Carb Bacon Cheddar Mini Cheese Balls

Creamy • Savory • Low-Carb • Bite-Sized Party Perfection

These mini cheese balls are packed with smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and rich cream cheese — rolled in a crunchy, flavorful coating for the cutest (and tastiest) appetizer ever. They’re low-carb, keto-friendly, and dangerously easy to eat!

Perfect for game day, holiday trays, potlucks, or snack boards.

INGREDIENTS

Cheese Ball Mixture

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4–6 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon ranch seasoning (or ½ tsp garlic powder + ½ tsp onion powder)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (optional)
Salt & black pepper, to taste

Coating / Roll-In

3–4 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
¼ cup shredded cheddar
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped green onion (optional)
Crushed pork rinds (optional for crunch, keto-friendly)

To Serve

Toothpicks
Celery sticks
Cucumber rounds
Low-carb crackers

INSTRUCTIONS — FULL, DETAILED

1 Make the Cheese Mixture

In a bowl, combine:
- Cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar
- Bacon
- Sour cream
- Ranch seasoning
- Chives (optional)
Mix until everything is creamy and evenly combined.
Taste and season with salt & pepper.

The mixture should be thick enough to roll.

2 Chill the Mixture

Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes so the mixture firms up — this makes rolling easier.

3 Prepare the Coating

In a shallow dish, combine:

Bacon
Cheddar
Parsley
Green onion
(Optional) Crushed pork rinds for extra crunch

Stir to create a colorful, textured coating.

4 Roll the Mini Cheese Balls

Scoop teaspoon-size portions of the chilled cheese mixture.
Roll each one into a smooth ball.
Roll each ball in the bacon-cheddar coating until fully covered.

You should get 20–24 mini cheese balls depending on size.

5 Serve or Chill Again

Place on a platter with toothpicks.
You can serve immediately OR chill for 1–2 hours to firm them even more.

The flavors get even better after chilling!

SERVING IDEAS

Serve with:

Celery or cucumber slices (keto-friendly)
Mini bell pepper strips
Almond flour crackers
Salami slices
Low-carb tortilla chips

Perfect for:

Football parties
Holiday tables
Charcuterie boards
Meal prep snacks

TIPS & VARIATIONS

Make Them Spicy

Add:

1 finely diced jalapeño
½ teaspoon cayenne
Spicy pork rind coating

Everything Bagel Version

Roll in:

Everything bagel seasoning
Bacon bits

Extra Creamy

Add a splash more sour cream (½–1 tbsp) to make it softer.

Smoky BBQ Version