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jalapeño bacon cheese ball recipe
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Jalapeño Bacon Cheese Ball

Creamy, smoky, irresistible cheesy Jalapeño Bacon Cheese Ball -- made without nuts and packed with bold flavor. An easy appetizer to go with crackers or veggies!
Prep Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup sour cream or mayo
  • 8 ounces finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 2 roasted jalapeños you can use raw jalapeños if you wish
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning or a 1 oz packet ranch seasoning

Instructions

ROASTED JALAPEÑO DIRECTIONS

  • Begin by roasting the jalapeños. If you have a gas stove, heat to medium heat. Place the peppers directly on the grate. Rotate every 30 seconds or so until the jalapeños are evenly charred. Immediately place the charred jalapeños in a bowl, then cover for about 15 minutes to steam the peppers. At this point you can peel the charred skin from the peppers. I like to wear kitchen gloves for this task. Cut open the jalapeños length-wise, remove the stems and scrape out the seeds, then dice the roasted jalapeños.
  • If roasting the peppers in the broiler, preheat your broiler to high. Cut open the jalapeños length-wise, remove stems and scrape out the seeds. Place peppers on a foil-lined baking sheet with the skin side up. Broil in the oven for 3-4 minutes or until the skin of the peppers is charred and blistered. Remove the peppers and place them in a bowl, then cover for about 15 minutes to steam the peppers. At this point you can peel the charred skin from the peppers. It should come off easily. Dice the roasted jalapeños.

JALAPEÑO BACON CHEESE BALL DIRECTIONS

  • In a large bowl, add 16 ounces cream cheese and 1/4 cup sour cream along with 2 tablespoons Ranch seasoning mix. Use a hand mixer to mix the cream cheese and sour cream until it is smooth.
  • Add in all of the diced roasted jalapeños, 1/2 of the grated cheddar cheese, 1/2 of the crumbled bacon, and 1/2 of the green onions. Stir to combine.
  • Arrange a large piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and form the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Scoop the roughly formed ball into your hands and continue shaping it until it’s a smooth ball.
  • Place the cheese ball on a piece of plastic wrap.
  • Combine the reserved cheddar cheese, bacon and green onions in a bowl. Press this mixture onto the outside of the cheese ball, then pull the sides of the plastic wrap up over the ball to cover it. Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to firm up.
  • Serve with crackers, celery sticks, pretzel sticks, or any of your favorite dippers.