Description
These easy Cheese Ball Bites are creamy, crunchy, and crowd-pleasing—perfect for holidays, game day, or any party spread. Made with cream cheese, cheddar, crispy bacon, and coated in a crunchy mix of pecans and herbs, they’re fun to make, easy to serve, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon paprika
Salt & black pepper, to taste
½ cup cooked bacon, finely chopped
¼ cup fresh chives, finely chopped
½ cup roasted pecans, finely chopped
About 18 mini pretzel sticks
Instructions
In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll into small balls. Place on a parchment-lined tray.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
In a shallow dish, combine chopped bacon, chives, and pecans. Roll each cheese ball in the mixture until coated.
Just before serving, insert a mini pretzel stick into the center of each cheese ball. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Make Ahead: Shape cheese balls up to 2 days in advance. Roll in coatings just before serving.
Nut-Free Option: Use crushed pretzels or toasted breadcrumbs instead of pecans.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add fresh pretzel sticks before serving.
Freezing: Freeze uncoated cheese balls on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw overnight before coating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 110kcl
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Cheese Ball Bites, party appetizer, easy finger food