Make a crowd pleasing jalapeño cheese ball for your next party. This flavorful cheese spread is made with cream cheese, jalapeños, and a dash of hot sauce, then rolled in crunchy toasted bread crumbs.
Recipe summary
Flavor/texture: Love jalapeno poppers? Try this jalapeno cheese ball. Cream cheese and cheddar cheese are mixed with jalapenos, green onion, and hot sauce, then rolled in toasted panko bread crumbs.
Easy make-ahead appetizer: Make your cheese ball 2-3 days ahead and store in the refrigerator. Roll in panko bread crumbs just before serving.
Serve with: Crackers and sliced veggies
Similar to: Everything Bagel Cheese Ball and Jalapeño Popper Dip
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Cream cheese - Regular block-style cream cheese or light cream cheese can be used in this recipe.
- Sharp cheddar - Can be substituted with pepper jack or monterey jack cheeses.
- Jalapeños - Leave the seeds and membranes in your jalapeños for more heat, or remove them for a mild flavor.
- Flavor - Hot sauce, salt, and garlic powder enhance the flavor of your cheese ball. Use as much hot sauce as you'd like for extra heat.
- Green onion - Can be substituted with a small amount of diced red onion.
- Panko bread crumbs - You'll be toasting your bread crumbs and using them to coat the outside of your cheese ball. These can be omitted if desired, or substituted with crumbled bacon pieces.
How to make a jalapeno cheese ball
- Add cheese ball ingredients to a large bowl and mash together until combined.
- Turn out onto a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper and form into a ball. Wrap and refrigerate until firm.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add bread crumbs and toast until golden brown.
- Store bread crumbs until ready to serve, then roll cheese ball in bread crumbs just before serving.
Tips and tricks
Don't walk away - Your bread crumbs can go from golden brown to burnt in a few seconds on the stovetop. The entire process only takes about 3-4 minutes, so don't walk away during this time.
Make ahead - Your cheese ball can be made and stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days ahead of an event. If you'd like to make it a day or more ahead of time, store your cheese ball in the refrigerator and the bread crumbs separately at room temperature. Bread crumbs will lose their crunchy texture in the refrigerator, so plan on rolling the cheese ball just before serving.
What to serve with a cheese ball - Fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell pepper slices, crackers, pretzel chips, pretzels, bagel chips, or apple slices.
Frequently asked questions
Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerators, but bread crumbs will soften and lose their crunchy texture.
Yes, toasting adds flavor, color, and a crunchy texture to your bread crumbs.
Yes, other common cheese ball toppings include chopped walnuts or pecans, bacon bits, sliced almonds, or shredded cheese.
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📖 Recipe
Jalapeño Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- 1 green onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- In a bowl, add cream cheese, sharp cheddar, jalapeño, onion, hot sauce, salt, and garlic powder. Mash ingredients together until evenly incorporated. Add more hot sauce as desired.
- Form cheese mixture into a ball using plastic wrap or wax paper. Refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until firm.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add bread crumbs. Stir frequently until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.
- Unwrap cheese ball and gently roll in bread crumbs until evenly coated. Serve with crackers and sliced vegetables. Or, refrigerate until ready to serve.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Make ahead: Cheese ball can be made ahead and refrigerated for 2-3 days before serving. Seal tightly in plastic wrap and place in a sealed container until ready to serve.
- Storage tip: If refrigerating cheese ball for more than 1 day, refrain from rolling in bread crumbs until day of serving.
- Serving tip: Remove cheese ball and allow to set at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving - this will make it easier for guests to spread onto crackers.
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