Name: Easy Jalapeno Spiced Football Cheese Ball
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 30
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 16 ounces of light cream cheese, at room temperature; 8-ounces of extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated; 1/2 medium red pepper, finely diced; 1 medium jalapeño pepper, finely diced; 2 cloves of garlic, minced; 1/2 cup of bacon bits; 2 slices of white cheddar cheese, to make the lacing on the football; 30 Ritz crackers

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This football cheese ball recipe is spicy and fun with a shape that all Super Bowl fans will appreciate.

Do you like to entertain friends for the big game? So do I, and I am always looking for new ways to delight my friends with recipes that I have not served in the past.

This year I will treat them to this easy football shaped cheese ball.

I can’t wait to see them dig into this spicy bacon and jalapeño appetizer! Who would have thought this football started with packages of cream cheese?

The recipe is one of my favorite easy appetizers for the Super Bowl.

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Do you have your menu ready for the big game? This easy jalapeño spiced cheese ball in the shape of a football is the perfect choice. Head to Recipes Just 4U to find out how to make it. 🏉🧀🏉 Share on X

Making this easy jalapeño spiced football cheese ball

Cream cheese balls are one of my favorite appetizers to prepare. Since most of my party guests also love spicy food, I decided to amp up the heat for this recipe with the addition of some diced jalapeño peppers.

I love the simplicity of this recipe. It only has five ingredients that combine into a great tasting cheeseball that you can then decorate. Your guests will love the way it looks!

When I am having guests for a big game night party, I want to make sure that the food I serve is very easy to make. However, I also like to throw in a bit of creativity, too.

Making this cheese ball in the shape of a football really appeals to my artistic side, and I know my guest will think it’s great, too.

Ritz crackers are perfect to serve with this cheese ball! These small crackers are so tasty and perfect for dipping into the deliciously spicy mixture.

Making the cheese ball is a cinch. Start by dicing your peppers and garlic.

I removed the seeds from my jalapeño pepper. If you like the cheese ball more spicy, just leave some (or all – you spice fiend, you!).

Everything gets combined in a large bowl. I used my stand mixer and quickly mixed all the ingredients except for the bacon.

The spicy cheeseball mixture came together easily in my big mixer, but a hand mixer will work, too.

Be sure that you start with room temperature cream cheese that is soft to make it easy to mix.

Mix well so that the peppers and garlic are well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times, too.

Making the football shape

Use your hands to form the mixture into a football shape and wrap it in plastic wrap. The cheese ball needs to sit in the fridge for several hours so that it will set.

If you add oil to your hands it’s easier to form the football shape. It forms quite easily if you do it right after you mix the ingredients.

I love that you can make this football cheese ball ahead of time, even several days before, since it will keep for about a week in the fridge.

Finishing the football decorations

Decorating the cheese ball so that it looks like a football is easy and fun.

Take the formed cheese ball out of the fridge about 30 minutes before your guests arrive. Coat it with bacon bits and add some mozzarella cheese strips to resemble the lacing on a football.

Use two wide strips of white cheddar cheese to make the end decoration on the football. Stick them to the cheese ball by adding a small amount of the cream cheese on the back of the strips.

For the laces, use two long pieces to make the seam and 8 shorter pieces to make the laces. The laces are just laid them on the top of the cheese ball and your decoration is done.

This football cheese ball looks wonderful on my long platter surrounded by the crackers, also in the shape of a football.

Coke Zero is the perfect drink to go with this appetizer without adding any extra calories. Win Win.

I love to serve drinks in mason jar mugs. This adds a casual touch to the evening.

The football cheese ball is creamy, spicy and so, so tasty. It’s the perfect appetizer to sit on a coffee table while you all watch the game on TV.

Appetizers are the perfect food for a party like this and this one is one of the neatest ones I have ever made.

You should have seen my husband’s face when he saw it. He fell right in love with me all over again!!

I know my party guests will love it, too.

The crackers make it easy to dip into the cheesy mixture. What could be more perfect on game day than the spicy taste of this delicious cheese ball?

What is your favorite food to share for the big game? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Pin this football shaped cheese ball for later

Would you like a reminder of this spicy bacon, jalapeño cheeseball appetizer? Pin this image to one of your appetizer boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in January of 2016. I have updated the post to add new photos, a printable recipe card with nutrition and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 30

Easy Jalapeno Spiced Football Cheese Ball

This spicy cheese ball is covered in bacon bits and shaped and decorated like a football for the ultimate in Super Bowl party food.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

16 ounces of light cream cheese, at room temperature
8-ounces of extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 medium red pepper, finely diced
1 medium jalapeño pepper, finely diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup of bacon bits
2 slices of white cheddar cheese, to make the lacing on the football
30 Ritz crackers

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine everything except the bacon.

Stir to combine well. Make sure cream cheese is very soft before adding the other ingredients.

Place a small amount of oil on your hands to keep the cheese ball from sticking to them.

Lay the cheese ball mixture on some plastic wrap.

Form the cheese mixture into a football shape and wrap with the plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for at least three hours (longer is fine).

Remove the plastic wrap and coat the outside of the football with the bacon bits.

Add strips of mozzarella cheese to form the lacing on the football and two thicker strips to decorate the ends of the football (some cream cheese will help these to stick to the bacon coated cheese ball).

Serve with Ritz classic crackers.

Enjoy!

Notes

The cheese ball will keep for about 1 week in the fridge so it can be made before the party; but don't roll on the bacon until the day of serving.

Football Cheese Ball Recipe – Bacon, Jalapeño Appetizer Super Bowl Food

Making this easy jalapeño spiced football cheese ball

Making the football shape

Finishing the football decorations

Pin this football shaped cheese ball for later