A delightful snack that perfectly balances spicy and creamy with these Bacon Jalapeño Popper Cheese Balls.
Author:Ellie Monroe
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Total Time:40 minutes
Yield:12 cheese balls 1x
Category:Appetizers
Method:No Cook
Cuisine:American
Diet:Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Scale
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 jalapeños
240 ml bacon
1/4 cup fresh chives
1/4 cup red onion
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup bacon crumbles
Instructions
Begin by combining your softened cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or a sturdy spoon to blend them until the mixture is fluffy, which should take about 2-3 minutes. Next, gently fold in the sharp cheddar cheese, finely diced jalapeños, 240ml of crumbled bacon, minced chives, and optional red onion. Season with black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste, ensuring an even distribution of flavors throughout the cheese mixture.
Once your cheese mixture is well combined, spread the remaining crumbled bacon evenly on a shallow dish. This will create a crispy coating for your cheese balls.
Utilize a cookie scoop to portion out your cheese mixture, forming it into balls about the size of walnuts. As you scoop the cheese mixture, keep your hands slightly damp to avoid sticking. Roll each cheese ball in the crumbled bacon on the shallow dish, ensuring they are coated evenly.
After coating the cheese balls, transfer them to a platter or a baking sheet. Cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature before mixing.
When dicing jalapeños, remove the seeds for a milder heat level.
When rolling the balls in bacon crumbles, ensure each cheese ball is fully coated.
Don't skip the chilling step! Refrigerating the cheese balls for at least 30 minutes helps them firm up and enhances their flavors.
Feel free to mix in different cheeses for a personalized twist.