Description
Creamy ranch-infused cheese ball crowned with crispy bacon bits brings classic party appetizer magic to your gathering. Southern hospitality meets irresistible flavor, promising crowd-pleasing deliciousness you won’t be able to resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 8 slices bacon
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, cut into small pieces
Cheeses:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) white cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) ranch seasoning (half of a 1-ounce/28 grams packet)
- 5 scallions, white parts finely chopped and green parts sliced
- Cooking spray
- Crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Render bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until achieving a crisp, golden-brown texture, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels, allowing excess grease to drain completely.
- Once cooled, meticulously chop 6 bacon slices into fine pieces, reserving 2 slices intact for the cheese blend preparation.
- Utilize a food processor to amalgamate cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and finely minced white scallion sections. Incorporate the 2 whole bacon slices into the mixture, processing for approximately 30 seconds until smooth and homogeneous.
- Prepare a coating plate by dispersing the chopped bacon alongside the sliced green scallion portions, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Using a culinary spatula, transfer the cheese mixture onto the bacon-scallion plate. Apply a light cooking spray to hands, then carefully mold the mixture into a spherical shape. Gently rotate and press the cheese ball, ensuring comprehensive coverage with the bacon-scallion garnish.
- Refrigerate the prepared cheese ball for a minimum of 1 hour, with the option to extend chilling up to 8 hours for enhanced flavor melding.
- Prior to serving, remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator 30 minutes in advance, allowing it to reach a slightly softened consistency. Present alongside an assortment of crackers for an enticing appetizer experience.
Notes
- Maximize bacon’s delicious impact by incorporating two different preparations, creating unexpected meaty flavor bursts.
- Cream cheese forms a smooth, creamy foundation that seamlessly binds all ingredients together.
- Ranch seasoning infuses tangy, herbal notes perfectly complementing the rich cheese base.
- Chilling allows flavors to meld beautifully while helping the cheese ball firm up completely.
- Small strategic prep steps reduce last-minute entertaining stress and simplify party preparation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 315 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg