If you love a party cheese ball as much as I do, why buy a bland, store bought version when you can make your own easy and spectacular cheese ball appetizer. To help you find the perfect flavors for your next boule de fromage, I've collected the easiest, cheesiest, top 20 cheese ball recipes for every occasion. Come and get inspired!
Great for parties, buffets, bridal and baby showers and as the centerpiece on a cheese board, a cheese ball is a classic appetizer that works well throughout the year. I might be biased, but I love this gluten-free, easy Hedgehog Cheeseball With Almonds.
Most of these easy recipes are gluten-free but we didn't forget the keto, low carb and vegan crew! Read on for tasty, special diet-friendly versions of the cheeseball near the end. There are awesome sweet dessert cheese balls too. Grab your hand mixer and a few blocks of cream cheese and lets get started!
Jump to:
- Shaped +Themed
- Smoked Salmon, Shrimp, Chicken + Beef
- Mini Balls Of Cheese
- Crazy Yummy Flavors
- Easy Homemade Cheese...Really!
- Goat Cheese
- Fruit And Nut
- Vegan Cheez
- Dessert Cheese Ball
- What To Serve With Cheese Balls
- Different Coatings To Try
- How Long Can It Sit Out?
- Can You Freeze Cheese Balls?
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If you love cheesy appetizers and recipes, you've gotta check out my Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese with Hot Honey, Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Dip, Baked Oysters With Cheese.
Shaped +Themed
The beauty of a homemade cheese ball is that you can shape it into any theme you like. Beyond just awesom Christmas appetizers, serve a pretty pastel hedgehog cheese ball at Easter, an orange and brown nut covered pumpkin for Thanksgiving.
For Christmas, a herb and dried fruit recipe shaped into a Christmas tree or cute little mini reindeer balls delight. A football shaped cheese ball adds festive vibes to a Superbowl party or a football players graduation party. Use one of these creative ideas or come up with your own.
Smoked Salmon, Shrimp, Chicken + Beef
I adore smoked salmon and blended up into a herb and cream cheese mixture, it's a crowd favorite. Serve these up with a side of crackers, sliced baguette, capers, lemon wedges or horseradish. Slices of cucumber or a dish of pickled beets is great pairing too!
Mini Balls Of Cheese
Individual, mini cheese balls are so cute, who can resist?! Served with a cracker on top or a toothpick, these are perfect finger food for any cocktail party.
Crazy Yummy Flavors
The best thing about making your own homemade cheese ball is all the kinds you can choose from! It doesn't take much to add a fun twist on the classic cheese ball recipe and make it unforgettable. I love them all but if I had to pick, my favorites are the pickle ball and chili ball. Mexican flavors of chilis and hot sauce add a spicy kick and bring the cheeseball to Cinco de Mayo parties too.
Easy Homemade Cheese...Really!
Simple and elegant, making a fresh cheese like Boursin, will really "Wow" your guests. This version is flavored with herbs and garlic for the classic cheese spread. A great make-ahead recipe that is fresher than store bought.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese adds extra tanginess and pairs so well with the sweet fruit and crunchy nuts. Serve cold or smoosh them onto chunks of crusty bread.
Fruit And Nut
Fruit, nuts and cheese are such a classic combo. Here they are combined into spreadable, elegant and tasty one dish appetizers that are a holiday favorite.
Vegan Cheez
Whip one of these vegan appetizers up in no time. Choose from a vegan cheese mixture or make your own with a tofu and nutritional yeast recipe. Both are so flavorful and cheese-like, no one will know they are dairy-free!
Dessert Cheese Ball
With a cream cheese base and various sweet ingredients, a dessert cheese ball is a great, make-ahead dessert or cocktail party treat. Go big and showy with the tasty turkey or elegant with dainty cheesecake balls and dip.
What To Serve With Cheese Balls
Almost anything that can scoop up dip makes a great side for cheese balls. Buttery crackers (Ritz crackers!) and baguette slices are traditional. I love adding in some celery sticks or cucumber slices for a light dipper.
Pretzel sticks, ripple potato chips, tortilla chips, pita chips and bagel chips are also great dipping foods. Check out the mini versions below with pretzel stick handles! So fun.
Fruit like grapes, pears and pomegranates and fresh herbs make lovely, edible garnishes and don't forget a small butter knife or cheese spreader.
Different Coatings To Try
If you are doing a simple recipe, try coating the cheese in different, flavorful ingredients like below. Paprika, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and chopped parsley or other herbs are all delicious and add extra texture too.
Chopped dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, apricots and even chopped apple or mango are all tasty twists. We are familiar with crushed nuts like pecans and walnuts but pistachios, hazelnuts and white macadamias are unique and tasty too.
How Long Can It Sit Out?
A great thing about cheese balls is that they aren't as perishable as many other appetizers. This makes them great for buffets and cocktail parties. Most cheese ball recipes can usually sit out 4-6 hours depending on their ingredients. Cheddar, Parmesan and other hard cheeses will last the longest. Cheese balls with chicken or shrimp should only be out for 2 hours before getting wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the fridge or tossed.
Can You Freeze Cheese Balls?
The short answer is yes and it's not hard. For more info on freezing your cheese ball, checkout Can You Freeze a Cheeseball? How And Why To Do It. Freezing allows you to make your cheese ball ahead of time saving last minute stress and allowing you to stock up when the ingredients are on sale.
I hope this list of awesome cheese ball recipes has been helpful and inspiring. If you have another favorite, not mentioned here, let me know in the comments below!
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Cheers friends! Sabrina
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