Reindeer Bacon Cheddar Cheeseball

This Bacon Ranch Cheddar Cheeseball is so cute and festive for the holidays! Shaped into a charming reindeer, this Christmas cheese ball will be the hit of your parties this year – a bacon cheese ball has never looked so cute! 

A Bacon Ranch Cheddar Cheeseball

I love coming up with festive new appetizers that you can not only trust, but that you can actually accomplish with very little effort. While I love looking at gorgeous, complicated recipes as much as the next girl, my efforts are always more focused on food that is simple, charming to serve, and easy enough for anyone to make!

This sweet little reindeer cheddar cheese ball is exactly that. It’s a bacon ranch cheeseball that will be a surefire success for several reasons.

One – people love cute food at parties. And two – these are flavors that almost everyone loves! Bacon? Check. Ranch? Check. Cheese? I think you get the picture!

Equally cute are these little Cheese Ball Bites… perfect for individual hors d’oeuvres at parties!

I like to give a lot of detail in my recipe posts to guide readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, feel free to click “jump to recipe” under the title of this post and you’ll head straight there! 

Reindeer Christmas Cheese Ball Appetizer

If I tell you this is easy to make, you’ll believe me, right? And it turned out so cute that I honestly couldn’t wait to share. There’s not much better than an appetizer that will thrill the kids and adults alike!

My girls were so charmed by this festive reindeer cheese ball, they are now convinced that I can turn every appetizer and meal into the shape of something cute.

Maybe that’s not possible, but this bacon cheese ball is one of the easiest little creatures you’ll ever create! Let’s get started.

Quick tip: I receive a lot of questions about my octagonal serving platter that I use for so many of my appetizer recipes! The one I have is no longer available, but this one is so similar and it comes in two great sizes! 

Bacon Ranch Cheeseball Ingredients

Are you ready? Here’s the grocery and pantry item list of all the items you’ll need for this cheddar cheeseball recipe!

• cream cheese, softened- Learn the easiest methods for how to soften cream cheese – it’s easy once you know how!
• sour cream- Sour cream adds a little creamy texture and tangy moisture to this cheddar cheese ball.
• fiesta ranch mix (optional)- You can use regular ranch mix, fiesta ranch mix for a little spice, or even none at all if your family doesn’t like anything ranch flavored! There’s plenty of seasoning otherwise, I promise.
• garlic powder- Not too much but garlic is the perfect foil to the bacon and cheddar in this cheeseball recipe.
• dried minced onion- You’ll definitely need dried minced onion here. I found onion powder to be too strong in combination with the ranch flavor, so minced onion is a perfect choice!

• black pepper- Just a little extra spice!
• cheddar cheese, shredded- I know I talk about this all the time, but please use freshly shredded cheese in your recipes. I love a good shortcut as much as everyone else, but crumbly, dry pre-shredded cheese is not the right shortcut here. You won’t regret this extra step! Sharp cheddar works well here but you can use whatever you’d like.
• chopped green onions- A little fresh green tangy flavor that adds so much zest!
• Real bacon bits- You can use your own freshly cooked bacon chopped into tiny pieces, or buy a good-quality pre-packaged bag of bacon bits. Costco sells a great brand if you’re looking for a shortcut!
• 1 olive- Only one! For the eyes of your sweet little reindeer.
• 1 cherry tomato- Of course this reindeer has a red nose. Rudolph or not, he’s a Christmas cheese ball the kids will love!
• For antlers- bacon or pretzel sticks- I used bacon for the antlers, but pretzel sticks would also work really well.

He always knew he was a little different, but he let his light shine regardless of what others said. Everyone should be more like Rudolph.

How to Make This Festive Bacon Cheese Ball

It’s so easy, even the kids can help you with this one! They’ll be thrilled to add the eyes, nose and antlers to your bacon cheese ball.

1. To a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, fiesta ranch mix, garlic powder, minced onion, salt and pepper.
2. Fold in cheese and green onions. Stir until mixed.
3. Lay out a large sheet of plastic wrap and drop cream cheese mixture onto it.  Cover tightly on all sides, and shape into a ball shape.  Refrigerate for several hours or overnight, until firm.
4. Roll into a ball and coat with bacon bits. Add eyes, nose and antlers just before serving.

Tips For Creating The Best Cheddar Cheese Ball

It’s your party, and you absolutely CAN make the best Christmas cheese ball ever! Or wait, maybe it’s someone else’s party and you’re just bringing a cute appetizer.

Either way, here’s a few tips to make sure you’re prepared!

• As I mentioned before, please please shred your own cheddar. This is a non-negotiable step, friends!
• Fresh bacon is always best, but I think it’s okay to use a pre-made bag of bacon bits here. (Not the traditional little jar of bacon bits though – never those!)
• Speaking of bacon, save that final step where it’s rolled in chopped bacon for after refrigeration. You’ll want your cheese shape to stay very firm before rolling.
• Be sure to cover your cheddar cheese ball tightly. This not only helps it keep its shape when you refrigerate, but it prevents air from getting inside and drying your bacon cheese ball out before it’s ready to serve.
• Use strips of cooked bacon or even pretzel sticks to form the antlers- cute either way!
• This is delicious at room temperature but it can certainly be served cold right out of the fridge. Great either way, which is why it’s such a perfect make-ahead party food!

What to Serve With A Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

This is what I love about serving a cheese ball appetizer! It can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, but especially your friends and family that are living that low carb or keto lifestyle.

Providing a few options for your guests with special dietary needs is an easy way to make them feel welcome – and when it’s this delicious, who can argue with that? Serve this Christmas cheese ball with the following:

• Carrots and celery are the perfect low-carb alternative to serve with a cheddar cheese ball.
• Crostini – it’s my favorite pairing! Crunchy crostini is the ultimate way to enjoy a cheese spread, especially when drizzled in olive oil.
• Salty pretzels are so perfect with a festive Christmas cheese ball.
• Buttery crackers are always a kid favorite when served with any kind of cheeseball.

Not Christmas? Classic Version of this Ranch Cheese Ball

Want to make this in any other season of the year? Absolutely! It’s so simple to create a bacon ranch cheeseball that will work for any season. Just follow all directions as listed and create in a classic ball shape.

Still pretty delicious looking, right?

Well, what do you think? Are you ready for all the delicious holiday food coming your way for the next two months?

Looking for more amazing bacon recipes? Head over to some of these recipes to satisfy your cravings and don’t skip my round-up of 20 Bacon Appetizers!