Jalapeno Cheese Ball Bites Recipe
These Jalapeno Cheese Ball Bites are a perfect party appetizer combining sharp cheddar, cream cheese, and spicy jalapenos, coated with a crunchy bacon and pecan mixture. Served on pretzel sticks, they deliver a delightful mix of creamy, spicy, and savory flavors in a bite-sized treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for bacon cooking)
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 bite-sized cheese balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1–2 jalapenos, seeded & minced
- 4 oz pimentos, diced and drained
Coating
- 6 slices bacon, cooked & chopped small
- 1 cup pecans, chopped small
Serving
- Pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, pepper, minced jalapenos, and diced pimentos. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Chill Mixture: Cover the cheese mixture bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. This step helps the mixture firm up, making it easier to shape into balls.
- Prepare Coating: In a shallow dish, mix together the cooked and chopped bacon with chopped pecans to create the crunchy coating.
- Form Cheese Balls: Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the fridge. Roll the mixture into small bite-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Coat Cheese Balls: Roll each cheese ball thoroughly in the bacon and pecan mixture until fully coated, ensuring an even crunchy layer around the cheese.
- Insert Pretzel Sticks: Just before serving, insert a pretzel stick into the center of each cheese ball to create bite-sized, easy-to-handle appetizers.
Notes
- You can choose to make one large cheese ball instead of multiple bites. Roll the entire cheese mixture into a larger ball and coat it with the bacon and pecan mixture, then serve sliced with crackers, pita chips, or veggies.
- Sour cream can be used as a substitute for mayonnaise for a slightly tangier flavor.
- For extra heat, add hot sauce to the cream cheese filling before mixing.
Keywords: jalapeno cheese ball bites, jalapeno appetizers, bacon pecan cheese balls, party snacks, easy cheese bites
Find it online: https://tastemadebyclara.com/jalapeno-cheese-ball-bites-recipe/
