This classic cheese ball recipe is always a must-have appetizer at every holiday party! So easy to make with cream cheese, green onions, spices and pecans.
Love easy appetizer recipes? Try my bacon ranch cheese ball, apple dip and cranberry orange cheese ball.
Table of Contents
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
This cream cheese ball recipe is one of my nostalgic favorites when entertaining and is a true party staple. It makes the perfect Christmas or Thanksgiving appetizer.
Place it out with some crackers and a veggie tray at your next gathering along with a few other crowd favorites like pigs in a blanket, easy potato skins, homemade pretzel bites or buffalo chicken dip. The adults and kids all love it!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Cream cheese: You can’t make a cream cheese ball without the cream cheese! Make sure to soften the cream cheese before mixing for the best creamy texture.
- Green onions: Chop them fine so that there’s not too much onion in one bite!
- Ranch dressing mix: The main flavor source for this easy cheese ball recipe. Look for the dry mix (not the liquid bottle). My favorite brand is Hidden Valley.
- Pecans: For coating the exterior. Chopped pecans provide a nice crunch as well as a buttery and nutty taste.
- Dill: Adding fresh or dried dill is optional, although I highly recommend it. The flavor of the dill pairs perfectly with the cream cheese, ranch mix and green onions.
How to Make a Cheese Ball
This is honestly one of the easiest holiday appetizers ever and makes a great centerpiece to any snack board!
- Mix together ingredients. Mix the softened cream cheese, green onions, ranch dressing mix and fresh dill in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Place on plastic wrap, cover and form the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Coat with pecans. Put pecans on a plate. Remove from plastic wrap and roll in pecans until well-coated.
- Serve and enjoy! Place on a platter with crackers and serve.
Tips and Variations
While I love the simplicity of a 4 ingredient cheese ball, feel free to get creative!
- Alternatives to pecans: Try walnuts, almonds, chopped pretzels or crackers. You can even use chopped bacon, candied pecans or opt for no nuts.
- Beefy: If you love chipped beef in your cheeseball, add up to 1/2 jar of dried sliced beef. You can also add a splash of Worcestershire sauce as well.
- Spicier: If you love spicy food, add some hot sauce, sriracha or make a jalapeno popper cheese ball.
- Even cheesier: Add some freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the mixture.
Cheese Ball Serving Options
There are plenty of delicious serving options. Here are some of our favorites to pair with this classic holiday appetizer!
Veggies (cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery)
Ritz crackers
Pretzels
Pita chips
Looking for more party appetizers? Try these easy 3-ingredient sausage balls, cranberry salsa with cream cheese or cheesy pigs in a blanket.
More Party Appetizer Recipes
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Cheese Ball Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese , softened
- ¼ cup green onions , chopped fine
- 1 Tablespoon ranch dressing dry mix (like Hidden Valley)
- ½ teaspoon dill , optional
- ½ cup pecans , chopped
For serving: Favorite snack crackers or vegetables
Instructions
- Combine. Mix 16 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup green onions and 1 Tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Wrap and shape. Place mixture on plastic wrap, cover and form into ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Roll in pecans. Put 1/2 cup pecans on a plate. Remove from plastic wrap and roll in pecans until well-coated.
- Serve. Place on a platter with crackers and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t want to use nuts, you can use chopped bacon or crushed crackers instead (similar to my bacon ranch cheese ball).
- If you’d like more cheese, you can mix in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese with the cream cheese.
- Make-ahead: Follow steps 1 & 2, then let chill in fridge overnight. Before serving, roll in chopped pecans until well-coated.
- Storage: Will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks if covered or stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
This simple cheese ball recipe can sit out at room temperature for about 2 hours. Due to it’s dairy content, it shouldn’t sit out any longer for safe consumption.
This recipe is great to prep ahead of time. Making it a day ahead gives the flavors time to marry together and taste extra delicious. Assemble cheeseball without coating it in the nuts. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Place in a bowl to prevent the bottom from going flat if desired. Before serving, roll in nuts.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 2 weeks, although I’m sure it will get eaten up before then since it’s so delicious. :) We love using the leftovers as a snack with fresh veggies.
Yes, assemble without coating in nuts. Wrap tightly then place in a freezer safe bag and keep frozen up to a month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and coat with nuts before serving.
Absolutely. Mini cheese ball bites are so fun! Mix the cream cheese mixture as instructed, then cover and chill in the fridge until firm. Shape into 1-inch balls, then roll into the chopped pecans.
Other than the classic large ball shape, feel free to get creative depending on the event! Shape into an oval football shape for game day, a pumpkin for the fall, a snowman for Christmas or even into a log for any type of platter.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Appetizers, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Who doesn’t love a good cheese ball? Going to add this to our tailgate party this weekend!
Not yet,but i can’t wait to try it😊😊🤔
Everyone LOVED this! It was so easy to make. I will be making it again and again for parties!
I’m so glad it was a hit! :)
Holiday isn’t complete without the one called Cheese ball. You’re absolutely right, it tastes better after a day once flavour mix well with all ingredients.
Definitely :)
Cheese balls are always a great party appetizer!
Perfect for tailgates and watch parties as football season is quickly approaching!
I know for sure this cheese ball would be a huge hit in my house!
I love this cheese ball recipe!
This recipe is going to be trouble. Once I start I can’t stop! So good!
YUM! Loved this cheese ball recipe!
This is such a great party appetizer to add to your spread! So easy and customizable too!
Delicious
The dill is optional, but with the dill it would be 5 ingredients! :)
…You do realize that your 4 ingredient cheeseball actually calls for 5 ingredients, right?
2 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup green onions, chopped fine
1 Tablespoon ranch dressing dry mix (like Hidden Valley)
1/2 teaspoon dill
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
The dill is optional :)
Great cheese ball recipe!
I make this cheese ball but I add Chopped Dried Beef with 1/2 tsp of garlic powder goes over well at anytime of the year
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing. :)
I’m Australian and would like to make it but We don’t have ranch dressing dry mix?? Whats that? Could you describe it – perhaps I could substitute something else?
Would love to try for Christmas!
Hi Helen! Here is a recipe to make your own ranch dressing dry mix: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/diy-homemade-ranch-seasoning-mix/. Hope that helps! :)
Cheese mixtures are the only realistic way to get people to eat enough good protein (that is also easy to digest – another aspect during holiday season …) and still enjoy it. Meat is not optimal and a lot of other stuff is too bland. And the above sound just right to contrast with the sweet stuff as I always feel an urge after a few cookies and cake to devour some pickles or other salty stuff.
Love this cheese ball! Ddefinitely a tradition on Thanksgiving and Christmas!