Dried Beef Cheese Ball

Flavorful dried beef, minced onion, and garlic powder with a little accent are beaten with softened cream cheese for this classic Dried Beef Cheese Ball. Found gracing almost every holiday table, this beginner recipe produces a savory and well-loved appetizer.

Cheese ball is a classic appetizer that has graced the tables of Midwest holiday parties for decades(or as long as I can remember). With its rich but subtle flavors of dried beef, onion, and garlic combined with its’ creamy texture, Dried Beef Cheese Ball is a staple around the holiday season for many families. I grew up always knowing and expecting this yummy appetizer to be at all parties attended during the Christmas and New Year break. We love to question, “ Are you having a little cheese ball on that cracker or little cracker with that cheese ball?”  as we pile this delicious dip on our favorite crackers. Our family loves this cheese ball recipe, and we know yours will too!

How to Make Easy Dried Beef Cheese Ball

With a bit of thought to lay out the cream cheese so it can soften to room temperature and dicing the dried beef, making this Dried Beef Cheese Ball is super simple and a perfect beginner recipe. This quick recipe is great for the holiday rush!

Ingredients

• 2 – 8 blocks of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 2 – 2-ounce package of dried beef, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
  • Why use minced onion in a cheese ball? Using minced onion in a cheese ball recipe enhances the flavor of the cheese ball and saves time making the cheese ball. Most importantly, using dehydrated minced onion in a cheese ball keeps the liquids low so your cheese ball doesn’t sweat and becomes soft with too much liquid.
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons Accent

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. With an electric hand mixer, thoroughly mix the cheese ball. Eat immediately or, if desired, form into a ball using plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. The flavors will enhance with time.

Serve dried beef cheese ball with crackers. Club crackers, Town House original crackers, and round crackers pair well with this classic cheese ball recipe. Other options to experiment with are cold vegetables like celery and peppers. Also, try different cracker combinations like pita crackers, whole grain crackers, and pretzel crisps.

Store dried beef cheese ball in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

How to Form a Cheese Ball into a Ball

After thoroughly mixing your cheese ball on a flat surface, lay down a sheet of plastic wrap about 18 inches long. Pour or scoop out the cheese ball into the center of the plastic wrap. Then, equally gather all sides of the plastic wrap, letting the cheese ball ‘ball’ in the center. Use your hands to shape the bottom in a ball as well. Next, place the wrapped cheese ball into a round bottom dish and put it in the refrigerator to set up and chill. Once chilled, unwrap the cheese ball and place the ball-side up in the serving dish.

More Amazing Appetizers for the Holidays

Meatballs are a traditional holiday appetizer that’s easy to make and take for parties. These Crockpot Honey Garlic BBQ Meatballs are full of flavors your guests will love!

I love these Sausage and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms, and do not make them enough! This stuffed mushroom recipe uses ground sausage, cream cheese, and onion stuffed and baked into fresh mushroom caps. The result is a warm, savory side with little effort. Tender baby Bella mushroom caps filled with creamy sausage stuffing make an excellent appetizer for all occasions, from family dinners to holiday festivities!

Veggie Rolls Ups: Crisp chopped vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and a spread made of ranch, cream cheese, and sour cream, all rolled tightly in lavash bread, make this veggie roll-up recipe perfect for a fresh and light appetizer at any party!

Holidays are incomplete without the sparkle of a sweet and tasty sugar cookie, and we have two fantastic sugar cookie recipes. Our Classic Sugar Cookies are simple and sweet cut-out cookies. Our Lemon Sugar Cookie recipe has a touch of lemon flavor but is still perfectly soft and lovely. These are another great addition to the holiday dessert table! Add our famous Buttercream Icing on top of either cookie for the best sugar cookie ever!