Our best cheeseball recipe is an easy appetizer for any gathering. Make in minutes and serve with buttery crackers, pita chips, or your favorite bread.
Cheesy and easy recipes like this homemade cheese ball make classic holiday appetizers! Everyone loves a cheese ball, charcuterie board, or fondue as a starter!
I love serving this easy, best cheese ball because it truly is one of the most delicious appetizers ever! The first time she made a good cheese ball, everyone gobbled it up right after she set it out!
My mom has to make at least two of these best cheese balls, and they aren’t small, for Thanksgiving appetizers every year. They are gobbled up just as soon as she can put them out.
Truly, our family looks forward to this appetizer more than any other. Well, this and our instant pot artichoke dip that is.
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What is a cheeseball made of?
A homemade cheeseball is typically made out of sharp cheddar cheese, blue cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and other simple ingredients. The cheese mixture is going to differ depending on personal preference.
As for non-cheesy ingredients, Worcestershire sauce, bacon bits, pretzel sticks, nuts, black olives, and even poppy seeds are all popular additions to a cheese ball! The best cheeseball ever is made using very few and simple ingredients but it is the best recipe!
And if you can’t get enough cheese, you are going to love this easy Mexican street corn smothered in cojita!
Do you have to use shrimp?
My husband would never voluntarily eat shrimp but this cheeseball is one of his favorite appetizers. Believe me when I say that it will make a shrimp believer out of anyone!
While not big and grand, the secret ingredient of baby shrimp is slightly salty and mild in flavor. Even if your not a big seafood fan, when added to the best cheese ball it makes it extra delicious!
With that being said, if you don’t like shrimp, crispy BACON works great! Just cook it up and crumble then add it in place of the shrimp.
You can also add green onions as well! Serve this make ahead appetizer up at your next party for a crowd pleaser everyone will love.
What you need to make the best cheeseball ever
For the cheese ball mixture, you’re going to need cheddar cheese, cream cheese, garlic powder (or garlic salt), baby shrimp, and a few other simple ingredients.
Feel free to add bacon bits, black olives, poppy seeds, or other common cheeseball ingredients to this simple recipe. Bagel seasoning would be another great addition to this delicious cheese ball!
Cheddar Cheese
You can use another type of cheese that you prefer over cheddar cheese. Colby jack, American, and even fiesta blend would all work just fine.
Crushed Nuts
Walnuts are the best type of nut to use in a cheeseball but pecans also work. Walnuts have such a simple flavor and texture that blends well with the other ingredients.
- cream cheese
- chives
- onion
- garlic salt
- parsley
- lemon juice
How to make it
- Mix everything together in a medium bowl
- Crush nuts on wax paper
- In a mixing bowl, roll the cheese ball into nuts until completely covered
- Refrigerate overnight
- Remove from the refrigerator at least 10 minutes before serving
Pro tip: Next time you need to chop nuts, place them in a blender for a food processor for a quick and easy way to chop them!
How long does it take for a cheeseball to set?
Wrap your cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour. I recommend refrigerating overnight if you have time.
Before serving, remove from fridge and set at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. This is a great way to let your cheeseball soften a little bit.
Can you freeze cream cheese balls?
Yes you can freeze cheeseballs wrapped in a piece of plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container. Do note, that cheese has a tendency to dry out after it has been frozen so serve fresh for best results.
How long is a cheeseball good for?
You can store a cheeseball in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Although, make sure that your cheeseball doesn’t sit at room temperature for more than 4 hours to preserve freshness.
If you like this best cheeseball ever, then you will also love these other appetizers…
If you need a dairy-free cheeseball, I highly recommend this vegan party cheeseball from my friend Erin at Meaningful Eats. I can eat dairy and still love hers!
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BEST Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon onion chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chives or green onions
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon organic mayonnaise
- 4 ounces can baby shrimp (drained) or crumbled cooked bacon
- 1/2 cup Crushed nuts of your choice I like pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Mix everything together in a large bowl
- Crush nuts on wax paper
- Roll the cheese ball into nuts until completely covered
- Refrigerate overnight
- Remove from the refrigerator at least 10 minutes before serving
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on March 19, 2012 with this photo…oh how far we’ve come!
Natalie says
I had guests last weekend. I made this cheesball. It was delicious! Everyone loved it. Thanks for the recipe. I’ll keep it and make it again for sure.
Amy Liu Dong says
This recipe looks really good when served and is tasty, yum!
Brianna says
Made this for my book club and it was a hit! Not one bit was left and a few people asked for the recipe.
Alex says
I definitely need to make this again! Such yummy ingredients and super easy. I don’t know if I’ll be able to share, though. 😉
Erin says
I can’t wait to make this again! They’re so great for parties or movie nights.
Aya says
This is perfect for parties and gatherings, so I made it for game night the other day, and it was a HIT! Everyone loved it, and it was so effortless to make. Thank you!
Linda says
I tried adding baby shrimp and now I’m hooked! So much fun in every scoop
Beth says
I can see that the shrimp or the bacon would add so much flavor to a cheese ball. What a great idea for entertaining!
Tristin says
This turned out bigger than I expected and was so flavorful! Everyone loved it!
Heidy says
This cheeseball recipe was outstanding! I loved all the flavors, and so did my husband. I am making a few more to take to my friend’s party! This recipe is a keeper in my book! I bet it flys off the buffet table in no time!
Gloria says
Always a hit at any party. So easy to make. Always love the presentation too.
Chandice says
Thanks Gloria, I always love serving it at parties too! 🙂
Lesley says
Do you know if this cheeseball would have enough seasoning in it to be really good without the shrimp? I’m deathly allergic to shellfish but this looks really good. Just wondering if anybody has ever made it without the shrimp.
Chandice says
I highly recommend adding freshly cooked, cooled and crumbled bacon instead 🙂
Tanalee says
Our family loves this cheese ball! Such a hit with everyone. It’s great that it can be made a couple days ahead of time and refrigerated until the day of the event.
Chandice says
Definitely! I’ve got one in my fridge right now. 🙂
Teralee Williams says
We’ve eaten this cheese ball of Chandice’s for years! And love it! Such a hit at all the parties!
Chandice says
Thanks, it is definitely a favorite 🙂
Jenessa says
This is the best cheeseball ever! I can’t wait to make it for the Holidays this year, its always a hit!
Chandice says
Thanks Jenessa, it is my favorite for sure!!
Ruth says
I made this cheeseball this weekend and we all devoured it! I’ll be making it for Thanksgiving too. Thanks!
Chandice says
Thanks Ruth, it is our favorite too!
Boston James Besendorfer says
Super yummy great party snack
Chandice says
Thanks, we think so too! 🙂
Sydney Wynne says
We made this cheese ball for New Years Eve, it was soooo good! I kept coming back for more and more.
Julie says
one of the greatest things about Thanksgiving!