Bloody Mary Spicy Cheeseball

Name: Bloody Mary Spicy Cheeseball
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces cream cheese; 3/4 cup white cheddar cheese, (shredded); 1 Tablespoon tomato paste; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons hot sauce; 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish; 1/2 teaspoon celery salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 cup green olives stuffed with pimentos, (chopped); 3/4 cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits ((try to find ones that are real bacon)); 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, (chopped); crackers; Cut up celery

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This Bloody Mary Spicy Cheeseball is one of the best easy appetizer options for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Blood Mary but without the alcohol, it's an all-age-appropriate hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor! Prepped in just 10 minutes.

A bloody mary cheeseball with crackers and celery in the background.

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Why You'll Love This Bloody Mary Olive Cheeseball
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
How To Make My Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making My Cream Cheese Ball Recipe
What To Serve With My Homemade Cheeseball
Other Delicious Cheesy Appetizers To Try
Bloody Mary Spicy Cheeseball
Hosting Thanksgiving?

Why You'll Love This Bloody Mary Olive Cheeseball

With my great love for all things hors d'oeuvre-y, I figured it was probably a good time to brainstorm some new and delicious appetizer options that are easy to whip up and look pretty and festive for holiday entertaining.

So, I began brainstorming a cream cheese ball concept. Though I had never made my own cheese ball, I have tasted several at various events throughout my life. I try not to ever turn down the opportunity to try various cheesy recipes, especially if they're mixed with other tasty offerings!

Being the scrappy gal I am, I thought to myself, "Why not remove the vodka and use all of the other zesty, savory ingredients that you typically find in a Bloody Mary to make a festive and easy cheese ball recipe?" Along with the cream cheese, I incorporate some white cheddar, plenty of bacon, green olives, and so much more. And the rest, as they say, was history. Here are just a few other reasons to try this:

So easy — only 10 minutes of prep work!
Full of fun and unique flavors
Customizable
Festive enough for end-of-year holidays
Made with zero alcohol
It's incredibly tasty!

A cracker with some of the cheeseball on it with the rest of the cheeseball and a green napkin in the background.

Ingredient Information And Substitutions

Cream Cheese- Our creamy base! I recommend going with full fat here as it will have the best flavor — though low fat would also work if that's what you prefer.
White Cheddar Cheese- Adds a sharp and tangy flavor that complements the creamy cheese in the best way.
Tomato Paste- The tomato portion of your cream cheese and tomato app. Tomato is such a key part of a Bloody Mary!
Bacon- You can use store-bought bacon crumbles or bacon bits, or cook up your own bacon and use that instead. Just make sure the pieces are small so you get a little bit in every bite.
Sauces- I added Worcestershire sauce for a hint of umami and some hot sauce for some heat- if you want a spicier cheese ball, add more hot sauce!
Horseradish- Sharp and almost spicy in a way, I like my Bloody Mary loaded up with horseradish, so I had to include it here! If you don't like it, you can leave it out. Or If you love spiciness, add more.
Green Olives- I grabbed the ones that are stuffed with pimentos.
Seasonings- All you'll need is celery salt and ground black pepper to taste, as well as some fresh parsley for a garnish.
Dippers- I like crackers and celery! Baguette is also tasty. Use your favorites.

How To Make My Easy Cheese Ball Recipe

Step 1- Combine the cheeses.

Place the cream cheese and cheddar in a large bowl and combine with a hand mixer.

Cream cheese and shredded white cheddar in a glass bowl and then the cheeses mixed together in the bowl.

Step 2- Add the other ingredients.

Incorporate the tomato paste, Worcestershire, hot sauce, horseradish, celery salt, black pepper, and chopped green olive with the cheese mixture until fully combined.

Other ingredients added to the cheese mixture and then all of it mixed together.

Step 3- Chill.

Use a spatula to scrape the cream cheese and tomato mixture to the center of the bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for a good 10 minutes. While you wait, combine the bacon bits and fresh parsley in a small bowl.

Bacon and parsley mixed together and then the cheeseball added to the bacon mixture.

Step 4- Form the ball.

Use your clean hands to form your Bloody Mary cheese ball, then carefully roll it in the herb and bacon mixture. Wrap in plastic and store in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!

The cheese ball covered in bacon on some plastic wrap and then wrapped in plastic wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to combine the cheeses?

I use a stand mixer or hand mixer because I found it to be easier, but you can also do it by hand.

Can I turn this into cheese ball bites?

Sure! Just roll the cheese ball mixture into smaller balls, and pop a pretzel stick into them just before serving to create an edible handle. Boom- easy cheese balls!

Can I make this in advance?

Absolutely! This will will taste even better (and keep its shape) if you leave it to fully set in the fridge before serving. You can make it up to 2 days in advance.

How long should I chill this before serving?

For the best results, I would leave it in the fridge for at least 1 hour. You need to allow it to firm up so that it's easier to eat.

A close up image of a cheeseball with some removed exposing the inside of the cheese ball.

Tips For Making My Cream Cheese Ball Recipe

You can use bacon bits for your cheese ball, just try to buy the ones that are actually real bacon.
Be sure to soften the cream cheese to make it easier to mix. You can do this by leaving it out a couple of hours in advance. Or in a pinch, zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.
I like to use my mini prep processor to chop the olives to save time.
Refrigerate the cheese for a good 10 minutes before rolling it into a ball to make the rolling process easier.
When rolling in the bacon and parsley mixture, press down ever so slightly so that it sticks even when you remove the plastic.
Ingredients to prep ahead- Before you get started, cook and cool the bacon (if making from scratch), pull the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften, and chop the olives and parsley.
Leftovers and storage- You can store leftovers wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Overhead image of a cheeseball with a green towel and crackers around it.

What To Serve With My Homemade Cheeseball

I love crackers and celery sticks for my dippers, or as mentioned, you could serve baguette or even pretzels with your dip! And while this will certainly go a long way (it serves 8), I like to pair it alongside some of my other favorite apps when I'm expecting a crowd:

Other Delicious Cheesy Appetizers To Try

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