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Fake Ginger

Feb 08, 2021

Classic Cheese Ball – Easy Cheese Ball

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Classic Cheese Ball – easy cheese ball recipe made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, parsley, and rolled in chopped pecans! Perfect appetizer for a party or holiday dinner.

Cheese ball rolled in pecans surrounded by crackers on a white plate

I love cheese balls. Whether it’s a classic cheese ball like this one or an Everything Cheese Ball or Bacon Cheese Ball – I love them all!

They just make the perfect appetizer for a holiday party or watching football or just hanging out with your family!

This Classic Cheese Ball is just like the name says: a classic! It’s cream cheese and cheddar cheese mixed with herbs and spices and rolled in pecans. You can serve it with crackers or sliced carrots and celery – whatever you want! 

Ingredients for Classic Cheese Ball in a white bowl; cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, parsley, hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper

Ingredients

  • Cream cheese – at room temperature
  • Cheddar cheese 
  • Green onions
  • Fresh parsley 
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Hot sauce – I use Louisiana hot sauce for this recipe but you can use whatever you like
  • Garlic powder
  • Black pepper
  • Pecans
  • Crackers, for serving – I like Ritz crackers for cheese balls 

Cheese ball on top of pecans on a white plate

How To Make a Classic Cheese Ball

  • Bring cream cheese to room temperature
  • Beat cream cheese until smooth
  • Add cheddar cheese, green onions, parsley, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper
  • Beat until well combined
  • Use a rubber spatula to gather up the cheese mixture
  • Shape cheese mixture into a ball 
  • Roll cheese ball into chopped pecans
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
  • Serve with crackers or sliced vegetables

Cheese ball covered in pecans on a white plate with extra pecans on plate

Tips and Tricks

  • The easiest way to coat the cheese ball in pecans is by putting the pecans on a plate and plopping the cheese ball on top. You can either roll it in the pecans or use your fingers to gently press the pecans into the sides and top of the ball. 

Can You Make a Cheese Ball Ahead?

You can definitely make a cheese ball ahead of time! Just make sure to cover and refrigerate it until you are ready to serve it. 

If you are making it more than a couple hours before you plan to serve it (like the night before), I recommend waiting to roll it into the pecans because you don’t want the pecans to soak up too much moisture and get soggy. So you may need to let your cheese ball sit on the counter for 15 – 20 minutes to soften it before you are able to get the pecans to stick. 

A small portion of cheese ball on a Ritz cracker; cheese ball in background with a chunk taken out

How Long Are Cheese Balls Good For?

Cheese balls are fine in the fridge for up to 1 week. Make sure you store it in an airtight container and throw it out of it starts to look or smell funny. 

Keep in mind that the pecans will start to lose their crunch the longer it sits in the fridge. 

And also be sure to store any crackers away from the cheese ball as they will definitely get soggy!

Can You Freeze a Cheese Ball?

You can freeze a cheese ball but you want to do it before you roll it in anything crunchy. So for this one, before you roll it in the pecans. 

I would wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then tightly in a layer of aluminum foil. And then put it in a freezer ziploc bag, making sure to squeeze out as much air as possible so it stays fresh. 

It should be fine in the freezer for up to 1 month. 

When you are ready to serve it, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight and then roll in the pecans. 

Cheese ball coated in pecans with Ritz crackers around it and parsley in the background

More Cheesy Appetizers

  • Cheesy Sausage and Spinach Dip
  • Chicken Burrito Dip
  • Bacon Cranberry Baked Brie
  • Queso Fundido
  • Cajun 7 Layer Dip
  • Texas Cheese Fries

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Overhead shot of pecan cheese ball on a white plate with buttery crackers around it

Continue to Content
Classic Cheese Ball

Classic Cheese Ball

Yield: about 15 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 (8-ounce) black cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp hot sauce (I use Louisiana hot sauce)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • crackers or sliced vegetables, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add cheddar cheese, green onions, parsley, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper; beat to combine.
  3. When well combined, use a rubber spatula to gather everything up and then use your hands to shape it into a ball.
  4. Roll in pecans, making sure the cheese ball is coated.
  5. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  6. Take the cheese ball out of the fridge about 15 minute before you plan to serve it. Serve with crackers or sliced veggies.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

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© Amanda Livesay
Classic Cheese Ball - easy cheese ball recipe made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, parsley, and rolled in chopped pecans! Perfect appetizer for a party or holiday dinner.

Filed Under: appetizer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Allyson Zea says

    Feb 09, 2021 at 2:38 pm

    Wow this combination is seriously perfect! I love it!

    Reply
  2. Toni says

    Feb 09, 2021 at 3:58 pm

    I love this classic cheeseball! My kids couldn’t stop eating this!

    Reply
  3. katerina @ diethood.com says

    Feb 10, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    This cheeseball was SO DELICIOUS!! We couldn’t get enough!!

    Reply
  4. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

    Feb 10, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    WOW! This was absolutely amazing!! Great flavors!

    Reply
  5. Sandra says

    Feb 17, 2021 at 10:14 pm

    Everyone at my house loved this cheese ball!

    Reply

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Amanda Livesay
Hi, I'm Amanda! DFW food blogger, mom of boys, and crazy dog lady.
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