The best Cheese Ball recipe has plenty of cheddar cheese, green onions, and seasonings mixed with cream cheese. It's coated in chopped pecans and served with crackers, pretzels, or veggies.
This Cheeseball is the MVP of Easy Appetizers
This Cheeseball is the MVP of Easy AppetizersI can't think of a more classic appetizer for the holidays than this cheeseball recipe. I love how I can prep it up to a week in advance and just pull it out of the fridge and plate it when it's ready to serve. Ignore the bland, flavorless cheese balls in the grocery store–this one is PACKED full of flavor from the cheese, Worcestershire, spices, and a little hot sauce. I have even gifted cheeseballs as neighbor holiday gifts, and I love making mini cheese ball bites for a big holiday appetizer spread.
If you love fun appetizers try my Jalapeño Poppers, Burrata Appetizer, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Pimento Cheese Dip, or Whipped Goat Cheese!
How to make a Homemade Cheese Ball:
Combine: Beat cream cheese until smooth then incorporate remaining ingredients. High quality ingredients make a high quality cheese ball, so make sure to buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Use a spatula to form the cheese mixture into a ball. Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray as needed so it doesn't stick.
Cover in Nuts: Use whatever nuts you like best, but make sure they are chopped finely. While holding the cheese ball in one hand, use your other hand to gently scoop and press the chopped nuts on all the way around the ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Serve: Arrange cheese ball on a platter surrounded by crackers, vegetables, pretzels, or pita bread. Make sure you have a cheese spreading knife! If you use a cracker straight into it, it will break into pieces!
Serve Cheese Ball With:
- Crackers
- Vegetables
- Mini bagels
- Pita bread
- Pretzels
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Recipe
Simple Cheese Ball Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese (avoid pre-shredded cheese)
- 2 green onions , chopped
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano
- dash freshly ground black pepper
- 2/3 cup pecans , finely chopped
Instructions
- Mix cheeseball ingredients: Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl then mix until smooth. Add cheese, green onion, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, parsley, garlic powder, oregano. and pepper then mix well to combine.16 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, 2 green onions, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Dried oregano, dash freshly ground black pepper
- Form into ball: Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and gather the mixture into one lump. Lightly grease your hands and form the mixture into a round ball.
- Coat with nuts: Place the pecans on a plate. Hold the cheese ball in one hand and use the other hand to scoop the pecans onto the outside of the ball, pressing them in gently and turning the ball to coat all sides.2/3 cup pecans
- Chill and serve: Cover the cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow it to firm up. Remove from fridge about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften just slightly. Serve with crackers, pretzels, vegetables or anything else you'd love to dip in cheese!
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe November 2017. Updated October 2019 and October 2025.
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My family loved this, but I didn’t care for the oregano – gave it too much of a pizza vibe. But I was in the minority! 🙂
This cheese ball is a hit every time I make it. I always make it 1 – 2 days before the event. I have also substituted the nuts for Doritos (original, red bag) because we have guest that can not eat nuts. I put the Doritos on right before I serve the cheese ball so they aren’t soggy. Just but the Doritos in a Ziploc bag, crunch up into small piece’s and apply.
What could I substitute for the nuts? We have a nut allergy in the family.
You don’t have to coat the ball in nuts! Try chopped bacon bits, chopped green onion, craisins, chopped herbs, crushed crackers….
Thank you!
I have used crushed crackers, goes over well
Durkees fried onions
Seriously SO good! Saving this recipe so I can have it forever.
Super easy to make, and oh so wonderful! I put half in the freezer for another time.
Wonderful!
Hello, thank you for the recipe! Not to sound like a big dummy, but when you grate your own cheese, do you buy a brick of it from the deli? Just curious as to how people usually do this. Thank you.
I buy a brick from the cheese section of the grocery store 🙂
Yes buy Sharp Cheddar Cheese in Block style and grate it by hand. Depending on how many people your serving, usually 1/2 of the block grated is enough.
Enjoy!
Hi, was so happy to find this recipe. I just finished making it and it is now chilling in the fridge. I only made one small change to this recipe. My late husband used to make this, adding some very finely-chopped dried beef, the little slices that come in a jar. This recipe brings back sweet memories, thank you! 🥰
Delish!! I subbed fish sauce for the Worchester, and gouda for the cheddar and skipped the hot sauce. Two thumbs up from my family! I’m definitely making this for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thank you!
Made this for family gathering, it was devoured within an hour!! Rave reviews from all. I will definitely make it again!!
Can you say yummy?😋