Festive Cheese Ball Recipe
Published 12/13/2020 • Updated 5/22/2022
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Say hello to the most festive cheesy appetizer — The Cheese Ball! This recipe is a true crowd pleaser and oh so easy to make. Dip your favorite cracker in this delicious cheese ball, and enjoy!
The Most Festive Cheesy Recipe
Growing up in the midwest, we had our fair share of cheese balls served at family gatherings, so you bet your bippy we wanted to create a recipe of our own!
When we don’t have time to make our own cheese ball recipe, you’ll find us grabbing a Kaukauna cheese ball or cheese log and our favorite crackers to serve with it.
And don’t worry, we’ll walk you through this recipe step by step, and then suggest some cracker pairings for this goodness as well. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Cheese Ball Ingredients
Our cheese ball recipe comes together in 4 major ingredient sections. First, you’ll sauté onions and garlic to add to your softened cheese, and then season to perfection with fresh herbs. Oh, and don’t forget to roll your cheese ball in pistachios and honey at the end!
Sautéed Goodness
- Minced white onion
- Minced garlic cloves
- Olive oil
Cheese
- Softened cream cheese
- Shredded white cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Herbs
- Minced fresh thyme
- Minced fresh rosemary
- Minced fresh oregano
- Salt and pepper
Roll That Cheese Ball in These Toppings
- Chopped pistachios
- Honey
- Lemon zest
How to Make a Cheese Ball
No need to be intimidated by this recipe! It comes together quite easily, and you’ll be off an dipping a cracker or three in this festive appetizer:
Sauté Onions & Garlic
Begin by heating a large skillet over medium/high heat, and then add olive oil. When the olive oil is fragrant add the onion and a dash of salt to the pan and cook on low/medium heat for 2-3 minutes, and then add the garlic.
Sauté the onion and garlic for an additional 4-6 minutes and remove from heat. Make sure to let the onions and garlic cool once sautéed!
Cream That Cheese & Add Herbs
Next, add the softened cream cheese to a large bowl and use an electric mixer to mix the cream cheese until smooth. Then add the shredded cheese, thyme, rosemary, oregano, salt and pepper to the bowl and mix until all the ingredients are combined.
When the onions and garlic are completely cool add them to the cream cheese mixture, too, and mix until smooth.
Create a Ball
Scrape the sides of the bowl into a ball shape and place the cream cheese mixture into the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes (or until the cream cheese ball is firm enough to shape).
Roll Your Ball in Pistachios
Next, pour your chopped pistachios onto a plate — this is what you’ll be rolling your cheese ball in!
Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and use a spatula or your hands to form the cream cheese into a perfect ball. If it’s still too soft to form a ball, chill for 15 minutes longer, and check again.
Carefully roll the cheese ball in the chopped pistachios so that it is completely covered.
Drizzle, Zest & ENJOY!
Place the cheese ball on a plate or serving dish and drizzle the ball with honey and sprinkle it with lemon zest.
Serve with crackers or veggies, and ENJOY cheese lovers.
What to Serve with a Cheese Ball
We love dipping our favorite crackers or veggies into this festive cheese ball. Some of our go-tos include:
- Ritz crackers (shown here!)
- Wheat Thins
- Water crackers
- Pita chips
- Pretzels
- Sliced carrots or celery
How to Store a Cheese Ball
If the entire cheese ball isn’t consumed in one evening, that’s a-okay! You can simply store it in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Pro Tip: Let your cheese ball soften a bit at room temperature before serving so your crackers don’t break when you’re dipping.
Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
- 1/2 teaspoons salt, separated
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Begin by heating a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add olive oil.
- When the olive oil is fragrant add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the pan and cook on low/medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic.
- Sauté the onion and garlic for an additional 4-6 minutes and remove from heat. Let the onions and garlic cool.
- Next, add the cream cheese to a large bowl and use an electric mixer to mix the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the shredded cheese, thyme, rosemary, oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to the bowl and mix until all the ingredients are combined.
- When the onions and garlic are completely cool add them to the cream cheese mixture and mix until smooth.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl into a ball shape and place the cream cheese mixture into the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes (or until the cream cheese ball is firm enough to shape).
- Next, pour the chopped pistachios onto a plate and set aside.
- Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and use a spatula or your hands to form the cream cheese into a perfect ball.
- Carefully roll the ball in the chopped pistachios so that it is completely covered.
- Place the cheese ball on a plate or serving dish and drizzle the ball with honey and sprinkle it with lemon zest.
- Serve with crackers or veggies.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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SUPER delicious and easy to prepare ahead of time! The leftovers were awesome on sandwiches the next few days.
So glad you liked it! LOVE that you used it on sandwiches!