Whether you're planning holiday finger foods or appetizers for bridal or baby showers this savory Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball will add a mouthwatering addition to your menu. Cream cheese filled with shredded cheddar cheese and dried beef, along with the perfect amount of green onion and seasonings, makes the ideal spread for crackers, pita chips or bread rounds.
Easy Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball Recipe
I sometimes think cheeseballs get a bad rap. They were all the rage for decades and then began to be set aside for more updated finger foods. I still love them, and I always include this beef and cheddar cheeseball in our Christmas and New Year celebrations. I also love to make them for ease of preparation as a tasty no-cook appetizer for showers as well as the warmer summer months. They're ideal for make ahead eats as they actually become even more flavorful when made in advance. It never fails, when I contribute this to a potluck table someone asks me for the recipe.
How to Make the Best Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball Recipe
- Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball: Plain cream cheese, one jar dried beef, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, granulated garlic, salt, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise and chopped and roasted pecans.
- Kitchen tools you'll need: A hand mixer or a stand mixer, sharp knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, a medium bowl and cheese grater.
- How do you make a cheeseball? For this recipe, you'll cream together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice and remaining seasoning. Finely chop the beef then fold it along with the cheese and green onions into the mixture until fully distributed. Roll in chopped pecans and chill. It doesn't get any easier than that!
- The biggest mistake you can make when making a cheeseball is not to let the cream cheese soften adequately. It's vitally important to let the cream cheese fully soften so it will blend evenly with the seasonings, beef and other ingredients.
- You can swap out full fat cream cheese for Neufchatel cheese, if preferred.
- This cheeseball recipe is one of those moments in the kitchen that really shines when you grate your own cheddar cheese. It only takes a few minutes and the flavor is so much better.
- When planning to serve this cheeseball, I like the flavor best when it's had time to sit out for a few minutes to soften. Leave it on the counter to soften for around 20-30 minutes prior to serving.
- This cheeseball is tasty served with the bread rounds, pita chips or assorted crackers of your choice.
- Store Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball wrapped in plastic wrap chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make
Parties are all about the finger foods and people love to visit with each other while enjoying small bites of goodies and drinks. More easy appetizers you may also like to try:
- Praline Pecan Brie en Croute is a family tradition.
- Cheddar Sausage Balls are delicious served with sweet hot mustard for dipping.
- Crab Rangoon are better than any you'll pay a mint for when dining out.
- This fun Pull Apart Christmas Tree Bread is an edible centerpiece served with warm pizza sauce for dipping.
- Southern Cheese Straws are made using a cookie press.
- My homemade Shrimp Cocktail comes with a homemade cocktail sauce and lemon dill sauce.
- Candied Bacon Breadsticks are always a hit.
- Cheddar Cheese Bites from Love Bakes Good Cakes.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Beef and Cheddar Cheeseball
Servings: 16 servings (may vary)
Calories: 205kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pecans toasted & chopped
- 2 8 oz softened cream cheese
- 1 ½ tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 2.25 oz jar dried beef i.e. Armour
- 4 chopped green onions
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Toast the pecan pieces for 6-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream together, the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and salt until light and fluffy.
- Chop the dried beef and finely chop the green onions. Add to the cheese mixture then whip it in just until blended, to avoid pureeing the onion.
- Mix in the shredded cheddar cheese by hand using a large spoon or spatula.
- Shape into a ball. Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.
- Roll the chilled cheese ball in the toasted chopped pecans and serve with assorted crackers, veggies or pita chips.
Notes
When using the freshest of dairy ingredients, this cheese ball can be made 3-5 days in advance, and stored tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Store chilled for 7 days total.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!
My name is Melissa and I'm the Creator of Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen. Cooking, baking, developing recipes and kitchen tips is my passion. I love sharing my dishes and connecting with people through the food that I create.
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jen
A slight variation on our old family favorite ...
I did add a dash of cayenne, but in retrospect, I think I'll try a little horseradish next time!
Thanks!
Melissa
Cayenne sounds great, too. As you know there's room to personalize this old fave to your taste. Thanks so much.
Erin
Everyone loves this, great holiday appetizer!
Toni Dash
This will quickly disappear at parties!
Jennifer Farley
I love the sound of this! Totally making it for guests this weekend.
Brenda
All I can say is...YUM.
Liz
Cheeseballs always seem so retro, but they're always well received! My book club loved this one!!!
Lori
This always is a big hit at my Super Bowl party!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
I want to make this for every occasion! So good!
Sharon
Love how you set this up
Melissa
Thanks!
Melissa
I have never rinsed the dried beef when making this cheese ball. Dried beef, by nature has a salty edge. We have never thought of this cheese ball as super salty.
Eulane Young
My family has been making a cheese ball much like this one for over 50 years! We always rinse and pat dry the dried beef before chopping.The sodium content is quite high with the beef, cheese and worcestershire along with the crackers it is often consumed with.
Melissa
Salt is purely subjective. That's a great tip for those who may be sensitive to sodium.
Mary
Did you rinse the beef off? If not, was the cheeseball super salty? Thanks!
Melissa
That's a great question! In my grocery store, it's usually located with the other canned meats. It comes in a small glass jar. At times, you can also purchase it in the packaged meat section packaged just like ham or turkey. A different brand, but, will work perfectly.
Anonymous
Call me dumb...but I've never heard of Armour dried beef. Where do I find it?
Linda Turner
In the canned meat section of your grocery store, with the puppy peters (Vienna Sausages lol), canned chicken, tuna etc.
Melissa
Carol, I love the addition of cayenne for a little kick. Wonderful, I'm so happy you liked it!
Carol
Made this for Christmas and it got entirely devoured by "i dont like cheeseballs " people. The only thing i did different was add 1/2 tsp of cayenne powder to spice it up.
Will definately make it again.
Melissa
Oh that makes me happy, yes, enjoy!! Merry Christmas!!
Anonymous
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This is the recipe that started my massive cookbook collection. Had scribbled this down on a piece of scrap paper years ago...and the husband in an effort to help "clean up" tossed it. Have searched for years to find it again...as it always brought rave reviews. And now at last......!
Melissa
Jen, it actually gets better over time...a wonderful make ahead appetizer! 🙂
Jen Butterfield
Oh my word!! Sounds delicious!!