You can’t go wrong with this easy cheese ball recipe with cream cheese and green onions. Made with sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, and rolled in pecans. A delicious appetizer for your holiday gatherings!

A cheese ball is a delicious addition to any holiday party, and a tradition that I grew up with, like many others did.

This is my go to recipe for an easy and tasty cheese ball that only uses simple ingredients and comes together in just a few minutes. 

This cheese ball is super creamy and rich, with that perfect contrast of crunch in the pecan topping!

Fresh green onions, cream cheese, and a few simple spices add just the right amount of flavor for every creamy bite. 

It is so good we made a Pimento Cheese Ball and Pumpkin Cheese Ball version too!

What is a cheese ball made of?

A cheese ball is a mixture of cream cheese, fresh grated cheese, sour cream, and other spices for flavoring.

Green onion adds a lovely extra punch of flavor that makes it irresistible.

Once whipped together, the ball is then rolled in chopped pecans.

how to make an easy cheese ball recipe

First, allow your cream cheese to soften for a few minutes.

You will need two blocks of cream cheese.

Once softened, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, fresh chopped green onions, salt, and pepper until combined with a hand mixer.

Grate 8 oz of sharp cheddar cheese and beat that in. 

I always recommend that you take the extra few minutes to grate your cheese fresh.

It really makes all the difference in flavor and freshness!

Cover and chill the cheese ball filling mixture in the fridge for around an hour or so to firm it up.

This will help make it easier to form the cheese ball.

If you want to make this ahead, you can leave the batter overnight in the fridge, then just finish rolling and shaping it right before serving.

Once you are ready to make the cheese ball, use greased hands and a spatula to form the mixture into a ball shape.

I first shaped the ball roughly with a spatula then sprayed my hands with olive oil spray to finish shaping it and that worked perfectly. 

Oiling your hands will help keep the cheese from sticking to much to you.

Next, roll the cheese ball in pecans until coated on all sides.

You need about a cup of chopped up pecans.

Just place the chopped pecans in a bowl and roll the cheese ball until it is totally covered in chopped nuts on all sides.

To save time, buy pecan pieces from the store instead of whole pecans so that they are ready to roll!

Your cheese ball is now ready to serve!

What crackers go best with a cheese ball?

Personally, ritz crackers are my favorite cracker to serve with a cheese ball, but pretty much any cracker is going to be delicious!

Think triscuits, pita chips, or wheat thins to add variety.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve with your favorite crackers!

Tips for making this recipe

Don’t skip grating the cheese yourself! The extra flavor and texture are just right for this recipe. 

I used sharp cheddar, but medium cheddar would work just as well. 

To save time, buy your pecans in pieces so you don’t have to spend time chopping them up!

Use a butter knife to serve, and be sure not to leave out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. 

How to store leftovers

Leftover cheese ball can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

I doubt they will last that long though. In our house any leftovers are quickly devoured!

More Appetizers You will Love

• Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
• Creamy Spinach Dip
• Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
• Homemade Veggie Dip
• Pimento Cheese Spread
• Sour Cream Potato Chip Dip
• Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Crock Pot Bean Dip
• Crock Pot Queso Dip

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