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!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Ball

Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 105kcal

Author Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese (1 brick) softened to room temp.
5 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (a little over half an 8 oz brick)
¼-⅓ cup finely chopped jalapeños (approx. 2 medium or 1 large) divided
¼-⅓ cup diced pickled jalapeños
½ tsp sweet paprika or spicy ground cayenne pepper
¼-½ tsp garlic powder
⅛ tsp sea salt
2 slices bacon cooked til crispy and finely chopped
1-2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley

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!

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