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This Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe is the best easy appetizer option for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Bloody Mary drink (but without the alcohol) It's a family friendly hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor!
Bloody Mary Cheese Ball Recipe
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With my great love for all things hors-d'oeuvre-y, I figured it was probably a good time to brainstorm some new and delicious appetizer options that are easy to whip up and look pretty and festive for holiday entertaining.
So I began brainstorming a cream cheese ball concept. Though I had never made my own cheese ball, I have tasted several at various events throughout my life. I try not to ever turn down the opportunity to try various Cheese varieties, especially if they're mixed with other tasty offerings!
Being the scrappy gal I am, I thought to myself, "Why not remove the Vodka and use the zesty, savory ingredients that you typically find in a Bloody Mary to make a festive and easy cheese ball recipe?" And the rest, as they say, was history.
Tips for making a Bloody Mary Bacon Cheese Balls
- Be sure to soften the cream cheese to make it easier to mix. You can do this by leaving it out a couple hours in advance. Or in a pinch, zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.
- I like to use mymini prep processor to chop the olives and save time.
- Refrigerate the cheese for a good 10 minutes before rolling it into a ball to make the rolling process easier.
- Although I always encourage you to use real bacon, you can use bacon bits for this, just try to buy the ones that are actually real bacon.
- Once you’ve formed the cheeseball and rolled it in the bacon and parsley mixture, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to help it firm up.
Frequently asked questions about making the best cheese ball recipe
- Can I make this in advance? While it’s still tasty when reheated, puff pastry is definitely at it’s very best when consumed right away. You’ll lose that flaky, crispy texture that we all love once you refrigerate it.
- Can I make these into cheese ball bites? Sure, just roll them smaller and pop a pretzel stick into them just before serving.
- What’s the best way to mix the cheese ball? I used a Stand mixerorHand mixer, but you can also do it by hand.
- How long do these last in the refrigerator? These will last up to a week wrapped up in your fridge.
- Can this be made ahead? Yes, this can be made up to a couple days ahead.
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Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe
Jessy Freimann
This Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe is the best easy appetizer option for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Bloody Mary drink (but without the alcohol) It's a family friendly hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor!
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Chill time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
- ¾ cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup green olives stuffed with pimentos, chopped
- ¾ cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits (try to find ones that are real bacon)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- RITZ crackers
- Cut up celery
Instructions
In a large bowl, use a mixer to combine cream cheese and white cheddar.
Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, celery salt, black pepper and chopped green olives and mix well until fully combined.
Use a spatula to scrape all the cheese mixture in to the middle of the bowl and pop it into the refrigerator to chill for a good 10 minutes (to make it easier to roll into a ball).
Mix bacon crumbles and parsley in a bowl until fully combined. Using your (clean) hands, roll the cheese into a ball and carefully roll it in the bacon and parsley mixture.
Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator to chill for at least and hour or until you're ready to serve it.
Notes
This can be made the night before and should stay good in the refrigerator for a few days.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Try some other easy cheesy appetizers include:
- Pomegranate Thyme Baked Brie
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Philly Cheese Steak Bombs
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Andrew says
A Bloody Mary cheeseball is ingenious! I bet it pairs perfectly with the RITZ Crackers, too! Yum! [client]
Reply
Jessy says
Thank you! The flavor really compliments RITZ Crackers beautifully. Although that's not hard to do, those crackers seriously taste awesome with everything!
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Luci {Luci's Morsels} says
I know exactly what you mean when you say you wish you entertained more. I'm the same way! But this amazing appetizer would sure make it easier to do it! Can't wait to give it a try at my next shindig!Luci's Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Reply
Jessy says
Thank you! I seriously want to try and make this entertaining thing happen!
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Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
This is brilliant! The cheeseball is what always pulls me back to the food table :)
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Jessy says
Thanks Sarah- me and you both!!
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Jeff says
For the olives, is is 1/2 cup chopped, or put 1/2 cup of olives in the Cuisinart? BTW, the recipe SOUNDS AMAZING! :)
Reply
Jessy says
Thanks Jeff- sorry if I wrote the recipe in a confusing way- I meant 1/2 a cup of chopped olives (but if you don't love them as much as I do you could always measure it before chopping). I hope you love it!
Reply
Jeff says
No, I love olives and anything related to a Bloody Mary. Doing this recipe for a New Year's Eve Party this weekend along with my family's perfect Bloody Marys to go with it! Thanks again! :)
Reply
Jessy says
I like your style- Olives are always a good idea (and so is a good Bloody Mary!!)! I hope you enjoy it and happy new year!
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Danielle Green says
This looks absolutely delicious!
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Jessy says
Thank you Danielle :)
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Richa Gupta says
My goodness, this looks incredibly delicious!
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Jessy says
Thanks Richa!
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Erin Clarkson says
Yuuuuuummm! what an amazing idea!
Reply
Jessy says
Thanks ErIn!
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Summer says
Yum. This would be great with pickle jalapeno sliced, pickled okra or anything else used to garnish a bloody mary.
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Jessy Freimann says
Yum- I'm pretty sure I want you to make my Bloody Mary's from now on, those sound like great additions!
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Melissa says
This was SO delicious. I made a half batch which was plenty, but I wished I had made a full batch and tried freezing half. I served this with Ritz crackers and mini bell peppers and it was a hit!
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Jessy Freimann says
So glad you loved it, Melissa! I bet it tasted great with mini bell peppers! Please let me know how it works if you ever try freezing it :)
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Fran Henderson says
I made a half recipe and added a handful of "real" bacon bits to the cheese mixture and rolled the ball in chopped pecans and parsley instead of the bacon. Its delicious.
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Sue says
This is amazing! I’ve been looking for a “different” cheese ball from the “same ole same ole”. This definitely fits the bill. This flavors are absolutely delicious.
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Maggie says
This is a huge hit every time I make it for a special occasion. I add a little more tomato paste, and more horseradish, though. In Louisiana, we love our bloody Marys, so this cheese ball needs to be spicy, but not overpowering. Adding the extra tomato paste and horseradish works beautifully!
Reply
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