How to Make an Amazing Jalapeno Popper Cheeseball Appetizer

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This easy jalapeño popper cheeseball is perfect for a Superbowl snack, tailgate party, or watching football!

I love food that has a bit of a spicy kick to it, and this is still a great dish for anyone who prefers their spices on the mild side. It comes together quickly and is so flavorful and delicious!

Ingredients

To make the jalapeño popper cheeseball, you will need:

• 3 slices bacon
• 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
• 8 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1-2 slices of mozzarella or provolone cheese or String Cheese (for the laces)
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion, divided
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 2 fresh jalapenos, finely chopped (approximately 1/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapenos, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs

Yummy Sides: You can serve this with crackers, chips, pretzels, or any other favorite dippers.

Substitution Suggestions

For a healthier option, you can:

• Swap bacon for turkey bacon
• Use reduced-fat cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese
• Serve with veggies, whole-grain Ritz crackers, or pretzels

Directions

1. Soften cream cheese in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds.
2. Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, pickled jalapeno, salt, and 2-3 tablespoons of the chopped green onion in a medium bowl and mix well.
3. Scoop out the mixture onto a cutting board or serving platter and mold it into a football shape using your hands. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill to help it hold its shape.
4. While the cheese mixture is chilling, chop bacon into small pieces and cook in a skillet. Once cooked, remove the bacon, leaving a bit of bacon grease in the skillet.
5. Lightly toast the breadcrumbs in the skillet for about two minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
6. Finely chop or mince the jalapenos (be sure to remove the seeds and stem.)
7. Cover the cheeseball mixture with the bacon, Panco breadcrumbs, jalapeno, parsley, and the remaining green onion. Press into the cheeseball to help coat it completely.
8. To create the football laces, trim one long, thin piece (about 1/4 of an inch wide and 5 inches long) of the provolone or mozzarella cheese (or String Cheese!) and place it centered on top of the football. Then, trim about 8 pieces of cheese (about 1/2 long and 1/4 wide) and lay them perpendicularly on top of the long middle piece.
9. Optional: For the two white stripes on each side of the football, trim two pieces of cheese in an arch shape (about 2 inches wide) and place on each side of the football.
10. Serve with your favorite dippers and enjoy!

Tip: Never pour hot grease down the drain, as it can cause costly plumbing damage. Pour it on a plastic container with a lid and discard in the garbage.

Here’s a Quick Video Tutorial!

Perfect Presentation Platters

You can serve this on a variety of platters and here are some of my favorites!

Football themed: Party City has an adorable inflatable snack stadium that you could reuse each year. Additionally,Home Depot also has a fun football platter, as well as this cute touchdown option from Walmart. You could also use this football tablecloth from Amazon.

Everday Platters: I used this set of two white porcelain platters, which I absolutely love! You could also go with this large white porcelain platter (both from Walmart.) I also highly recommend this wooden serving tray or this round agate cheeseboard.

Salt and Pepper Holders: I absolutely love my marble pinch pots for salt and pepper, which you could fill with any spices you use regularly.

Chopping Boards: I use boards all the time, both for prep and serving. I love this round marble and wood option from World Market, as well as this white striped wooden board from Kirklands. This mango wood board from Target and this marble and wood rectangular tray from JC Penney are also great options.

Can I Make This Jalapeño Popper Cheeseball Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can make the cream cheese mixture 1-2 days ahead of time. However, it’s best to add the toppings after the mixture softens so it sticks better. If you go this route, let it warm up from being in the fridge at room temperature for about 20 minutes before adding the toppings.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftovers in a Tupperware container or wrap in Saran Wrap. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can enjoy this on crackers, on bread, or with dippers.

Enjoy!

I hope this jalapeño popper cheeseball scored a touchdown for you and your guests! Special thanks to Jenn over at www.peasandcrayons.com for the recipe inspo. Have a fabulous day, friends!

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