Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe is the best easy appetizer option for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Bloody Mary drink (but without the alcohol) It's a family friendly hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor!

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (1)

Bloody Mary Cheese Ball Recipe

This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclaimerhere.

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 Cheese varieties, 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 the zesty, savory ingredients that you typically find in a Bloody Mary to make a festive and easy cheese ball recipe?" And the rest, as they say, was history.

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (2)

Tips for making a Bloody Mary Bacon Cheese Balls

  • Be sure to soften the cream cheese to make it easier to mix. You can do this by leaving it out a couple hours in advance. Or in a pinch, zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.
  • I like to use mymini prep processor to chop the olives and save time.
  • Refrigerate the cheese for a good 10 minutes before rolling it into a ball to make the rolling process easier.
  • Although I always encourage you to use real bacon, you can use bacon bits for this, just try to buy the ones that are actually real bacon.
  • Once you’ve formed the cheeseball and rolled it in the bacon and parsley mixture, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to help it firm up.

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (3)

Frequently asked questions about making the best cheese ball recipe

  • Can I make this in advance? While it’s still tasty when reheated, puff pastry is definitely at it’s very best when consumed right away. You’ll lose that flaky, crispy texture that we all love once you refrigerate it.
  • Can I make these into cheese ball bites? Sure, just roll them smaller and pop a pretzel stick into them just before serving.
  • What’s the best way to mix the cheese ball? I used a Stand mixerorHand mixer, but you can also do it by hand.
  • How long do these last in the refrigerator? These will last up to a week wrapped up in your fridge.
  • Can this be made ahead? Yes, this can be made up to a couple days ahead.

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (4)

Helpful tools:

  1. Chef's knife
  2. Cutting board
  3. Measuring cups
  4. Measuring spoons
  5. Mixing bowl
  6. Mini prep processor

Hosting Thanksgiving?

Discover the secret to hosting Thanksgiving without all the stress! Prepsgiving is your FREE guide to making a delicious Thanksgiving feast the easy way.

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (5)

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe

Jessy Freimann

This Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe is the best easy appetizer option for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Bloody Mary drink (but without the alcohol) It's a family friendly hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor!

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Chill time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
  • ¾ cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup green olives stuffed with pimentos, chopped
  • ¾ cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits (try to find ones that are real bacon)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • RITZ crackers
  • Cut up celery

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, use a mixer to combine cream cheese and white cheddar.

  • Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, celery salt, black pepper and chopped green olives and mix well until fully combined.

  • Use a spatula to scrape all the cheese mixture in to the middle of the bowl and pop it into the refrigerator to chill for a good 10 minutes (to make it easier to roll into a ball).

  • Mix bacon crumbles and parsley in a bowl until fully combined. Using your (clean) hands, roll the cheese into a ball and carefully roll it in the bacon and parsley mixture.

  • Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator to chill for at least and hour or until you're ready to serve it.

Notes

This can be made the night before and should stay good in the refrigerator for a few days.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Try some other easy cheesy appetizers include:

  • Pomegranate Thyme Baked Brie
  • Baked Buffalo Chicken Sliders
  • Philly Cheese Steak Bombs

You can find a full index of my recipeshere.

Don’t forget to follow The Life Jolie onPinterestfor more recipe inspiration!

Or if Pinterest isn’t your style,bookmark this post!

Let’s keep the conversation going- join myFacebook group!

« California Breakfast Stack

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrew says

    A Bloody Mary cheeseball is ingenious! I bet it pairs perfectly with the RITZ Crackers, too! Yum! [client]

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thank you! The flavor really compliments RITZ Crackers beautifully. Although that's not hard to do, those crackers seriously taste awesome with everything!

      Reply

  2. Luci {Luci's Morsels} says

    I know exactly what you mean when you say you wish you entertained more. I'm the same way! But this amazing appetizer would sure make it easier to do it! Can't wait to give it a try at my next shindig!Luci's Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thank you! I seriously want to try and make this entertaining thing happen!

      Reply

  3. Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says

    This is brilliant! The cheeseball is what always pulls me back to the food table :)

    Reply

  4. Jeff says

    For the olives, is is 1/2 cup chopped, or put 1/2 cup of olives in the Cuisinart? BTW, the recipe SOUNDS AMAZING! :)

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thanks Jeff- sorry if I wrote the recipe in a confusing way- I meant 1/2 a cup of chopped olives (but if you don't love them as much as I do you could always measure it before chopping). I hope you love it!

      Reply

      • Jeff says

        No, I love olives and anything related to a Bloody Mary. Doing this recipe for a New Year's Eve Party this weekend along with my family's perfect Bloody Marys to go with it! Thanks again! :)

        Reply

        • Jessy says

          I like your style- Olives are always a good idea (and so is a good Bloody Mary!!)! I hope you enjoy it and happy new year!

          Reply

  5. Danielle Green says

    This looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thank you Danielle :)

      Reply

  6. Richa Gupta says

    My goodness, this looks incredibly delicious!

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thanks Richa!

      Reply

  7. Erin Clarkson says

    Yuuuuuummm! what an amazing idea!

    Reply

    • Jessy says

      Thanks ErIn!

      Reply

  8. Summer says

    Yum. This would be great with pickle jalapeno sliced, pickled okra or anything else used to garnish a bloody mary.

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      Yum- I'm pretty sure I want you to make my Bloody Mary's from now on, those sound like great additions!

      Reply

  9. Melissa says

    This was SO delicious. I made a half batch which was plenty, but I wished I had made a full batch and tried freezing half. I served this with Ritz crackers and mini bell peppers and it was a hit!

    Reply

    • Jessy Freimann says

      So glad you loved it, Melissa! I bet it tasted great with mini bell peppers! Please let me know how it works if you ever try freezing it :)

      Reply

  10. Fran Henderson says

    I made a half recipe and added a handful of "real" bacon bits to the cheese mixture and rolled the ball in chopped pecans and parsley instead of the bacon. Its delicious.

    Reply

  11. Sue says

    This is amazing! I’ve been looking for a “different” cheese ball from the “same ole same ole”. This definitely fits the bill. This flavors are absolutely delicious.

    Reply

  12. Maggie says

    This is a huge hit every time I make it for a special occasion. I add a little more tomato paste, and more horseradish, though. In Louisiana, we love our bloody Marys, so this cheese ball needs to be spicy, but not overpowering. Adding the extra tomato paste and horseradish works beautifully!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What food compliments a Bloody Mary? ›

Bloody Mary Appetizers: A New Way to Consume Your Favorite Drink
  • Shrimp co*cktail. This appetizer has always relied on tomato sauce and horseradish for its edge, making it an ideal match with the Bloody Mary. ...
  • Mozzarella Sticks. ...
  • Fried Cauliflower. ...
  • Deviled Eggs. ...
  • Chips and Guacamole. ...
  • Chicken Skewers.
Nov 14, 2022

What is the name of the cheese that is a ball of cheese? ›

Bocconcini (Italian: [bokkonˈtʃiːni]; sg. : bocconcino, Italian: [bokkonˈtʃiːno]; English: "small mouthful") are small mozzarella cheese balls.

How do you thicken a cheese ball? ›

Your cheese ball is too runny: Once you have added all the extras, and it's all mixed in well, if the texture is more salad dressing-like than something you might spread on a bagel, you can tighten it up easily by adding unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing before you add more.

What is the white cheese like a ball? ›

Burrata (Italian: [burˈrata]) is an Italian cow's milk (occasionally buffalo milk) cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer casing is solid cheese, while the inside contains stracciatella and clotted cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. It is typical of Apulia.

How healthy is a Bloody Mary? ›

Bloody Marys are actually healthy co*cktails.

In addition to electrolytes, sodium, potassium, and Vitamin C, tomatoes also contain lycopene, which is high in antioxidants. Lycopene helps to combat the toxins in the liver (like the toxins that you consumed while drinking the night before.)

What are the 2 garnishes for a Bloody Mary? ›

A celery stick and dill pickles are the classic garnishes for the original Bloody Mary, though some restaurants and bars get really crazy, going as far as adding onion rings and mini cheeseburgers.

What is Amish cheese? ›

Amish cheese is made with cow's milk and the milk is free of hormones or additives. Each type of cheese is made in a small batch instead of an extremely large batch such as mass produced cheese companies. Amish cheese is typically extra creamy and rich in taste.

How long can a cheese ball sit out? ›

The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than two hours — and that's certainly the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella.

What is a cheese ball slang? ›

plural cheeseballs. chiefly US, informal. : a person who lacks style or good taste : a cheesy person. The other person of interest is … in his mid-30s, works in New York's fashion industry, and considers his looks a hobby.

Why is my cheese ball so hard? ›

Why is my cheese ball so hard? You want your cheese ball to be firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to allow for easy spreading. To achieve this consistency, the key is making sure your cream cheese is softened before preparing.

How do you firm up a cheeseball? ›

Cover the cheeseball in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow it to firm up. Take it out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften just slightly.

How long do homemade cheese balls last? ›

The cheese ball will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you are going to keep it in the fridge for that long, I would wait to add the pecans until ready to serve so they don't get soggy.

What is the white cheese that oozes? ›

A fresh, creamy invention from Puglia, burrata is one of Italy's most beloved cheeses. It's made out of a "pouch" of stretched mozzarella cheese filled with cream-soaked stracciatella. The result is a pearly white ball that oozes with cream when you cut into it.

What cheese do they use in Mexico? ›

Most of the most popular varieties are fresh cheeses, such as queso fresco, panela, and asadero. The two most popular aged cheeses are Cotija and Chihuahua. Four cheeses produced in Mexico are entirely Mexican inventions: Oaxaca, Cotija, Chihuahua and Manchego.

Can you have a Bloody Mary with dinner? ›

They are a staple of bottomless brunches, and for good reason (re: they're delicious). While the co*cktail can feel like a meal on its own — especially when adorned with over-the-top garnishes — Bloody Marys don't exactly make for a proper dinner option. That is, unless you transform the drink into a delectable soup.

How should a Bloody Mary be served? ›

Fill the glass with ice and add 2 ounces of vodka, then top it off with the Bloody Mary mix you prepared. Garnish with your favorite nibbles (I've shared an extensive list of Bloody Mary garnishes down below), and enjoy!

What goes in a Bloody Mary basket? ›

Bloody Mary gift basket. DIY on a budget. Vodka, bloody Mary mix, bagel chips, mason jar glasses. Extras like hot sauce, horseradish, olives, pearl onions,shot glasses and more.

Why is there food in a Bloody Mary? ›

“Since the early days of the Bloody Mary, there were joking references to the idea that the olive or food-like thing they were garnishing with was a life-saving bit of sustenance the morning after,” says author and drinks historian Christine Sismondo, who co-wrote the 2022 book “co*cktails: A Still Life.” “There was ...

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 5648

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.