Bacon-Jalapeño Cheese Ball
38 comments » 
It’s Super Bowl week, which means it’s time to talk party food! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Dessert is my favorite meal of the day, with appetizers coming in a close second. Dips, chips, spreads, little bites… I love it all. Which naturally makes this one of my favorite weeks of the year. To get you ready for the big game, I’ll be sharing some new favorite appetizers this week, starting with this amazing cheese ball. You may remember that I broke my cheese ball dry spell last year with a recipe I got from my grandma, the world’s best pimento cheese ball. Later on in the year, I came across this bacon and jalapeño-loaded cheese ball and have been dying to try it ever since. I finally got around to it and realized that I had waited much, much too long to make it. In order to make up for lost time, I proceeded to eat almost the entire thing in one sitting. True story.
Even though I’ve been seeing more recipes for cheese balls recently, I still feel like they give off a little bit of a retro vibe. They remind me of my parents having company over in the 80′s. I am all for making the cheese ball the coolest thing since sliced bread once again. Seriously, what’s not to love? You mix together a ton of cream cheese, shredded cheese, then an assortment of other add-ins and seasonings. Chill, then slather on cracker after cracker, after cracker. You might call it an appetizer. I might call it lunch. Tomato, tomahto.
This particular cheese ball is what I’d refer to as the ultimate cheese ball. In addition to the cream cheese and cheddar cheese, it’s also packed with bacon, chopped jalapeños and seasonings and spices like cumin, cayenne and Worcestershire sauce that make it the crème de la crème of cheese balls… if there were such a thing. It is most definitely a cheese ball that is perfectly fitting for your Super Bowl get together!
One year ago: White Russian Winter Milkshake
Two years ago: Cream Cheese-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños
Three years ago: Mushroom-Herb Macaroni and Cheese
Five years ago: Lemon Meringue Pie
Bacon-Jalapeño Cheese Ball
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
A good old-fashioned cheese ball gets the works with bacon, jalapeños and lots of flavor!
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (about ½ cup)
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped, divided
2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon lime juice
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper
¼ cup chopped pecans, toastedDirections:
1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, half of the bacon, half of the jalapeños, the garlic, parsley, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, ground cumin and cayenne pepper until well combined.
2. On a large plate, stir together the remaining bacon, the remaining jalapeños and the toasted pecans until evenly combined. Shape the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Roll the ball in the pecan mixture until coated on all sides.
3. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve with your favorite crackers. Leftovers should be wrapped tightly and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
(Recipe adapted from The Homesick Texan; originally seen on Tracey's Culinary Adventures)
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Okay, I’m pretty sure that’s the ultimate football food!
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I don’t even eat bacon and will say, this is a gorgeous cheese ball! You made a gourmet cheeseball & love the vibrancy of the colors!
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Holy YUM. I love a good cheeseball. All the better with a little spice and BACON!!
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This looks awesome and sure to please any crowd!
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Now this is a cheesball I can get behind
Looks great!!
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I was totally seduced by Tracey’s recipe, too! Tried it out at a family get-together before Christmas; IT IS SOOOOOOOO GOOD. Your photos are gorgeous!!
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Oooh, I just saved this and I think I’ll make it for the Superbowl party I’m attending. Looks great!
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I made this at Christmas and my family loved it so much I had to make a second one!
Will be making another for a Superbowl party this week!
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Wow! This recipe is a keeper. I am making and taking it along to the party this weekend. Thanks for being a lifesaver. I didn’t know what I could bring besides dessert.
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Oh yeah… definitely lunch. And maybe dinner.
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This looks amazing! Is there any way around using cream cheese? My husband loathes cream cheese (terrible) but this would be perfect for our party this weekend.
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Michelle on January 29th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Hi Kelly, I don’t know of a way around cream cheese in something like a cheese ball, where it’s the main ingredient. Maybe if it’s covered in bacon you’re husband won’t notice?
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Chelsea on January 29th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
I bet it would be delicious if you used greek yogurt instead and made it into a dip.
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Kelly on January 31st, 2013 at 10:09 am
That’s a good suggestion. I think I’ll try that. Thanks!
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Shannon F on February 3rd, 2013 at 11:47 am
You might be able to substitute part of the cream cheese with goat cheese. That way the flavor of cream cheese would not be as apparent but it still would have an overall cheesy goodness.
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Bacon, cheese and spice = perfection!
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For some reason I find cheese balls hilarious but also totally delicious. What’s better than literally a giant ball of cheese? The bacon on this is reeaalll nice touch.
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Oh man, this is one good looking cheeseball!! I need this in my life!!!
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Perfect party food! Love the the flavor combination!
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Bacon and jalapenos = my Hubby’s favorites!
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WOW! This looks incredible. Perfect game day food!!!
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I think Chelsea is right, using Greek yogurt or even sour cream would be great substitutions for cream cheese. It would be more of a dip, but with all of those great ingredients, who really cares?! The cheese ball looks absolutely fabulous!
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What a fun dip – anything with bacon and jalapenos has got to be good!
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I’m glad it’s not just me eating dips and other appetizers as meals lately… I always thought of cheese balls as retro too, but when something is this good, I don’t much care
Glad you enjoyed it!
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Jalapeño AND Bacon? Yes please.
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Hi: sounds fabulous but I can’t eat nuts. Do you think it would be tasty w/o the pecans?
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Michelle on January 30th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Absolutely!
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I can never resist a cheese ball!
Also…your pictures are beautiful!
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I am wondering if tidbits of pineapple would be tasty?? Sweet, salty and spicy?
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Michelle on January 31st, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Hi Carie, Probably a matter of personal preference, but by all means try it if you’d like it, and let us know how it turns out!
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That s one really tasty looking cheese ball!
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What about chilies instead of jalapenos for less heat?
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Michelle on February 1st, 2013 at 10:45 am
Hi Alyssa, You could certainly substitute for the jalapenos, however I will say that this really isn’t all that spicy. Keep in mind, as well, that some chiles can be even hotter than jalapenos, so shop carefully!
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Oh my word, Michelle! I can’t believe how good this is looking to me even at 10PM!
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Bacon, jalapeño, and cheese… heaven!
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This is a FABULOUS recipe. Absolutely loved it and will most def make it again. The flavors are wonderful and it tastes just as great as it looks. I’ve shared it widely…and just fyi, I don’t do crackers. I spread this on summer sausage, celery, etc. i don’t do wheat. Anywho….just a great recipe. The heat will depend on the jalapenos. The ones I used were not hot enough. HA! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
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Bacon makes everything better, including cheese balls! Yum!
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This cheese ball looks amazing! The unqiue blend of flavors sounds like the perfect Superbowl treat! We’re sure it’s a crowd-pleaser! We recommend trying Sargento Medium Cheddar Cheese for the perfect Superbowl recipe kick! For a spicier flavor, try Sharp Cheddar – or Pepper Jack! – to enhance the jalapeno flavor!
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