This easy cheese ball recipe only takes 5 ingredients and is ready in an hour!
Who doesn’t love the perfect pairing of ranch dressing and bacon mixed with tangy cream cheese?
Holidays, game days, or any day is a good day to whip up a bacon ranch cheese ball!
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
- Bacon ranch cheese balls are just as welcome at a casual BBQ as they are at a fancy cocktail party!
- Make-and-take cheese balls are easy to transport and can be made up to four days ahead – the flavors will just continue to blend!
- Spread this tasty dip on a bagel, or a wrap, or use it to fill cherry tomatoes or mushroom caps as a tasty app for low-carb followers!
- Make one large cheese ball, or shape them into bite-sized balls with a toothpick in each!
5-Ingredient Cheese Ball
Cream Cheese Base: Go for full-fat cream cheese because that’s where the flavor is! Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Blue cheese crumbles, and even a Mexican cheese blend (or a combination of all!) will add tangy flavor to cheese balls.
Seasonings: Ranch seasoning has its own iconic flavor! But you can also make your own so it’s always on hand! Feel free to add a few red pepper flakes for a pop of color, if desired.
Variations: Other add-ins for bacon ranch cheese balls are cooked ground beef or pork, jalapenos, diced bell peppers, chopped black olives or sun-dried tomatoes, and even chopped spinach. Besides bacon bits, other tasty coatings are chopped nuts or slivered almonds, crispy fried onions, crushed Ritz crackers, or tortilla chips.
How to make Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
- Whip cream cheese until fluffy (as per the recipe below).
- Stir in ranch dip, green onions, cheddar cheese, and ½ cup of bacon.
- Form into a ball and refrigerate for one hour.
- Roll the cheese ball into the remaining bacon crumbles before serving.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Serving Suggestions
- Surround bacon ranch cheese ball with an assortment of crackers, chips, pita chips, crostini, celery, and thick slices of cucumber or zucchini. Add a small butter knife if serving with delicate chips or crackers.
- Cheese balls make stunning visual presentations on the table. Serve alongside other favorites like bacon wrapped smokies, cranberry turkey pinwheels, tortilla chips with guacamole and homemade salsa.
- Let the cheese ball soften about 20 minutes before serving.
Storage Solutions
This leftover bacon ranch cheese ball can be saved in a covered container or wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Freeze for up to a month in plastic wrap placed in a zippered bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reshape and add fresh garnishes, if necessary.
More Irresistible Appetizers!
Have you tried this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 packages cream cheese 8 ounces each, softened
- 1 packet ranch mix
- ¼ cup green onion diced
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crumbled bacon divided
Instructions
- Place cream cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl and mix with a mixer until fluffy.
- Add in ranch dip mix and green onion. Stir in shredded cheddar and ½ cup of the bacon crumbles.
- Once mixed, form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Before serving, roll the cream cheese ball into the remaining ½ cup of crumbled bacon.
- Serve with pita chips, crackers, or vegetables.
Video
Notes
- Freeze this cheese ball recipe for about a month. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and put in a freezer bag.
- To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight. Reshape and add additional garnishes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©The Shortcut Kitchen. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
REPIN this Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
this looks fabulous! NOOW CAN I SUBSTITUTE real onions instead of green onions? or do i have to put in the green onions?
Real onions will work but I would cook and cool them before adding them to the cheese mixture!
I tried this with the Italian pack it along with the other ingredients less the ranch packet and it came out great! Added a punch of Worcester and a hint of garlic to put a spin on it
Sounds great Lyn!
This recipe looks so good and deadly for gaining weight, but I could always feed it to my family!
It is delicious!
You might read about the Keto diet.. People actually LOOSE weight on this diet. Fat is not fatening.. it keeps youfullso you dont snack on carbs. Cleveland clinic is on board with the diet… Its a whole new way of thinking about food
Nevermind, finally was able to pin the recipe! Yay!
I made this for a holiday dinner last Christmas and it was amazing. Will definitely make again. I’d like to save the recipe, but I can’t pin it (no link). Can someone help me out? Thanks.
I make this for Thanksgiving and Christmas but I mix the bacon bits in the cream cheese and I use chopped dried beef on the outside its really good.
That sounds great!
So good! Everyone loved it, especially those bacon lovers.
So glad to hear everyone loved it Camille!
do you use a packet of ranch dip mix or ranch dressing mix. there is a difference.
Both will work Sandra! Enjoy!
Can I make this ahead of time and freeze it?
I have not frozen it, but some readers say it works perfectly. Enjoy!
We served this during the cocktail hour at our daughter’s wedding instead of traditional cheese and crackers. Everyone loved it.
That’s so lovely to hear Linda! I’m so glad that everyone loved it!
I’ve frozen cream cheese before and it makes the texture grainy and gross. I strongly recommend against it.
Some readers say it works well
I have used something along the lines of this same recipe.. But I used dry onion soup mix and added black olive slices. Its great
Great ideas Michael!
I’d love to follow you.
This is a yummy recipe! I made it with no onion (hubby hate them) and shaped it in to a football and put mini peperoni on the outside and sting cheese to make it look like a foot ball!
So glad your family loved it!
loved the cheese ball, plan to make the jalapeno popper Dip for the SUPERBOWL, THANK YOU!!
Yummy!!
This is Amazing!!!!!
I love this recipe. You can not use bottle ranch dressing. It has to be powdered. Real chopped bacon tastes better, but the “real” bacon bits work in a pinch. Make sure you let your cream cheese get good and soft or you will break a hand trying to mix it. I use shredded colby jack cheese or sometimes the mexican blend. I also sometimes make it into tiny bite-sized balls with a pretzel stick stuck in it (for parties with drinkers because it’s easier and less messy)
Yummy!
Going to make this for a party with friends.
I’ve made this a zillion times. I use a sharp cheddar cheese which makes it so much better and I always use 2 packs of Philadelphia cheese therefore making several cheeseballs that I then throw in the freezer. Do not be afraid to freeze these ! They are just fine when thawed.
Looks Great as well as easy. Will be making this.
Made this and the recipe says 1 packet of Ranch dressing mix but it wastoo much. Are you sure it should be 1 Tab, ?
Me too and mine tastes too salty!
You can reduce the ranch if you find it too much for your taste. If you’ve already made the cheeseball, you could add another package of cream cheese to reduce the salt.
I am from Australia and we don’t have the ranch dipping mix I used French onion dip ……was yum
This looks great. Making it tonight!
Thank you
save please
Will make for Christmas.
Have you frozen this cheese all? Looks yummy!
I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoy all of your recipes and that you cannot be married to the most wonderful man for my wife is! LOL
Can the cheese balls be made up in advanced and put in the freezer ?? I was wondering for Christmas gift baskets.
I would probably use it for the topping on a baked potato
I bought everything except the green onions at Aldi for about half the price as everywhere else. I liked the bacon crumbles better than the Publix brand. It was a little bit salty but good. I gotta admit I put way more grated cheese in than the recipe called for. (recipes are suggestions not rules) Then I split it into two balls and put one in the freezer. I always make cheeseballs at least a day ahead so the flavors can meld.
A packet of dry ranch dressing is 1oz or 28grams or 8tsp
Great
This sounds very delicious and I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks!!
Can’t wait to try make this!
i was unable to find the single packets of dried ranch but I bought a large container at Costco. how much should I measure out for this recipe.
I am defenitly going to try this this Thanksgiving weekend, tks for sharing
I will Definitely make this looks so good
Gonna try this and maybe roll in pecan pieces. Yum.
Would it hold together without the bacon? As is, it’s neither Kosher nor vegetarian.d
How can this not be a hit at every party or gathering? Yummy!!
I love these recipes
This sounds good. But instead of a ball I will probably smooth it into a pie plate and then cover it with the rest of the bacon. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Use the dry mix, do not prepare the ranch dip. You are using into for the Ranch flavor not for dipping.
Do you prepare the ranch dip? Or do you just pour the powder into the cream cheese?
Only real bacon pieces can be used. The imitation ones are awful. I also use 1 cup of shredded cheese. I have used whichever cheese I have on hand. This has been a family favorite for years. We have been known to “sample” it on the bottom before taking it anyplace.
I still havent seen answer to question i have or others have asked…..can bacon bits be used?
Can you make this a few day up ahead?
I buy the real bacon crumbles from the salad bar at Heinen’s grocery store – it’s only $4.99 a pound and I don’t have the splattered grease all over. If you want to crisp it up, you can and the flavor is better when it’s been warmed in a pan instead of using the microwave. This recipe sounds easy to make and tasty too.
I fried one lb of bacon and it yielded a slightly heaping cup of crumbles. Also used a 1oz bag of the dry dip mix. I almost bought salad dressing mix, but then I saw the dip mix. It’s yummy.
Take the whole package of bacon and put on parchment paper in the oven for about 45 minutes on 350 degrees till crispy…that makes the perfect amount of bacon minus the few pieces you sneak into your mouth! LOL!
Is it the bacon crumples in the bottle or cook your own ?
What size package of dressing?
did you use bacon crumples in bottle for salad toppings or fry up your own bacon?
Even better than the regular ranch packet, try the fiesta ranch packet for an extra kick!
Sounds awesome but I would add finely diced onion, chopped parsley and some chopped olives.
And to jazz it up, horseradish to taste can’t hurt:-D
I make this every Christmas. I make it 4company & even made it 4 my daughters baby shower. Everyone loves it.
This looks fabulous! I will be making this for upcoming holiday gatherings! What a great idea!
Has anyone tried this recipe with some diced jalapeños mixed in?
I make a version with dried beef and onion soup mix,there’s never any leftovers!
Do you use bacon? Or do you use bacon bits?
I’ve been making this for years except with the fiesta ranch mix. It’s ah-mazing!
I want the recipe with the picture included.
This sounds so good, can’t wait to make it and share it…..thanks for posting this….I have been looking for a good cheese ball…..
I think using bottle dressing will make the mixture too thin to form into a ball. The dry mix is not hard to find and is not expensive. I use the store brand.
Do you think the packaged ranch mix could be substituted with bottled ranch dressing?? I’ve never seen the packaged mix but then again I’ve never actually looked for it either =D
SO going to try this for my next party!!!
Definately going to make this for a PACKER PARTY sometime….maybe even the Super Bowl.
GO PACK GO!