Gluten Free Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball
This creamy, crowd-pleasing appetizer is the kind of thing that disappears within minutes at any party — and it serves a generous 10, so it's built for a crowd. Sharp cheddar, tangy sour cream, and ranch seasoning are beaten into fluffy cream cheese, then loaded with crispy bacon and fresh chives for layers of savory, smoky flavor in every bite. The outside gets rolled in a mixture of finely chopped pecans and more crumbled bacon, giving you a satisfying crunch that makes the whole thing feel indulgent and impressive. One of the trickiest parts of navigating a gluten-free spread is finding packaged snacks and dips you can actually trust — here, the ingredients are straightforward and the only thing to double-check is your ranch seasoning packet, which is already called for by the recipe. Pair it with gluten-free crackers or a platter of vegetable crudités and you have a centerpiece dip that nobody will feel left out of. It can be made up to three days ahead and kept in the fridge, which makes it a genuinely stress-free option for holiday entertaining or game day.
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Learn more →Ingredients
10 servings
For the cheese ball
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsp sour cream
- 1 oz packet ranch seasoning mix
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 8 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled, divided
- 3 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
For the coating
- ¾ cup pecans, finely chopped
For serving
- gluten free crackers, for serving (optional)
- vegetable crudités, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until deeply crispy, about 8–10 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble into small pieces. Set aside — you will use half in the cheese ball mixture and half in the coating.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.
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