This Southern Pimento Cheese Ball is always the most requested appetizer for holidays, tailgates, parties and weekends! Rolled in pecans, bacon, chives and punctuated with zesty pimentos, this classic is all about everyone’s southern favorites.
If you are a huge pimento cheese fan, you’ll also love Southern Cranberries & Cheddar Skillet Dip. It is a hot and melty cheese dip that uses just a bit of pimento cheese to create something magical!
No true southern gathering is complete without an utterly delicious cheeseball. Why? Because delicious never goes out of style! And this easy-to-make pimento cheeseball recipe delivers on all fronts.
The flavor of sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, garlic, onion, a splash of Worcestershire and bright red pimentos (also spelled pimientos) is only made better with the crunch of pecans, salty bacon and a little chives. Meet your pimento cheese sandwich’s classy cousin. And wow! You’re never going to look at pimento cheese the same again.
Want More Pimento Cheese Goodness?
- Pimento Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
- Southern Pimento Mac & Cheese
- Grilled Pimento Cheese, Apple & Bacon Sandwiches
- Southern Cranberries & Cheddar Skillet Dip
- The Best Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Recipe (use this to make all my pimento cheese recipes)
Ingredients & Recipe Overview
I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in these next sections along with helpful tips!
Look for specifics at the end of the post in the recipe card.
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- cream cheese
- diced pimentos
- real mayonnaise
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt & black pepper
- optional- add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick
Toppings
- bacon pieces, chopped pecans, chives, paprika
- Topping Substitutes: walnuts, toasted chopped pecans, parsley
How to Make & Shape A Classic Cheese Ball
Using a mixer makes a cheese ball one of the easiest appetizers to make, while the toppings and shape make it one of the prettiest!
- Take your cream cheese out of the fridge to soften about 15-20 minutes before making your cheese ball. This makes mixing the ingredients quick & easy!
- Put all of the ingredients for the cheese ball in a large bowl to use with your hand or stand mixer. (You can use a large fork to mix this with. It just takes a bit more effort. Or maybe a few pulses in a food processor?)
- When the ingredients are well mixed, turn out the cheese mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Pull up the edges of the plastic wrap up and twist so that all of the cheese is inside and begins to form a ball. Use a combo of twisting the wrap and your hands to form the cheese into a ball. This method keeps the food from being “over handled” before serving.
- When the ball becomes the shape you like (it could be a ball or a cheese log), place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving so that it becomes firm.
Add Your Toppings
- After the cheese ball has firmed up in the fridge, pull it out to add the toppings!
- Mix the chopped pecans, bacon pieces, chives and paprika in a bowl, using a fork (specific measurements below). When mixed, spread them out in a solid layer on a piece wax paper.
- Unwrap the cheese ball and roll over the toppings mix. You might also have to pull the nuts and other toppings up onto the sides or top and press them in a bit to get the covering you like. We like a good heavy covering. That contrasting crunch and fresh herbs with the creamy cheese is what it’s all about!
- Toast your pecans before making your toppings mix for a richer, more aromatic cheese ball!
What To Serve with A Pimento Cheese Ball
Cheese balls are delicious when served with crackers, crostini, veggies like celery sticks and carrots, pretzels, chips, more pecans and even fruit! Just make sure you include a serving knife with your cheese so that your guests can easily cut off a little piece to enjoy!
Embrace the best of tradition with a cheese ball at your next get together, on your next charcuterie or for this weekend’s favorite game.
Other Classic Appetizer Recipes to Enjoy
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW!
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Favorite Southern Pimento Cheese Ball
Equipment
- wax paper & plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- 4 ounce jar of diced pimentos
- ¼ cup real mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground pepper
- splash Worcestershire sauce
Toppings
- 3 ounce bacon pieces
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoon chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Take your cream cheese out of the fridge to soften about 15-20 minutes before making your cheese ball.
- Put all of the ingredients for the cheese ball in a large bowl and mix with hand or stand mixer.
- When the ingredients are well mixed, turn out the cheese mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Pull up the edges of the plastic wrap up and twist so that all of the cheese is inside and begins to form a ball. Use a combo of twisting the wrap and your hands to form the cheese into a ball. When the ball becomes the shape you like, place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving so that it becomes firm.
- Mix the chopped pecans, bacon pieces, chives and paprika in a bowl, using a fork. When mixed, spread them out in a solid layer on a piece wax paper. Remove chilled cheese ball from fridge. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll ball over the toppings mix. You might also have to pull toppings up onto the sides or top and press in a bit to get the covering you like.
- Serve with crackers, celery, crostini, more pecans, even fruit.
Nutrition
Our Southern Pimento Cheese Ball is always the most requested appetizer for holidays, tailgates, or weekends! Rolled in pecans, bacon, chives and punctuated with zesty pimentos, this classic is all about everyone’s southern favorites. Get ready for a whole new way to enjoy delicious pimento cheese!
This was delicious and easy to make! My guests loved it! It will be a go-to recipe when I entertain!
Hi, Margaret! This puts a huge smile on my face! Thank you so much for making and sharing this recipe with your guests. It’s hard to beat a good cheese ball!