Football Cheese Ball with Bacon and Jalapeño
This Football Cheese Ball with Bacon and Jalapeño is a fun way to serve your favorite appetizer on game day. This cream cheese ball is filled with cheddar, jalapeño and bacon then shaped and coated with more bacon to look like a football.
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Table of Contents
The Best Super Bowl Appetizer
Seriously, this cheese ball is The Best Super Bowl Appetizer because it is easy, delicious and everybody will notice it on that snack table.
When I was putting together this roundup of 30 Super Bowl Food Ideas I loved the idea of football shaped food. So I took this recipe for my Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball, adjusted it a bit and made it into a football. Touchdown!
Ingredients Needed For Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Ball (screenshot for grocery list)
- Cream Cheese
- Jalapeños
- Spicy Season Blend
- Shredded Sharp Cheddar
- Bacon
- Green Onions
How To Make A Football Shaped Cheeseball
- Using hand mixer, mix cream cheese, jalapeños, bacon and spice blend. Mix until combined. Add shredded cheddar and mix just until cheese is dispersed evenly throughout mixture.
- Lay two long strips of plastic wrap in an ‘X’ shape on a flat surface. Spoon cream cheese mixture into the center. Bring up edges of plastic wrap over each other and wrap firmly in place. Form into an oval shape with slightly pointed ends. Transfer to refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour to firm. (for best results 3-6 hours)
- Unwrap chilled cheese ball and place onto flat surface. Gently press bacon and green onions onto sides and top of cheese ball until fully coated. Carefully transfer cheese ball to serving platter.
- Stir remaining plain cream cheese with a fork to whip it into a softer form. Place cream cheese into plastic sandwich bag, towards the bottom. Cut a small whole in the bottom corner of the bag then work the cream cheese towards the hole. Start with a small hole, you can always make it bigger. Pipe the cream cheese onto cheese ball to replicate the white threads on a football.
- Refrigerate until serving. Serve with crackers, pretzels and/or bread.
Tips For Making A Football Cheese Ball
Don’t skimp on the plastic wrap. It is better to have too much plastic wrap than not enough when wrapping and forming the cheese ball. I use about 2 feet of plastic wrap for each piece, a total of 3.5-4 feet.
This cheese ball isn’t round so don’t just roll it onto the bacon pieces. Grab some bacon pieces and gently press them onto the sides and top of the cheese ball until they stick.
Before placing the piping cream cheese into a baggie, stir it with a fork to whip it into a softer form. Place it into baggie towards the bottom. Cut a small whole in the bottom corner of the baggie then work the cream cheese towards the hole. Start with a small hole, you can always make it bigger. Honestly, my piping hole was a little larger that I would prefer.
What Is A Cheese Ball Made Of?
The only necessary ingredient for cheese balls is cream cheese. The rest is up to you.
This cheeseball consists of cream cheese, bacon, cheddar, jalapeño and green onions. You can adjust or omit any of those ingredients (except cream cheese) to fit your preferences.
How Do You Make A Firm Cheeseball?
Cheese balls need time in the refrigerator to set and firm. An hour minimum is needed but 3-6 hours is best, or even overnight.
Usually I prefer to thin my cheese balls just a bit with a small amount of sour cream. We want this cheese ball to stay in that perfect football shape so this recipe uses just cream cheese for the base.
More Appetizer Recipes That Are Perfect For Game-Day:
Crockpot Little Smokies – Bacon Wrapped Shrimp – Antipasto Skewers – Dill Pickle Cheese Ball – Cold Crab Dip – Bacon Spinach Roll Ups – Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dessert Cheese Ball
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FOOTBALL CHEESE BALL with BACON and JALAPEÑO
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 ounces Softened Cream Cheese - set 3 ounces aside for piping
- 2 Large Jalapeños - stems/seeds removed finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Salt-Free Spicy Season Blend*
- 1½ Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar
- 1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Green Onions - divided
- 1 Lb Bacon - cooked and chopped separate 2 strips out for the cheese ball filling, the remaining bacon is for the coating
Instructions
- Using hand mixer, mix cream cheese, jalapeños, bacon (2 strips chopped), half the green onions and spice blend. Mix until combined. Add shredded cheddar and mix just until cheese is dispersed evenly throughout mixture.
- Lay two long strips of plastic wrap in an ‘X’ shape on a flat surface. Spoon cream cheese mixture into the center. Bring up edges of plastic wrap over each other and wrap firmly in place. Form into an oval shape with slightly pointed ends. Transfer to refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour to firm. (for best results 3-6 hours)
- Unwrap chilled cheese ball and place onto flat surface. Gently press bacon and remaining green onions onto sides and top of cheese ball until fully coated. Carefully transfer cheese ball to serving platter.
- Stir remaining plain cream cheese with a fork until soft and smooth. Place cream cheese into plastic sandwich bag, towards the bottom. Cut a small whole in the bottom corner of the bag then work the cream cheese towards the hole. Start with a small hole, you can always make it bigger. Pipe the cream cheese onto cheese ball to replicate the white threads on a football.
- Refrigerate until serving. Serve with crackers, pretzels and/or bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Welcome!
Nicole Harris is the recipe creator behind WonkyWonderful, sharing fast, budget-friendly meals for busy families. Since 2012 she’s been developing 30-minute dinners, kid-approved favorites, and holiday dishes with flair - all with real ingredients and no fuss. She grew up stretching simple pantry staples into something delicious, and that shows up in every recipe: easy, affordable, and full of flavor. Read more...
