Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball

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 Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball will be a favorite for years to come!

I love jalapeno anything! I've shared everything from Jalapeno Poppers to Jalapeno Stuffed Bombs to Jalapeno Cheddar Cream Cheese with y'al! You are going to LOVE this Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball!

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 a medium bowl, add cream cheese, 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!
• With only 3 ingredients this Everything Bagel Dip is a party favorite! It’s bursting with flavor, super delicious, and so quick and easy to make!
• Pimento Cheese is the best spreadable appetizer! Full of pimentos, cheeses and spices, everyone will be asking you for this easy southern recipe!
• 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!

5 from 40 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)
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ 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
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

For the coating:

• ⅓ cup chopped toasted nuts, cashews/almonds/walnuts/pine nuts will all work
• ⅓ 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 Video

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 November 2020 and November 2022.