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Bacon, ranch flavor, green onions, cheddar cheese, and crunchy pecans come together in this amazing cheese ball! It is my absolute favorite and most popular cheeseball on the site and will be a hit wherever it goes!
Bacon ranch cheeseball on a plate with crackers wrapped around and a cracker dipped in the cheeseball.
I made this cheeseball the first year that I was blogging. It quickly became the most popular cheeseball on my site and is my absolute favorite. Needless to say, the picture was in need of a makeover. 🙂
December is full of holiday parties and get togethers. And in my opinion, cheeseballs are a must at any gathering! They are delicious and so simple to make. This cheeseball has so many amazing flavors combined. Ranch flavor, green onions, cheddar cheese, and crunchy pecans. And don’t forget the bacon. Bacon makes everything better and adds such great flavor!
Overhead photo of a cheeseball with crackers wrapped around the plate.
The year that I made this, I was looking for a fun new neighbor gift idea. I decided to divide the cheeseball up and give them to my neighbors with some crackers. It was a huge hit. My dad loved it so much that he made me come and make some for his neighbors. Man, the perks of having your daughter be The Recipe Critic! ?
Bacon ranch cheeseball on a white plate wrapped with crackers and a chunk taken out of the side. I know that you will enjoy this recipe just as much as our families and neighbors did! You can’t ever go wring with such a delicious flavor combination! People will be asking you for the recipe and it is sure to be a huge hit!
This is definitely a five star cheeseball in my book!
Bacon ranch cheeseball on a white plate with crackers being spread with a cheeseball knife.
 Bacon ranch cheeseball on a white plate with crackers wrapped around the plate and cheeseball.

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Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

By: Alyssa Rivers
Bacon, ranch flavor, green onions, cheddar cheese, and crunchy pecans come together in this amazing cheese ball! It is my absolute favorite and most popular cheeseball on the site and will be a hit wherever it goes!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Ingredients 

  • 2 packages cream cheese 8 oz.
  • 1 packet dry buttermilk ranch dressing mix 1 oz.
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup green onion thinly sliced
  • 6 pieces bacon fried and crumbled
  • 1/4 cup chopped black olives optional
  • 1 cup pecans or almonds finely chopped for coating

Instructions 

  • Mix together the cream cheese and dry ranch packet. I put mine in the mixer and used the paddle attatchment. That made it so easy. Otherwise, mix in a bowl until smooth.
  • Add the cheese, onions, olive if using and bacon. If you are short on time, buy the real bacon bits and add about a 1/2 cup.
  • Shape into a ball. Roll it in the nuts to coat the outside. You can make one big ball or two smaller ones.
  • Keep it stored in the refrigerator.

Notes

The first time that I made this recipe I used almonds. But since I only had pecans on hand I used them. Feel free to use whichever you would like! I also forgot the sliced olives (again!) but that would be a yummy addition as well!

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 10gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 663mgPotassium: 221mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 877IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 146mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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