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Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball

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A Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is the perfect party or game day appetizer! It’s creamy with a little kick and crunch, and it’s majorly delicious and super easy to make!

I love making a classic cheese ball, but this year I decided to put a spin on it. Jalapeno Poppers are always such a hit that I decided to try out a Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball, and it is majorly delicious and addictive! It takes hardly any hands-on time to make! You can freeze it for future use, and it’s so tasty and unique!  Perfect for game day, parties, potlucks, or anytime…this will be a favorite for years to come!

A Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is simple to make and even more delicious!

How to make a Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball

*Scroll all the way down for full printable recipe and ingredient list*

  • Get all of the ingredients together for the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball filling. Make sure the cream cheese is a bit softened. If it’s straight out of the fridge, remove it from the wrapper and place it in a microwave safe bowl. Cook for 30 seconds. In the bowl with the cream cheese, add shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese, bacon, jalapeno, and the seasoning.
  • Using a fork, potato masher, or pastry blender, mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
  • Use a spatula to clean the sides of the bowl and push everything to the center of the bowl.
  • Place a clean sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. Then, use the spatula to remove the cream cheese filling, and place it into the center of the plastic wrap. Loosely wrap the cream cheese mixture, and then form it into a ball (just do the best you can, it doesn’t have to be perfect). Wrap up tightly, then place in fridge for at least 2 hours.

TIP: I place the wrapped cheese ball into a bowl, then put in the fridge. It prevents the bottom of the cheese ball from getting too flat.

  • Get all the ingredients for the crunchy coating together. Toast the nuts lightly, then chop and set aside.
  • Using a baking sheet, add bread crumbs, bacon bits (or chopped bacon), pepper jack cheese, and jalapeños. Toss everything to combine.

  • Once the cream cheese mixture has been refrigerated for at least 2 hours, remove it from the fridge and form into a better ball. This will be easier since the mixture is firmer at this point.
  • Place the cheese ball at the end of the baking sheet and roll into the crumbs, pressing it down slightly to get the crumb mixture to stick into the ball. Repeat until the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is completely coated.

  • Serve the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball immediately with crackers and other dippers!

Can I make the Jalapeno Cheese Ball ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely!

  •  Make the cream cheese mixture, form into the ball, and place it in the fridge. This will keep in the fridge up to 5 days.
  •  Make the outside coating right before serving the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball, and coat the cheese ball up to a few hours before serving.

TIP: If you coat the cheese ball ahead of time, you risk letting the crunchy coating get soggy and that’s no good!

How to freeze a cheese ball:

  • Make the cream cheese filling, form into a ball using plastic wrap, cover completely, wrapping tightly with a few layers of plastic wrap.
  • Place the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball into a freezer safe bag (I like the gallon size); place into freezer.
  • Will keep up to 6 months in the freezer.
  • Remove and place in fridge the day before you’d like to serve the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball. Coat the cheese ball up to a few hours before serving.

For more party recipe appetizers, see these delicious recipes on Domestic Superhero:

  • Jalapeno Popper Cheese Bread is the perfect blend of spice and creaminess topped with crunchy bacon. This appetizer will not last long at your next party!
  • Stuffed Spinach & Artichoke Cheese Bread has one secret ingredient that adds tang and creaminess that cannot be matched! This bread is INSANE!
  • Pear Salad is a classic southern comfort food! Don’t knock it until you try it; with only four ingredients so you can whip it up in no time!
  • Jalapeno Popper Bombs are filled with spicy jalapeños, cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, and then baked to golden perfection. They’re the perfect appetizer!

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5 from 24 votes
Print
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
Prep Time
15 mins
refridgerate
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

A Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is the perfect party appetizer! It's creamy with a little kick and crunch, and it's majorly delicious and super easy to make!

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: jalapeno popper cheese ball
Servings: 16
Ingredients
For cream cheese mixture:
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (2 packs)
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 2 TBS cooked bacon or bacon bits, chopped
  • 2 small jalapenos, seeded and diced finely
  • 2 stalks green onions or chives, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
For the coating:
  • 1/3 cup chopped toasted nuts, cashews/almonds/walnuts/pine nuts will all work
  • 1/3 cup Italian Style Seasoned Bread Crumbs
  • 2 TBS bacon bits or chopped cooked bacon
  • 1 small jalapeno, seeded and diced finely
  • 2 TBS shredded pepper jack cheese, roughly chopped
Instructions
For the cream cheese filling:

  1. In a medium to large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, jalapeno, green onions, and seasonings. 

  2. Using a fork, potato masher, or pastry blender, mix all the ingredients thoroughly.

  3. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and push everything to the center of the bowl.

  4. Place a clean sheet of plastic wrap on the counter, then use the spatula to remove the cream cheese filling, and place into the center of the plastic wrap. Loosely wrap the cream cheese mixture, and form into a ball (just do the best you can, it doesn't have to be perfect). Wrap up tightly, then place in fridge for at least 2 hours.

  5. TIP: I place the wrapped cheese ball into a bowl, then put in the fridge. It prevents the bottom of the cheese ball from getting too flat.
For the coating:

  1. Using a baking sheet, add nuts, Italian Style Seasoned Bread Crumbs, bacon bits (or chopped bacon), pepper jack cheese, and jalapeños. Toss everything to combine.

  2. Once the cream cheese mixture has been refrigerated for at least 2 hours, remove from fridge and form into a better ball. 

  3. Place the cheese ball at the end of the baking sheet and roll into the crumbs, pressing it down slightly to get the crumb mixture to stick into the ball. Repeat until the ball is completely coated.
  4. Serve immediately with crackers and other dippers!
Recipe Notes

Make ahead instructions:

  • Make the cream cheese mixture, form into the ball, and place it in the fridge This will keep in the fridge up to 5 days.
  • Make the outside coating right before serving the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball, and coat the cheese ball up to a few hours before serving.
  • TIP: If you coat the cheese ball ahead of time, you risk letting the crunchy coating get soggy and that's no good!

How to freeze a cheese ball:

  • Make the cream cheese filling, form into a ball using plastic wrap, and cover completely, wrapping tightly with a few layers of plastic wrap.
  • Place ball into a freezer safe bag (I like the gallon size); place into freezer.
  • Will keep up to 6 months in the freezer.
  • Remove and place in fridge the day before you'd like to serve the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball. Coat the cheese ball up to a few hours before serving.

Published on Dec. 2018, Updated January 2020.

A Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball is the perfect party appetizer! It's creamy with a little kick and crunch, it's majorly delicious and super easy to make! 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. I found a recipe this week for Cauliflower Parmesan and I think the Vigo breadcrumbs would be perfect for the recipe. Thanks for the cheese ball recipe. It looks great. Think I’ll make it for New Year’s Eve.

    Reply

      • Cauliflower Parmesan

        Ingredients
        • ½ cup all-purpose flour
        • 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
        • 3 cups panko or plain unseasoned bread crumbs
        • Kosher salt, as needed
        • Black pepper, as needed
        • 1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 2-inch florets
        • ½ cup olive oil, for frying (more as needed)
        • 5 cups Simple Tomato Sauce (see recipe)
        • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano
        • ½ pound fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
        Instructions
        1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place flour, eggs and panko into three wide, shallow bowls. Season each generously with salt and pepper. Dip a cauliflower piece first in flour, then eggs, then coat with panko. Repeat with remaining cauliflower.
        2. Fill a large skillet with 1/2-inch oil. Place over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, fry cauliflower in batches, turning halfway through, until golden brown. Transfer fried cauliflower pieces to a paper towel-lined plate.
        3. Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle one-third of the Parmesan over sauce. Scatter half cauliflower mixture over the Parmesan and top with half the mozzarella pieces. Top with half the remaining sauce, sprinkle with another third of the Parmesan and repeat layering, ending with a final layer of sauce and Parmesan.
        4. Transfer pan to oven and bake until cheese is golden and casserole is bubbling, about 40 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before serving.

        Reply

  5. This cheeseball looks so yummy, I want to devour it right now!
    My favorite use for breadcrumbs so far is chicken or eggplant parmesan, but this cheeseball may surpass that!

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    These are the best!! So tasty & always a crowd pleaser! Love adding breadcrumbs to so many recipes, but my favorite is zucchini!

    Reply

  8. 5 stars
    These make my mouth water thinking about how good they are. Perfect for parties and my only complaint is they disappear way to fast!

    Reply

  9. Can’t wait to try this!!! My favorite thing to make with breadcrumbs? Fried pork cutlets, with some egg noodles and green beans on the side!

    Reply

  12. 5 stars
    I’m most often reaching for breadcrumbs to use with my crab cakes. This cheese ball looks great, thanks, I’m going to try it!

    Reply

  13. This cheese all will make a great appetizer for my family Christmas!

    My favorite recipe to use breadcrumbs would be baked macaroni and cheese.

    Reply

  26. 5 stars
    So, this looks incredible!! I use breadcrumbs on so many things. Last night it was Chicken Parmesan, I LOVE them on my baked Mac n Cheese, I use them on my cauliflower gratin, in meatballs, burgers, meatloaf. I love food with a few textures and seasoned breadcrumbs are awesome at adding crunch!!

    Reply

  29. My SIL would love this recipe! They love everything jalapeno. I use breadcrumbs the most with meatballs but have started making a new recipe called koobideh kabob which has amazing flavors.

    Reply

  30. 5 stars
    My favorite is meatloaf. We usually add a little sausage to our meatloaf to give it a kick. We also make a pork tenderloin that is coated in breadcrumbs. The finished product almost looks too good to eat.

    Reply

  31. 5 stars
    Meatloaf would be my favorite recipe with bread crumbs, but we also make several different things that are coated in bread crumbs, like pork tenderloins.

    Reply

  32. This sounds wonderful!! Will try for the holidays!!

    My favorite recipe is meatballs!!! Love a good meatball sub!

    Reply

  36. My favorite thing to use breadcrumbs for is definitely stuffed mushrooms, with a crab filling. I can eat the whole batch myself! I love this recipe, thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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