• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
KMarie Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Beverages
    • Cookies
    • Crock Pot Cooking
    • Foodie of the Month
    • General
    • Lunch
    • Sweet Treats
    • Main Dish
    • Snacks
    • Side Dish
    • Soup
    • Other
  • Celebrations
  • Holidays
  • Seasons
  • K Marie Shop
  • About K Marie
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Beverages
    • Cookies
    • Crock Pot Cooking
    • Foodie of the Month
    • General
    • Lunch
    • Sweet Treats
    • Main Dish
    • Snacks
    • Side Dish
    • Soup
    • Other
  • Celebrations
  • Holidays
  • Seasons
  • K Marie Shop
  • About K Marie
  • Be a Follower

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Ranch Cheeseball

    Ranch Cheeseball

    Published: Jul 25, 2016 · Modified: Jan 17, 2022 by Katrina · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cream cheese, ranch, and pecans! There’s no better snack than the Ranch Cheeseballs. They’re crunchy, savory, and very easy to make. The Ranch Cheeseball will forever be my favorite cheeseball recipe!


    The World’s Best Party Food
    I put my  brown-colored Ranch Cheeseball in a dish and added crackers, a yellow lemon, and some strawberries.

    Ranch and Cream Cheese make an Excellent Combo!

    If you love ranch and cheese, this appetizer is just for you! Every ranch-lovers knows that everything is better with ranch especially when you add it to your favorite appetizer!

    What makes the Ranch Cheeseballs a real winner is that they can be made in under 10 minutes. Yes, you only need 1o minutes to put this appetizer together!

    As a busy mom who is always looking for ways to please her kids, I love making easy snacks that are very filling and keep my children full for the afternoon. Luckily, these cheeseballs are so good and you can enjoy them as a light meal on their own.

    The taste is so good and the crunch of the pecans is to die for. Don’t get me started on the coating! The wonderful combination of pecans and add-ins make the balls so smooth yet so crunchy!


    The Ultimate Comfort Food

    Cream cheese is used in many comfort meals. It’s no secret that the zesty cream cheese mixture is packed with delicious ingredients making the Ranch Cheeseballs the closest thing to comfort food, right in the palm of your hand!

    Crispy outsides and creamy insides make delicious party-time snacks! This recipe is one of the best vegetarian recipes that can be served as an appetizer to your guests.

    The Ranch Cheeseballs can be eaten directly, or you can pump up the flavor by dipping them with tomato sauce, cheddar, and hot sauce!

    Once you make a homemade cheese ball, you’ll never purchase store-bought again. Make it into big or small ball bites and enjoy all the cheesy goodness. I still can’t get over how good and soft the cheeseballs turned out.


    The Ranch Cheeseball is a Family Favorite

    The Ranch Cheeseball has become the most requested afternoon snack by my kids. I’ve noticed that kids love its texture and enjoy the gooey insides of the cheeseballs. They love ranch and add it to absolutely everything.

    I’m not surprised that the Ranch Cheeseballs turned out pretty addictive and a family favorite. I made this for my family for my daughter’s birthday party and boy was it hit! My husband and kids just loved it and asked me for more.

    I can’t deny them any requests, so I made it again during my son’s birthday party. Our guests enjoyed every bite and bombarded me with questions about the recipe.

    I can’t wait to share my recipe with them! The best thing about the Ranch Cheeseballs is that they make amazing leftovers. I’m currently having leftover Ranch Cheeseballs with crackers as an afternoon snack! All of this goodness gets eaten up the day of making it, there are rarely ever any leftovers!


    Tips to Make the Best Ranch Cheeseball!

    Let the cream cheese soften overnight, you don’t want it to solidify.

    If you happen to have a block of cheddar cheese(that is if you choose to follow one of the many variations to this dish), do shred your cheddar instead of getting some packaged cheddar from your local grocery store.

    Use plastic wrap to help you shape the balls!


    Let’s Switch it Up!

    I love adding bacon bits whenever I can. If I’m feeling it, I sometime add spicy bacon to fire up the recipe. The crunch of the bacon matches that of the pecans, and this alone makes the Ranch Cheeseballs the ultimate appetizer ever!

    Sour Cream could be a great addition to this recipe, especially if you’re craving a deeper flavor. The sour cream also acts as a binder that helps keep all the ingredients together as you form them into a ball.

    I like to add ranch dressing to my sour cream as a substitute to the ranch seasoning. This is definitely a great alternative if you adore ranch. Personally, I could drink ranch out of a jar lol, so I do make this change once in a while.

    SAY CHEESE

    This version has the best balance of all the complementary ingredients. Just wonderful! I sometimes substitute cream cheese with sharp cheddar cheese for the best results.

    I also make sure to add some garlic powder to make it more flavorful! Go easy on the garlic powder, you don’t want your cheeseballs to turn out very garlicy.

    Or Go Nut-Free

    If you don’t really fancy pecans, switch it up and add almonds instead or any other nut for that matter. Also, feel free to omit the nuts entirely if you’re allergic or just not into nuts! For added texture, introduce some green onions to the coating mixture.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I freeze my cheeseballs?

    Of course. You can freeze your cheeseballs for later!

    Is it okay to replace my ranch seasoning with another seasoning?

    The cheeseballs are so versatile. You can literally add any seasoning to your liking. If you’re not fond of ranch, feel free to add Cayenne pepper for extra flavor!

    Can I make the Ranch Cheeseball ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make your Ranch Cheeseballs up to one week in advance.


    What You’ll Need to Make the Ranch Cheeseball :

    Cream cheese

    Chopped pecans

    Hidden Valley Dips Mix (The Original Ranch)


    It‘s Very Quick and Simple!



    This Appetizer is a Hit!


    So How Can I Pull This Off?

    Sprinkle each block of cream cheese with the dry ranch powder on each side.

     Put each block of cream cheese together and shape into a ball.

    Sprinkle the pecans all around the cheeseballs.


    Play Around with the Shapes

    The Ranch Cheeseballs are so fun to make and can be made into different shapes. It’s easy: stir, shape, then roll, and play around with the shapes. If I have time on my hands, I make the cheeseballs into snowmen and little turkeys. My kids and I really enjoy the process!

    Enjoy your Ranch Cheeseballs with crackers, pita chips, celery and carrots!


    Other Recipes You Must Try:

    Sweet Potato Dumplings

    Ants on a Log: The Greatest Snack

    Creamy Caramel Apple Dip

    Taco Cupcakes

    Open Faced Mexican Stromboli

    Be sure to follow me on my social media accounts!

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Pinterest

    YouTube

    Don’t forget to share, mention, or tag me when you remake any of my recipes!


    Ranch Cheeseball

    The Ranch Cheeseball is a great appetizer for all your favorite gatherings!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 bocks 8 oz. cream cheese
    • 1 pack Hidden Valley Dips mix (The Original Ranch)
    • 1 bag 2 oz. chopped pecans

    Instructions
     

    • Sprinkle each block of cream cheese with the dry ranch powder on each side.
    •  Put each block of cream cheese together and shape into a ball.
    • Sprinkle the pecans all around the cheeseballs.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    « National DIY Day
    Pecan Cobbler »
    Be the first to write a review

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marta

      November 20, 2019 at 6:46 pm

      I don’t know why, but I’ve never thought to use ranch dressing mix in my cheese ball! That’s going to change this year. Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
    2. Daniels

      November 20, 2019 at 8:36 pm

      Love how easy and simple this recipe is!

      Reply
    3. Calysta

      November 22, 2019 at 1:14 am

      This looks so simple and delicious and it’s right on time for the holidays!

      Reply
    4. Adri Ruff

      November 22, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      Have quite a few gatherings coming up and this is the perfect addition to a party spread!

      Reply
    5. Mila

      November 22, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      A perfect complement to a cheese board! Great tip!

      Reply
    6. Jazz

      November 23, 2019 at 1:45 am

      This is perfect for holiday entertaining!

      Reply
    7. LaKita

      November 23, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      Love how simple this recipe is and it is so perfect for entertaining!

      Reply
    8. SHANIKA

      November 26, 2019 at 2:31 pm

      This is definitely perfect for any celebration! Such a great appetizer!

      Reply
    9. Aline

      December 02, 2019 at 9:19 pm

      What a great holiday get together recipe!

      Reply
      • Kris Klatt

        December 23, 2022 at 10:11 pm

        What can you substitute for dry ranch dressing mix. Not a day to go out!

        \

        Reply
        • Katrina

          December 23, 2022 at 11:50 pm

          Hi Kris, I haven’t tried any substitutions so I wouldn’t want to recommend anything I haven’t tried.

          Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Easy to make recipes for your whole family! Stay connected with me to read tasty and delicious recipes.


    NEW POSTS

    • Your Love Warms My Heart up Valentine Gift DIY Ideas
    • Vision Board Party Ideas
    • How to Make a Box Cake Taste Homemade
    • Butter Pecan Bundt Cake

    The mission of In the Kitchen with K Marie is to bring out the domestic diva in all ladies and help everyone know the kitchen is the heart of the home!

    More about me →


    POPULAR

    • Garlic Rosemary Chicken
    • Champagne popsicles wine glass
    • Ground Turkey Taco Soup
    • No Bake Banana Pudding Cheesecake

    FOLLOW ME


    AS SEEN ON

    as seen on

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails & updates

    Shop Now

    • Kmarie Shop
    • Cart
    • My Account

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Kmariekitchen