Crowd-pleasing bacon ranch cheese ball is the ultimate party appetizer! It’s loaded with cream cheese, bacon, ranch seasoning, cheese and then coated in pecans.
Ultimate Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
A classic cheese ball recipe is one of my go-to appetizers for the holidays. They are great for snacking and I often add them to a big charcuterie board, alongside other yummy appetizers like baked brie, hummus and cranberry salsa.
This bacon ranch cheese ball is the ultimate easy appetizer. The secret ingredient is the crushed Chex cereal for a little crunch and then the addition of crispy bacon and ranch seasoning make the flavor incredible just like in my jalapeno popper cheese ball recipe.
You can serve it one big ball or turn it into mini cheese ball bites!
Ingredients
What I love about this recipe is that it only takes a few simple ingredients to make.
- Cream cheese: softened to room temperature
- Ranch seasoning mix
- Sharp cheddar cheese: I prefer freshly grated from a block.
- Green onions
- Bacon: Smoked or regular bacon both will work.
- Pecans
- Corn Chex Cereal: crush
Tip for easily crushing Chex: Add cereal to a ziptop bag and roll over with a rolling pin, until the pieces are crushed. So easy and mess free!
How to Make a Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
This cheese ball recipe with bacon is so easy to make and is literally foolproof! Not only is it super easy, but it comes together quickly too. My kind of appetizer!
- Blend and stir together ingredients. Blend together cream cheese and ranch seasoning with a hand mixer in a bowl. Stir in cheese, green onions, 1/4 cup Chex and half of bacon.
- Form into ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Place mixture on plastic wrap, cover and form into ball. Refrigerate (at least an hour or more).
- Roll with coating. Just before serving, add crushed Chex, pecans and remaining bacon onto a plate and spread. Remove cheese ball from plastic wrap and roll in mixture until evenly and well-coated.
- Serve and enjoy! Place on a platter with crackers and vegetables. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Ranch and Bacon Cheese Ball
Below are a few of our favorites for serving. Just add crackers, veggies or chips of choice and dig in!
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Pita chips
- Mini french baguette slices
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
Make Ahead Instructions
- Make it at least a day in advance to help marry the flavors together. Store in the refrigerator without the outer toppings.
- Day of serving, remove from the refrigerator and roll it in the outer coating. I’ll typically just place the remaining bacon that’s for coating in a zip top bag and stick it in the fridge. I’ll also leave the crushed Chex and nuts in a bag on the counter, so it’s all ready to go.
Need more easy party appetizers? Try my jalapeno popper dip recipe!
More Party Appetizers
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Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese (2 blocks, softened)
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix (1 packet)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 6 strips bacon (cooked crisp and crumbled)
- ½ cup pecans (chopped)
- 1 cup Chex cereal (crushed)
For serving: Crackers, vegetables
Instructions
- In a bowl, blend together 16 ounces cream cheese and 1 ounce ranch seasoning with a hand mixer. Stir in 1 cup cheese, 1/4 cup green onions, 1/4 cup of Chex and 3 strips bacon.
- Wrap into a ball and chill. Place mixture on plastic wrap, cover and form into ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Just before serving, spread out 1/2 cup pecans, remaining 1/2 cup crushed Chex and remaining 3 strips bacon onto a plate. Remove cheese ball from plastic wrap and roll in mixture until well-coated.
- Place on a platter with crackers and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
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!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Christmas, Low Carb, Super Bowl, Thanksgiving
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.
My family loved this!
So glad to hear that the bacon ranch cheese ball was a hit!
Made this for a Thanksgiving appetizer and everyone loved it!!
So glad to hear everyone loved it! Bacon, ranch and cheese what’s not to love :)
Crusting the ball with the Chex seasoning worked out perfectly!
I know this is meant for a crowd, but I may just park myself down in front of this cheese ball and snack away!! Love the crunch from the Chex cereal!
I forgot the pecans but this was still delicious!
I bet it was still delicious!
So easy and so yummy!
I have to put this on my menu! My family definitely love this!
This bacon cheese ball like seriously delicious! I’m going to make it this year for my holiday party!
This is total cheeseball perfection, yum!
I just bought a box of Chex! Making this cheese ball asap!
This looks so easy and delicious!
Perfect for tailgates, watch parties, or fall gatherings!
Loving how easy this recipe is! Perfect for setting out Thanksgiving Day!