Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are a fun appetizer to serve for the holidays and any gathering. You’ll be amazed at how quickly they disappear.
This recipe is part of a wonderful round up of Thanksgiving and Potluck style recipes that will make your holiday entertaining a breeze. Scroll to the bottom for all the great recipes! #blogfriendsgiving
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are the perfect appetizer to enjoy at holiday dinners and fun social gatherings. They are bite sized so they will be easy for people to enjoy. Be sure to grab some to enjoy early on, because they are sure to disappear!
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The fall is crazy town in my house. We have great group of friends that we do so many parties and events with that just so happen to be in the fall. It kicks off with a great Halloween party and does right on through to New Years. It’s busy, crazy, and so much fun!
For a lot of those gatherings, we typically all bring some sort of party foods. In the past, I have brought my Jalapeno Jelly Glazed Slow Cooker Meatballs because they are so easy to make, transport, and everyone loves them. But they might have a run for their money with these bite sized cheese balls.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are just like what the sound like… bite sized cheese balls that are made with bacon and flavored with ranch. They are so cheesy from the cream cheese and shredded cheddar. The balls are coated with a mixture of bacon, nuts, and chives.
I used pistachios just because that is what I had on hand. But they are also really good with walnuts and pecans. No matter what nut you use, you just want to make sure that you very finely chop them. Chop them, consider that you are done, then chop some more. You really want a fine nut and bacon mixture because the balls are small. It wouldn’t be too pretty to have big chunks of nut and bacon on the cheese balls.
If you have a food processor, you can Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites make these in practically no time. Pulse the nuts until hey are fine. Then add in the bacon. Transfer that mixture to a bowl, then give the bowl of the food processors a quick wipe down. At that time, add the cream cheese and cheddar. Mix well, then add the chopped chives to that, then pulse again to finish that off. This keeps clean up to just the food processor and makes it all quick work.
Another tip that I have is that you use kitchen shears for chopping the chives. It makes really quick work of cutting them up into very fine pieces. (I think kitchen shears are an absolute must in the kitchen!)
The Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites are so great because they taste so good, but besides that, they are easy to make and can be made in advance. You can make them up to 2 days in advance. Just put the pretzels in the cheese balls about 15 minutes prior to serving, so they don’t get soggy.
Be sure to make these Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites for your next party. And, if you are invited, bringing these will make you the hit of the night!
More Party Food Recipes
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
What is needed for Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites?
You’ll love that you just need bacon, cream cheese, Ranch seasoning, pecans, shredded cheddar cheese, and chives for the cheese balls. Then you serve them with pretzel sticks!
How long will they last?
It’s great that they can last several days. So you can easily make these in advance, as you prep for your party. Store them in a single layer in an air tight container, or a plate that is wrapped really well with plastic wrap. Prior to serving them.
Is this gluten free?
Sure, this can be! Use gluten free pretzel sticks. And, make sure that bacon doesn’t have any gluten in it (typically they don’t, but it’s always important to double check!)
Can I just make this into 1 big cheese ball?
You absolutely can! Instead of rolling the mixture into bite-sized balls, just roll it into 1 big ball, and then coat that. I would then serve it with miniature pretzels, pitas, or crackers, instead of the pretzel sticks.

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bacon
- 12 ounce cream cheese, at room temperature
- 8 ounces finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Ranch seasoning
- 1/2 Cup pecans/walnuts/pistachios
- 2 Tablespoons finely chopped chives (approx .05 ounce)
- pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Let cool on paper towel lined plate. Crumble/chop.
- While the bacon is cooking, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, and half the chives. Roll cream cheese mixture into 24 evenly sized cheese balls.
- While the balls chill, finely chop the nuts into consistent tiny pieces. Combine with the crumbled bacon and half the chives in a bowl, set aside.
- Roll the balls into the nut mixture.
- Skewer with the pretzel sticks 15 minutes prior to serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 154Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 315mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g
Please be sure to check out all these other great recipes that are wonderful for the holiday dinners and parties!
Appetizers
- Baked Brie with Honey & Walnuts from Kelley of Mountain Mama Cooks
- Reindeer Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball from Julie of Julie Blanner
Salads
- Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts from Shashi of Savory Spin
- Creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad from Faith of An Edible Mosaic
Main Dishes
- Savory Vegetable Crisp from Bree of Baked Bree
- Rosemary Lamb Steaks from Danyelle of The Cubicle Chick
- Turkey Pot Pie from Kelly of Eat Picks
Side Dishes
- Fried Brussels Sprouts from Erin of The Almond Eater
- Cheesy Horseradish Mashed Potato Casserole from Renee of Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip from April of April Golightly
- Sauteed Garlic-Butter Mushrooms from Linda of Simply Healthyish Recipes
- Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe from Mel of Adventures of Mel
- Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo from Isabel of Isabel Eats
- Bacon Brussels Sprouts from Kara of Kara J. Miller
- Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole from Jennifer of Show Me the Yummy
- Amazing Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing from Sommer of A Spicy Perspective
- Pumpkin Caramelized Onion Gratin from Denise of Chez Us
- Crockpot Mac & Cheese from Leanette Fernandez of Funtastic Life
- Cheesy Brussels Sprouts au Gratin from Rachel Gurk of Rachel Cooks
Drinks
- Spiced Pumpkin Margarita from Sharon of Cupcakes and Cutlery
Breads
- Sourdough Pull Apart Rolls from Erica of Buttered Side Up
- How to Make Homemade Butterhorn Rolls from Mel of Flour on My Fingers
- Sweet Dinner Rolls from Jocelyn of Grandbaby Cakes
- Parker House Rolls from Irvin of Eat the Love
Desserts
- Sugar Pie from Julie of The Little Kitchen
- Oatmeal Apple Crisp from Julie of Peanut Butter Fingers
- Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from Eden of Sugar and Charm
- Strudel Pastry from Justine of The Typical Mom
- Tahini Hawaij Pumpkin Pie from Amy of What Jew Wanna Eat
- turkey-themed something (will update) from Meaghan of The Decorated Cookie
- Mini Apple Pie Bites from Lynsey of MoscatoMom
- Kabocha squash pie from Hilah of hilahcooking
- Pecan Pie Cupcakes from Courtney of Pizzazzerie
- Coconut Cream Pie from Schnelle of Brooklyn Active Mama
- Chocolate chip cheesecake from Jeannette of Hispana Global
- Chocolate Pecan Pie from Kate of I Heart Eating
- Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes from Chelsea of Someday I’ll Learn
- Cinnamon Apple Crisp from Erica of The Crumby Kitchen
- Turkey Donut Race Cars For Thanksgiving Treats from Theresa of Chewable Structures
Crafts and Centerpieces
- Cinnamon Stick Holiday Candle Place Setting from Alli of Made with HAPPY
- Metallic Pumpkin Luminaries from Amy of As The Bunny Hops
- Easy centerpiece that will stun + party favor from Noelle of Oh Happy Play
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