This easy to make, 7-ingredient Football Cheese Ball will elevate your entertaining on game day! With cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning and shredded Colby Jack cheese, this incredibly tasty sports-themed appetizer will be gone from the party tray before halftime.
The most talked about appetizer at every football watch party here is this MVP worthy Football Cheese Ball, which is my Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball recipe with a fun sports-themed twist.
I make the same delicious ranch-seasoned cheese ball that everyone always devours, shape it into a football (so easy!) and then decorate it with crushed walnuts and Pretzel Crisps. The football stiches on top are from one slice of American cheese.
The end result? An eye-catching, super delicious, ranch-seasoned, football shaped cheese ball that pairs well with everyone's savory and crunchy favorites--from a variety of tasty crackers, to cheddar cheese wedges, ring bologna, pepperoni, crudités and more!
Don't forget to serve Peanut Butter Footballs during halftime!
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🥘Ingredients
- Cream cheese, softened--Philadelphia brand--I recommend full fat for easier shaping
- Sour cream--Daisy's or Breakstone's are creamy and have a nice tang--even when you use reduced fat
- Dry ranch seasoning mix--you may use one envelope/sleeve OR measure from a shaker tub to choose your zest level (I like Hidden Valley Ranch for both of these options)
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese --I typically use Kraft's 2%; Monterey Jack cheese is a good alternative
- broken Pretzel Crisps--add them just before serving because they will get a little soggy
- crushed walnuts--these are also best added just before serving
- American cheese slice, cut into strips--place this on last
Optional/additional extras to cover the cheese ball could include: bacon bits, mini pepperoni slices, or crushed pecans.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Beat room temperature cream cheese and sour cream on medium speed until fully blended. Add the ranch seasoning and blend on low until smooth.
- Step 2: Add the shredded cheese and blend.
- Step 3: Wrap in plastic wrap; form a football shape.
- Step 4: Decorate just before serving.
Hint: Allow the cream cheese to soften to room temperature for easier mixing, or soften in the microwave for 30 seconds.
🔪Encasing video
🍽Equipment
- plastic wrap
- hand mixer or food processor
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
🍶Storage
Keep Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball refrigerated and store in an airtight container until ready to serve. Leftovers will keep for up to 5 days. Try to remove any added decor before you refrigerate leftovers--otherwise, they will get soggy.
💭Top tip
Allow the cheese ball to solidify overnight in the fridge for best results. When ready to serve, choose a serving tray with additional room so you can add crackers, other cheeses, pepperoni and veggies of varying colors. You can't go wrong with a variety of these options. Anything that goes well with ranch and cream cheese will go well with this tasty cheese ball.
Football Cheese Ball will be the talk of your tailgate or Super Bowl watch party. It's just that good! Heck, it might even bring your team a little luck!
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Football Cheese Ball at tailgates and parties:
📋Recipe
Football Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Cheese Ball Base Ingredients:
- 12 oz cream cheese 1 & ½ bricks, Philadelphia brand
- ½ cup reduced fat sour cream Daisy's or Breakstone's
- 2-3 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning mix choose your level of zestiness
- 1 & ½ cup reduced fat Colby Jack shredded cheese blend Kraft's 2% recommended
Decorative Add-ons: (This is what you see in the picture. Feel free to change it up!)
- 1 cup Pretzel Crisps, crushed leather
- ⅓ cup crushed walnuts leather
- 1 slice American cheese, cut into 3 long and 3 short strips stitches
Instructions
- Allow cream cheese to soften on counter prior to starting for easier mixing (or microwave for 30 seconds in bowl).
- Place the softened cream cheese and sour cream in large mixing bowl. Set the hand mixer to medium speed and blend until contents are fully incorporated, usually 1-2 minutes. (This can also be done with a food processor.)
- Add desired amount (2-3T.) of ranch mix to bowl/processor and blend on low speed until smooth.
- Add the shredded cheese. Mix on medium speed until well blended, usually 1-2 minutes.
Cheese Ball Encasing Instructions:
- Place one large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Put the entire cheese mixture in the center.
- Fold the plastic wrap in toward the center, with the goal of getting the corners to meet in the middle.
- Twist the plastic wrap so that the cheese ball is entirely encased in the center and is fully wrapped.
- Using your hands, form a football shape out of the mixture; pinching the corners on both ends. Continue to mold until you have a decent looking football shape.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, though 24 is recommended for optimal shaping and for a better taste.
Football Cheese Ball Assembly:
- Unwrap the cheese ball: Place it on your serving tray (you may choose to place parchment paper down first).
- Leather: Place crushed pretzel crisps and walnuts all around the exposed exterior just before serving to avoid sogginess.
- Stiches: Using a knife, divide one slice of American cheese into three long and three short strips. Add to the top of the cheese ball as pictured.
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days. Do not freeze.
Taylor K. says
This football appetizer was the talk of our Super Bowl party. We used crushed almonds on the outside instead of pretzels.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
That works, and I'm sure it tasted great!
Barbara K. says
A tasty treat for the big games. I particularly like the combination of all ingredients.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
You can't go wrong with ranch, and this cheese ball is always a hit.