Description
Cheese Ball Bites are deliciously creamy and savory appetizers made with cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, and paprika, rolled into bite-sized balls, coated with a flavorful mixture of crispy bacon, roasted pecans, and fresh chives, then served with pretzel sticks for easy handling. These savory bites are perfect for parties, gatherings, or as a delightful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Ball Mixture
- 1 1/2 (12-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Bacon Pecan Topping
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/3 cup roasted salted pecans, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh chives, chopped
To Serve
- 18 pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Ball Mixture: In a large bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, and paprika. Season the mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the mixture into 18 small balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place these onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Cook and Chop Bacon: Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon, turning occasionally, until it becomes crispy, roughly 8 minutes. Once cooked, drain the bacon on paper towels to remove excess grease, then finely chop the bacon on a cutting board.
- Mix Bacon, Pecans, and Chives: In a shallow bowl, combine the chopped bacon, finely chopped roasted salted pecans, and fresh chives. This mixture will be used as a flavorful coating for the cheese balls.
- Coat Cheese Balls and Assemble: Remove the cheese balls from the refrigerator. Roll each ball in the bacon-pecan-chive mixture, ensuring an even coating. Insert a pretzel stick into each ball for easy handling. Let the prepared cheese ball bites come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving. If not serving immediately, loosely cover them with plastic wrap and return to the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- For best flavor, ensure the cream cheese is properly softened before mixing.
- Roasted salted pecans add crunch and a hint of saltiness, but unsalted pecans can be substituted with a pinch of salt added to the mixture.
- The bacon can be prepared ahead of time to save time when assembling.
- These bites are perfect for make-ahead party snacks; just refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving.
- Pretzel sticks add a fun and edible handle, but toothpicks or small skewers can be substituted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
