I have to tell everyone who loves me to keep these Mini Cheese Balls away from me. Why? Because…I WILL eat way too many. And I don’t need that kind of guilt. These two-bite appetizers are made with cream cheese, bacon, shredded cheese, and all kinds of other deliciousness.
No wonder they’re so hard to stop eating.
Need another reason to make them? They’re perfect for all kinds of parties and holidays. Make them for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s, anniversary parties, or because you didn’t scream at your last dental appointment.
Want more irresistible appetizers like this? Check out our olive cheese balls and bacon jalapeño cheese balls. They’re so freakin’ good! All of them. Seriously…keep ’em away from me. 🤣
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❱❱ PIN IT OR FORGET IT ❰❰
Why You’ll Love This Recipe…
- I don’t know about you, but I just LOVE mini appetizers, two-bite desserts, and stuff like these mini cheese balls. They’re perfect to eat. They’re less messy and the party food area stays pretty.
- Between the bacon, green onions, and garlic powder, there’s no shortage of flavor in these bite-sized cheese balls.
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese – Softened at room temperature.
- Shredded Cheese – We chose mild cheddar cheese and Pepper jack cheese.
- Green Onions
- Pecans – Chopped into tiny bits.
- Bacon – Chopped into small pieces.
- Pretzels – Pretzel sticks for the handles.
- Garlic Powder
- Mustard – Dijon mustard for a little tang.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Mini Cheese Balls
Add the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, green onions, Dijon mustard, cooked bacon, and garlic powder to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
Cover and refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes, or until firm enough to shape.
Add the finely chopped pecans to a shallow bowl and set aside.
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture at a time and roll it into a ball.
Place each ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue until all of the mixture has been used.
Roll each mini cheese ball in the chopped pecans, gently pressing the coating onto the outside.
Refrigerate the cheese balls for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Just before serving, insert a pretzel stick into the center of each cheese ball. Enjoy!
Top Tip
Use a small cookie scoop or melon baller to keep the mini cheese balls uniform in size. Keep them cold until you’re ready to serve.
Storage
Store your leftover mini cheese balls in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Other No Bake Desserts You’ll Love
- No Bake Mixed Berry Cheesecake
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
- Lemon Mousse Recipe
- Strawberry Cheesecake Dip
- Easy Oreo Delight
FAQ
Sure! You can make them up to a day in advance. You can form the balls and keep them in the fridge until ready to serve. Just wait until you’re ready to serve before coating them.
If you serve these cheese balls on pretzel sticks, you don’t need to serve them with anything else. Otherwise, serve them with pretzel twists, crackers, or even veggies.
Before forming them, chill the cheese ball mixture in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Keep them chilled until just before you’re ready to serve.
Mini Cheese Balls with Pretzel Sticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 Oz Cream Cheese Room Temperature
- 1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- ½ Cup Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
- 2 Green Onions Finely Chopped
- 1 Tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
- ⅓ Cup Cooked Bacon Finely Chopped
- ½ Cup Pecans Finely Chopped
- 20-24 Pretzel Sticks
Instructions
- Add the softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, green onions, Dijon mustard, cooked bacon, and garlic powder to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes, or until firm enough to shape.
- Add the finely chopped pecans to a shallow bowl and set aside.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture at a time and roll it into a ball. Place each ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue until all of the mixture has been used.
- Roll each mini cheese ball in the chopped pecans, gently pressing the coating onto the outside.
- Refrigerate the cheese balls for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Just before serving, insert a pretzel stick into the center of each cheese ball. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store the cheese ball tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
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