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Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball

Fun, festive, and irresistibly delicious, a Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball is just what your next football gathering is hoping you’ll serve! 

While football looks a little different this season, with its reduced capacity stadiums and social distancing requirements, it’s likely the perfect time to brush up on your football snacking skills as you enjoy the game from home.  

Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball

We’ve long opted out of our season tickets (minus my husband, of course, who has to work the games) as the thought of sitting in the Louisiana heat in a mask is not very appealing to me. What is appealing, however, is a small gathering and the opportunity to watch the game from the comfort of our newly screened-in back porch.

It’s exactly what I envisioned when we made the choice to screen in our porch; cooler temperatures and sports on the TV….outdoors but still sort of indoors. Screened in so you don’t have to worry about flies flying into your cheeseball. 

What I love about a good cheeseball, is its versatility and ease of preparation.  You’ll find several holiday variations already on my website. A spider looking cheese ball for Halloween? Did that. In two different sizes, in fact, a large spider and mini creepy crawlers bite-sized cheese balls. A pumpkin shaped cheese ball for Thanksgiving? Did that, too.

And now I’ve whipped up a football-shaped Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball to add to the cheesy collection. Double the recipe if you find you’re serving a larger crowd and either make one large football, or create two footballs for ease of serving. Omit the pecans on one, substituting with sesame seeds for any guests with nut allergies. 

Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball

Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball

Yield: 6-8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 5 slices of bacon (cooked, chopped, divided)
  • 1/3 cup pecans (chopped, divided)
  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix
  • 2 Tablespoons BBQ Sauce – I use a sweet to balance the saltiness of the Ranch
  • 1 stick string cheese (for the football laces)

Instructions

    In a small bowl, combine half of the bacon and pecans and set aside.

    In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add cheddar cheese, green onions, Ranch Seasoning, BBQ Sauce, remaining bacon and pecans and mix well.

    Turn the mixture out onto a large piece of Saran wrap. Completely wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

    Remove the cheese mixture from the refrigerator and with the Saran wrap still attached shape into a football. Remove the top of the Saran wrap and pat the reserved bacon and pecans to the top and sides of the cheese ball. Carefully transfer onto a serving dish. Cut the string cheese to resemble the laces of the football and place on top.

Notes

Double the recipe and have one large football, or divide into two omitting the pecans, substituting with seasame seeds for those with nut allergies.

Bacon Ranch Football Cheeseball

And if you’re not feeling all that into a cheeseball, I have an entire category titled TAILGATING that is sure to provide something for your next shindig.