The holidays are coming up and one my favorite items to make is a cheese ball. I have so many variations of cheese ball recipes I can never decide which to make.

We have a ton of cream cheese stocked up from a killer sale that I hit where the cream cheese was on sale for $1.48 a block and I had $1/2 coupons! {If you hit a killer sale on cream cheese, read my at on How to Freeze Cream Cheese to maximize your sale.}

Use the handle without a hot pad while cooking!

I am the only one in the family enjoys bacon so when there is a great sale on it, this is another item I stock up on to save. Normally, I will price match from another store or drug store and the most I have saved is about $2 per pound!

Also, I nice stockpile of block and shredded cheese from a sale where I bought it for $.98 for an 8 oz bag / block. Looks like it’s time to make something with CHEESE! {Oh my Wisconsin friends will love this one!}

Cheese Ball Recipe

Here is how you can save at the store when you make your Bacon Cheese Ball:

• Check the coupon database to find coupons on ingredients
• See which items are on sale at all the stores using our price match sheet

When I cook bacon, I like it flat so that it cooks evenly {click here for my article on how to cook bacon in the oven}. {There is nothing I hate more than taking a bite of crunchy only to be followed by soft!} There are various methods to cook bacon to get the flatness and an easy way to get these results are using a bacon press.

To make your own “flat bacon,” check out these Gook Cook items to make your own and enjoy a 25% discount by using the promo code BACONLOVERS.

• Bacon Press
• Cast Iron Grill

Let’s get social with Good Cook by using these hashtags:

• Twitter hashtags: #goodcookcom and #goodcookkitchenexprt

Bacon, Pepper & Pecan Cheese Ball

Print

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 jalapeños, minced and divided (ribs and seeds removed)
• 1 cup of bacon, crumbled and divided
• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5-7 minutes, cool and chop {set aside}
3. 
4. In a large pan, add the bacon with bacon press on top and cook over medium / low heat until crispy.
5. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and allow allow to cool.
6. In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, cayenne pepper, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, half of the minced jalapeños, and half of the crumbled bacon.
7. Add salt to taste.
8. 
9. Chop the bacon to work in the pecans and remaining peppers.
10. Lay plastic wrap on a large working area and add the chopped pecans, remaining minced jalapeños and remaining half of the crumbled bacon together until evenly distributed.
11. 
12. Shape the cream cheese mixture into a ball and roll in the mixture until coated on all sides.
13. Cover the ball and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

 

Cheese Ball Recipe