Hey everyone! If you’re looking for a great New Year’s Eve appetizer, look no further than this bacon jalapeño cheese ball.
When it comes to appetizers, it doesn’t get much easier than the much beloved cheese ball. You can whip them up the day before (in fact, it needs the overnight in the fridge for the flavors to really come out). On the day of your party, you just open up some boxes of crackers and you’re done!
Have I also mentioned that the cheese ball is usually one of the first things to get chomped at my family parties? Everyone loves them. I’m not sure what it is, but they’re just to friendly and fun to eat.
I like to make my cheese balls with bacon. To me, a cheese ball is better with a nice, healthy dose. I also added some jalapeño and cilantro for good measure. If you’re a little sensitive to heat, you can use half a jalapeño or even skip it. And if you don’t like cilantro, you can totally use flat leaf parsley. Cilantro just happens to be one of my favorite flavors, so I couldn’t help but smother the cheese ball in the stuff.
A stand mixer or a hand mixer is definitely the easiest way to make these, but if you don’t have one, you can still use some good ol’ elbow grease. Just make sure your cream cheese and butter are nice and soft.
I hope you love this recipe, and that you have a happy and safe New Year!
Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Ball
This is the perfect cheese ball to take to your next holiday party!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temp
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temp
- 1 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 3 green onions, minced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
- 1/2 cup diced bacon (from about 5 slices of crispy cooked bacon, or real bacon bits)
- 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
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Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Add worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and green onions. Cream together until well combined. Add jalapeño, bacon, and cheddar cheese and mix until combined and ingredients are well distributed.
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Put pecans and cilantro on a shallow plate and toss until combined, then spread evenly in a flat layer. Remove cheese ball mixture, roll into a ball using your hands, then coat evenly with pecan and cilantro mixture. Wrap the cheeseball in plastic wrap and chill in fridge overnight before serving. Serve with your favorite crackers. Enjoy!
