Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The Marzetti® Brand. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Spruce up your holiday appetizers with a tasty Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball. not only is it easy but it’s delicious and perfect served with crackers and veggies.

Cheese Balls are perfect for parties and take minutes to make! They’re one of our go-to’s along with Veggie Cups and Tortilla Roll Ups because they’re simple and delicious.

Who here loves cheese balls?

We love them but usually make them for special occasions or holidays. In fact, they have become one of our go-to appetizers for Thanksgiving and Christmas because everyone loves them.

We like to serve these cheese balls with a variety of items, but recently made a delicious bacon ranch cheese ball made with Marzetti^® Veggie Ranch Dip. You can find it in the refrigerator aisle right next to all of the produce. We used about 1/3 cup of the creamy, rich dip to mix into the cheese ball, which added so much flavor!

In addition to the ranch dip, we also added bacon and cheese, cream cheese and spices. The result was a tasty ranch cheese ball that was a hit with everyone!

10 minute prep

The best part about this cheese ball is that it literally takes no more than 10-15 minutes to prep. You just throw the ingredients in a bowl, mix them with a hand mixer, form into a ball, roll it around in bacon pieces, and let it refrigerate! It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Can I make it a day ahead? Definitely! You could even make it a few days in advance. But wait to coat it in bacon bits until the day of, or they might get a little soggy.

How long can a cheese ball sit out? A cheese ball shouldn’t sit out at room temperature any longer than 2 hours. After that, harmful bacteria can start to form.

How long will the cheese ball last in the fridge? It will last as long as the most perishable ingredient, which in this case is probably the bacon (if you use freshly cooked bacon). If you use fresh bacon, 4-5 days is probably safe. If you use packaged bacon bits, however, you could make it last up to a week or so.

Can it be frozen? You can freeze the cheeseball (before you coat it in the bacon bits) by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap, and putting it into a freezer bag. It will last in the freezer for up to a month. When you’re ready to use it, let it defrost in the fridge for a day or two before coating it in bacon and serving it.

what to serve with cheese balls?

There are so many fun finger foods to serve with cheese balls, but we definitely have our favorites. Some of those include:

• Veggies – carrots and celery our top choices
• Fruit – pears and apples especially
• Mini Bagels
• Pretzels
• Crackers – of any variety
• Pita Chips

Which foods do you like to dip best?

For even more dips, check out: Cream Cheese Bean Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Queso Blanco, Cheesy Sausage Dip.

I think this is our new favorite savory cheese ball by far. If you want to try our favorite dessert cheese ball, you’ve gotta try this sweet and tasty Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball.

For more veggie appetizers, try:

• Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups
• Cucumber Sandwiches
• Veggie Cups
• Antipasto Kebobs

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

Print Save Recipe Rate

4.84 from 6 votes

This Bacon Ranch Cheese ball is the perfect partner for your veggie tray! With cheese, bacon, and ranch flavors, you can do no wrong!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Refrigerating Time 1 hour

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 24

Calories 154 kcal

Author Kristyn Merkley

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, cold NOT room temperature
• 1/3 c. Marzetti Ranch Dip
• 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 c. chopped bacon, divided
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. dried parsley
• 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, ranch dip, shredded cheddar, 3 tablespoons chopped bacon, garlic powder, paprika, parsley and pepper. Using a handled mixer, mix just until combined.

2. Roll mixture into a large ball, or two smaller balls. Roll in remaining bacon.

3. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 154 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 39mg13%

Sodium 210mg9%

Potassium 49mg1%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 425IU9%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 127mg13%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marzetti^® dips are so tasty and great for any occasion!! For more information about Marzetti go HERE or find them on Facebook HERE.