Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are delicious appetizers loaded with shredded cheese, a pop of color from the green onion, cooked bacon chunks mixed with black olives and pecans all rolled together in a tight ball with a pretzel on top. An elegant appetizer to enjoy this holiday season!

Party like a rockstar with these cheese ball bites! If you love cheese ball appetizers try these Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball, Smoky Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball or Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball for more flavors.

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

Hope you are enjoying New Year’s Eve in style with all the best appetizers.

Ring in the new year with this fun filled bacon ranch cheese ball bite recipe.

These are SO elegant and fun to serve and share at your next party.

Make them look fancy or leave off the pretzel and add a cracker.

These bacon ranch cheese ball bites are perfect for snacking on, serving or even just for fun!

Just be aware, they will not last long.

What you need to make Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

• Cream cheese: the base and what holds it all together.
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Mix: perfect flavoring.
• Cheddar cheese: adds texture to the cheeseball.
• Green onion: a little spice added in.
• Bacon: crunchy and flavorful cooked and drained bacon.
• Black olives: a little different but a huge hit of taste and texture.
• Pecans or almonds: add some crunchiness in the mix.
• Pretzel Sticks: perfect for making it easier to grand go with your appetizer.

How to make Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

• Mix together the cream cheese and dry ranch packet. I put mine in the mixer and used the paddle attachment. That made it so easy. Otherwise, mix in a bowl until smooth.
• Add the cheese, onions, olive if using and bacon. If you are short on time, buy the real bacon bits and add about a 1/2 cup.
• Using a 1 inch cookie scoop, scoop out the mixture and roll into your hands to form a ball. Roll into the chopped pecans mixture. Stick a pretzel into each center.

Tips for making Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

• Looking to make a large cheese ball. Simply follow the instructions for the same recipe but combine all the ingredients together and form into a large bowl. This can be served with flat pretzels, celery, carrots, chips or any type of cracker.
• If possible, shred your own cheese for best results. Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent (extra flour) and is hard to form a ball with the cream cheese.
• Switch up the cheese in the cream cheese portion. Try white cheddar, jalapeño for a bit of a kick or Colby Jack cheese.
• Making the cheese ball can become hard. Wrap your cheese mixture in plastic wrap and roll on a hard surface and using your hands shape your cheeseball.

More Variations of Cheese Ball Recipes:

Try a sweet variation of cheese ball like this Mini Toffee Chocolate Chip Cheese Balls or Cannoli Cheeseball.

• Cheddar Bacon Pistachio Cheeseball
• Easy Chipped Beef Cheese Ball 
• Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
• Best Ever Pineapple Cheese Ball
• Smoky Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball 
• Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Storing Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites

• Storing Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites: These bite size cheese balls are perfect to make a few hours ahead of time. Once they are finished being assembled simple place on a tray or container and lay flat into the refrigerator. It is best to serve within a few hours of making them.
• Can you make Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites ahead of time? Yes! Get this recipe done and ahead of time. Follow the instructions and roll your cheese ball bites. Place on a baking sheet not touching each other and cover with plastic wrap as best that you can using the pretzels in the cheese ball bites. Try not to get them sticking to the plastic wrap. Lastly, add the pretzel sticks right before serving.
• Can you freeze Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites? Yes! These make for a great snack or appetizer. These will freeze well in the freezer in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to one month. When ready to serve, remove from freezer and place on a tray to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once soft, serve and enjoy!

More Delicious Appetizers to Enjoy:

• Mozzarella Sticks
• Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Awesome Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts 
• Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites (4 Ingredients!) 
• Jalapeno Poppers Recipe with Bacon

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are delicious appetizers loaded with shredded cheese, a pop of color from the green onion, cooked bacon chunks mixed with black olives and pecans all rolled together in a tight ball with a pretzel on top. An elegant appetizer to enjoy this holiday season!

• 2 8 ounces each packages cream cheese
• 1 1 ounce packet dry buttermilk ranch dressing mix
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
• 1/4 cup green onion (thinly sliced)
• 6 pieces of bacon (fried and crumbled)
• 1/4 cup chopped black olives (optional)
• 1 cup pecans or almonds (finely chopped for coating)
• Pretzel Sticks

1. Mix together the cream cheese and dry ranch packet. I put mine in the mixer and used the paddle attatchment. That made it so easy. Otherwise, mix in a bowl until smooth.
2. Add the cheese, onions, olive if using and bacon. If you are short on time, buy the real bacon bits and add about a 1/2 cup.
3. Using a 1 inch cookie scoop, scoop out the mixture and roll into your hands to form a ball. Roll into the chopped pecans mixture. Stick a pretzel into each center.

from The Recipe Critic https://ift.tt/2QmKgr6