Description
Spicy and creamy jalapeño popper cheese ball brings zesty southwestern flair to party appetizers. Packed with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, and fresh jalapeños, this crowd-pleasing snack delivers explosive flavor you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheeses:
- 2 packages (16 ounces / 450 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (115 grams) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Meats and Spicy Components:
- ½ cup crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos, finely chopped
- 2 fresh jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
Creamy and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 grams) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Coating Ingredients:
- ½ cup crushed crackers (like Ritz or pretzels)
- ¼ cup crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapenos
Instructions
- Craft a zesty base by blending cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, and aromatic seasonings in a spacious mixing vessel until the texture becomes velvety and uniform.
- Fold in chopped pickled and fresh jalapenos, along with crispy bacon fragments, ensuring even distribution throughout the creamy mixture.
- Transfer the spicy blend onto a sheet of plastic wrap, carefully bundling and molding into a compact spherical form using gentle pressure.
- Chill the nascent cheese ball in the refrigerator for approximately one hour, allowing it to solidify and develop enhanced flavor complexity.
- Prepare a rustic coating by pulverizing crackers and combining them with additional crumbled bacon, finely minced parsley, and diced jalapeno pieces.
- Gently extract the firmed cheese ball from its chilly retreat and meticulously roll it through the textured coating mixture, pressing softly to ensure complete coverage.
- Position the fully adorned cheese ball onto an elegant serving platter, surrounded by an array of crisp crackers, twisted pretzels, or vibrant raw vegetable crudités for guests to enjoy.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno quantities, using mild or spicy peppers based on personal preference.
- Make this appetizer vegetarian by omitting bacon and replacing with smoky paprika or roasted sunflower seeds for crunch.
- Prep ahead by creating the cheese ball up to two days before serving, allowing flavors to meld and develop deeper complexity.
- Consider using lower-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt for a lighter version without compromising rich, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg