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Jalapeno Popper Football Cheese Ball

Jalapeno Popper Football Cheese Ball

  • Author: Lina
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including chilling time)
  • Yield: Serves 8-12 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

The Jalapeno Popper Football Cheese Ball is a crowd-pleasing game day appetizer featuring a spicy, creamy blend of cream cheese, cheddar, jalapenos, bacon, and green onions. Shaped like a football with decorative cheese laces, it offers the perfect balance of heat, cheese, and crunch that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress guests at any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2–3 jalapenos, finely diced (fresh or pickled, seeds removed for less heat)
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

For Serving

  • Crackers or chips of choice (pita, tortilla, or toasted baguette slices strongly recommended)

Optional Garnishes

  • Thin strips of cream cheese or white cheese sticks for football laces
  • Finely chopped chives or extra bacon bits for topping

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Finely dice the jalapenos and green onions. Cook the bacon until crisp, then crumble. Allow all ingredients to cool completely before mixing to ensure even distribution throughout the cheese ball.
  2. Mix the Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy using a hand mixer or a sturdy spoon.
  3. Incorporate the Mix-ins: Gently fold the diced jalapenos, chopped green onions, and bacon bits into the cheese mixture. Stir carefully to evenly distribute the spicy and smoky flavors.
  4. Shape into a Football: Place the cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Mold it carefully into an oblong football shape using your hands, smoothing the surface and shaping the ends to create a classic football silhouette.
  5. Add the Decorative Touches: Use thin strips of cream cheese or white cheese sticks to create laces across the top of the football. Chill the shaped cheese ball in the refrigerator for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and the shape to firm up.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the Jalapeno Popper Football Cheese Ball onto a serving platter. Surround it with crackers, chips, or sliced vegetables for scooping, then watch it disappear quickly as guests enjoy this spicy, creamy appetizer!

Notes

  • Use softened cream cheese at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother texture.
  • Removing jalapeno seeds will reduce the heat; leave them in for extra spice.
  • Chill the cheese ball thoroughly before serving to firm it up and make slicing easier.
  • Shape the cheese ball using plastic wrap to keep it neat and make transferring to a serving dish simple.
  • This cheese ball can be made a day ahead to allow flavors to fully develop.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes (for bacon cooking)
  • Category: Appetizers
  • Method: No cooking required aside from bacon; assembly and chilling
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: About 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 110
  • Sugar: 0.5g
  • Sodium: 210mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 1g
  • Fiber: 0.2g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: jalapeno popper, cheese ball, football party appetizer, game day snack, spicy cheese ball, cream cheese appetizer

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Find it online: https://dishesbylina.com/jalapeno-popper-football-cheese-ball/