Keto eaters often lament that there are not enough savory snacks to eat on their diet, so we developed snack recipes that are easy to put together and have on hand for whenever a little nibble is wanted. Here we took the flavors of a make-ahead party recipe for a cheese ball and shrank it down into a delicious little keto snack. We processed cheddar cheese and cream cheese for a firm yet creamy consistency, adding mayonnaise for silky richness.
Onion powder added zing, while fresh parsley and dill, which feature in classic ranch dressing, lent the snack a pleasant green color. To make individual servings, we shaped the mixture into 30 bite-size balls. We covered the balls with a mixture of crisp bacon bits and finely ground almonds to enhance their fat content and give them some crunch. These mini cheese balls are also delicious spread on Seeded Crackers (this page) or eaten with Seeded Bread (this page). To quickly soften the cream cheese, microwave it for 20 to 30 seconds.
Jump to RecipeInstructions :
- Process cheddar, cream cheese, mayonnaise, parsley, dill, and onion powder in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Transfer cheese mixture to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
- Cook bacon in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to clean, dry food processor. Add almonds and pulse until mixture is finely ground, about 8 pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed; transfer to shallow dish.
- Divide cheese mixture into 30 equal pieces, about 1 tablespoon each. Using your hands, roll mixture into balls, then roll each ball in bacon-almond mixture, pressing gently to adhere; transfer to serving platter. Serve.
Bacon-Ranch Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese shredded (3 cups)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 8 ounces sliced bacon chopped
- ¾ cup slivered almonds toasted
Instructions
- Process cheddar, cream cheese, mayonnaise, parsley, dill, and onion powder in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Transfer cheese mixture to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
- Cook bacon in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to clean, dry food processor. Add almonds and pulse until mixture is finely ground, about 8 pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed; transfer to shallow dish.
- Divide cheese mixture into 30 equal pieces, about 1 tablespoon each. Using your hands, roll mixture into balls, then roll each ball in bacon-almond mixture, pressing gently to adhere; transfer to serving platter. Serve.