Mini cheese ball bites taste just like a loaded classic cheese ball but are bite-sized, making them the perfect grab-and-go party appetizer!

I love all the holiday food this time of year, but I especially love the appetizers! You’ll have to add my boursin candied bacon crackers, deviled egg dip, cheddar bay sausage balls, and pretzel pigs in a blanket to your snacking table too!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Instead of making one big cheese ball, then having to wait in line to use the knife and spread it onto your cracker, try making these mini cheese balls instead! Everyone loves a cheese ball at parties, and these cheese ball bites on pretzel sticks mean you won’t have to share! They’re quick and easy to make with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients you’ll need:

Cream cheese- softened
Ranch seasoning
Cheddar cheese- shredded
Bacon bits
Fresh parsley- chopped
Pretzel sticks

I love a good cheeseball during the holiday season. But once the outside layer is gone, I tend to lose interest. These mini cheese ball bites are the perfect ratio of creamy filling to crunchy coating. Made with ranch seasoning and cheddar cheese, then rolled in bacon bits and topped with a pretzel stick! No need for a cheese spreader and an assortment of crackers here. It’s an all-in-one!

How to make the best mini cheese ball bites:

In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and shredded cheese. Mix until well incorporated.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, then begin rolling the cream cheese mixture into 1-inch sized balls, placing them on your prepared baking sheet as you go. Your hands will get messy, so feel free to wear gloves.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine bacon bits and fresh parsley. Working one by one, roll each mini cheese ball in the bacon bits, coating the exterior completely. Then return to the prepared baking sheet.
Insert a pretzel stick into the center of each bacon coated cheese ball bite before enjoying!

My bacon ranch mini cheese ball bites take an already easy party appetizer to the next level! These little bites are creamy, easy to customize, and are as much fun to make as they are to eat! The prep work only takes about 15 minutes! That’s what I like to call an easy party appetizer!

Whether you’re serving my bacon ranch cheese ball bites as a game day snack, or a Christmas appetizer, these little bites will keep your guests coming back for more! After all, who doesn’t love cute, bite-sized party food?

My top tips:

SOFTENED CREAM CHEESE: Letting your cream cheese soften is important for smooth, lump-free cheese balls. If you don’t have time to let your cream cheese soften on the counter, you can turn on your oven and set the cream cheese on top of the stove to softened in a matter of minutes.
RANCH SEASONING: Make sure you’re using ranch seasoning and not ranch dip mix! The ranch dip mix is much saltier and can make these cheese ball bites a bit too salty.
CHEDDAR CHEESE: I chose a cream cheese and cheddar mix here because the two combined bring a nice creamy, slightly sharp bite, but feel free to swap out the cheddar cheese for your favorite cheese! If you can, shred your own cheese off a cheese block rather than using bagged. Freshly shredded cheese has a much richer flavor!
BACON BITS: I like using store-bought bacon bits for ease and convenience, but you can absolutely cook your own bacon until crispy, then chop it into tiny pieces if preferred. You’d need about 1 pound of bacon for this.
ROLLING: Prepare to have messy hands when rolling the cream cheese mixture into little balls. If the mixture is simply just too soft, pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up a little before rolling into balls. Wearing a pair of disposable gloves will help keep your hands clean as well!
STORING: Store any leftover cheeseballs in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 4 days. The pretzel stick part will soften very slightly as it sits in the fridge. It will stick have a crisp to it but not like it is fresh.
PREPPING IN ADVANCE: This is a great appetizer to make ahead of time! Simply transfer the cheese ball bites to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be sure to reserve the pretzel sticks until just before serving.

Looking for more easy appetizers? Try these out!

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