Classic Cheese Ball

This Classic Cheese Ball recipe makes the perfect party appetizer.  This cheese ball is made with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, green onion and spices, and coated in chopped pecans.

Nothing beats an appetizer that can be made in 15 minutes, that’s what I love most about this cheese ball.  That’s also the best thing about this easy vegetable dip and homemade shrimp cocktail.

A homemade cheeseball is one of the most classic holiday appetizers, ever!  If you want to get more creative than the traditional serving style,  these mini cheese ball bites are also a crowd favorite.

What I Love about this Classic Cheese Ball:

1. Make it ahead of time.  This recipe can be made up to a week in advance if you want to! Although, you will want to wait to add the nuts till closer to when you serve so that they don’t get soft. The only problem with making it in advance is figuring out how to keep your family from eating it all!

2. The flavor combinations.  This is not a boring cheeseball.  The mixture of cheeses with Worcestershire, spices and a little hot sauce is nothing short of magical.  Not one specific spice overwhelms and all of the flavors in the cheese ball blend together nicely. Also, it’s worth noting that the hot sauce wont make it spicy, it just adds great flavor.

3. Low maintenance. This cheese ball is perfect as a party appetizer while you prepare the rest of your holiday feast! It’s completely low maintenance. Just fix it up, pull it from the fridge when you’re ready, and set it out with a bunch of yummy crackers for people to serve themselves.

Cheese ball ingredients:

• Cream cheese. Regular or low fat will work fine.
• Cheddar cheese: I like Sharp cheddar best. Be sure to freshly grate the cheese instead of buying the pre-shredded kind! It will make a big flavor and texture difference.
• Green onion: finely chopped.
• Seasonings: dried parsley, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce.
• Chopped pecans. Chop them very finely so the cheeseball is easier to serve. You could substitute almonds or another finely chopped nut, or leave the nuts out and use bacon bits, chopped green onion, or Craisins.

How to make a homemade cheese ball;

Combine ingredients. Beat cream cheese until smooth, and then mix in the remaining ingredients. Remember that high quality ingredients make a high quality cheese ball.  Buy block cheese instead of pre-shredded cheese!

Form the cheese ball.  Use a spatula and your hands to form the mixture into a ball.  Be sure to spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray to prevent the cheese from sticking.

Coat in nuts.  You can use whatever type of nuts you prefer, just be sure to chop them finely.  To coat in nuts, hold the cheese ball in one hand and use your other hand to gently scoop the chopped nuts and press them onto the ball.

Chill.  Wrap the cheeseball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Serve the cheese ball with:

• Crackers
• Vegetables
• Mini bagels
• Pita bread
• Pretezels

To serve: Make sure your cheese ball platter is complete with a cheese spreading knife.  If you dip your cracker straight into the ball chances are it will bread into pieces!

Make-ahead, Storing, and freezing instructions:

To make-ahead:  Make the cheeseball but don’t coat it in nuts.  Store it in an airtight container or bag and place it in the refrigerator for up to one week (depending on the freshness of your ingredients).  An hour before you are ready to serve it, coat it in nuts and refrigerate until serving.

Storing: A cheese ball should be stored in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for several days or up to 2 weeks depending on the freshness of your ingredients.  To estimate how long your cheese ball will stay fresh, first notice the expiration date on the ingredients you are using. Assuming you are using recently purchased ingredients, your cheeseball should last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator!

To freeze:  To freeze the cheeseball, wrap it well in plastic wrap (without nuts) and place it in a freezer safe ziplock bag.  Freeze for up to 1 month.  Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and add nuts once completely thawed.

Consider trying these easy appetizers:

• Seven Layer Bean Dip
• Easy Vegetable Dip
• Artichoke Dip
• Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
• Artichoke Dip Stuffed Bread

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more great recipes!

Recipe

5 from 2625 votes

Classic Cheeseball

The best Cheese Ball recipe has plenty of cheddar cheese, green onions, and seasonings mixed with cream cheese. It's coated in chopped pecans and served with crackers, pretzels, or veggies. It's flavorful and so easy to make!

Print Pin Review

Author Lauren Allen

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 24

Calories 124

Cost 10

Prep 15 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Equipment

• Cheese Spreading Knife

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 16 ounces cream cheese , softened
• ▢ 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese (avoid pre-shredded cheese)
• ▢ 2 green onions , chopped
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano
• ▢ dash freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 2/3 cup pecans , finely chopped

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl then mix until smooth. Add cheese, green onion, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, parsley, garlic powder, oregano. and pepper then mix well to combine. 
• Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and gather the mixture into one lump. Lightly grease your hands and form the mixture into a round ball. 
• Place the pecans on a plate. Hold the cheese ball in one hand and use the other hand to scoop the pecans onto the outside of the ball, pressing them in gently and turning the ball to coat all sides. 
• 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!

Notes

*Serve the cheeseball with a spreading knife.  If you dip your cracker straight into the ball, chances are it will break!

Make Ahead Instructions: Prep the cheeseball and form into a ball, but don't add the nuts on the outside. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to a week (depending on how fresh your ingredients are). Coat it in nuts an hour before you serve it and refrigerate until serving.

Storing Instructions: A cheese ball needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for several days or up to 2 weeks, depending on how fresh your ingredients are. Look at the expiration dates for the ingredients you are using, if you recently purchased them, it should last for about 2 weeks when kept in the refrigerator.

Freezing Instructions: Make and form cheese ball, but don't add the nuts on the outside. Wrap well in plastic wrap then place in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Keep in the freezer for up to one month. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight then add nuts when it's completely thawed then keep in the refrigerator until serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 129mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 361IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 0.2mg

Create a FREE Account to save your favorite recipes and create meal plans

Create free account

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?!

RATE AND COMMENT BELOW–I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCE!

I originally shared this recipe November 2017. Updated October 2019 with process photos and instructions.

This post contains affiliate links.