Description
This Pineapple Pecan Cheese Ball is the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and crunchy. Creamy softened cream cheese mixed with crushed pineapple, sharp cheddar, and green onions gets rolled in a generous coating of chopped pecans for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. It’s ideal for parties, potlucks, or holiday gatherings, and the best part? You can make it ahead of time! Serve it with crackers or veggie sticks for an irresistible snack that’ll have everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
- Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)
- Crackers or vegetable sticks for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, crushed pineapple, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined. - Shape the Cheese Ball:
Wet your hands slightly to prevent sticking, and shape the cheese mixture into a ball. - Coat with Pecans:
Roll the cheese ball in the finely chopped pecans, pressing them gently to ensure they stick to the surface. - Chill:
Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up and allow the flavors to meld. - Serve:
Unwrap the cheese ball and place it on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired, and serve with crackers or vegetable sticks for dipping.
Notes
- For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños for a bit of heat.
- Feel free to swap pecans with walnuts or almonds for a different crunch.
- Make this up to two days in advance to save time on party day.
- If you prefer a more tropical twist, you can mix in a little shredded coconut with the pecans!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- chill time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Appetizers & Snacks
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of cheese ball
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
