Make this quick and easy bacon jalapeno popper cheese ball in 5 steps, and experience bold flavors of jalapeno, lightly smoked cream cheese, crunchy bacon, and a blend of Mexican cheeses meld together creating an interesting take on jalapeño poppers, in just 5 easy steps, and the flexibility to shape the jalapeno bacon and smoked cream cheese mixture into footballs, hearts, pumpkins or a basic round balls for all of your parties, and gatherings!
The jalapeno bacon cheese ball has a smoky secondary flavor that increases the depth of flavor and you’ll be impressed at how easy it is to make this homemade popper cheese ball with crunchy bacon!
As a bonus, I am sharing a time-saver staple ingredient that cuts out extra dishes and a mess, so there is less to clean up making this recipe for my jalapeño and bacon cream cheese ball so attractive to use as an appetizer for your parties!
Why You’ll Love This Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Popper Recipe
The cheese ball with jalapeno recipe is so easy to make, you almost must make the spicy ball of mixed cheeses with bacon for every party as it offers a unique flavor experience making it seem much more complex than it is to prepare!
- you can and should make the bacon jalapeno cheese ball recipe ahead of time
- the jalapeno cheeseball is easily molded into any shape for any holiday or party
- to make the jalapeno popper cheese ball is about 5 minutes from start to finish (fast to prepare)
- ingredients for the jalapeno cheese ball recipe with cream cheese are easy to find, everyday items
- jalapeno popper cheese balls are one bowl easy so there’s very little to clean up
- you’ll also love the flexibility of the ingredients for the jalapeño cheese ball appetizer
Equipment Needed To Make Your Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Popper
The kitchen essentials needed to make a homemade spicy cheeseball with jalapenos are minimalistic, everyday items you already have in your kitchen!
If you want to see all the items that I keep in my kitchen or very similar to what I have, click HERE for the list and I’ve shared them in detail below.
- a bowl – use a medium-sized bowl so you don’t have to struggle with any of the ingredients coming out the sides when you mix the jalapeno cream cheese ball together ( Hint: less cleanup)
- a strong fork – for mixing the cream cheese thoroughly
- a knife or kitchen shears to cut the decorative chives and to efficiently mince the jalapeño pepper
- rubber scraper – for scraping down the sides of the bowl and ensuring all the contents are combined well.
- measuring spoons – of course, these are optional if you prefer to do a pinch of that and a little of this, however, to have consistency in the flavor of your jalapeno cheddar cheese ball I recommend using kitchen measuring gear.
- a hand mixer if you prefer not to stir the cream cheese and the cheddar cheese for the cheese ball mixture by hand, but again this is completely optional and I stir my popper jalapeno cheese ball mixture by hand.
- a serving tray for your formed football-shaped jalapeno popper cheese ball or whatever kind of cheeseball shape you are serving
- alternatively you can just use a cookie baking tray or a sheet of parchment paper on a countertop to display your jalapeno popper bacon cheese ball on
Pro Tip: When prepping your jalapeño cheese ball appetizer, you do NOT need plastic wrap, because if your ball comes together as it should with my directions in this recipe, you will be able to roll it around inside of the prep bowl and then allow it to chill and instead should purchase or use a bowl just like this one so you can pop it right in the fridge!
Ingredients For Your Bacon Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
The ingredients used in the recipe are simple and very easy to find, so you won’t be running around from grocery stores to big box retailers just to find what you need.
- bacon – there are 2 different quantities associated with the recipe for the football or the standard jalapeno popper cheese ball and you can grab both in the recipe card
- smoke sauce – no smoker is required to get the smoky flavor and you can also eliminate this ingredient (but try it at least one time, because it totally ups your jalapeño cheese ball appetizer)
- jalapeño pepper – I’ve shared a link above on how to clean and cut this pepper so I’d watch it!
- cream cheese – you can use Philadelphia Cream Cheese Brand but why spend more? Store brand cream cheese is fine!
- Mexican-blend cheese – a mix with Asadero, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, etc is what you’ll want to use
- smoked paprika – this subtlety layers in the smoked flavor, without being overdone.
- garlic powder – any brand and you need to add this without you may find a blander taste!
- Sea salt and black pepper – optional
- chipotle powder – optional
- fresh chive – garnish is optional but nice
How To Make A Bacon Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball (and/or Football Shaped Jalapeno Popper Ball)
As with any recipe, before you start, gather all of your ingredients, this makes your prep for the recipe so much easier.
Also, you can find the prep ingredients in the recipe card so that you know what needs to be done before you start pulling the dip together, such as washing, chopping, etc.
In Step 1 You’ll Need To Prep Your Bacon For the Jalapeno Popper Cream Cheese Ball (my timesaver step is here!)
I use a bag of bacon bites that I buy from one of the warehouse memberships that I have and this is a time-saver because the bacon is already chopped and it just needs to be microwaved to be crisped up!
Plus if you start with this step, you’ll use the same bowl throughout the whole recipe to create the jalapeño and bacon cream cheese ball mixture.
Simply place the bacon into the bowl, cover it, and microwave per the bag’s cooking directions.
Once the bacon is done cooking, carefully remove it from the microwave and dab it with a paper towel, but let it in the bowl, and if there is some bacon grease don’t worry you can just use that because I always do (another insider’s tip)
In Step 2 Mix Up the Bacon With Your Jalapeno
Combine 1/2 the bacon crumbles with the jalapeno pepper, then stir to combine.
Step 3 Combines All The Jalapeno Cheese Ball Recipe Ingredients Together
Add the cream cheese, Mexican Cheese, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and smoke sauce into the jalapeno bacon popper mixture, and optionally add in the chipotle powder and salt and pepper if you have opted to use those ingredients.
Stir vigorously, you’ll really need to mix in the ingredients so that the flavor is balanced and consistent, so stir as you mean it. (optionally, but requires cleaning another appliance, you could use a food processor or blender to combine)
Step 4 Shape The Jalapeno and Bacon Smoked Cream Cheese Ball
I’ve made this recipe so many times I could literally make it blindfolded, and I’ve never refrigerated this before I’ve shaped it, but you can for up to 10 minutes if for some reason you let your cream cheese get too soft or if the bacon was too hot and made everything really creamy (yes been there, done that!)
For reference then, I simply make sure the mixture will roll into a ball inside the bowl, and then if it does I continue working with it and I add the remaining bacon crumbles and place it on a serving tray.
Now that you have created your spicy cheese ball, place it in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, just enough to firm up the bacon and jalapeno cheddar cream cheese mixture.
Alternative Step 4 To Make the Football-Shaped Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
Transfer the ball to the oval, shallow-rimmed dish or whatever serving platter you are using, then flatten it slightly by pushing on the ball and forming it into a football shape.
Next, add the bacon pieces heavy across the top and sides by hand by depressing them slightly into the top and side as you want to create the look of a brown football and the bacon fits the color perfectly! (remember to see the alternative amount of bacon crumbles in the recipe card as it is a bit more than the basic round spicy bacon cheese ball)
Add your cheese strips down the middle to create the illusion of white strings on the football and you can add those white lines at the end of both sides even though in the NFL they don’t have them, it does give the visual effect of a football to truly define your food art!
Place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, just enough to firm up the bacon and jalapeno cheddar cream cheese mixture.
Step 5: Add The Dippers And Serve
Remove the bacon-loaded double cheese popper ball or football-shaped jalapeno popper cheese ball from the fridge and it’s time to prep it to serve.
Load that serving platter with pita chips, or crunchy flat pretzel crisps, cauliflower pieces, celery, radishes, zucchini strips, pepper sticks, or anything that dips well.
Enjoy!
What Do You Serve With your Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Popper?
- pretzels
- crackers
- pita chips
- celery
- carrots
- pepper strips
- zucchini strips
- radishes
- cauliflower
- broccoli florets
- cucumbers
- snow peas
What Can I Substitute Into The Recipe?
So you know everything that you can put into this recipe, let’s talk about what you can add or change up
- use some hot sauce to increase the heat (a few drops at a time
- Worcestershire sauce can be added
- a few tablespoons of mayo if you want a softer cheeseball
- a few tablespoons of ranch dressing or dry ranch powder
- chili powder but this definitely changes the taste
- fresh parsley
- dried oregano
- chopped salt and vinegar pistachios (oh very good choice!)
What Can I Eliminate From the Jalapeño and Bacon Cream Cheese Ball Recipe?
While it’s true the jalapeño and bacon cream cheese ball is exploding with the flavor we can tame it down quite a bit and here are a few options.
- if you don’t prefer heat, don’t add the jalapeno pepper to the recipe, and while you might say it is no longer a bacon jalapeno popper cousin it is your recipe, so do what YOU want! The jalapeno can also be lessened in quantity.
- use green chilies drained and in a can instead of the jalapeno, but I don’t like them in the recipe because they have a ‘wet’ texture changes the recipe a bit but they can be subbed and that is just my POV.
- Don’t add the bacon, and then it is a meatless appetizer, or add the bacon on the side (but this is not an option if you ar making the football-shaped jalapeno popper cheese ball because the color of the bacon really makes the football look like a football!
- Eliminate the smoke flavor if you don’t care for smoked foods.
- Add in Cayenne pepper if you want more heat
- use chives throughout the mixture or cilantro
Other Easy Party Recipes You Can Use
If you are having a summer party, football party, tailgating for football, hosting Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, etc., I’ll give you a quick roundup of some other terrific party food recipes you can use.
- 7 Layer Fiesta Dip
- Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
- Caprese Skewers
- Zucchini Mozzarella
- Hasselback Mushrooms with Caramelized Onions
Make Sure To Come Back And Tell Me How Your Bacon Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball Turned Out
I love hearing from all of my readers so reach out to me by email HERE or tag me on Instagram by sharing your photos of this recipe for Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Popper
Print the Recipe ↓↓ For The Bacon Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball (Football-Shaped Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball Too)
Bacon Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
Make this quick and easy bacon jalapeno popper cheese ball in 5 steps, and experience bold flavors of jalapeno, lightly smoked cream cheese, crunchy bacon, and a blend of Mexican cheeses meld together creating an interesting take on jalapeño poppers, in just 5 easy steps, and the flexibility to shape the jalapeno bacon and smoked cream cheese mixture into footballs, hearts, pumpkins or a basic round balls for all of your parties, and gatherings!
The jalapeno bacon cheese ball has a smoky secondary flavor that increases the depth of flavor and you'll be impressed at how easy it is to make this homemade popper cheese ball with crunchy bacon!
As a bonus, I am sharing a time-saver staple ingredient that cuts out extra dishes and a mess, so there is less to clean up making this recipe for my jalapeño and bacon cream cheese ball so attractive to use as an appetizer for your parties!
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup bacon crumbles (for the ball, and 1 C for the Football shape)
- 1-2 t. smoke sauce (start with less add more if you like the taste)
- ½ large jalapeño pepper, finely minced, divided
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ c. Mexican-blend cheese, finely shredded
- ½ t. smoked paprika
- 1 t. garlic powder
- 2 Sprigs of chive - chopped (optional for decor)
- ½ t. Mexican oregano - optional
- ½ t. chipotle powder - optional
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste - optional
- For The Football Shaped Bacon Jalapen Popper Cheese Ball
- 1 8 oz Piece of White cheese (American, pepperjack- for more spice, mozzarella, etc)
- cut into 3-6 small pieces (white strings on football) + 1 longer strip (1/2 of the football) to place the white strings across (if you are doing the ends of the football 2 you will need to make 2 addtional cuts in the slice but you can read the post to learn about that)
Instructions
- Place the bacon into the bowl, cover it, and microwave per the bag's cooking directions.
- Once the bacon is done cooking, carefully remove it from the microwave and dab it with a paper towel, but let it in the bowl, and if there is some bacon grease don't worry you can just use that because I always do (another insider's tip)
- Combine 1/2 the bacon crumbles with the jalapeno pepper, then stir to combine.
- Add the cream cheese, Mexican Cheese, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and smoke sauce into the jalapeno bacon popper mixture, and optionally add in the chipotle powder and salt and pepper if you have opted to use those ingredients.
- Stir vigorously, you'll really need to mix in the ingredients so that the flavor is balanced and consistent, so stir as you mean it. (optionally, but requires cleaning another appliance, you could use a food processor or blender to combine)
- For reference then, I simply make sure the mixture will roll into a ball inside the bowl, and then if it does I continue working with it and I add the remaining bacon crumbles and place it on a serving tray.
- Now that you have created your spicy cheese ball, place it in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, just enough to firm up the bacon and jalapeno cheddar cream cheese mixture.
- To make a football-shaped bacon jalapeno popper cheese ball instead refer to the notes below*
- Remove the bacon-loaded double cheese popper ball from the fridge and it's time to prep it to serve.
- Decorate with chives pieces if you like
- Load that serving platter with pita chips, or crunchy flat pretzel crisps, cauliflower pieces, celery, radishes, zucchini strips, pepper sticks, or anything that dips well.
- Enjoy!
Notes
I've made this recipe so many times I could literally make it blindfolded, and I've never refrigerated this before I've shaped it, but you can for up to 10 minutes if for some reason you let your cream cheese get too soft or if the bacon was too hot and made everything really creamy (yes been there, done that!)
For reference then, I simply make sure the mixture will roll into a ball inside the bowl, and then if it does I continue working with it and I add the remaining bacon crumbles and place it on a serving tray.
*ALTERNATIVE DIRECTIONS TO MAKE A FOOTBALL-SHAPED JALAPENO CHEESE BALL INSTEAD OF A PLAIN CHEESE BALL SHAPE
Transfer the ball to the oval, shallow-rimmed dish or whatever serving platter you are using, then flatten it slightly by pushing on the ball and forming it into a football shape.
Next, add the bacon pieces heavy across the top and sides by hand by depressing them slightly into the top and side as you want to create the look of a brown football and the bacon fits the color perfectly! (remember to see the alternative amount of bacon crumbles in the recipe card as it is a bit more than the basic round spicy bacon cheese ball)
Add your cheese strips down the middle to create the illusion of white strings on the football and you can add those white lines at the end of both sides even though in the NFL they don't have them, it does give the visual effect of a football to truly define your food art!
Place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, just enough to firm up the bacon and jalapeno cheddar cream cheese mixture.
Remove the football-shaped jalapeno popper cheese ball from the fridge and it's time to prep it to serve.
Load that serving platter with pita chips, or crunchy flat pretzel crisps, cauliflower pieces, celery, radishes, zucchini strips, pepper sticks, or anything that dips well. Enjoy!
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