Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

Chicken Cheese Ball always made an appearance around my house growing up. Especially around the holidays, whenever Mama hosted a shower, or for other special occasions, her chicken cheese ball was sure to requested.

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It is definitely one of the easiest recipes to toss together when entertaining, which probably explains why she has always loved to make it through the years.

I just remember being excited when it was finally time to serve her chicken cheese ball at whatever event she was hosting so that I could have a bite. She’d usually prepare it the evening before, or even earlier, and there it would be, taunting me in the refrigerator until time for her party. Talk about tempting!

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Now that I’m older, I’m the one keeping the cheese ball covered in the refrigerator and begging my family not to dive into it too early. I probably should learn to just make two of them, one for entertaining and one for my family to enjoy.

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Mama’s chicken cheese ball recipes are legendary in our family. The one I’m sharing today is her classic version that we all loved. I’ll have to share some of her other chicken cheese ball recipes soon so that you can give them a try, too. They are out of this world.

Here are a few tips for making her chicken cheese ball ahead of time.

Have all of the ingredients at room temperature before you begin mixing them. Then, you can easily stir all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Have a large piece of plastic wrap ready for wrapping the chicken cheese ball for chilling as you begin mixing your ingredients together. Then, just pour your cheese ball mixture onto the center of the wrap and form it into a ball.

Press the chopped pecans onto the cheese ball before it is refrigerated as they will adhere better to the outside of the chicken cheese ball once it is chilled.

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So, be sure to pick up the ingredients for this recipe if you don’t already have them in your pantry so that you can make this over the holidays. It’s perfect to pull out of the refrigerator to snack on anytime of the day.

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Here’s Mama’s Chicken Cheese Ball recipe. I can’t wait to hear how you love it.

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Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 12 votes

Chicken Cheese Ball makes an easy, elegant dish when entertaining. This family favorite chicken cheese ball recipe can be made up to three days ahead.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) can chicken, white meat only preferred
  • 2 (8-ounce packages) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion, or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • crackers and fruit, for serving

Instructions

  • Mix together chicken, cream cheese, onion or onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans in a medium mixing bowl.

  • Pour chicken cheese ball mixture into the center of a large piece of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap, press chicken cheese ball mixture to form a ball.

  • Press remaining chopped pecans onto top and sides of chicken cheese ball.

  • Wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 1 hour up to 3 days before serving.

  • Serve with crackers and fruit.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Appetizers, By Cooking Style, By Special Diets, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Egg-Free Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grain-Free Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, No Cook Recipes, Recipes, Shower Recipes, Simple Recipes, Southern Favorites, Sugar-Free Recipes

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

Why is my cheese ball too soft? ›

Remove cheese ball from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so the cheese has time to soften and become more spreadable. Why is my cheese ball too soft? A cheese ball can be too soft if reduced fat or nonfat cream cheese is used. Stick to regular, full fat block-style cream cheese.

What is the white cheese that is a ball? ›

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

What does cornstarch do to cheese? ›

Cheese Sauce, Take 1: Cornstarch, Stovetop

This helps the entire mixture stay smooth and emulsified, resulting in a creamy sauce. He recommends tossing the shredded cheese with the cornstarch before cooking so it is evenly dispersed and does not form clumps when cooked.

What does adding cornstarch to cheese do? ›

For a cheese dip or sauce, the addition of cornstarch serves a similar function: Starch molecules absorb water and expand, not only thickening the liquid phase of the sauce, but also physically preventing the proteins from binding into long, tangled strands and the fats from separating out and pooling.

What are the best crackers for cheese ball? ›

What to Serve with Cheese Ball. That's an important question and I obviously have a strong opinion. Here are some options: Crackers – Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, Milton's.

What are the best cheese combinations? ›

Cheese Pairing Chart
Cheese textureFood
Semi-soft (Fontal, provolone)Apples, grapes, roasted or grilled vegetables
Semi-hard (Asiago, gouda)Nuts, dried fruit, dark chocolate
Hard cheese (Romano, Parmesan)Nuts, honey, olives, salted meats, fresh vegetables
1 more row

What is a cheese ball in American slang? ›

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. He's a cheeseball, but a fascinating one.

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 do you make cheese not rubbery? ›

Remove from Heat

Watch the cheese sauce closely as it melts. Once it looks and feels smooth and has been evenly melted, give it a final stir, and then remove the pan from the heat. If you melt the cheese any longer than is necessary, it can result in a rubbery consistency and negatively impact the flavor.

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.

Why is it called queso de papa? ›

It is often served with crackers, salchichón, salami, or by itself. The legend behind this cheese states that Queso de Papa was served and enjoyed by the Pope on a trip to Puerto Rico, thus receiving the name Queso de Papa which translates into cheese of the Pope.

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 is the cheese that looks like a mozzarella ball? ›

Burrata is a soft, fresh Italian cheese made from cow's milk. Based on the outer appearance alone, this cheese could easily be mistaken for fresh mozzarella—and that's because the outer shell is made of soft mozzarella.

What to do if your cheese sauce won't thicken? ›

Egg yolks can be a magical thickener. Whisk some of the thin sauce into an egg yolk in a separate bowl, then whisk the egg yolk mixture back into the sauce over low heat to let it do its thing. This method is called tempering—it prevents the egg yolk from curdling when stirred into a sauce over heat.

How can I thicken my cheese sauce? ›

Egg yolk. Grated cheese. Grated cheese, such as cheddar or parmesan, can also act as a thickener in a cheese sauce and becomes a great binding agent in the cooking process.

Why is my can cheese runny? ›

As cheese is pushed out of the can, shear rate increases causing a decrease in viscosity and higher flow rates of the material. In this case, the cheese behaves more as a fluid.

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