Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball

Zesty, cheesy goodness awaits with this easy to make Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball that is perfect for parties and get togethers!

Why We Love It

Ranch. Cheese. Fun. Easy. Delicious. Need we say more?

Why You'll Love It

This 4 ingredient, delicious cheese ball is easy to make and easy to devour! It pairs so well with crackers and veggies and is always the star of the hors d'oeuvre table. Plus, Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball is easily customizable for a variety of holidays. Keep it in a ball form or check out our creative holiday themed ideas at the end of this post, which the kids will enjoy making with you!

Looking for more tasty appetizers? Check out our Garlic Ranch Pretzels, Asparagus Canapés and Ham and Swiss Cheese Sliders!

Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball Ingredients

• 12 ounces (1 & 1/2 bricks) of reduced fat cream cheese, softened (Philadelphia brand highly recommended)
• 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream (Daisy's or Breakstone's highly recommended)
• 2-3 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix- choose your level of zestiness!
• 1 & 1/2 cups reduced fat shredded Colby Jack cheese (I use Kraft's 2%)

Optional extras to cover the cheese ball could include: bacon bits, slivered almonds or crushed walnuts

How to make Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball

You'll want to gather the following equipment:

• hand mixer
• large mixing bowl
• mixing spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• plastic wrap

Getting Started

Kitchen Ready Betty tip: Allow the cream cheese to soften on your counter for easier mixing, or soften in the microwave for 30 seconds..

Make your Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball in just a few simple steps:

Get your hand mixer and large mixing bowl. Place the softened cream cheese and sour cream in the bowl. Set the hand mixer to medium speed and blend until contents are fully incorporated, usually 1-2 minutes.

Choose your zest. Big ranch fan? Use 3 tablespoons of the ranch mix. Like it, but not totally gaga about it? Use 2 tablespoons. Whichever you fancy, place your desired amount in the bowl and blend on low speed until smooth.

Add the shredded cheese to the bowl. Blend on medium speed until well blended, usually 1-2 minutes.

Get out your plastic wrap. If you're making one large cheese ball, you'll need one large piece. If you're making one of the holiday versions (see below), you'll want two pieces of plastic wrap because you will be encasing two cheeseballs (one medium, one small).

Wrap the cheese ball(s) up like a mummy. Sort of.

Follow these simple steps:

• Place the cheese mixture in the center of the plastic wrap.
• Fold the plastic wrap in toward the center, with the goal of getting the corners to meet in the middle.
• Twist the plastic wrap until the cheese mixture is entirely encased in the center.
• Using your hands, form a ball out of the mixture (luckily, this part isn't messy because your hands are on the outside of the plastic wrap).
• Continue to mold until you have a decent looking sphere.

Watch my Instagram video here! -0r- Watch it on my YouTube channel here!

Chill for at least 4 hours-but I recommend 24 hours for optimal shaping. Place your wrapped cheese ball(s) in the fridge.

After it has solidified in the fridge, have your serving tray or platter ready to go. Unwrap the cheese ball and place on your desired plate.

Kitchen Ready Betty tip: 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 Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball!

For additional flavoring, decorate the outside of the cheese ball as desired. You may consider pushing bacon bits, slivered almonds and/or crushed walnuts onto the outside for added aesthetic appeal.

Enjoy! Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball will be the talk of your party. It's just that good!

Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball Leftovers?

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3-5 days.

Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball Holiday Variations

(Please note that all of these use the same base ingredients and same amounts. We simply reserve a little of the mixture to make an additional, smaller cheese ball. You will wrap the two balls separately.)

For Easter: The Zesty Bunny

With Triscuit/cream cheese/bacon bits ears, carrot/cream cheese/peppercorn eyes, bacon bits nose, sliced carrot whiskers (and, yes, we also think this could work as a cat!)

For Thanksgiving: The Zesty Turkey--View a separate recipe for the turkey version HERE.

With pretzel stick feathers, Snyder's Pretzel Rounds on the belly, candy eyeballs, and a sliced pepperoni wedge for the beak

For winter holidays: Zesty the Snowman

With celery stalk spine, pepperoni hat (held by toothpick), candy eyes, half of a baby carrot for a nose and half of a pepperoni slice for a mouth

For another fun treat to make with the kids, check out our super easy Bumps on a Log!