Name: Best Cheese Ball
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce; 0.5 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 pound shredded Cheddar cheese; 1 cup finely chopped pecans; 0.25 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Servings:

12

Yield:

3 to 4 cheese balls

Jump to Nutrition Facts

These cheese balls are not only delicious, they make entertaining easy! Everyone will ask for this cheese ball recipe again and again.

How to Make a Cheese Ball

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated cheese ball recipe:

1. Mix the ingredients: Blend the cream cheese, sauces, and garlic in a food processor. Add the Cheddar and blend until finely chopped.
2. Form the balls: Shape the mixture into three or four balls. Freeze for 15 minutes.
3. Add the coating: Combine the parsley and nuts in a bowl. Roll the balls in the mixture until well-coated.

How to Serve Cheese Balls

The most traditional way to serve cheese balls is with crackers for dipping and spreading. You can also form the cheese ball into fun shapes for entertaining, such as a turkey for Thanksgiving or a football for tailgates. Here are some creative ideas from the Allrecipes community:

cheese ball shaped like a football with string cheese laces — Lil' Punkin

cheeseball decorated like a turkey with pecan feathers and cracker tail — Christina

cheese ball shaped like a wreath, decoared with herbs and olives — Sharon Dyson-Demers

How to Store Cheese Balls

Serve the cheese ball immediately or store it in the fridge. Wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. The two layers keeps the cheese ball fresh and helps it keep its shape. Store in the fridge for up to four days.

Can You Freeze Cheese Balls?

Yes! Cheese balls freeze quite well. Again, it's best to wrap the cheese ball in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to four weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Great recipe," raves one Allrecipes community member. "I left out the parsley, and I mixed the pecans in with the rest. After I shaped and refrigerated it, I sprinkled paprika over it. This gives the cheeseball a great appearance."

"This was perfect," according to JENNLANE1973. "I have made this for my friends as gifts and for parties. I let it set out for a few minutes before serving so people can easily get their serving."

"First cheese ball I ever made, and it came out awesome," says Pohl Daddy. "I formed it into the shape of a football for my son's birthday party. The pecans made it the perfect football color, and I used fresh shredded parm for the lines and laces. It looked cool and tasted great."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

Cheese Balls:

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
½ teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound shredded Cheddar cheese

Nut Coating:

1 cup finely chopped pecans
¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Combine cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, and garlic in a food processor; blend until well combined. Add Cheddar cheese and process until Cheddar is finely chopped but still very visible.
Remove mixture from the food processor and shape into 3 or 4 balls. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Combine pecans and parsley in a shallow bowl. Remove chilled cheese balls from the freezer and roll in the pecan-parsley mixture until well coated.
Serve immediately, or rewrap nut-covered cheeseballs tightly with festive plastic wrap. Wrap again with aluminum foil, then freeze until ready to gift, up to 4 weeks.
Wrap each ball tightly in plastic wrap, and then in aluminum foil. Place in the freezer for up to 4 weeks.

Tips

Frozen cheese balls will need to be thawed in the refrigerator for 8 hours before they can be served.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

413	Calories
39g	Fat
4g	Carbs
15g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 413
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 39g	49%
Saturated Fat 21g	104%
Cholesterol 101mg	34%
Sodium 416mg	18%
Total Carbohydrate 4g	1%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 2mg	12%
Calcium 328mg	25%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 167mg	4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.