Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (2024)

This Cheese Ball Recipe is an absolute must in our home during the Holidays.With only 5 ingredients – cream cheese, thinly sliced packaged meat, green onions, salt and Worcestershire Sauce – this Cheese Ball goes together in a snap!

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (1)

Welcome to Day 79 of the 100 Days of Homemade Holiday Inspiration! Each day we will beinspiring you with recipes, decorating ideas, crafts, homemade gift ideas and much more!

Follow along to be inspired!

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (2)

Do you have a recipe that is the most requested from your family?

This Cheese Ball Recipe is the one for me. There isn’t a holiday or really even a simple get together go by that my boys don’t ask for this Cheese Ball.

Recently I made Spinach Dip and told the boys to come and grab a snack of one of their favorites, and immediately they thought it was the cheese ball. Now they also love the spinach dip, but they were expecting the cheese ball. It will be on the menu from now on, for sure.

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (3)

Cheese Ball Recipe

Making a Cheese Ball takes only 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes of time.

Ingredients

  • Cream Cheese – you will need 2 (8 oz) blocks – be sure they are softened
  • Dried Beef – 2 packages – you can also use pastrami but I think beef is best
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Green Onions
  • Salt – I used to use Accent Salt, but recently have been leaving the salt out completely, and I think it’s just as good.

Mixing

  1. I found it easiest to use my KitchenAid stand mixer, but you could also use a hand mixer or mix by hand.
  2. Be sure that the cream cheese is softened quite a bit, it will make the cheese ball smoother and easier to mix.
  3. Add all ingredients together and mix until smooth and well combined

Forming a cheese ball

There are a few options for forming, be sure the mixture is chilled before forming, it makes it easier.

  1. Lay plastic wrap on the counter, add the mixture and then using the plastic wrap, form the cheese ball.
  2. You can also divide the cheese ball in half to make smaller cheese balls
  3. Or you can divide it into small pieces and form mini cheese balls.

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Our family likes this Cheese Ball without any coating, but you can certainly add a variety of coatings if you like.

Cheese Ball Coatings:

  • Nuts – finely chopped Pecans or Walnuts, form the cheese ball then roll it in the nuts
  • Chives, finely chopped
  • Sesame Seeds – black and/or white

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This Cheese Ball Recipe also makes a great gift. Here are some ideas to give it as gifts –

  1. Divide the cheese ball into mini balls, then add crackers to a jar, the wrapped cheese balls on top, and tie on a small knife for spreading.
  2. Creating a gift basket is easy and fun. Add crackers, vegetables and a cheese ball to a tray or basket for a fun gift.
  3. Place the cheese ball in the center of a plate, then surround it with crackers. Wrap in plastic and tie with a ribbon for an easy gift.

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Cheese Ball – Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze the cheese ball?

Freezing the Cheese Ball makes it super easy to plan ahead for the holidays or other occasion.

To prepare them ahead for the freezer, follow the recipe below and simply wrap them in plastic wrap then place infreezer safe bag. If you are adding a coating like nuts, add that before serving.

The day of the party, just take them out of the freezer in the morning or the night before and place them in the fridge, be sure to allow at least 8 hours to thaw.

What else can I serve with the cheese ball besides crackers?

Here are some ideas we like –

  • Crostini
  • Mini Bagels
  • Pretzels
  • Pita Chips
  • Apple and Pear slices go well with a cheddar cheese ball
  • Celery
  • Carrots

How long will the cheese ball last?

If you have leftovers, be sure to store it in an airtight container or wrap it with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can I make the cheese ball ahead?

Yes, you can certainly it ahead of time. Just wrap it in plastic wrap, and place in an airtight container. Then store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can I mix the cheese ball by hand?

Mixing by hand is fine. Be sure the cheese cream is super soft before beginning to mix. Use a heavy wooden spoon and a strong arm to be sure it’s well blended.

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (7)

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (8)

Follow along with the100 Days of Homemade Holiday Inspirationfor more simple recipes, easy crafts, homemade gift ideas, decorating tips and much more!

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (9)

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (10)

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Perfect for a holiday gift or to serve as an appetizer, this Christmas Cheese Ball from HoosierHomemade.com is a must have on your holiday baking list.

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2 packages of thinly sliced meat, beef works best
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 3-4 green onions, chopped finely
  • 1 teaspoon (or to taste) salt, optional

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients together and form into ball.
  2. You can roll in chopped nuts if you want.
  3. Serve with crackers or vegetables
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 47Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g

Looking for more holiday appetizers? Click on the photo for the recipe

Cheese Ball Recipe - Hoosier Homemade (2024)

FAQs

How long is a homemade cheese ball good for? ›

Storing: A cheese ball should be stored in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for several days or up to 2 weeks depending on the freshness of your ingredients. To estimate how long your cheese ball will stay fresh, first notice the expiration date on the ingredients you are using.

How do you thicken a cheese ball? ›

Your cheese ball is too runny: Once you have added all the extras, and it's all mixed in well, if the texture is more salad dressing-like than something you might spread on a bagel, you can tighten it up easily by adding unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing before you add more.

What cheese are cheese balls made of? ›

Cheese balls are traditionally made with two kinds of cheese – cream cheese (or another soft cheese like quark cheese, mascarpone or ricotta) and a grated semi-soft or semi-firm cheese like cheddar, colby cheese, monterey jack cheese, or muenster.

Why is my cheese ball crumbly? ›

When making cheese balls, not all cheeses are created equal. It's best to skip those very firm cheeses that require grating, like Parmesan, or others with dry, crumbly texture, like cotija. Because of their texture, these types of cheese don't blend as well to yield a smooth cheese ball.

What are the best crackers for cheese ball? ›

What to Serve with Cheese Ball. That's an important question and I obviously have a strong opinion. Here are some options: Crackers – Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, Milton's.

Can a cheese ball be left out overnight? ›

The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than two hours — and that's certainly the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella.

What does cornstarch do to cheese? ›

Cheese Sauce, Take 1: Cornstarch, Stovetop

This helps the entire mixture stay smooth and emulsified, resulting in a creamy sauce. He recommends tossing the shredded cheese with the cornstarch before cooking so it is evenly dispersed and does not form clumps when cooked.

Why is my cheese ball too soft? ›

Remove cheese ball from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the cheese has time to soften and become more spreadable. Why is my cheese ball too soft? A cheese ball can be too soft if reduced fat or nonfat cream cheese is used. Stick to regular, full fat block-style cream cheese.

What does adding cornstarch to cheese do? ›

For a cheese dip or sauce, the addition of cornstarch serves a similar function: Starch molecules absorb water and expand, not only thickening the liquid phase of the sauce, but also physically preventing the proteins from binding into long, tangled strands and the fats from separating out and pooling.

How long will a homemade cheese ball last in the refrigerator? ›

Storing in Fridge: If you start with fresh ingredients, you can store the cheese ball in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. How to Freeze: I prefer a freshly made cheese ball, BUT you can freeze cheese balls.

What are the ingredients in current cheese balls? ›

Corn Grits, Rice Grits, Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein Oil), Cheddar Cheese Powder, Iodized Salt, Sugar, Maltodextrin (Ins 1400), Flavour Enhancer (Ins 621), Food Color (Ins 110) And Natural Cheese Flavour. Manufacturer Name: Yashoda Foods Pvt Ltd. Tilottama 15, Rupandehi, Nepal.

How are cheeseballs made? ›

The term “cheese balls” comes from the delicious cheesy filling that is encased in a mashed potato mix, covered in liquid, cornstarch, and breadcrumbs or panko crumbs for crunch, and then finally either deep fried or baked.

Why does my homemade cheese not melt? ›

As the milk heats, the acid curds become closer to one another, and the water content decreases. Without the calcium glue, the cheese will continue to solidify and will not melt.

Can you freeze a homemade cheese ball? ›

Cheese balls freeze quite well. Again, it's best to wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to four weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Why is my homemade cheese bitter? ›

Bitterness in cheese is linked to bitter compounds development during cheese ripening. Most of the bitter compounds come from bitter peptides, the mechanism of theirs development being due to proteasepeptidase system of the cured enzymes and the milk cultures as well as other proteases present in cheese.

How long does fresh homemade cheese last? ›

How long will the cheese last? For some cheese, especially hard cheeses, they can last more than a year, if you can keep from eating them. Fresh cheeses like Ricotta and Mozzarella can last a week or two in your refrigerator. The same holds true for some Camembert, Brie's and Blue cheeses.

How do you store homemade cheese balls? ›

Serve the cheese ball immediately or store it in the fridge. Wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. The two layers keeps the cheese ball fresh and helps it keep its shape. Store in the fridge for up to four days.

How do you keep cheese balls fresh? ›

Wrapping and storing a cheese ball in the fridge will help hold its shape, prevent it from crumbling, and keep the cheese from drying out. Furthermore, wrapping the cheese ball in aluminum foil will provide additional support and stop the cheese from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge.

How long can cheese sit before it goes bad? ›

The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than 2 hours — and that's definitely the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella.

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