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.

Other Easy Appetizer and Game Day Recipes

Easy Party Dip Recipes

With something for everyone, our list of dips ranges from true party classics to new innovative appetizers. The list is full of dips like cool, creamy guac and tangy buffalo cheese. You have an endless variety of scoopable party dip recipes at your disposal. See recipe here. 

Serve Up Great Game Day Snacks

Gear up for a game day snack experience to remember with satisfying snacks that energize your crowd. As almost everyone’s favorite part of home-gating, the foods you serve can elevate your watch party from benchwarmer to all star status. See recipe here. 

Recipe provided by Carl Buddig and Company