Ok, false alarm. Last time, I said I would see you next year but I couldn’t resist posting a recipe for the best cheeseball you’ll ever eat just in case you need a last minute appetizer for your slammin’ New Year’s Eve party. You know, like my party: husband and four kids eating cheeseballs and playing Hi, Ho Cherrie-O and everyone (including mommy) tucked into bed at 8:30 p.m. Bet you wish you could be here!
I love me a good cheeseball. I would bypass almost anything else on an appetizer spread and go straight for the cheeseball. I also happen to enjoy a large cheeseball to cracker ratio, just in case you wanted to know.
I’ve been perfecting this cheeseball recipe for years. Go ahead, laugh. I know you’ll think it’s silly that I’ve been perfecting a cheeseball recipe of all things, but maybe now you’ll understand how important cheeseballs are in my life.
Packed with cheese (kind of a no-brainer, eh?) and delicious flavors, this cheeseball is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Or you can hide yourself in your closet pantry and eat it all by yourself…although I wouldn’t dream of doing that.
The Best Cheeseball
Printable Version
Printable Version with Picture
*Makes 4 cheeseballs
INGREDIENTS:
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
ΒΌ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1 cup pecans, finely chopped for rolling
DIRECTIONS:
Place finely chopped pecans in a shallow dish and set aside. In a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), mix the cream cheese until smooth. Add the cheddar cheese and mix until just combined. Lightly sprinkle all the seasonings and sauces over the cheese mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.
With lightly greased hands, portion the cheese mixture into four pieces and roll each section into a round ball. Coat in pecans. The easiest way to do this is to hold the cheeseball in one hand and scoop up the pecans and press them onto the cheeseball with the other, turning the cheeseball as you go and letting the excess pecans fall back into the dish (this also helps the pecans to go a little further). Cover each cheeseball in saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a cheese ball person too! I haven’t made many because of some of the weird things I have seen listed as ingredients. I will definately be making this. And I may or may not be eating it by myself. Thanks!!
i’m glad to get this recipe! looks yummy and delicious! i just posted on your peanut butter chocolate pie recipe post. happy new year~
Cheeseballs make me happy
Amazing!
I’ve never made a cheeseball! I’ll have to try this one since it looks divine!
what a coincidence–i need a good cheeseball recipe! i’m not a fan personally (i’m the schmo who scrapes all the pecans off and just eats those), but even i must admit that this looks tasty!
Hallelujah I have all those ingredients. It’s snowing here and I’d go get them if I needed, I love cheeseballs and your recipes that much.
I have your mom’s recipe for caramels cooking away on the stove too. My boys cried when they were gone. It’s the best sit-still-during-church treat I’ve found. And the neighbors who sit by us appreciate it. (the treats themselves and the quieter boys) Thanks!
Yum Yum Yum!! I can’t wait to try this. I am totally trying it for New Years
Great recipe – I use pretty much the same one and make it with velvetta cheese. Yum.
Hi Melanie! I’m assuming this recipe can be halved w/o any problems? I don’t think I’ve ever tasted one of these but I am going to make this for NYE.
Thanks!
Lorie
I’m with you on the cheeseballs. I’ve been making the same pineapple cheese ball for too long. I’m bookmarking this one. Looks delish!
Fabulous combination of ingredients… and it looks fabulous! Our host this year only wants desserts, so I’ll put this one to the side for a time when I can bring an appy. Yum!
Now wait just a minute. I thought you were taking a break until the new year. I love that you aren’t!!! I know it’s only a few days, but I need you Mel. I come one here way more often than I should and just love the recipes I see:). So, I’m glad you had a good Christmas and am extra glad to see that you’re here blogging when I (for some reason, must have misread or something) thought you were gone for a week or so.:). Hooray! Now-to the kitchen I go.
TaLaisa – oooh, a church treat – I never thought of using the caramels for that! Thanks for the tip.
Oh my, I skipped the “Makes 4 cheeseballs” detail and having never made one I thought “WOW, 4 packages of cream cheese! No wonder I love cheeseballs.” I laughed out loud when I found “makes 4 cheeseballs.” Looks sooooo yummy! Thank you!!
This recipe look yummy to try but I am not a fan of spicy foods. Should I omit the hot sauce? Or will it be to bland?
Lorie – yes, this recipe can be halved with great results. Good luck!
oh yum! i’m pregnant and have been craving a good cheeseball, looks like this fits the bill!
thanks so much for sharing all your fabulous recipes, i know it’ll be good if it’s from your blog!
I grew up with my mom making this cheese ball- It is the BEST!
Of course that’s Jenna posting, I didn’t know Ugo switched the google account picture whatever. Funny, funny. I think he has too much time on his hands now.
Ok, another print–I think I use 90% of my ink on your recipes! But they’re sooo worth it.
So far I’ve made: lemon garlic chicken, lemon garlic chicken pasta, creamy wild rice soup, baked ziti, white chicken chili, and stir fry, all of these have been crazy good… on my list for this week is Baked Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls, and Chicken Wraps!
I just love your recipes, you’re the best.
Oh my gosh I was just thinking a cheese ball for our New Years Gathering would be awesome and here’s one on your blog. Looks great!
Has anyone made this cheeseball but doing only 1/4 of it? I wonder if the ingredients would be very off? How about omitting the hot sauce? I don’t have any – will it change the flavour?
Just made these last night. I was wanting to make cheeseballs for New Years Eve parties and your recipe appeared! Perfect timing! I cut the recipe in 1/2 and rolled one ball in toasted pecans and the other in chili powder for a little kick! Thanks for such a great site! Love your recipes. Chicken Chili is a family favorite now!
Chelsea – how sweet are you! I’m so glad you have liked so many recipes! thanks for letting me know (oh, and sorry about the ink usage…)
Anonymous – it shouldn’t affect the ingredients to 1/4 the recipe. If you don’t have hot sauce it won’t make it terrible – it might just be lacking a little flavor. Cheeseballs are pretty hard to mess up!
Jenna – you are funny. I kind of thought that might be you since Ugo’s mug doesn’t resemble yours at all.
Amy – no the hot sauce definitely doesn’t make it spicy, it just adds really great flavor. You can cut it in half if you are at all worried, but just to ease your mind, my five year old, who is super sensitive to spicy foods gobbles this up.
I’ve never made a cheeseball. Just put this together for a party tonight. Sounds delicious! I love your site, thank you.
The Murphy’s – wow, I’ve never thought to roll a cheeseball in chili powder but I bet it is visually stunning and delicious. I hope these were a hit!
Jodi R. – thanks! I hope this cheeseball worked out great for your party.
Is this the same recipe your mom uses? If it is I’ve had it and it is YUMMY! I’m going to have to make this!
Nicole – glad you liked this recipe! Thanks for letting me know.
Thank you so much for your lovely recipe! I made it for New Year’s Eve and cannot believe I ever spent money on these things! I will be using your recipe from now on. Thanks again!
Hey Ursala – this recipe is similar but I’ve tweaked it over the years. My mom would be flattered to know you like her version so much!
Just mixed a couple of these up for New Year’s Eve! I was planning on using my regular recipe with ranch dressing mix in with sharp and cream cheese, but then thought to do a quick search here. Glad to ditch the ranch packet!
Your site always has good recipes and from what I sampled of this cheeseball, this one is another good one! I have never mixed a cheeseball with a mixer until tonight, so I learned something new, too! Thank you for your site!
Julia – great minds think alike because I made a big batch of these tonight, too!
Hi! I made this for a family get-together last night and it was a hit! I did what I thought was a mistake at first, but it turned out. I halved the recipe, so 2 cream cheese, 2 cups cheese, but then FORGOT and added full strength spices! It was actually quite good though, and I’m delighted that I have leftovers! Thanks Mel!
(P.S. My mom told me that she found your site through my blog and tried your cornbread. It’s now a family favorite!!)
Double Dipped Life – glad this cheeseball worked out for you – even at extra strength! That’s nice about your mom – I’m happy she found her way to the best cornbread on the planet.
Hi Mel-
This may be a dumb question–hot pepper sauce…like Tabasco?
Thanks-
natalie
Natalie – not a dumb question! I use hot sauce like Tapatio but you could probably sub Tabasco (although I’m not sure how the strength compares to the Tapatio so maybe start with half the amount).
I’m plannng on making 20 or these for Christmas gifts. Some will need to be mailed…
Do you know if this recipe freezes well? My plan was to freeze and package with dry ice or frozen bags to ship.
What do you think??? ThAnK yOu!
Carla – my in-laws make over 100 of these every year and they freeze them with great results so I’d say go for it!
My friend was in charge of making the cheese ball, while ours didn’t look like that it was very good! I think I had too many appetizers so there was a lot leftover (we only made half the recipe), but I would def. make it again, the ones who did try it kept coming for more!
I made this cheeseball tonight for my husband while he watched the Bowl games. I cut the recipe in half because I didn’t think we would need this much cheeseball. What a mistake! It’s so yummy, I wish I had made the whole thing. We are devouring it. It really is the best cheeseball I have ever tasted. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I want to be sure just about amount of the cheese,it is 8 ounce for all 4 packets,or each one is 8 ounce?
Tina – it is four packages of cream cheese, so 32 ounces total.
My husband, as a teenager, always told his friends about how he would marry a woman who made cheeseballs. They thought he was crazy but lucky for him, I make a killer cheeseball! I’m anxious to try out your recipe to add to my cheeseball repertoire, thanks for sharing, my husband will be very pleased.
{ 1 trackback }