Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

Name: Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 250 g cream cheese (softened to room temperature); 2 tbs sour cream; 200 g streaky bacon (cooked until super crispy and then crumbled); 150 g grated cheese (cheddar, jack or red cheddar); 4 jalapeños (deseeded and finely chopped); 1/4 cup spring onions (green onions) (finely sliced); 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes; 1/2 tsp dried dill leaves; dash of Tabasco (optional)

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The most EPIC Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball ever... packed with crispy bacon, jalapeños, grated cheese, cream cheese and sour cream!

A flavour-packed cheese ball recipe that will have everyone coming back for more - and it takes just 10 minutes to prepare!

The jalapeño popper cheese ball on a plate with a slice cut out to show the texture.

This easy Jalapeño bacon cheese ball is the perfect party food: it's creamy, packed with flavour, and has a spicy kick from the jalapeños and Tabasco that makes it so addictive!

Serve alongside Jalapeño popper wonton cups, ricotta and spinach tarts and chicken and bacon sausage rolls for a party spread that young and old will enjoy!

Or create an amazing snack board by pairing this cheese ball with my cream cheese dip, guacamole and tasty cheese stick crackers.

Cheese ball on a plate with some served on a cracker to the left hand side.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

Quick and easy recipe - this hot pepper cheese ball takes just 10 minutes to prepare, and is ready to serve in 40 minutes!
Perfect party food - you can make this cheese ball ahead, and the recipe can be double or tripled to feed a crowd!
Packed with flavour - salty bacon, creamy cheese and garlicky onion savouriness.
No nuts - this cheese ball recipe is made without nuts making it ideal for those needing to avoid nuts.
Conventional and Thermomix - both methods are included in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What You Need

This jalapeño popper cheese ball recipe is made with simple ingredients that are all easy to find in your local supermarket.

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Cream cheese - I like to use Philadelphia cream cheese to make this cheese ball recipe. Use block cream cheese, rather than a spreadable one, as it will hold its shape better when mixed.
Sour cream - full cream sour cream (not skim or light) is best for this recipe. Sour cream adds a slight tang and reduces the richness of the cheese ball slightly.
Streaky bacon - cooked until super crispy.
Cheese - cheddar, jack or red cheddar. I recommend buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself for the best flavour and texture.
Jalapeños - these crunchy Mexican green chillies are sweet as well as fiery and go so well with the cream cheese!
Spring onions - also known as green onions.
Garlic powder and onion powder - for a gentle background flavour.
Dried parsley and dried dill - with the onion and garlic powder, these create a ranch-style seasoning which blends flavours well with the bacon and sour cream!
Tabasco - this is optional, but adds an extra kick!

Jalapeno cheese ball ingredients measured and placed into individual bowls.

Equipment Required

You don't need much equipment to make this cheese ball recipe, just:

Mixing bowl and spoon - or use a Thermomix.
Plastic wrap - to wrap the cheese ball in.

...that's it!

Step By Step Instructions

A one-bowl mix - it takes only 10 minutes to prepare this jalapeño popper cheese ball recipe!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

TIP: Reserve a small amount of bacon, cheese and jalapeño's for sprinkling on top.

Step 1 - Mix And Chill

In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, cooked crispy bacon, grated cheese, chopped jalapeños, spring onions, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried dill and Tabasco (optional).

If using a Thermomix - grate the cheese for 10 seconds on Speed 8. Add the remaining ingredients and mix for 10 seconds on Reverse, Speed 4, or until combined.

Cream cheese, crispy bacon, onion, sour cream, grated cheese and seasonings in a mixing bowl with a spoon.

Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients well.

The mixed ingredients in the mixing bowl.

Place the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and wrap tightly to form a ball. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

A hand holding the cheeseball mixture wrapped with plastic wrap and formed into a ball.

Step 2 - Roll To Coat

Place the reserved bacon, jalapeños and grated cheese onto a plate. Roll the cheese ball into the mixture to coat.

The chilled cheeseball rolled in extra cheese, onion and crumbled bacon on a plate.

Serve Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball with your choice of crackers, corn chips, pita chips or veggie sticks.

Side close up of the finished cheese ball on a plate.

Expert Tips

Cream cheese - make sure that your cream cheese is softened to room temperature to make it easier to mix with other ingredients.
Bacon - ensure that your crispy cooked bacon is completely cold before adding it to the cream cheese, otherwise it will start to melt the cream cheese.
To add extra spicy heat - increase the amount of jalapeño's or add an extra dash of Tabasco to the filling.
For a vegetarian option - replace the bacon with diced red capsicum or simply omit the bacon.
Storage - store the cheeseball in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is best served at room temperature to soften it and to fully develop all of the creamy herb and savoury flavours.

FAQs

Why is my cheese ball not firm?

You need to give the cheese ball enough time to chill in the fridge, at least 30 minutes.??

How long can you keep a cheese ball in the refridgerator?

Stored in an airtight container, this cheese call will keep up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze this jalapeño bacon cheese ball?

No, this jalapeño bacon cheese ball recipe is not suitable for freezing.

A hand holding a cracker topped with a portion of the bacon jalapeño cheese ball.

Creamy cheese and salty bacon are such a classic combination, and one my family can not get enough of. Here are some of our favourite cheese and bacon recipes:

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