Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (2024)

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The cheese ball is a staple at holidays and parties. This classic recipe is made with rich cream cheese, green onion, spices, and corned beef!

Our classic cheese ball appetizer is about to become your favorite easy party recipe! Made with just 5 simple ingredients, it whips up in less than ten minutes and will be the first thing gone. And if you love cheesy apps, try our cranberry walnut cheese ball next!

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Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (1)

Cheese Ball Recipe

Cheese Ball

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Cheeseball Ingredients

  • Cream cheese – Softened to room temperature.
  • Cornedbeef – Finely chopped. You can use packaged corn beef from the deli or leftovers from our corned beef and cabbage recipe. Chipped beef will also work.
  • Green onion – Fresh and finely chopped.
  • Worcestershire sauce – Soy sauce can be substituted in a pinch.
  • Lemon juice – Fresh, to taste.
  • Garnish – Reserve a pinch of chopped meat and green onion to sprinkle on top before serving.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (2)

Cream cheese, green onion, beef, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice.

How do you make a cheese ball appetizer? (step-by-step)

First, set aside a pinch or two of chopped beef and diced green onion for garnish.

Then, add remaining ingredients to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined.

Next, turn out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a ball.

Finally, wrap tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with remaining beef and onion.

Preparation

Can you make a cheese ball ahead of time?

Yes! This will keep nicely in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Garnish right before serving!

What can I use instead of corned beef?

This recipe also works well with chipped beef, salami or pepperoni.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (4)

Serve with crackers, raw veggies, or even as a bagel topping!

Leftovers and storage

How long will a leftover cheese ball last?

If it sat out at room temperature for more than two hours then leftovers should be disposed of. Otherwise, they will keep in the refrigerator for another 2 – 3 days (but no more than 5 total if you prepared it ahead).

Can you freeze a cheeseball appetizer?

Yes! After forming it into a ball and wrapping, just pop it in the freezer. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then serve.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (5)

Don’t forget to set aside a little bit of beef and onion for garnish!

Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions

🔥 Make it spicy with a dash of chipotle powder.

🥩 Try it with different meats like chipped beef, salami, or pepperoni.

🧊 Prepare several days or weeks in advance to cut down on party day work.

🥯 Serve leftovers on a toasted bagel for a yummy breakfast treat.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (6)

Make sure to keep it chilled until you’re ready to serve.

What to eat with a cheese ball appetizer (serving suggestions)

We love to serve this with our homemade cracker recipe (it’s only 2 ingredients!), raw veggies, pretzels, or toasted baguette slices.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (7)

Always serve with a small spreading knife, crackers will break in the cheese.

More yummy appetizer ideas

  • Buffalo wings
  • Jalapeno spinach dip
  • Air fryer mozzarella sticks
  • BBQ chicken taquitos
  • Grape jelly meatballs
  • Pizza dip
  • See all our easy appetizer recipes!

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (8)

It’s the most wonderful time of year, whenever this is served!

Other delicious recipes with cream cheese

  • Chicken bacon ranch casserole
  • Buffalo chicken dip
  • Cream cheese dip
  • Jalapeno popper crescent rolls
  • See all our recipes using cream cheese!

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (9)

Play with the flavors by adding spice or using different types of meat.

Tools we love

  • End grain cutting board – This is my absolute favorite cutting board and the one that I get the most compliments on.
  • Santoku knife – My favorite knife! This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (10)

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How to Make a Classic Cheese Ball

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (11)

Cheese Ball

The cheese ball is a staple at holidays and parties. This classic recipe is made with rich cream cheese, green onion, spices, and corned beef!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cranberry cheese ball

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Chilling time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 225kcal

Author: April Woods

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 8 ounces packaged corned beef finely chopped
  • 4 green onions finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • fresh lemon juice to taste (I like a generous squeeze)

Instructions

  • First, set aside a pinch or two of chopped beef and diced green onion for garnish.

  • Then, add remaining ingredients to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined.

  • Turn out cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a ball.

  • Finally, wrap tightly and refrigerate at least two hours, or until ready to serve. Garnish with remaining beef and onion.

Notes

Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.

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Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal

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Cheese Ball

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Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (12)

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  • Cranberry Almond Salmon Bowl
Classic Cheese Ball Recipe 🧀 (2024)

FAQs

How long does a cheese ball stay good in the refrigerator? ›

Storing in Fridge: If you start with fresh ingredients, you can store the cheese ball in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. How to Freeze: I prefer a freshly made cheese ball, BUT you can freeze cheese balls.

What cheese are cheese balls made of? ›

Cheese balls are traditionally made with two kinds of cheese – cream cheese (or another soft cheese like quark cheese, mascarpone or ricotta) and a grated semi-soft or semi-firm cheese like cheddar, colby cheese, monterey jack cheese, or muenster.

What crackers go best with cheese ball? ›

What to Serve with Cheese Ball. That's an important question and I obviously have a strong opinion. Here are some options: Crackers – Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, Milton's.

Are UTZ cheese balls baked or fried? ›

From there, they are baked in an oven to remove any excess moisture. The tasty cheese flavor is a seasoning that starts with vegetable oil and an all-natural cheddar cheese powder, which are mixed together and sprayed over the cheese balls in a tumbling seasoning barrel until they are completely coated.

Can you freeze a cheese ball for later use? ›

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.

Can cheese last 3 weeks in fridge? ›

REFRIGERATOR: Approximate storage times are: (1) Hard cheeses (block): 6 months, unopened packages; 3 to 4 weeks after opening. Shredded hard cheeses: 1 month after opening. (2) Soft cheeses: 1 week; cream cheese, 2 weeks.

What is a fun fact about the cheese ball? ›

"According to legend," writes Michelle Buffardi, author of Great Balls of Cheese, "the first cheese ball in recorded history was made in 1801 by Elisha Brown, Jr. on his farm and presented to President Thomas Jefferson" at the White House.

What are the ingredients in current cheese balls? ›

Corn Grits, Rice Grits, Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein Oil), Cheddar Cheese Powder, Iodized Salt, Sugar, Maltodextrin (Ins 1400), Flavour Enhancer (Ins 621), Food Color (Ins 110) And Natural Cheese Flavour. Manufacturer Name: Yashoda Foods Pvt Ltd. Tilottama 15, Rupandehi, Nepal.

Who made the original cheese ball? ›

The good Republican townsfolk of Cheshire, Massachusetts, made what could be considered the first cheese ball in 1801. It was made as a gift for the newly elected President Thomas Jefferson, who had defeated the Federalist candidate John Adams.

Are Ritz crackers butter crackers? ›

Our Favorite Butter Cracker: Ritz

Simply put, these scalloped golden discs have an ideal level of saltiness.

Are Ritz crackers healthy? ›

They are not whole grain and are highly processed. Ritz Crackers are made with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat). A single serving provides 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Why are UTZ cheese balls so good? ›

Can you blame me? Anyone who's also partaken of a bag of Utz Cheese Balls can attest to the fact that they're one of the most delicious cheesy snacks on the market. They've got an unmistakable, sharp cheddar tanginess because they're made with real cheese, and they practically melt in your mouth.

What are Cheetos cheese balls made of? ›

Corn, Canola Oil Whey Powder (Milk), Wheat Flour, Cheese Powder (Milk), Salt, Flavour Enhancer (621), Mineral Salt (Potassium Chloride), Maltodextrin, Flavours Natural Colours (Paprika Extract, Turmeric), Food Acid (Lactic Acid).

Are cheese balls discontinued? ›

Now that it's a permanent addition to the Kraft-Heinz line-up, Cheez Balls will be available indefinitely at most major retailers nationwide as well as on the Planters website. On the page, you can use the product finder to locate stores near you that are selling Cheez Balls.

How long does basket cheese last in the fridge? ›

This soft, white and salty Middle Eastern-style cheese is easily recognizable because of its basket shape which also makes it more difficult to mass produce. It is among the top three Middle Eastern cheese products sold in the United States. Basket cheese can have up to a six-month refrigerated life.

How long does a cheese plate last in the fridge? ›

Eggs and milk have high protein and moisture content, and they're the primary ingredients in cheesecake, so when cheesecake is left at room temperature, conditions are ripe for bacteria to multiply. According to the USDA's Food Keeper App, cheesecake should be consumed within 5 to 7 days of refrigeration.

How long can you keep a ball mozzarella in the fridge? ›

With proper storage in a refrigerator, mozzarella cheese can last for up to one to two weeks. In a freezer, mozzarella cheese can last longer, up to approximately three months. If you find any change of shape, color, taste, and aroma of any part of the cheese, cut and throw away that part.

How long do sausage cheese balls last in the fridge? ›

Cooked sausage balls can be kept for up to 3 to 4 days.

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