Admit it – you like ‘em. Well, you will love this Cheese Ball with Jalapeño Recipe - it’s a soft creamy ball of cheese blended with spicy jalapenos, dill, onion salt and celery salt. A dippable appetizer, scaled down to serve two, making it perfect for date night or settling in to watch your favorite team or the latest Netflix series.
Short on time? No problem. Not only does this whip up in minutes, you can make it as far as a week in advance.
If you have leftovers, stuff your burger or meat loaf with a Tablespoon or two of the cheeseball mixture to create your version of a Jucy Lucy burger. A Jucy Lucy? A Minneapolis bar invention – it’s a stuffed cheeseburger with the cheese inside of the meat instead of on top, resulting in a melted core.
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Why this recipe works
We skipped the processed cheese in this Cheese Ball with Jalapeño for a more flavorful extra-sharp cheddar, which—combined with jalapenos, dill weed, onion salt and garlic salt — is absolutely addicting. To add creaminess and help balance the spicy Jalapeno, we turned to cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this recipe.
- sour cream – either a full fat or light version can work with this recipe.
- mayonnaise – I like to use a light version of mayo to save on calories without compromising flavor or texture of the cheese ball.
- cream cheese – adding the creaminess and balancing the spice from the jalapenos. You can use light or full fat in this recipe.
- pickled jalapeños – you can use a fresh jalapeno if you prefer a hit of fresh jalapeno spice.
- sharp cheddar cheese – buy a block of sharp cheddar and finely shred the cheese for easier mixing, smoother cheese ball texture and a better dipping experience.
- dill weed, onion salt and celery salt – we will need only a pinch of each seasoning but this combination is a winner! If you do not have dill weed you could skip it. It is possible to swap garlic salt for celery salt – but I recommend you splurge and buy the celery salt as it helps tone down the onion and jalapeno flavors and brings dimension to the cheese ball.
- crostini, crackers or pita chips
Note: Ingredient measurements are found in the recipe card below.
Quick tips
- Start with softened (room temperature) cream cheese to make sure it blends smoothly achieving a characteristic creamy and smooth cheeseball.
- Drain and mince your jalapenos
- Use finely shredded cheese if possible since it makes the cheese ball easier to dip into.
- Refrigerate the cheese ball until firm, about 3 hours, which also allows the flavors to meld.
Making a Cheese Ball with Jalapenos
There are two ways to easily mix together the ingredients of a cheese ball - using a food processor or a mixer.
If using a food processor, place the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, dill weed, onion salt and celery salt garlic powder, onion powder in the bowl and process until smooth and creamy. Now add the drained and diced jalapeno, pulse for 10 times.
If you opt to use a stand or hand mixer, on medium speed, beat together your cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, dill weed, onion salt and celery salt garlic powder, onion powder until smooth and creamy. Then on a low mix speed, mix in the cheddar cheese and diced and minced jalapeno.
Once you have mixed together all the ingredients, lay out a large piece of plastic wrap on a countertop. Spoon the cheese into a ball shape and bring up the sides of the plastic wrap to cover the cheese ball. Pat the cheese into a shape of a ball.
Refrigerate the cheese ball until firm, about 3 hours, which also allows the flavors meld. If you have time, I find it tastes better if refrigerated overnight. You can make this cheese ball ahead and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving, unwrap and place on a serving tray.
For dipping, I like to slice up a French banquette, brush each slice with olive oil, sprinkle with some garlic salt and toast in the oven or in the grill. Water crackers, pita chips and even vegetables are great options to serve with the cheese ball.
Need to make this for more than two? Simply double or triple the servings in the recipe card and the ingredient measurements will automatically adjust!
What to serve with this cheese ball
Looking for what to serve with and after the cheese ball appetizer?
Here are some of my favorite cocktails:
- Whiskey Sours or a Paloma are great cocktails that go well with this cheese ball
After the appetizers these dishes are terrific for the next act.
Cheese Ball Recipe with Jalapeno
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Equipment
- Food Processor or a stand mixer
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese finely shredded
- ⅛ teaspoon dill weed
- ⅛ teaspoon onion salt
- ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ cup diced pickled jalapeños drained
- Crostini ,crackers or pita chips
Instructions
- If using a food processor: Process cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, dill weed, onion salt and celery salt until smooth and creamy. Add drained and diced jalapeno, and pulse for 10 times.
- If using a stand or hand mixer, on medium speed, beat together your cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, dill weed, onion salt and celery salt until smooth and creamy. Turn to the lowest speed and mix in cheddar cheese and the drained and diced jalapeno.
- Now, lay out a large piece of plastic wrap on a countertop. Spoon the cheese into a ball shape and bring up the sides of the plastic wrap to cover the cheese ball. Pat the cheese into a shape of a ball.. Refrigerate the cheese ball until firm, about 3 hours, and to let the flavors meld.
- Remove the cheese ball about 20 minutes before serving, unwrap and place on a serving tray. Serve with crostini, water crackers, pita chips or vegetables.
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Your Notes, Tips and Tricks
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store it in an airtight container or bag and place it in the refrigerator for up to one week (depending on the freshness date of the cream cheese and other ingredients).
Some of the best crackers to serve with this jalapeño cheese ball are water crackers, crostini or pita chips. All of these options are sturdy and are unseasoned, allowing the flavor of the cheese ball to be the star.
Crostini are typically made with a French baguette or another long loaf of bread. The crusty bread sliced thin then brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with some garlic salt or another seasoning, toasted in the oven or on the grill to crisp perfection. Crostini are my favorite to serve with this cheese ball recipe.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #ourtable42.
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