Pumpkin Cheese Ball

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This Pumpkin Cheese Ball recipe is super easy to make and loaded with flavor! Coated in crushed Doritos to look like a real pumpkin, it’s the perfect appetizer for any fall gathering or Halloween party!

Originally published August 2023 – Updated September 2024

A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball garnished with rosemary sits on a plate with assorted crackers and bread slices. Background features a white tiled wall and small pumpkins.
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I love a good cheese ball as a party appetizer. They’re easy to make and always a big hit. Plus, there are so many fun ways to switch them up!

That’s what makes this pumpkin cheese ball so much fun. Sure, I could’ve just made a regular cheese ball for Halloween, but where’s the fun in that! This one, covered in Doritos to give it a real pumpkin look, will take your appetizer table to a whole new level.

With a mix of cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, corned beef and seasonings, it’s as delicious as it is fun. Serve it alongside this Hocus Pocus charcuterie board and you will definitely win Halloween!

A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball sits in the center of assorted crackers and bread slices, garnished with rosemary and surrounded by small decorative pumpkins.

Why We Love This Recipe

It’s a Party Favorite – Everyone loves a homemade cheese ball, and this is our favorite Halloween parties. It’s a simple appetizer that you can serve with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, veggies and more.

Make Ahead – You can make this recipe a day ahead so it’s ready to go whenever your party starts!

It’s Easy – Next time you need a quick and delicious party treat, just mix everything together, roll it into a ball and put it in the fridge. The hardest part is waiting for your guest to arrive to eat it!

Ingredients

A bowl of cream cheese is surrounded by bowls of cheddar cheese, corned beef, green onions, dill weed, bacon pieces, garlic powder, ranch seasoning, and crushed Doritos on newspaper.
  • Cream cheese
  • Corned beef (we used Buddig Beef)
  • Green onions
  • Shredded mild cheddar
  • Bacon bits or pieces
  • Dill weed
  • Garlic powder
  • Ranch seasoning
  • Doritos (finely processed)
  • Pumpkin stem
  • Rosemary sprigs (optional)
  • Assorted crackers, chips and bakery bread (for dipping)

How to Make a Halloween Cheeseball

Step 1. Place cream cheese, beef, green onions, shredded cheese and bacon bits into a large mixing bowl. Add the dill weed, garlic powder, and ranch seasoning.

A mixing bowl containing shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cooked bacon, chopped green onions, and shredded corned beef. A sliced baguette, herbs, and small pumpkins are in the background.
A glass mixing bowl with shredded cheese, chives, bacon, dried herbs, and seasonings sits on a newspaper-covered surface next to a whole pumpkin and sprigs of rosemary.

Step 2. Mix ingredients until well combined. (I found that it’s easiest to knead it by hand like you would a meatloaf).

Step 3. Roll the cream cheese mixture into a tight ball and wrap in a large piece of plastic wrap. Press down gently, making the top and bottom flat for a pumpkin shape. Using a pencil, kitchen twine or the dull side of a knife, make indents all the way around, then refrigerate for half an hour.

A glass mixing bowl contains a mixture of cream cheese, herbs, and chopped dried tomatoes. Surrounding the bowl are rosemary sprigs, a white pumpkin, an orange pumpkin, and slices of bread.
A round cheese ball wrapped in plastic wrap rests on a newspaper surface, with a pencil, herbs, bread slices, and two pumpkins nearby.

Step 4. Pour the crushed Doritos onto a plate. Unwrap the cheeseball and roll it in the Doritos until well coated. You may need to redefine the indents afterwards. Place your pumpkin on a serving plate and top it with your stem and rosemary sprigs.

Step 5. Add crackers, serve and enjoy!

A round, white cheese ball with herbs and spices, shaped like a pumpkin, sits on a plate of orange crumbs. A white pumpkin and a rosemary sprig are in the background.
A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball is surrounded by crackers on a white plate, with a white pumpkin and more crackers in the background.

If you don’t want to buy a pumpkin just for the stem, you can use a bell pepper stem, a piece of celery, a gherkin pickle or even a large pretzel stick cut in half. You could replace the rosemary by adding a couple of basil leaves or sage leaves around the bottom of the stem.

A cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin, garnished with a stem and rosemary, is surrounded by an assortment of crackers on a plate.

Tips & Tricks

  • You can substitute other flavors of Doritos or just about any kind of any kind of tortilla chips to make the crunchy coating. You could also skip the chips altogether and cover the outside of the cheese ball in shredded cheddar cheese instead.
  • Add even more flavor by replacing the mild cheddar with sharp cheddar.
  • When forming the cheese mixture into a pumpkin-shaped ball, spray your hands with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray. It’ll ensure that the mixture shapes easily and doesn’t stick to your fingers.
  • Be sure to start with room temperature cream cheese. Cold cream cheese won’t blend as well and you’re more likely to get lumpy cheese ball. If you forget to set it out ahead of time (which I often do), mix it with your stand mixer until you get a creamy consistency.
A cheese ball decorated to look like a pumpkin, accompanied by crackers and bread slices, arranged in a circular pattern on a newspaper-lined surface.

How Do I Store This?

You can refrigerate your leftovers for 2-3 days. For best results, wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap, then place it in a Ziplock bag or airtight container.

A cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin with a stem, surrounded by crackers and garnished with rosemary, placed on a newspaper-lined plate against a brick background.

How Long Can My Pumpkin Cheese Ball Sit Out?

For best results, you’ll want to keep the cheese ball out no more than about two hours. Since most parties last a little longer than that, you may want to make a couple of smaller mini pumpkins and keep the second one in the fridge until it’s needed.

A slice of bread with a creamy spread is placed on top of another slice. In the background, there are crackers and more bread slices arranged on a plate, with a sprig of rosemary beside them.

More Fun Fall Appetizer Ideas

You can never go wrong with a cheeseball recipe but if you’re looking more appetizer ideas, you’ll want to check out these delicious recipes too…

A pumpkin-shaped cheese ball with a stem garnish is surrounded by an assortment of crackers on a platter.
4.34 from 6 votes

Pumpkin Cheese Ball


Course Appetizer, Appetizer / Party Recipe, Appetizers/Party Foods
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Chilling time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
This delicious Pumpkin Cheese Ball is the perfect easy appetizer for all your fall gatherings and Halloween parties!

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 16 ounces cream cheese
  • 4 ounces Buddig Beef 2 packages, finely chopped
  • 1 bundle green onions chopped
  • 3/4 cup shredded mild cheddar
  • 3/4 cup real bacon bits or pieces
  • 1 teaspoon dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
  • 2 cups Doritos finely processed
  • 1 pumpkin stem
  • 2 rosemary sprigs

Instructions

  • Place cream cheese, beef, green onions, shredded cheese and bacon bits into a large mixing bowl. Add the dill weed, garlic powder, and ranch seasoning.
    16 ounces cream cheese, 4 ounces Buddig Beef, 1 bundle green onions, 3/4 cup shredded mild cheddar, 3/4 cup real bacon bits or pieces, 1 teaspoon dill weed, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
  • Mix ingredients until well combined. (I found that it’s easiest to knead it by hand like you would a meatloaf).
  • Roll the cream cheese mixture into a tight ball and wrap in a large piece of plastic wrap. Press down gently, making the top and bottom flat for a pumpkin shape.
  • Using a pencil, kitchen twine or the dull side of a knife, make indents all the way around, then refrigerate for half an hour.
  • Pour the crushed Doritos onto a plate. Unwrap the cheeseball and roll it in the Doritos until well coated. You may need to redefine the indents afterwards.
    2 cups Doritos
  • Place your pumpkin on a serving platter and top it with your stem and rosemary sprigs. Add crackers and other dippers, then serve and enjoy!
    1 pumpkin stem, 2 rosemary sprigs

Notes

  • When forming the cheese mixture into a ball, spray your hands with a little non-stick cooking spray so that the mixture shapes easily and doesn’t stick.
  • If you don’t want to buy a pumpkin just for the stem, you can use a bell pepper stem, a piece of celery, a gherkin pickle or even a large pretzel stick cut in half as your stem.
  • Serve with pretzel sticks, crackers, veggies or anything else you like!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 778mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 697IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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    4.34 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    2 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Love this…❣️ My school kids & I will be making a bunch of these Cheese Balls❣️

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