5 from 3 votes
Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Ball
This crowd-pleasing Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Ball makes a perfect party appetizer! It tastes like jalapeño poppers and is great on crackers, pretzels, apple slices, and veggies!
Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
15
servings
Calories:
105 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese (1 brick) softened to room temp.
- 5 ounces cheddar cheese a little over half an 8 oz brick, sharp
- ¼-⅓ cup jalapeño approx. 2 medium or 1 large) divided, finely chopped
- ¼-⅓ cup jalapeño peppers diced, pickled
- ½ tsp paprika or spicy ground cayenne pepper, sweet
- ¼-½ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp salt sea salt
- 2 lices Bacon cooked til crispy and finely chopped
- 1-2 TBSP parsley chopped, fresh
Instructions
- For a more mild cheese ball with medium spice, remove the seeds, veins, and stem from the fresh jalapeño and finely chop/mince. For a spicier cheese ball leave the insides intact.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cheddar, pickled jalapeño, garlic powder, choice of paprika or cayenne, and sea salt. Add half the fresh minced jalapeño and save the rest for topping.
- Using a hand mixer or a spoon and some elbow grease (my method of choice), mix well.
- Scoop out the cheese mixture and shape into a ball with your hands. If mixture is too soft to form a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and shape into a ball, then pop it in the fridge to chill for 15 min or so until it firms up enough to hold its shape.
- Place cheese ball on a sheet of parchment paper or a cutting board. Sprinkle on crispy chopped bacon, chopped parsley, and the remaining minced jalapeño while pressing firmly into the cheese ball to coat, reinforcing the shape of the ball while you go.
- Serve with assorted pretzels and crackers for dunking/scooping/spreading/face-planting. Sliced apples and vegetables like halved sweet mini peppers, carrot sticks, and celery sticks are awesome options too. Enjoy!
- Leftovers taste deeeeeelicious spread on pretty much everything in sight the following day, especially buttery ritz crackers or a toasted bagel!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- For a spicier appetizer, feel free to up the jalapeño content, swap for spicier serrano peppers, and even employ a little hot sauce or red pepper flakes into the cheese mixture. Taste as you go and customize the heat to your preference.
- Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed based on dippers and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Calories
105kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
1g
(0%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
0.004g
(0%)
Cholesterol
27mg
(9%)
Sodium
186mg
(8%)
Potassium
45mg
(1%)
Fiber
0.1g
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
409IU
(8%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
83mg
(8%)
Iron
0.1mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 15 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 105kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.004g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 27mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 186mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 45mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 409IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 83mg | 8% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.