Bacon Ranch Football Cheese Ball Recipe

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Whether you’re hosting a kid’s birthday party or a Super Bowl get-together, having some fun football party food is a great idea! And who doesn’t love the combination of bacon and ranch? With this football cheese ball recipe, your dinner guests can enjoy a flavorful game day appetizer that looks like a football! It’s perfect for the adults and kids at your celebration!

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While this cute cheese ball recipe looks complicated, you’ll be surprised to see just how simple it is to make. And the best part is that everyone at your Super Bowl watch party will love the combination of ingredients in this simple gluten free party food recipe as much as they love the cute look of the appetizer.

Football Cheese Ball

Now you know this recipe is easy to make and can be put together with just a handful of simple ingredients. So what are you waiting for? Let’s start mixing!

To make your own football shaped cheese ball, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients:

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese is what holds your cheese ball together, so it’s an essential ingredient. You can use full-fat or reduced fat cream cheese. Just make sure to soften it before you start mixing your ingredients!
• Sour cream: Another essential item for your football dip is sour cream, which will be used in the dip and as decoration on top. Either full-fat or reduced fat sour cream will work for this cheese ball!
• Ranch seasoning: Use a package of premade ranch seasoning to add some tang to your dip. I love Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning because it’s labeled gluten free!
• Chopped green onion: Don’t skip this ingredient to give a fresh flavor to the inside of your cheese ball with the help of some fresh green onions.
• Shredded cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is a great option for this ranch cheese ball because I love the flavor combination when paired with ranch dressing! But you can mix in your own favorite shredded cheese!
• Bacon bits: To coat the outside of the football, you’ll need some bacon. You can use cooked bacon that is finely chopped or your favorite real bacon bits.

How to Make a Football Cheese Ball

You’re going to love how quick and easy it is to make your own football cheeseball! All you need are a few minutes of prep work and some time for the ingredients to chill.

Start by combining the cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, shredded cheddar, green onion, and half the bacon bits in a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients together until everything is well combined.

Now that the dip is mixed up, it’s time to chill it! First, pour the dip ingredients onto the top of a large piece of plastic wrap. For them mixture into a football shape, then wrap the cheese ball tightly with plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours, until each ball is firm.

When you’re ready to serve your cheese ball, remove it from the fridge. Spread the remaining bacon bits in an even layer on a large plate. Roll the cheese ball in the bacon bits until it’s fully coated.

After that, transfer the remaining sour cream to a piping bag. Cut the tip of the bag and pipe the laces on top of the football before serving.

What to Serve with a Football Cheese Ball

You’re sure to score a touchdown on snacks when you serve this delicious Super Bowl appetizer! Once you have your cheese ball decorated for the big game and ready to go, serve it with some of these snacks for dipping at your party.

• Crackers. Serving a variety of crackers with your cheese ball is a great option for snacking. Make sure to provide your guests with a small cheese knife or spoon to make scooping off the cheese ball easy.
• Chips. You can’t go wrong with chips and dip! You’ll need thick, sturdy chips to serve with this cold dip. Try serving your cheeseball with tortilla chips, pita chips, corn chips or wavy potato chips.
• Pretzels. Serve your cheese ball with pretzels for a salty snack for dipping. Mini pretzels, pretzel sticks, and pretzel chips are all great for snacking.
• Bread. Another great addition to your snacking tray is some small pieces of bread or breadsticks. Try serving a variety of bread options for dipping or spreading.
• Vegetables. Give your guests some healthy options to enjoy with your cheese ball by adding veggies to your serving tray! Try serving the football dip with some carrot sticks, celery, bell pepper pieces, cherry tomatoes, or baby carrots.

Football Cheese Ball Recipe Ideas

Once you see how fun this cheese ball is to make and eat, you’ll want to make it for the Super Bowl every year! And with these recipe ideas, you can easily change up the flavors and decorations in your dip to create a unique appetizer for every football-themed celebration.

Try some of these recipe adjustments and serving ideas to create a delicious appetizer for game day, tailgating, or even birthday parties!

• Decorate the football with nuts. In addition to bacon bits, you can also coat your cheese ball in chopped nuts. Try using chopped pecans or walnuts to cover your cheese ball before serving.
• Make the cheese ball with different filling flavors. Bacon and ranch is always a hit with my family, so I love using this cheese ball recipe as a base. But if your family prefers another type of cheese ball filling, you can always swap out the inside of the football dip with your favorite recipe. Then follow the instructions for arranging and decorating your finished cheeseball.
• Try different ingredients for the laces. Sour cream is a quick and easy option for decorating the top of your football cheese ball. But you can also use string cheese to make the laces if you don’t want to add more sour cream to the recipe.

How to Store a Football Cheese Ball?

This delicious recipe is perfect for a party because everyone can enjoy it! But if you have some leftovers when the game is done, just transfer them to an airtight container. The cheese ball will stay good for up to one week when covered.

Can I Make a Football Cheese Ball Ahead of Time?

Part of this appetizer recipe can be made in advance. All you have to do is add the decorations when you’re ready to serve it!

Mix up the cream cheese ball, form it into a football shape and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days. Just leave off the bacon bits until you’re ready to serve the cheese ball to keep them from getting soggy.

More Easy Recipe Ideas:

DIY Football Mason Jars Perfect for a Party

Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball

Easy Football Field Taco Dip Recipe

Garlic Cheese Ball