An Easy and Cheesy Holiday Appetizer

If you need a last-minute appetizer or want to impress your friends, but don’t have the time to spend hours making something, consider this easy-to-make, easy-to-eat cheesy treat. This Cheeseball recipe calls for a handful of common household ingredients like cream cheese, cheddar cheese, vegetables and Worcestershire sauce rolled together and chilled for a tasty dip served with crackers. For added flavor, it’s made using Buddig Beef, which has been feeding traditions for more than 75 years with its time-tested appetizer.

Find more holiday recipe ideas at buddig.com/recipes.

How to make a Cheeseball

total time: 30 minutes

servings: 10

Ingredients

•  1  package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups (8 ounces) finely shredded cheddar cheese
•  1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained
•  2 tablespoons minced green onion
•  2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
•  1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
•  1/8 teaspoon pepper
•  2  packages (4 ounces) Buddig Beef or Ham,  (chopped and divided)
•  1 package assorted crackers

Directions

1.  Add cream cheese and cheddar cheese to a large bowl. Use a mixer on medium speed to beat cream cheese and cheddar cheese until creamy.
2.  Mix in black olives, green onion, red bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and 2 ounces chopped beef until well combined.
3.  Form into ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
4.  Chill at least 2-3 hours to allow flavors to blend.
5.  Just before serving, roll in remaining chopped beef until completely coated.
6.  Serve with assorted crackers

VARIATION: Game Day Appetizer

Directions

1. Make cheese mixture as directed, but DO NOT add Buddig Sliced Beef.
2. Shape cheese mixture into a football.
3. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
4. Just before serving, roll in chopped Buddig Sliced Beef until completely coated.

Make Ahead Instructions: Prep the cheeseball and form into a ball, but don’t add the outside layer of chopped beef on the outside. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to a week (depending on how fresh your ingredients are). Coat it with the outside layer of chopped beef an hour before you serve it and refrigerate until serving.

Storing Instructions: A cheese ball needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for several days or up to 2 weeks, depending on how fresh your ingredients are. Look at the expiration dates for the ingredients you are using, if you recently purchased them, it should last for about 2 weeks when kept in the refrigerator.

Recipe provided by Carl Buddig and Company