Bacon Jalapeño Popper Cheese Balls (Print View)

Creamy cheese balls flavored with jalapeño, bacon, and cheddar. Coated for crunch and perfect for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 0.5 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
05 - 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
06 - 2 jalapeños, finely chopped, seeds and membranes removed
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Coating

11 - 0.5 cup crushed Ritz crackers or panko breadcrumbs
12 - 0.5 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
14 - 1 tablespoon chopped chives

→ Optional Garnishes

15 - Fresh jalapeño slices
16 - Additional parsley or chives, chopped

→ For Serving

17 - Crackers, tortilla chips, or raw vegetable sticks

# Directions:

01 - Combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and shredded pepper jack cheese in a large mixing bowl and mix until fully integrated.
02 - Add sour cream, cooked crumbled bacon, chopped jalapeños, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are evenly distributed.
03 - Portion out approximately 1.5 tablespoons per serving and roll between your hands to form compact balls. Repeat with remaining mixture to yield around 16 servings.
04 - Transfer cheese balls to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to allow mixture to firm.
05 - In a shallow dish, blend crushed Ritz crackers or panko breadcrumbs, remaining crumbled cooked bacon, chopped parsley, and chives until combined.
06 - Remove chilled cheese balls from the refrigerator. Thoroughly roll each ball in the prepared coating, pressing gently to ensure even coverage.
07 - Arrange coated cheese balls on a serving platter. Garnish with jalapeño slices and additional parsley or chives as desired. Serve immediately with crackers, tortilla chips, or vegetable sticks.

# Notes:

01 - For milder flavor, remove all white membranes and seeds from the jalapeños. Cheese balls can be made a day in advance and refrigerated until serving.

Go Back