By Becky Hardin
Published Dec 6, 2018
This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball puts a delicious kick on the classic cheese ball recipe we all know and love. Cream cheese, ranch, bacon, and more are combined in this tasty bacon cheese ball recipe for lots of flavor. It’s perfect as a Christmas party appetizer, New Year’s Eve appetizer, or for game day!
Why We Love This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Nothing is easier than an appetizer that lets the refrigerator do all the heavy lifting. This recipe is filled with flavor (what’s better than cheese and bacon?), and it’s really easy to make. This cheese ball recipe with bacon is perfect for any party, holiday, or occasion that requires you to feed guests, and it’s always a hit. Just add some crackers and let people dip away!
Variations on Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball
The great thing about cheese balls is that you can really add in anything you want. I love the savory, tangy mix that the bacon and ranch add in. Plus the yogurt gives it a bit of extra creaminess. So yummy!
How to Store and Reheat
You can store your bacon ranch cheese ball in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just wrap it in plastic wrap.
How to Freeze
Whether you have leftovers or you just want to make your bacon ranch cheese ball well ahead of time, you can freeze it for up to 4 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe resealable bag. If you are just trying to prepare these ahead of time, I recommend freezing it before rolling it in the bacon crumbles. But it will still work just fine if they’re already on there.
Serving Suggestions
A cheese ball is such an easy thing to make, and it’s absolutely delicious! Serve it on a cheeseboard (next to Boursin and pimento cheese ) with an array of crackers (try my Mexican spice cheese crackers !), chips , pretzels, and vegetables, and everyone will devour it in a flash. It’s the most classic holiday appetizer!
You can leave this cheese ball out of refrigeration for up to 2 hours. After 2 hours, I recommend placing it back into the refrigerator to keep it firm and fresh. You can extend this time by placing the cheese ball on a plate set in a bowl of ice.
To shape a cheese ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and roll it gently into a ball shape. You can use your fingers or the palms of your hands to gently shape it into other fun shapes if you like!
Your cheese ball may become runny or wet if you add too many mix-ins. Keep it simple with dried herbs, and make sure to pat dry any fresh herbs before mixing them in.
More Cheese Ball Recipes To Try
- Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
- Christmas Cheese Ball
- Mini Cheese Ball Bites
5-Star Review
“I love this recipe!! It’s great for any get-together & always a hit!” -Kristyn
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ▢ ¼ cup freshly shredded Swiss Cheese
- ▢ ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ▢ ½ ounce ranch seasoning (½ packet)
- ▢ 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature (½ brick)
- ▢ 1 pound crumbled cooked bacon divided
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Video
Instructions
- Combine the cheddar, Swiss, yogurt, Ranch seasoning mix, cream cheese, and one-quarter of the crumbled bacon in a mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together with an electric mixer until well blended. ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup freshly shredded Swiss Cheese, ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ ounce ranch seasoning, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1 pound crumbled cooked bacon
- Shape the cheese mixture into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in a bowl just larger than the ball.
- Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
- After the cheese ball has firmed in the fridge, combine the remaining bacon crumbles and chopped parsley in a small mixing bowl. ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Roll the cheese ball in the bacon crumbles/parsley mixture, pressing slightly so the bacon will adhere to the cheese.
- Return the cheese ball to the fridge until ready to serve with your favorite crackers and/or fresh vegetables.
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
- This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is best made one day ahead to give time for the flavors to meld.
- Feel free to use your favorite types of cheeses to make it your own!
- The cream cheese must be at room temperature or it will not mix smoothly.
- Don’t skip the crunchy coating; it provides a great contrast to the creamy spread.
- Try shaping your cheese ball into a football, pumpkin, Christmas tree, or log!
- Serve at room temperature for the best results.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make a Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Step by Step
Mix the Cheese Ball: Combine ½ cup of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup of freshly shredded Swiss Cheese, ¼ cup of plain Greek yogurt, ½ ounce of ranch seasoning, 4 ounces (½ brick) of cream cheese, and ¼ pound of crumbled cooked bacon in a mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together with an electric mixer until well blended.
Shape and Chill: Shape the cheese mixture into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in a bowl just larger than the ball. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Make the Coating: After the cheese ball has firmed in the fridge, combine the remaining ¾ pound of bacon crumbles and ¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley in a small mixing bowl.
Roll and Serve: Roll the cheese ball in the bacon crumbles/parsley mixture, pressing slightly so the bacon will adhere to the cheese. Return the cheese ball to the fridge until ready to serve with your favorite crackers and/or fresh vegetables.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup freshly shredded Swiss Cheese
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ ounce ranch seasoning (½ packet)
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature (½ brick)
- 1 pound crumbled cooked bacon divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Combine the cheddar, Swiss, yogurt, Ranch seasoning mix, cream cheese, and one-quarter of the crumbled bacon in a mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together with an electric mixer until well blended. ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup freshly shredded Swiss Cheese, ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ ounce ranch seasoning, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1 pound crumbled cooked bacon
- Shape the cheese mixture into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in a bowl just larger than the ball.
- Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
- After the cheese ball has firmed in the fridge, combine the remaining bacon crumbles and chopped parsley in a small mixing bowl. ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Roll the cheese ball in the bacon crumbles/parsley mixture, pressing slightly so the bacon will adhere to the cheese.
- Return the cheese ball to the fridge until ready to serve with your favorite crackers and/or fresh vegetables.
Video
Notes
- This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is best made one day ahead to give time for the flavors to meld.
- Feel free to use your favorite types of cheeses to make it your own!
- The cream cheese must be at room temperature or it will not mix smoothly.
- Don’t skip the crunchy coating; it provides a great contrast to the creamy spread.
- Try shaping your cheese ball into a football, pumpkin, Christmas tree, or log!
- Serve at room temperature for the best results.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
