Adorable and Delicious Mini Cheese Balls

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Step up your appetizer game with these homemade Mini Cheese Balls. Easy to make and irresistibly tasty, these will be the perfect addition to your party menu. Great for holiday celebrations, potlucks, or as a tasty snack, these cheese balls are sure to impress your guests.

mini cheese balls served with crackers on a cake stand.

I’m super excited to share a recipe that’s going to improve your appetizer game – Mini Cheese Balls! We all know and love the classic cheese ball at parties, but let’s be honest, they can get a little messy after a few guests dive in. That’s why these bite-sized delights are such a game-changer!

Not only are they incredibly easy and fun to make, but they also stay looking gorgeous on your serving table all evening long. Whether you’re hosting a cozy family gathering or a lively get-together with friends, these mini cheese balls are sure to be the star of the show.

With this mini cheeseball recipe, however, each guest can gets his / her own mini-cheeseball. The truffle has the same wonderful taste as a regular cheeseball, and the presentation looks great all evening. Genius!

Looking for more adorable hors d’oeuvres? You’ve come to the right place. Check out this post for all of my favorite easy hors d’oeuvres recipes.

mini cheese balls served with toothpicks on a plate.

Each mini cheese ball contains enough cheese for three crackers. (Or if you’re a cheese lover like me, it’s one truffle per cracker. Ha!)

Since variety is the spice of life, I have two cheese truffle recipes for you: Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Cheese Truffles and Cheddar, Bacon, and Ranch Cheese Truffles. You’re going to love both!

mini cheese balls on a cake stand.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Perfectly Portioned Delight: Say goodbye to the messy aftermath of a traditional cheese ball. These mini cheese balls ensure each of your guests gets their own little sphere of deliciousness, keeping the presentation charming and tidy all evening.
  • Two Scrumptious Flavors to Choose From: Whether you’re a fan of the classic richness of cheddar or the bold tang of blue cheese, there’s a mini cheese ball here for you. Plus, the bacon in both recipes adds a smoky depth that’s simply irresistible.
  • Easy and Fun to Make: No complicated steps or obscure ingredients here! These recipes are all about bringing joy and ease into your kitchen. You’ll have as much fun making these cheese balls as your guests will have eating them.
  • Impressive Presentation: Each mini cheese ball is a little work of art, especially with the eye-catching garnishes of chopped pecans or pistachios. These appetizers are not just tasty; they’re a feast for the eyes too!
  • A Hit at Any Gathering: Whether it’s a cozy family get-together or a lively party with friends, these mini cheese balls are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. They’re the perfect conversation starters and will have everyone asking for the recipe.
ingredients for mini cake balls on plates.

Ingredients

Dive into making these delightful mini cheese balls with some simple, yet flavorful ingredients. I’ve provided two different cheese ball recipes to keep things interesting. Here’s what you’ll need for each:

Cheddar, Bacon, and Ranch Mini Cheese Balls

  • cream cheese
  • sharp cheddar cheese
  • applewood bacon
  • green onions
  • dry ranch dressing mix
  • pecans

Blue Cheese, Bacon and Pistachio Cheese Balls

  • cream cheese
  • blue cheese
  • bacon
  • pistachios

Once you’ve gather up your ingredients, we’re ready to get rolling!

mini cheese balls on a plate with a festive background.

How to Make

These mini cheese balls are so simply to make! I’ll walk you through the process below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

While the ingredients differ in each recipe, the directions are the same.

  1. Begin by mixing all of the ingredients, except for the garnish. You can do this by hand, but I find using a hand mixer works best to get everything well combined.
hand mixer mixing cheese ball ingredients.
  1. Once you have your truffle mixture, you’ll want to roll it into 1 1/2-inch balls. Then, roll each ball in chopped nuts and/ or bacon.
mini cheese ball served on a plate.
  1. Pop the truffles in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour before serving, and you’re ready to go.

And that’s it!

While these require a little more preparation than your standard cheese ball, the presentation is well worth the effort.

These are loaded with flavor and couldn’t be cuter! That the recipe for a winning appetizer recipe!

mini cheese ball appetizer recipe on individual plates.
hand with a crackers taking a bite of a mini cheese ball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these mini cheese balls ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare these cheese balls a day in advance. Just wrap them tightly and keep them refrigerated. Add the garnishes before serving to keep them fresh and crunchy.

What’s the best way to serve these at a party?

Serving these mini cheese balls is super easy and fun. Arrange them on a platter with some toothpicks for easy picking. They pair wonderfully with crackers, sliced baguettes, or even some crisp veggies.

Can I use different types of cheese?

Definitely! Feel free to experiment with your favorite cheeses. Just keep in mind the texture – you want cheeses that are firm enough to hold the ball shape.

How long do these mini cheese balls last in the fridge?

Stored in an airtight container, these cheese balls can last up to 4 days in the fridge. They’re perfect for enjoying leftovers or prepping for a multi-day event.

festive mini cheese balls served on a cake stand.

More Cheese Ball Recipes You’ll Love

They are so unexpected, but a classic party appetizer your family will love!

If you make these mini cheese balls, I’d love to hear how it went – your twists, turns, and all the fun you had along the way. Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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Mini Cheese Balls

These Mini Cheeseballs / aka Cheese Truffles are an easy, cute, and delicious appetizer recipe everyone will love!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: appetizer, cheese ball, cheeseball
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 177kcal

Ingredients

Cheddar, Bacon, and Ranch Cheese Truffles

Garnish

  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped
  • 1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped

Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Cheese Truffles

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 1/2 cup applewood bacon cooked and finely chopped
  • 2/3 cup pistachios chopped

Garnish

  • 1/2 cup pistachios chopped
  • 1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped

Instructions

Cheddar, Bacon, and Ranch Cheese Truffles

  • In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, ranch seasoning, and green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended.
  • Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls.
  • Roll each ball in the pecans or chopped bacon to coat. Refrigerator for one hour before serving.

Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Pistachio Cheese Truffles

  • In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, blue cheese, bacon, and pistachios.
  • Mix with a hand mixer until well blended. Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls.
  • Roll each ball in the pistachios or chopped bacon to coat. Refrigerator for one hour before serving.

Notes

Each recipe makes about 20 mini cheese balls. If you make both recipes, you should have about 40 mini cheese balls. 

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 263mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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2 Comments

  1. Michael, your cheese ball recipes are great. I’l love to know where the cute white square appetizer plates were purchased, please.

    Christmas Trees are always stunning.

    Best, Diane R.