Turkey Cheese Ball
Bring some fun to your Thanksgiving appetizer table with this festive turkey cheese ball. Kids and adults alike will love this charming turkey treat!
Turkey Cheese Ball
This turkey cheese ball is super cute and while it looks like it might be hard to make, it's actually easy.
There's many different options you an use for dipping into it, such as pretzels or pretzel sticks, many different type of crackers, bread sticks, veggies, or even pita chips.
It's sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Cream cheese: Pull it out of the fridge about 30-60 minutes before making to let it soften to room temperature.
Sour cream: We use full fat sour cream.
Mayonnaise: A good quality mayo will enhance the creaminess.
Ranch seasoning: You can use homemade ranch seasoning mix or store bought.
Shredded cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar adds more flavor, while mild cheddar makes it creamier.
Green onions: Fresh green onions add a mild onion flavor.
Cooked bacon: Crispy bacon pieces add great flavor.
Pretzel stick: Use a sturdy pretzel stick for better support when attaching the turkey's head.
Candy eyes: These fun decorations make the turkey come to life. If you can’t find them, you can use small chocolate chips or raisins instead.
Mini bell peppers: Choose vibrant colors for a more eye-catching display.
How to Make
Begin by beating together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning in a mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth.
Once blended, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and half of the cooked bacon, making sure everything is well combined.
Next, form the mixture into one large ball and one small ball.
Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator to chill for at least four hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the cheese balls to firm up.
When you're ready to assemble the turkey, take the cheese balls out of the fridge.
Roll each ball in the remaining chopped bacon until they are nicely coated.
Place the large ball on your serving tray as the body of the turkey.
For the turkey’s head, cut a triangle shape from the bottom of one of the mini bell peppers and press it into the center of the small ball as the beak.
Add two candy eyes on top for a fun touch.
Finally, insert a pretzel stick into the bottom of the small ball and press the other end into the large ball to attach the turkey’s head.
To finish, remove the stems from the remaining mini bell peppers, cut them in half lengthwise, and lightly press them into the back of the large cheese ball to create the turkey's colorful feathers.
Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Here's some tips for making this turkey cheese ball:
Prep Ahead: Make the cheese ball a day in advance to save time.
Bacon Options: For quicker prep, use pre-cooked bacon bits or bacon crumbles found in the salad aisle.
Cheese Choices: You can sub out the cheddar cheese for one such as pepper Jack.
Presentation Hack: Use a festive platter and arrange colorful veggies around the cheese ball for an eye-catching display.
Leftovers/Storage
To store leftovers, transfer the cheese ball to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
If you want to freeze the Turkey Cheese Ball, wrap it well in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer bag or airtight container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
What to Serve with Turkey Cheese Ball
Here are some of our favorites to serve with the Turkey Cheese Ball:
Crackers: Choose a variety of flavors and textures like butter crackers, water crackers, wheat thins, or Triscuits.
Vegetable sticks: Carrot, celery, and bell pepper sticks.
Pretzels: There's so many different types of pretzels you can try, such as soft pretzel bites, pretzel sticks, twisted pretzels or pretzel crisps.
Pita chips: Goes great with the cheese ball.
Breadsticks: The long thin ones are great for dipping.
F.A.Q.
How do I fix a crumbly cheese ball?
If the mixture is crumbly, it may need more moisture. Try adding a little more sour cream or mayonnaise to help bind it together.
What if I can’t find mini bell peppers?
Regular bell peppers cut into smaller pieces can work as a substitute.
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Turkey Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Cheese Ball:
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 green onions finely chopped
- 1 cup cooked bacon finely chopped
Ingredients for the Decorations:
- 1 pretzel stick
- 2 candy eyes
- Red, yellow, and orange mini bell peppers
Instructions
- Beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning until smooth.
- Stir in the shredded cheese, chopped green onion, and half the bacon pieces.
- Form the mixture into one small ball and one large ball. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours.
- When ready to assemble the turkey, remove the cheese balls from the refrigerator.
- Roll each ball in the remaining chopped bacon until coated.
- Place the large ball on your serving tray.
- Cut a triangle shape out of the bottom of one of the mini bell peppers. Press the triangle into the center of the small ball as the turkey’s beak. Top with two candy eyes.
- Place a pretzel stick into the bottom of the small ball and press the other end of the stick into the large ball to attach the turkey’s head.
- Remove the stems from the mini bell peppers and cut them in half lengthwise. Lightly press them into the back of the large cheese ball to make the turkey’s feathers.
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
