This is the cutest football shaped cheese ball with cream cheese, and so easy to make too. The perfect football appetizer with bacon you’ll ever make and everyone will rave over at your party. Best Super Bowl appetizer that is cheap served with pretzels or crackers.
When it’s football season it’s fun to have friends over, snack and watch the game….did I mention snack??!! That is the best part I say, and having a few different things that bring out the “oh my goodness, look” in your guests is sometimes the best! Here’s how you make a football cheese ball with cream cheese that is not only adorably cute but tasty too! (affiliate links present)
Football Cheese Ball
OH yes how cute is this football cheese ball? Filled with onion and chive dip loaded with bacon and cheese on some crackers, um the best! You have got to make this for your guests this year because you will get all the oohhhh ahhhhs.
Great for both adults and kids alike and especially when you are having a Super Bowl party or watching college football it is sure to be a huge hit at any party with any ages there! Here is just how easy it is to make.
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Football Cheese Ball with Bacon
The key is using your hands to make the cheese football. Take your rings off and just get in there to ensure you get the right shape you want…you can wash them off later, no worries! You can use bacon bits or cook bacon beforehand and crumble it into a bowl to use for the outside, totally up to you.
If you want to make it super easy just buy bacon bits and already sliced cheese. Throw it together with some crackers and even some sliced bruschetta bread that you’ve toasted and this football shaped cheese ball is the perfect football appetizer!
- If you love this you’ll love our free printable football bingo game and another party food you will love is this grape jelly meatball appetizer recipe too that is a perfect dish to serve at a party like this too!
Super Bowl Cheese Ball Ingredients
This is what you’ll need for this holiday cheese ball. Now there are substitutions you can make of course and use your imagination as far as that goes. You can find dairy-free cream cheese or lactose free if needed, turkey bacon will have less fat (but not as much flavor)
- Room temperature onion and chive cream cheese and cheddar cheese shredded
- Large bowl
- Bacon
- Finely chopped green onions
- Garlic powder
- Provolone or mozzarella cheese
- Sheet of plastic wrap
- Serve with crackers or pretzels – these football crackers are fun
- Serve it on this football field cutting board or inside a small bowl
Some people like to sprinkle a bit of hot sauce on the top before serving this football shaped cheese mixture.
How to Make a Football Shaped Cheese Ball
Using your hands, shape mixture into a football. If it is too wet, wrap mixture in plastic wrap and put it into the fridge to harden more for an hour or so. Then shape with your hands wrapped in saran wrap. Unwrap when in looks right. This is really fun football party food.
Can you make a cheese ball ahead of time?
Yes! This is great for party prepping. Just wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out and to protect it from absorbing other odors in the fridge. For an extra layer of protection, you can place the wrapped ball in an airtight container. Always refrigerate the cheese ball promptly after serving. Do not leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
How long will a cheese ball keep in the fridge?
A cheese ball will generally keep in the fridge for about 1 to 2 weeks if stored properly. This is for one made fresh and not eaten off of. Leftovers should be discarded as double dipping will cause the ball to be contaminated and shouldn’t be kept after being served to a crowd.
Looking for other Super Bowl recipes? I love putting this on a football charcuterie board with crackers, fruit, nuts and all the things!
- Try these twice baked potatoes stuffed with all the fixings
- Crack chicken deviled eggs are way better than the old fashioned type
- Bacon wrapped onions are out of this world I tell you
Our 7 layer dip pizza is a twist on an old favorite and easier to pick up and eat since the same ingredients are
Football Shaped Cheese Ball
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 saran wrap
Ingredients
- 4 pkgs Cream Cheese, 2 – 8oz each = 2 containers of Onion & 2 Chive Cream Cheese used
- 2 C Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- 2 C Bacon, Cooked and Crumbled
- 1 Slice Provolone Cheese
- 4 tbsp Green Onions
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 pkg pretzels or crackers, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, mix all 4 containers (softened blocks) of cream cheese, shredded cheese, and garlic powder.
- Using your hands, shape mixture into a football. If it is too wet, wrap mixture in plastic wrap and put it into the fridge to harden more for an hour or so. Then shape with your hands wrapped in saran wrap. Unwrap when in a football.
- Spread bacon bits on a plate and gently roll in it to coat the entire football with on the outside. Cut provolone cheese into slices and place on top as the “stitching”. Chop green onions and place around the football placed on a plate to represent the grass!
- Serve with crackers or pretzels. Can be made up the night before and stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is the cutest thing ever….it’s almost to cute to eat !!!! I doubled the recipe for a large group of people and it worked perfectly. When you double it the football ends up being about the size of a real football. I also rounded the top so it actually has dimension. I didn’t form the football with me hands(like the recipe calls for) but I used a large serving spoon and it works like a dream. The dip ends up being nice and smooth so you can then apply the bacon. I also substituted squeeze sour cream for the provolone cheese( to make the stiches on top). 5* recipe all the way !!!
Yay so glad it was a hit