The Easiest Cheese Ball EVER + 13 Flavor Mix In Ideas!

The EASIEST Cheese Ball EVER (seriously!) – plus 13 delicious mix-in ideas to create a whole variety of different flavors.

This is a revamp of a recipe that’s been on the blog for many years now – and is by far my favorite way to make a cheese ball.

My friend Becky shared this recipe on here back in 2011 – it was her cheese ball & it got rave reviews whenever she made it. When guests asked for the recipe & realized it was only 2 ingredients, they couldn’t believe it. But it’s true! And it’s quite possibly the easiest cheese ball you’ve ever made (falling just short of going to the store & buying one haha) as well as being so delicious.

The recipe is absolutely phenomenal on it’s own (I seriously can’t stop eating it when I make it – so addicted!)- but it’s also one that can be jazzed up a little in a variety of ways with minimal effort.

Today I’m sharing with you 13 simple mix-in ideas to add to this 2 ingredient recipe for a whole smorgasbord of flavors. This is one you’re gonna want to save for future reference this holiday season – trust me!

In the pictures, I’ve done a bacon cheddar version of it, which is probably my favorite way to ‘kick it up a notch’ with the jalapeno version falling in second. But they’re all really good so it’s super hard to choose.

So first – here’s the base recipe. And again – this base recipe is SO good on it’s own so there’s no need to mix in additions if you don’t want to.

• 1 8oz pack of cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix

Combine the 2 ingredients. Roll into a ball & refrigerate until serving. You can also mix in 3/4 of the dressing mix with the cream cheese & reserve the remaining 1/4 of the packet to dust the outside of the cheese ball with.

You can make up several flavored cheese balls at one time quite easily too. Just double the base recipe as many times as you need for as many cheese balls that you wish to make – then separate & mix in the flavor additions as desired. 

Here’s 13 wonderful mix-in ideas to take the delicious base recipe to the next level.

There’s also print button at the bottom where you can print these all out for easy reference too.

• Bacon Cheddar – Mix in shredded cheddar cheese & cooked crispy bacon to taste. Coat the outside in chopped bacon & chopped green onions.
• Jalapeno – mix in 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup (or more to taste if you like it hot!) of minced pickled jalapenos. Coat the outside in shredded cheddar cheese. Crumbled crispy bacon is also really good in this.
• Pizza – Mix in chopped pepperoni to taste. Coat the outside in chopped pepperoni & shredded mozzarella. If you like sundried tomatoes, chop some of those up & add them to the mix too. Add some red pepper flakes if you like as well.
• Everything Bagel – Coat the cheese ball in a mixture of sesame seeds, dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, garlic flakes, sea salt, & freshly cracked pepper. No need to add anything to the base but both bacon & chopped green onions are good as an addition if you’re feeling a little snazzy.
• Pecan – add 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans. Coat the outside in more for garnish.
• Sundried Tomato & Parm – 1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes & 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese. Coat the outside in a chopped mixture of the two.
• Italian – mix in a couple tablespoons of chopped ham, salami, & pepperoni. Try adding some minced olives if you like. Coat the outside in a mixture of the meats & chopped olives – or add in some sundried tomatoes.
• Roasted Garlic Herb – mix in several cloves of pureed roasted garlic. Coat outside in minced fresh parsley & toasted minced pecans.
• Ham Cheddar – mix in chopped ham & shredded cheddar cheese to taste. Coat the outside in a combo of the two + chopped green onions.
• Dilly – mix in 3/4 – 1 cup chopped dill pickles (or dill relish). Coat the outside in shredded cheddar cheese.
• Dijon – add dijon mustard to taste. Coat outside in shredded cheese & chopped green onions.
• Habanero Cheddar  – add minced habanero peppers to taste + 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Coat in crushed doritos or cheddar cheese.
• Olive Lovers – Mix in minced black & green olives. Coat the outside in the same. Add shredded mozzarella or parmesan if you like.

I’ve shared 13 great ideas for cheese balls with you (well 14 counting the base recipe) that are sure to please… but please, be creative! There are SO many more ways to mix flavors together & come up with all sorts of new ideas. If you make one, leave me a comment – I’d love to know what other flavors you’re digging on in the cheese ball world. 😉

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Easiest Cheese Ball EVER - plus 13 Flavor Mix-Ins!

Ingredients

Base Recipe:

• 1 8 oz pack of cream cheese room temperature
• 1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix
•  

Instructions

• Combine the 2 ingredients. Roll into a ball & refrigerate until serving. You can also mix in 3/4 of the dressing mix with the cream cheese & reserve the remaining 1/4 of the packet to dust the outside of the cheese ball with.
• You can make up several flavored cheese balls at one time quite easily too. Just double the base recipe as many times as you need for as many cheese balls that you wish to make - then separate & mix in the flavor additions as desired. 

Here's 13 wonderful mix-in ideas to take the delicious base recipe to the next level.

• Bacon Cheddar - Mix in shredded cheddar cheese & cooked crispy bacon to taste. Coat the outside in chopped bacon & chopped green onions.
• Jalapeno - mix in 1/4 cup - 1/2 cup (or more to taste if you like it hot!) of minced pickled jalapenos. Coat the outside in shredded cheddar cheese. Crumbled crispy bacon is also really good in this.
• Pizza - Mix in chopped pepperoni to taste. Coat the outside in chopped pepperoni & shredded mozzarella. If you like sundried tomatoes, chop some of those up & add them to the mix too. Add some red pepper flakes if you like as well.
• Everything Bagel - Coat the cheese ball in a mixture of sesame seeds, dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, garlic flakes, sea salt, & freshly cracked pepper. No need to add anything to the base but both bacon & chopped green onions are good as an addition if you're feeling a little snazzy.
• Pecan - add 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans. Coat the outside in more for garnish.
• Sundried Tomato & Parm - 1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes & 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese. Coat the outside in a chopped mixture of the two.
• Italian - mix in a couple tablespoons of chopped ham, salami, & pepperoni. Try adding some minced olives if you like. Coat the outside in a mixture of the meats & chopped olives - or add in some sundried tomatoes.
• Roasted Garlic Herb - mix in several cloves of pureed roasted garlic. Coat outside in minced fresh parsley & toasted minced pecans.
• Ham Cheddar - mix in chopped ham & shredded cheddar cheese to taste. Coat the outside in a combo of the two + chopped green onions.
• Dilly - mix in 3/4 - 1 cup chopped dill pickles (or dill relish). Coat the outside in shredded cheddar cheese.
• Dijon - add dijon mustard to taste. Coat outside in shredded cheese & chopped green onions.
• Habanero Cheddar  - add minced habanero peppers to taste + 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Coat in crushed doritos or cheddar cheese.
• Olive Lovers - Mix in minced black & green olives. Coat the outside in the same. Add shredded mozzarella or parmesan if you like.