You can never go wrong with acheese ballrecipe especially when hosting a holiday gathering! Salty, crunchy, and cheesy, it’s the perfect appetizer for guests to munch on as they visit with each other.

meat and onion cheese ball in the center of a plate with butter crackers all around.

In the past, I’ve mademini cheese balls and cute little cracker packsto give to neighbors on holiday goodie plates. I thought a little salty would break up all the sweet nicely. To make the cracker packs, just tear off a 6- or 7-inch piece of parchment paper, fold it in half, and then cut it 3 times. Staple up each side to create a little pocket that measures about 3 inches tall by 4 inches wide.

This recipe will makeone giant cheese ball or 8 mini cheese ballsthat are about 1/2-cup each. Wrap the big cheese ball or smaller ones individually in plastic wrap, tying off the ends with yarn. Chill them in the fridge forat least an hourto firm up before serving.

close up of beef and onion cheese dip on a cracker.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

They are a classic appetizer or snack item atparties, potlucks, and holiday gatherings, often served withcrackers, breadsticks, or fresh vegetables.
From traditional flavors like cheddar and herbs to more adventurous combinations like bacon and jalapeño, cheese balls offer a wide range of flavor profiles to suit different preferences.
Try coating your cheese balls in unqiue ways to make them extra special for those holiday gatherings.

Recipe Ingredients

Cream cheese
Green onions —green part only
Roast beef —optional
Garlic powder
Worcestershire sauce
Nuts —optional, I prefer pecans

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

ingredients for the ground beef for the meat and onion cheese ball

How To Make a Homemade Cheese Ball

cream cheese going into cooked ground beef for the meat and onion cheese ball

Step 1:Combine the cream cheese, green onion, roast beef, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.

Step 2:To make mini cheese balls, pat into a ball about the size of your fist and roll in nuts.

A blue cloth with beef and onion cheese balls wrapped in plastic wrap

Step 3:Wrap in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

Step 4: To make a party-sized cheese ball, pat and roll to form a ball. Roll in nuts and reshape.

What is a cheese ball made of?

Traditional cheese balls are made of some sort of soft cheese with a few flavorful additions and rolled in chopped nuts. This recipe is super salty and savory, and is made of cream cheese, green onions, chopped roast beef (the secret ingredient that makes it SO good), garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped pecans for the outside (optional).

What do you eat with cheese balls?

You can eat whatever you like with cheese balls! I prefer crackers, but you could also spread some on small slices of toasted baguette or dip sturdy chopped veggies in it, like cucumbers or celery.

How long do cheese balls last?

Cheese balls stored wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge can last up to 5 days, but the sooner you eat it the better and fresher it tastes.

What are the best crackers for a cheese ball?

Because cheese balls are pretty thick, it’s best to use sturdier crackers for dipping. If you have a crumbly, buttery cracker, it’ll still taste good but they may break easier.

beef and onion cheese ball surrounded by crackers on a white plate.

Expert Tips

Try incorporating additional flavors and textures by mixing in ingredients like chopped cookedbacon, finely dicedsun-dried tomatoes,roasted garlic, or herbs likechives or parsley.
Taste the cheese mixture before forming it into a ball. Adjust the seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.) to make sure it’s just right.
After mixing, chill the cheese mixture for at least 30 minutes before shaping into a ball. This helpsfirm upthe mixture, making it easier to handle and shape.
For a traditional touch, roll the cheese ball infinely chopped nuts(such as pecans or walnuts) or herbs (like parsley or dill) for an extra twist.