Description
Football fans and snack enthusiasts will score big with this jalapeño popper cheese ball, combining creamy cheese, zesty peppers, and crispy bacon in one irresistible game day appetizer. Packed with bold flavors and game-winning appeal, you can’t go wrong serving this crowd-pleasing starter at your next sports gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ingredients:
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (60 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 2 jalapenos, finely chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
- ½ cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1 piece of string cheese (for football laces)
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Sliced veggies (carrots, celery, bell peppers)
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly amalgamate cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, crumbled bacon, finely diced jalapenos, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Seal the mixture and nestle in the refrigerator for approximately 15-20 minutes to enhance structural integrity and allow flavors to meld.
- Gently transfer the chilled mixture onto a decorative serving platter, using gentle hand motions or a flexible spatula to sculpt the blend into a distinctive football silhouette.
- Meticulously press bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar, and chopped parsley across the entire exterior, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Extract string cheese and delicately slice into slender strips, then artfully arrange across the surface to mimic authentic football lacing.
- Return the decorated cheese formation to the refrigerator and allow to rest for a minimum of one hour, enabling flavors to intensify and structure to solidify.
- When ready to present, accompany the cheese ball with an assortment of crisp crackers, crunchy pretzels, or fresh vegetable crudités for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno quantity, removing seeds for milder flavor or adding more for extra spice.
- Use turkey bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives to create lighter or vegetarian-friendly versions of the cheese ball.
- Ensure cream cheese is softened at room temperature for smoother mixing and easier shaping of the football design.
- Make ahead and store in refrigerator up to 3 days, allowing flavors to meld and develop deeper taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg