Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball

Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball is a classic appetizer that will hook everyone at the first bite with its cheese and fresh veggie flavors!

Party Time

Cheese balls are synonymous with parties, and it’s almost Pavlovian by now- someone says party and I picture an Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball and start to drool. It’s only a tiny bit and no one notices, but it won’t stop until I get a big bite of this cheese ball! Cheese balls are so perfect for every get-together because I can make them ahead of time so there’s less to do and more importantly, everyone else loves them just as much so it’s always gone by the end of the party.

Stir up more addictive cheese and veggie appetizers like Drunken Pimento Cheese and Cheesy Roasted Corn and Black Bean Dip to wow everyone at the party!

Other Recipes to Serve with Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball

• Spinach Bell Pepper Dip will have your guests crowding the snack table, so put out plenty of crackers for your friends to devour this treat!
• Tropical Moscato Sangria is perfect no matter what time of year you make it, and it is one drink you and your guests will love!

Ingredients

Cheese: For this cheese ball, you will need a couple of bricks of softened cream cheese, a block of grated cheddar, and garlic & herb feta cheese. Regular or low-fat cream cheese are both acceptable to use and if you’re short in time, pre-shredded cheddar will work too.

Veggies: Pick up a red bell pepper, fresh parsley, and green onion.

How to Make Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball

STEP ONE: Using a stand mixer or a bowl with beaters, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the cheddar and feta cheese and mix. Lastly, add the green onion and bell pepper and mix for the last time.

STEP TWO: Line a bowl with plastic wrap and spoon the cheese mixture into the bowl. Cover the cheese with the plastic wrap and refrigerate the cheese for a few hours until firm.

STEP THREE: Spread the chopped parsley over a cutting board and pat it with paper towels to dry it as much as possible. Remove the cheese from the bowl using the plastic wrap to help you. While it’s still wrapped, shape the cheese into a ball.

STEP FOUR: Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it through the parsley until the outside is coated. Place the cheese ball on a tray with crackers and veggies for serving.

Tips for Success

• A lot of the flavor comes from the cream cheese, which is why you don’t want to pick a non-fat cream cheese to use in this recipe. That cream cheese lacks the creamy, tangy punch that Neufchatel or regular cream cheese has.
• Freshly grated cheddar cheese is also better for this recipe because it contains a bolder flavor and helps the cheese ball stick together better. Pre-shredded cheese is powder coated so that it doesn’t stick to itself in the package and would also interfere with the cheese ball maintaining its shape.
• Double or triple this recipe to serve a huge crowd! You can also make a few cheese balls at a time and keep them in the fridge to replenish the snack table as needed. Onion & Bell Pepper Cheese Ball stores well when covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!
• Don’t forget to put out a cheese knife for everyone to use- cheese balls are pretty firm and not easily scoopable!

What are cheese balls made of?

Cheese balls can be made to be either sweet or savory, but both versions are a combination of soft cheese and firm cheese or another firm ingredient. Cream cheese, mascarpone, or ricotta are the most common soft cheeses used in cheese balls, along with firm cheese like cheddar, Colby, or Muenster. Savory cheese balls can feature other tasty add-ins like bacon, nuts, and ranch seasoning. Dessert cheese balls are typically made with cream cheese covered with firm ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit. Whether you choose sweet or savory, these cheese balls are a total hit at every party!

What do you serve with cheese balls?

The great thing about cheese balls is that they’re made with ingredients that go so well with various sides! The cheese and fresh herbs are delicious on crackers, baguettes, pretzels, and other goodies like bell peppers, carrots, and apple slices. The firm texture of cheese balls makes them an excellent topping on crunchy chips and soft bread slices. Don’t forget a knife or some other way to scoop the cheese because the ball will be too hard to dip crackers into without them breaking!

More cheese means more reasons to party!

• Quick Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball
• Onion Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
• Pineapple Cheese Ball
• Sriracha Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ball

*This post was originally posted on 12/23/2013.