Cheddar Pecan Cheese Ball
A tangy cream cheese and sharp cheddar ball rolled in toasted pecans and parsley. Make it a day ahead and serve it with crisp vegetables instead of crackers.
Nutrition per serving
about 3 tbsp- Net carbs
- 2g
- Calories
- 160kcal
- Protein
- 4.9g
- Fat
- 15g
- Total carbs
- 2.6 g
- Fiber
- 0.6 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Bacon ranch (nut-free): Ranch herbs in the cheese and a coating of crisp bacon and chives instead of pecans. It’s safe for nut allergies.
- Beat the dill and onion powder into the cheese mixture. Roll the chilled ball in the bacon and chives just before serving so the bacon stays crisp.
Everything bagel: All the flavor of a cream cheese bagel: the ball is rolled in a thick crust of everything bagel seasoning instead of pecans.
- Roll the chilled ball in the seasoning instead of the pecans. Most blends are salty, so check yours and cut back on the Worcestershire if needed.
Smoked salmon & dill: Smoked salmon, dill, capers and lemon zest replace the cheddar for an elegant brunch or holiday cheese ball.
- Beat the salmon, dill, capers and lemon zest into the cream cheese with the green onion and garlic powder. The mixture is softer, so chill it at least 3 hours before rolling it in the pecans.
- Cheese ball
- Coating
- Cheese ball
- Coating
- Also add
- Cheese ball
- Coating
-
1 tbsp fresh parsleyleave out
- Cheese ball
-
1 tsp Worcestershire sauceleave out -
½ tsp smoked paprikaleave out - Coating
- Also add
Estimated cost $7.03 for 12 servings ($0.59 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in the cheddar, green onions, Worcestershire, garlic powder and smoked paprika until evenly combined.
-
Scrape onto a large sheet of plastic wrap, gather it into a ball, twist the wrap tight and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight) until firm.
-
Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 4–5 minutes, until fragrant. Cool, chop finely and mix with the parsley.
-
Unwrap the ball, reshape it with your hands, then roll it in the pecan mixture, pressing so the coating sticks all over.
-
Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving so it’s spreadable. Serve with celery, cucumber rounds, bell pepper strips or almond flour crackers.
Tips for success
-
Shred the cheddar on the fine side of the grater; finer shreds make a smoother ball that slices cleanly. - For a party, roll the mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) bites and coat each one for grab-and-go cheese ball bites.
- Keep the coating separate until the day you serve it, so the nuts stay crunchy.
Storage & meal prepMeal-prep friendly
- Keeps 5 days in the fridge
- Freezes up to 1 month
Reheat: Serve chilled, after 15 minutes at room temperature.
Prep tip: Make the ball up to 5 days ahead, but keep the pecan coating in a separate jar and roll just before serving.
Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, up to 5 days. Freeze the uncoated ball up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge and coat before serving.
Variations
3 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosBacon ranch (nut-free)
FlavorRanch herbs in the cheese and a coating of crisp bacon and chives instead of pecans. It’s safe for nut allergies.
- pecans → cooked bacon
- fresh parsley → chives
- + 1 tsp dried dill
- + ½ tsp onion powder
2 g net · 149 kcal · 6.2 g protein · 13 g fat · ≈$0.59 per serving (same net carbs as the original)
Everything bagel
FlavorAll the flavor of a cream cheese bagel: the ball is rolled in a thick crust of everything bagel seasoning instead of pecans.
- pecans → everything bagel seasoning
- no fresh parsley
2.3 g net · 134 kcal · 4.8 g protein · 12 g fat · ≈$0.56 per serving (+0.3 g net carbs vs the original)
Smoked salmon & dill
ProteinSmoked salmon, dill, capers and lemon zest replace the cheddar for an elegant brunch or holiday cheese ball.
- finely shredded sharp cheddar → smoked salmon
- + 2 tbsp fresh dill
- + 1 tbsp capers
- + 1 tsp lemon zest
- no Worcestershire sauce
- no smoked paprika
1.5 g net · 113 kcal · 3.4 g protein · 11 g fat · ≈$0.96 per serving (−0.5 g net carbs vs the original)
Save it for later
Pin this recipe to your keto board so it’s there when you plan next week.
Save to Pinterest
