Turkey Cheese Ball
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This festive Turkey Cheese Ball makes the cutest, most delicious addition to any Thanksgiving spread. Packed with creamy, cheesy goodness and decorated with colorful “feathers,” this fun turkey will be gobbled up in no time!
Turkey Cheeseball
We all know that Thanksgiving is all about the food, right? Well, of course it’s about family and friends and being thankful too…but food plays a pretty big part! That’s what makes this turkey cheese ball recipe such a fun addition to your appetizer table.
Packed with a creamy blend of tangy ranch seasoning, smoky bacon, Buddig beef, and shredded cheddar, it’s as delicious as it is festive! I mean, why serve an ordinary cheese ball when you can transform it into an adorable centerpiece instead (it’s seriously almost too cute to eat!). Add some crackers on the side and you’ve got the perfect holiday appetizer!
Want more fun twists to the classic cheese ball? You’ll love this delicious Pumpkin Cheese Ball and this game day Football Cheese Ball too.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Delicious flavors: This cheese ball is packed with ranch flavors, cheese, smoky bacon, Buddig beef, and cheddar cheese.
- Easy to make: All you need are a handful of simple ingredients and you can make this in just a few easy steps.
- Fun Thanksgiving appetizer: With a cute turkey theme, it makes a fun appetizer for your Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Buddig beef (finely chopped)
- Green onions (chopped)
- Shredded mild cheddar cheese
- Dill weed
- Ranch seasoning
- Crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- Pretzel rod
- Candy eyes
- Mini bell peppers (in various colors)
- Assorted crackers (for dipping)
How to Make a Turkey Cheese Ball
Step 1. Set aside a tiny bit of cream cheese to attach the eyes and beak to the pretzel later (you won’t need very much). Then, place your softened cream cheese, Buddig beef, green onions, shredded cheese, dill weed, and ranch seasoning in a large bowl.
Step 2. Knead the cream cheese mixture until well combined. Shape into a ball, making sure that it’s packed tightly. You can also use a mixer for this step.
Step 3. Pour the bacon onto a plate. If you made them yourself, be sure they’re dry and that you’ve removed any grease with paper towels. You shouldn’t need to do this with bacon bits or pieces that are pre-packaged.
Step 4. Roll the cheeseball in the bacon, covering it completely. Use your hands to press the bacon firmly onto the cheese ball, then place it in the center of your serving plate.
Step 5. Place your pretzel in the front center of the large ball. You may need to break it in half to make it shorter.
Step 6. Use the cream cheese you set aside earlier to attach the eyes to the front of the pretzel rod.
Step 7. Next, slice each pepper in half. Lay one orange piece to the side for later. Place the rest towards the back of your cheeseball, large side down, creating the turkey’s tail feathers. You’ll want to alternate the the orange, yellow and red pepper slices.
Step 8. To make the beak, cut a small triangle from the orange pepper you set aside earlier. Use some of the reserved cream cheese to attach it.
Step 9. Serve with crackers or pita chips and enjoy.
How To Store Leftovers
Wrap leftovers in a piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate. Your cheese ball should stay fresh for up to a week.
Variations and Add-ins
- Cheese: We used shredded cheddar, but you can switch things up with pepper jack for a spicy kick.
- Worcestershire sauce: Add about half a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce to give your cheese ball a deeper flavor.
- Nut crusted: Mix in some chopped pecans or chopped walnuts with the bacon pieces for a crunchy, nutty twist. It’ll add extra texture and taste.
- Seasonings: While the ranch seasoning already includes onion and garlic powder, feel free to experiment with other spices like paprika, cumin, or a pinch of cayenne.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs like chopped parsley, dill, red pepper flakes, or chives can be mixed into the cheeseball for added flavor.
Top Tips
- Make sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing. This makes it easier to blend with the other ingredients and helps give you that smooth, creamy texture.
- You can mix this with your hands but I like to use an electric mixer to blend the ingredients. It’s easier and less messy.
- After mixing, if the cheese ball seems too soft, you can refrigerate it for at least 20-30 minutes to firm it up.
- When forming the ball, make sure to pack it tightly. This helps to hold it all together and also makes it easier to coat with the bacon bits.
- To make cleanup easier and to help keep your hands clean, use kitchen gloves when mixing and shaping the ball.
FAQS
Sure! You can make it a day or two in advance and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. Just wait to add the pretzel stick until just before serving, so that it doesn’t get soggy.
This is best enjoyed fresh, but you can freeze it before adding the turkey tail feathers. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then a layer of foil, then store in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator and add decorations just before serving.
You can, but it’ll make the texture a little softer and it may not hold it’s shape as well.
Of course. Just slice red, orange and yellow bell peppers into pieces that are similar in size to the mini peppers.
More Tasty Holiday Appetizers
We love this turkey cheese ball for Thanksgiving but if you’re looking for more delicious appetizers, you’ll want to check these out too!
- Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
- Cranberry Salsa
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie
- Easy Deviled Eggs
- Maple Crack Bacon
- Mini Cheese Balls
- Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
- Fried Goat Cheese
Turkey Cheese Ball
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- serving platter
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 ounces Buddig Beef 2 packages
- 1 bundle green onions chopped
- 3/4 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon dill
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 1 cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- 1 pretzel rod
- 2 candy eyes
- 4 sweet peppers various colors
Instructions
- Set aside a tiny bit of cream cheese to attach the eyes to the pretzel later (you only need about a pea sized ball). Then, place your softened cream cheese, Buddig beef, green onions, shredded cheese, dill weed, and ranch seasoning in a large bowl.16 ounces cream cheese, 4 ounces Buddig Beef , 1 bundle green onions, 3/4 cup mild cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon dill, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- Put gloves on for these next few steps if you don’t want your hands to get messy.
- Knead the cream cheese mixture, or use a stand mixer, and mix until well combined. Shape it into a ball, making sure that it's packed tightly.
- Pour the bacon bits onto a plate. If you made them yourself, be sure they’re dry and that you’ve removed any grease with paper towels. You shouldn’t need to do this with bacon bits or pieces that are pre-packaged.1 cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- Roll the cheeseball in the bacon bits, covering it completely. Use your hands to press the bacon firmly onto the cheese ball, then place it in the center of your serving plate.
- Place your pretzel rod in the front center of the large ball. You may need to break it in half to make it shorter.1 pretzel rod
- Use the cream cheese you set aside earlier to attach the eyes to the front of the pretzel rod.2 candy eyes
- Next, slice each pepper in half. Lay one orange piece to the side for later. Place the rest towards the back of your cheeseball, large side down, creating the turkey’s tail feathers. You’ll want to alternate the the orange, yellow and red pepper slices.4 sweet peppers
- To make the beak, cut a small triangle from the orange pepper you set aside earlier. Use some of the reserved cream cheese to attach it.
- Serve with crackers or pita chips and enjoy.
Notes
- If your cheese ball is too soft after mixing the ingredients together, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes to let it firm up.
- You can make this a day or two in advance but wait until just before serving to add the pretzel rod.
Nutrition
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About Lisa O’Driscoll
Lisa O’Driscoll is a lifestyle and parenting expert, cookbook author, and the creative force behind Fun Money Mom, a popular blog she’s run since 2014. She’s the author of the children’s cookbook Roll It, Slice It, Mash It, Dice It, designed to get kids excited about cooking. With multiple TV appearances under her belt, she loves sharing her expertise on family-friendly recipes, creative DIYs, and party planning and is always on a mission to inspire and entertain!
