  • Skip the chopped pastrami and use crumbled bacon instead. Chopped or crumbled cooked bacon goes great in our cheese ball recipe.
  • Use a different shredded cheese blend rather than cheddar cheese. Pick a cheese that your family loves or one that you have on hand.

There are lots of ways to add ingredients to our recipe and make it better. Of course, we think this is the best cheeseball out there just as the recipe is written! Let us know which changes you make and how you customized this recipe to fit your family- use our email address and tell us all about it!

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Personal Sized Cheese Balls

One way that you can make this recipe even more spectacular is to roll the mix into small, individually sized cheese balls. You can serve each of your guests their own plate of their favorite crackers with a tasty cheese ball just for them! This is an easy way to make cheese balls seem even fancier and something your guests and family will love.

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The Best Cheese Ball Recipe - Simple Green Moms (5)

The Best Cheeseball Recipe

  • Author: Simple Green Moms
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: About 8 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Perfect for your holiday gatherings!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 8oz. packages of cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 1 package of zesty Italian salad dressing mix
  • 1 16oz. packages Fisher’s sliced almonds (to coat)
  • 2 2oz. packages Buddig beef pastrami (or fresh pastrami from deli) sliced thin
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Chopped green onions (optional) for extra taste.
  • Ritz crackers (or veggies of choice)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients except the sliced almonds.
  2. With hands, roll everything into a large ball
  3. Take a dinner plate and spread sliced almonds on it
  4. Then roll cheeseball on it to cover completely
  5. Place on a serving plate with crackers and/or veggies
  6. Sprinkle with fresh cut-up parsley for extra flavor and decoration
  7. Can store overnight in the fridge for flavors to blend or serve immediately.
  8. Enjoy!!!

Notes

Pro Tips:

  1. Look for flavored cream cheese in your grocery store. Cream cheese that already has garlic powder, dill or even chopped pecans already mixed in will make for a great addition to cheese ball recipes. In addition, you can cut back on some of the other ingredients (use less spices and herbs if your cream cheese already has herbs mixed in).
  2. Our cheeseball goes great with just about any kind of crackers that you love. Serve the cheeseball with multiple kinds of crackers so that your guests can pick their favorites. The more crackers the better!
  3. While cheese balls are best served cold, you will want to let it soften slightly to make it easier to spread on your crackers. Let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for a few minutes of time before serving. You will love this recipe even more when it spreads smoothly across your crackers!

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The Best Cheese Ball Recipe - Simple Green Moms (2024)

FAQs

How long will a homemade cheese ball last in the refrigerator? ›

Storing in Fridge: If you start with fresh ingredients, you can store the cheese ball in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. How to Freeze: I prefer a freshly made cheese ball, BUT you can freeze cheese balls.

How long does a cheese ball need to chill? ›

Cover the cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow it to firm up. Take it out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften just slightly. Serve with crackers, pretzels, vegetables or anything else you'd love to dip in cheese!

What is a cheese ball made of? ›

Cheese balls are traditionally made with two kinds of cheese – cream cheese (or another soft cheese like quark cheese, mascarpone or ricotta) and a grated semi-soft or semi-firm cheese like cheddar, colby cheese, monterey jack cheese, or muenster.

Can you freeze a cheese ball? ›

Cheese balls freeze quite well. Again, it's best to wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to four weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Can cheese last 3 weeks in fridge? ›

REFRIGERATOR: Approximate storage times are: (1) Hard cheeses (block): 6 months, unopened packages; 3 to 4 weeks after opening. Shredded hard cheeses: 1 month after opening. (2) Soft cheeses: 1 week; cream cheese, 2 weeks.

Why does my cheese go bad in the fridge? ›

Moisture and Shelf Life

Moisture is needed for bacterial growth—so cheeses with higher moisture levels have a shorter shelf life. In contrast, cheeses with lower moisture levels will last longer, as they lack the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

How do you firm up a cheeseball? ›

It will firm up in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until the cheese ball is firm enough to handle. Combine the chopped pecans and parsley on a plate. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the nut mixture until evenly coated.

Why is my cheese ball so hard? ›

Why is my cheese ball so hard? You want your cheese ball to be firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to allow for easy spreading. To achieve this consistency, the key is making sure your cream cheese is softened before preparing.

Why is my cheese ball not firm? ›

Your cheese ball is too runny: Once you have added all the extras, and it's all mixed in well, if the texture is more salad dressing-like than something you might spread on a bagel, you can tighten it up easily by adding unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing before you add more.

What are the best crackers for cheese ball? ›

  • Hayden Flour Mill White Sonora Crackers. ...
  • Stonewall Kitchen Sea Salt Down East Crackers. ...
  • Keebler Town House Snack Crackers. ...
  • Effie's Homemade Oatcakes. ...
  • Lesley Stowe Hazelnut Cranberry Raincoast Crisps. ...
  • Blue Diamond Almonds Nut Thins Cracker Crisps. ...
  • Wasa Sesame and Sea Salt Thins Crackers. ...
  • KA-ME Original Rice Crackers.
Sep 11, 2019

How many cheese balls are in a cheese ball jar? ›

They're the unsung heroes of every food-fueled social gathering, and there are more than 1,100 of them in any given barrel.

Can you freeze cheese in a ziplock bag? ›

You can freeze soft cheese by grating it and putting it in a plastic bag. Make sure to squeeze the air out of the bag before sealing it tightly. To freeze hard cheese, simply cut it into chunks and wrap it in parchment paper and foil before placing it in an airtight plastic bag, the Food Network recommends.

Why can't you freeze cheese? ›

Freezing cheese causes ice crystals to develop, disrupting the cheese's structure. This may affect the texture and make it drier, more crumbly, and mealy. It can also halt the ripening process of cheeses with beneficial, active mold populations.

How do you keep cheese balls fresh? ›

Wrapping and storing a cheese ball in the fridge will help hold its shape, prevent it from crumbling, and keep the cheese from drying out. Furthermore, wrapping the cheese ball in aluminum foil will provide additional support and stop the cheese from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge.

How long does fresh homemade cheese last in the fridge? ›

How long will the cheese last? For some cheese, especially hard cheeses, they can last more than a year, if you can keep from eating them. Fresh cheeses like Ricotta and Mozzarella can last a week or two in your refrigerator. The same holds true for some Camembert, Brie's and Blue cheeses.

How do you store homemade cheese long term? ›

CLEAN: cheese absorbs other flavors, so keep yours away from aromatic foods like onions or that great curry you made for lunch. COLD: most cheeses are comfortable between 34 and 38 degrees. COVERED: cheese loses flavor and moisture when exposed to air, so make sure to keep it covered with parchment paper.

How long can you store homemade cheese? ›

Soft cheeses such as cottage cheese, ricotta or Brie can be refrigerated one week but they don't freeze well. Hard cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan can be stored in the refrigerator six months before opening the package and three to four weeks after opening. It can also be frozen six months.

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