3 Ingredient Cheese Ball with Bacon
This simple 3 Ingredient Cheese Ball uses easy ingredients and takes minutes to make. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties, potlucks, and last-minute gatherings.
I had never had a cheeseball before making this recipe. For some reason, they had never appealed to me? But finally I decided it was time to figure out what all the fuss was about, so enter: this recipe! I decided for my first cheeseball, I wanted to go in an easy direction. Just something simple to start out, right? So if you’re in the same boat, this is the perfect recipe for you!! It’s easy and so delicious.
If you’re looking for the ultimate party appetizer that takes just minutes to make, this 3 Ingredient Cheese Ball deserves a spot on your table. Made with simple ingredients (cream cheese, Italian dressing mix, and crispy bacon bits) this recipe is perfect for holidays, game days, potlucks, or any gathering.
This is the kind of no-fuss recipe that is perfect for a last-minute party, just like my other quick appetizers such as Corn Frito Dip or Roasted Red Pepper Dip. With minimal prep and major flavor payoff, this cheese ball is destined to become a go-to favorite.
Why Make This Recipe
1. Unbelievably Easy: With only three ingredients and a few minutes of mixing and rolling, this recipe is practically effortless. Even beginners can pull it off beautifully!
2. Perfect for parties: This cheese ball is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and pairs well with crackers, tortilla chips, pretzels, or veggies.
3. Versatile and customizable: You can switch up the coating, add herbs, fold in shredded cheese, or roll it in nuts or green onions. This base recipe is a great starting point for endless variations.
My Party Trick: This is the perfect make-ahead appetizer which makes it great for entertaining. Make it the night before and wrap it in saran wrap to keep it fresh!
Key Ingredients for the 3 Ingredient Cheese Ball
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Cream cheese: It’s important to use full fat cream cheese that comes in a block. Anything else will not be solid enough to hold its shape. Soften to room temperature to make mixing easier!
- Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix packet: I typically use Good Seasons brand, which I suspect has a mix of oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, red bell pepper, and black pepper, and perhaps other dried herbs. You could add all of these individually, but I find that the seasoning packet is so much easier.
- Bacon bits: You can cook and chop your own bacon (using this Air Fryer Bacon recipe makes it super easy!) or use bacon bits to save time. If you cook your own bacon, be sure and pat the grease off well so the cheeseball can set up properly.
Recipe Variations: Cheese balls are so versatile, which is what makes them such a great party appetizer. Here are a few simple ways to dress up this cheese ball:
- Add some herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley and chives would be great!
- Add some nuttiness: My 3 ingredient cheese ball is perfect for those who have nut allergies, but if you love a little nutty flavor, you can mix the bacon into the ball and use pecans or walnuts on the outside,
- Make it cheesy: A little extra cheddar in the mix adds a ton of flavor!
How to Make this Recipe
Step One: Combine the cream cheese and Italian Dressing packet with an electric hand mixer until fully combined.
Step Two: Wrap the cream cheese mixture in a piece of plastic wrap and then use your hands to shape it into a ball. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until the cream cheese sets up.
Step Three: Remove the saran wrap and roll the ball in your bacon bits.
Step Four: Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables.
Expert Tips
- Don’t forget to refrigerate your cheese ball before rolling it in the bacon or it will not hold its shape.
- Don’t be afraid to press the bacon into the sides of the ball. Without this bacon coating, your ball will be sticky and messy.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can prepare the cheese ball up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then roll it in the bacon bits just before serving.
Crackers, pretzels, tortilla chips, sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, or even toasted baguette slices all work great. I prefer something crunchy to go alongside the soft cheese!
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe, because cream cheese gets crumbly and grainy after being frozen. However, if you really want to freeze the cheese ball, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight, then coat it in bacon bits before serving. Be careful to press it together after thawing in case it separates at all.
Yes! Herbs, shredded cheddar, diced green onions, or sun-dried tomatoes are all delicious additions.
Did you enjoy this recipe for my 3 Ingredient Cheese Ball? If so, check out these other recipes I’ve selected just for you:
- 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes
- 3 ingredient Funnel Cake
- 3 Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
If you tried this 3 Ingredient Cheese Ball with Bacon Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
3 Ingredient Cheese Ball
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 0.7 oz Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix packet
- 1 cup bacon bits
Instructions
- In the large bowl, combine 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened and 1 0.7 oz Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix packet until equally distributed. You can do this using the paddle attachment on a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer.
- Lay out a piece of plastic wrap, then scoop the cream cheese onto it. Fold the sides of the plastic wrap up and over the cream cheese, and then use your hands to cleanly shape it into a ball. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until the cream cheese sets up.
- Remove the cheese from the fridge and wrap it. Pour 1 cup bacon bits into a shallow bowl, then place the cheese ball in the bowl, pressing the bacon bits into the cheese ball.
- Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cream cheese: It’s important to use full fat cream cheese that comes in a block. Anything else will not be solid enough to hold its shape.
- Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix packet: I typically use Good Seasons brand, which I suspect has a mix of oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, red bell pepper, and black pepper, and perhaps other dried herbs. You could add all of these individually, but I find that the seasoning packet is so much easier.
- Bacon bits: You can cook and chop your own bacon (using this Air Fryer Bacon recipe makes it super easy!) or use bacon bits to save time. If you cook your own bacon, be sure and pat the grease off well so the cheeseball can set up properly.
- Don’t forget to refrigerate your cheese ball before rolling it in the bacon or it will not hold its shape.
- Don’t be afraid to press the bacon into the sides of the ball. Without this bacon coating, your ball will be sticky and messy.
