If you are looking for the perfect appetizer for game day, this football cheese ball recipe is it. The bacon, cheddar, ranch combination is always a hit and it is an easy way to make a themed savory snack to enjoy while watching the game.
It’s that fun time of year when we really get locked into football. People who are just kind of fans are suddenly paying attention.
Even non-fans are wondering what they should eat during the big game.
The folks who are just there to watch the commercials need to eat too, after all! We start warming up for the big dance by making extra snacks during the playoffs.
We need to be good and ready, after all!
When we are planning the menu for a big football game, there are usually plenty of buffalo chicken options. We love our buffalo chicken dip and buffalo chicken taquitos.
We also love venison chili, shrimp stuffed jalapenos and spicy corn dip. Soups and appetizers seem to be our game day go to menu items.
But not everyone likes the spicy food as much as we do, so I always try to have plenty of milder options as well.
This pig skin cheese ball is a perfectly fun and easy way to celebrate. The shape makes it festive football food but it is really perfect any time of year.
You can roll it into a ball of course. In fact, I recommend you do that for your next potluck.
Cheese, ranch and a pound of bacon are sure to make it popular no matter the shape. (Here is the recipe for our standard bacon cheddar ranch cheese ball.)
But right now, the football is the only way to go!
I made this for the Sunday games last week. They were both nailbiters.
A pot of chili and 2/3 of this cheese ball disappeared in no time. Maybe it was all the stress?
That may have had something to do with it. But the fact that it is delicious didn’t hurt anything.
In fact, as each new person arrived my husband suggested they shouldn’t try the cheese ball. “It’s terrible” he said, trying to save what was left for himself.
Then he dug in for another bite. We were all surprised he didn’t end up skipping the crackers and just go for it with a spoon as time went on.
Okay, that’s enough. Let’s make the cheese ball so we can get to watching the game.
Football Cheese Ball With Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 oz packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 pound bacon cooked crisp
- 1 stick string cheese
Instructions
- Chop the crisp and cooled 1 pound bacon into small pieces.
- Stir together 16 oz cream cheese, 1 oz packet ranch dressing mix, 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese and ⅓ of the bacon pieces.
- Form into a football shape and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least a half hour.
- Remove plastic wrap and football on serving tray. Press remaining bits of bacon into the ball to coat.
- Use 1 stick string cheese to make laces on the ball.1 stick string cheese
- Serve with crackers.
Video
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