Easy Jalapeño Cheese Ball — Just spicy enough that the more you have, the more you want!! A fast, easy, and foolproof hit!!
Spicy Cheese Ball Recipe
This is Super Bowl food all the way. Or game day food, easy party food, or cheese-spread-as-your-dinner food. If you can make meals out of appetizers and dips like I can, especially of the cheesy variety, you’re going to love this cream cheese ball recipe.
Simply combine cheddar cheese, cream cheese, garlic, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, and stir. In less than five minutes, you’re done. The best kind of recipe and it’s naturally gluten-free.
I used light cream cheese in an effort to reduce some of the decadence. And then proceeded to roll the cheese ball in a cup of nuts. But of course.
I used one half cup each of Fisher Chopped Walnuts and Fisher Natural Sliced Almonds. There’s no added salt, sugar, preservatives, or anything you don’t want in Fisher Nuts which is why they’re such a great choice for cooking.
I especially loved the buttery crunch of the walnuts contrasted against the smooth, creamy cheese. So good.
The tiny bits of peppers add nice color, great texture and big, bold flavor to the cheese ball.
What’s in This Jalapeño Cheese Ball?
To make this easy cheese ball recipe, all you’ll need is:
- Cream cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Red bell pepper
- Jalapeño pepper
- Garlic
- Fisher Chopped Walnuts
- Fisher Natural Sliced Almonds
How to Make a Jalapeño Cheese Ball
Cream cheese balls are one of the easiest appetizers you can make! To make this recipe, simply mix together all of the ingredients except the nuts.
Then, pat the mixture into a ball. Carefully transfer the cheese ball to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it up.
Chill the spicy cheese ball in the fridge for at least three hours before serving it. When ready to serve, roll it in the nut mixture.
Can You Prep This Cheese Ball in Advance?
Yes! This jalapeño cheese ball will last up to 1 week in the fridge and can be made two or three days before you plan on serving it. Wait to roll it in nuts until you’re ready to serve.
Can You Freeze a Cheese Ball?
Yes, you can freeze the cheese ball before coating it in nuts. Wrap it in a few layers of plastic wrap and a layer or two of foil, then freeze for up to three months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight.
What to Serve with This Spicy Cheese Ball
Cream cheese balls pair well with anything carb-y. Some of my favorite things to dip into a cheese ball are:
- Pita chips
- Crackers
- Tortilla chips
- Baguette slices
- Veggie sticks
- Pretzels
Tips for Making the Best Cheese Ball
Make sure the cream cheese is very well softened before beginning this recipe, or it will be unnecessarily difficult to combine the ingredients.
I de-seeded the jalapeño because not everyone likes things quite as spicy and hurts-so-good as I do, but if your friends and family can handle the heat, keep some or all of the seeds in.
You can optionally incorporate chives, green or red onion, corn, or bacon bits in the outer coating if you wanted to really go all out.
Pin This Recipe
Easy Jalapeño and Red Pepper Cheese Ball
This Jalapeño Cheese Ball is just spicy enough that the more you have, the more you want!! A fast, easy, and foolproof hit!!
Ingredients
- two 8-ounce packages brick-style cream cheese, very well softened (lite is okay)
- 8-ounces grated sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper with seeds and stem removed (about 1/2 of a medium/large pepper)
- 1/3 cup finely diced jalapeño pepper with seeds and stem removed (about 1 medium/large pepper; if you want spread extra-spicy keep some or all of the seeds)
- 2 finely minced cloves of peeled garlic
- optional 1/3 cup of chives, green or red onion, corn, or bacon bits
- 1/2 cup Fisher Chopped Walnuts, or as necessary to fully cover cheese ball
- 1/2 cup Fisher Natural Sliced Almonds, or as necessary to fully cover cheese ball
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add all ingredients except nuts, and stir to combine or use a handheld electric mixer and beat on low speed to combine. Make sure cream cheese is very well softened before beginning or it will be unnecessarily difficult to combine the ingredients.
- Using a spatula (or your hands), pat mixture into a ball inside bowl; it’s okay if it’s not perfectly round.
- Turn ball out onto a large piece of plasticwrap and wrap it up. Gently pat it into a nice smooth ball, and place ball inside a ziptop bag to prevent fridge smells.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight, to chill and firm up.
- Prior to serving, combine the walnuts and almonds in a medium bowl and gently roll the ball in nuts until it’s completely covered.
Notes
Storage: Cheese ball will keep for at least 1 week airtight in the fridge and can be made many days in advance; however, don’t roll in nuts until day of serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 713Total Fat: 64gSaturated Fat: 31gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 740mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 22g
More Cheesy Dips:
Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Onion Dip – One of my favorite dips and I used to think I hated onions. Stir it together in one bowl in minutes and bake for cheesy comfort food!
Loaded Baked Tater Tot Dip – Favorite baked potato fixings baked together in a dip that everyone loves!
Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip – Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese & baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection!
Hot Cheesy Corn Dip – Two kinds of cheese, corn and green chiles make for an irresistible dip! Easy comfort food that’ll be devoured!
Baked Spinach, Artichoke, and Mozzarella Dip – The classic dip, topped with cheese because cheese makes everything better!
Creamy Ranch and Cheese Bread Bowl Dip — A no-bake, easy dip that’s packed with bold flavor! A perfect party dip and you get to eat the bowl!
Easy Cheesy Chili Dip – Just a few ingredients and 5 mins is all you need for this super easy dip packed with flavor and cheese!
16 Cheesy Dips To Make Now – Fast, EASY, foolproof, and nothing compares to gooey, heavenly, melted CHEESE!! Perfect for holiday parties, game day parties, or your next cozy night on the couch!!
Post is brought to you by Fisher. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own. #thinkfisher
This is the MOST requested cheeseball I make. Have been making for four years and its requested by everyone for a family get-together. My 14 year old grand-daughter is now making them for her family get-togethers. Perfect, easy to make, easy to adjust the ingredients and never any left-overs.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this is the most requested cheeseball you make! And that you’ve been making it for 4 years and it’s a family favorite!
I realize I’m late to the party but just had to add that this is a great basic recipe to play around with! I sometimes make it with crumbled bacon added (Jalapeno Popper!), or diced bacon, pimiento and dry ranch dip mix added (Bacon Ranch). Also really good with other veggies added to change things up. People, cheese balls are the bomb and soooo easy and yummy! (We also make as a spreadable dip by using 1/3 less fat or spreadable cream cheese and omitting nut coating.) Yummy recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad you are a fan of cheese balls too!
Ooooh yum!! These sound amazing! I love the flavor of those smokehouse Jalapeño… and… you really can’t go wrong with cheese ! 😛
Do I need to use fresh peppers or can I used thawed, frozen? Or out of a jar?
I’ve only made it with fresh and fear that jarred or thawed out peppers would be a bit too mushy for my personal preference.
This dip looks great! I may even add a little more cheddar to mine just because.
Can’t go wrong with more cheese!
This looks so good–pinned and adding to my menu list for Sunday. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for pinning and adding it to your menu!
I’ve never had a cheese ball before, but if there is cream cheese and jalapenos involved, I’m in!
Looks yummy :)
This look AMAZING! Ah i have to make it for super bowl!
I’m all about appetizers as meals too! I love jalapenos but only coming around to liking red bell peppers lately. Encased in soft cheese though, I won’t be able to resist!
All of this wonderful CHEESE!!!! I crave now :)
We need wine to go with it :)
Yum! I love cheeseballs, and my husband and I have a movie and app night at least once a month. We will lay out a spread of goodies on the coffee table and snack all evening while catching up on Netflix or Hulu. I may try to make this for the SuperBowl! It looks gorgeous and delicious.
Oh, it looks so tasty!
Yum! I love cheese balls and yours looks phenomenal! I love the mixture of cream cheese and cheddar cheese and adding red peppers sounds so delicious. Can’t wait to try!
I’m SO an appetizers-for-dinner type of girl, and I’d have no problem polishing off half of this gorgeous cheese ball in one sitting. I’d only be able to make in for the Super Bowl when everyone else was distracted by the game and didn’t notice how much of it I hogged! ;)
Good commercials = everyone else is ‘busy’ and I can go hog the dips all to myself :) So with you on those happy distractions!
I love cheese balls, and this one looks SO delicious with all the little extra additions! I can’t wait to try this one out at my next get-together!
Fabulous flavors! My family would go crazy for this!
Thanks, Lori! Hope you guys have a great Superbowl weekend!
I love me a good cheese ball. This one is fantastic, and I love the nuts you put on the outside!
Thanks Dorothy! I mean how can you go wrong with cheese!
Let the dippage begin! This is so going to happen for Super Bowl 2015!
If you try it, LMK!
Cheese balls are the best! I’ve always made all kinds of herb cheese balls, but never thought about making a spicier one with jalapeno. Great idea. :)
Okay, so even funnier than our cheeseball talk the other day, is I almost made a savory cheeeball with jalapenos for my Fisher Nut post too :) Great minds I tell ya! The only reason I didn’t was because I had already made that sweet cheese ball!! This looks absolutely delicious!
And our other friend made a cheese ball and told me she was posting it tonight but is maybe moving it back a few days. Guess all the Fisher bloggers had cheese balls on the brain :) That is tooooo funny! And I would have loved your sweet cheese ball :)
I can totally make a meal out of appetizers, and those are sometimes the best meals! This cheese ball looks delicious, Averie! I love the jalapeno and red pepper combo. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and appetizers as meals are my fave kind of meal :)
I need more cheese spread as my dinner type of days! Looks Delicious!
You’re totally going to judge my food blogger prowess here, but…I have NEVER made a cheese ball!
I know.
But now you’ve done all the hard work and developing for me. SO…this! Love that spicy addition.
Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and I had never made one either! Not sure why but they are so easy…like it took me 5 mins and this baby was done! Loved that :)
It looks yummy! I’ll definitely try to make it. Thanks for sharing.
Easy and delicious–perfect for any party and so well timed. We’ll probably head over to one of our neighbors for the super bowl and it’s always nice to have a quick recipe. I have made various dips but not an actual cheese ball.
I had never made one either! Not sure why but they are so easy! I have a million cheesy dips and now I have the big cheese ball so I’m all set :)
I’ve never made a cheese ball but this recipe may just change that…I love the combination of nuts. We are getting ready for 30 inches of snow (yes 30) so this would be a perfect snack as we hunker in for a few days of movie watching.
I had never made one either! Not sure why but they are so easy and took me 5 mins! This would be perfect snowed-in weather! Sitting around eating cheese (and drinking something too hopefully) while being snowed in actually sounds nice :)
Just gorgeous! Great minds think alike. We should seriously do a cheese ball swap :)
Let’s get Heidi in on it too. LOL :) And this week with pre-Superbowl, there will be like a million cheese ball posts all of a sudden. Can’t wait to see yours!