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Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball – delicious savory cheese ball perfect for dipping, loaded with garlic, onion, cheddar and cream cheese, and crunchy chili cheese fritos!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of contents
How To Make A Frito Cheese Ball
This recipe is a little spicy, with notes of garlic, onion, chili powder, and tons of creamy cheese – it is so addictive, don’t be surprised when it is the first thing gone at your party! This cheese ball is great to use as a dip or spread, with vegetables, crackers, chips, and even more fritos.
Making a cheese ball is very easy – simply crush your fritos and set aside, while mixing everything else and shaping it into a ball that you then roll through our crunchy frito topping.
You can make a giant appetizer cheese ball, or lots of mini cheese balls, depending on how you want to serve your guests. This recipe is super simple – you can try mixing in other herbs and spices, try other chips or nuts as the topping, or swap out ingredients you don’t like.
Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball Ingredients
To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:
- 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened slightly form the creamy, rich base of the cheeseballs, holding everything together while giving that classic tangy, spreadable texture.
- ? cup sour cream lightens the mixture and adds a subtle tang, making the cheeseballs extra smooth and scoopable instead of dense.
- 8 oz shredded medium cheddar cheese brings sharp, savory flavor and a little bite that stands up well to the bold chili cheese seasoning.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder adds savory depth without overpowering the cheese, rounding out the flavor.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder boosts that classic oniony savoriness that pairs perfectly with cheddar and cream cheese.
- 1½ cups crushed chili cheese Fritos add crunch, salt, and that unmistakable chili-cheese flavor that makes these cheeseballs totally addictive.
- ¼ cup chopped green onions or chives (optional) bring a fresh, mild onion flavor and a pop of color that balances the richness.
Steps to Make Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Balls
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:
Mix Ingredients
In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic and onion powder, and chopped green onion or chives.
Mix with stand or handheld mixer. Can also mix with a spoon, but we find best results with a stand or handheld mixer for more even results.
Make Ball
Form into a ball. Crush fritos and lay in a plate. Roll Cheese ball in crushed fritos. Lightly press to be sure it is completely covered in fritos.
Chill
Chill at least one hour before serving.
Serve & Enjoy!
Serve with crackers, fritos, vegetables, or bread!
Tips To Perfect Easy Cheese Balls
Use softened, but not too soft, cream cheese. This sounds confusing – but you want your cream cheese to be soft enough to mix, but cold enough to still be able to form into a ball shape – so you’ll want cream cheese that is in between softened and right out of the refrigerator cold.
Shred your own cheese – we find the bagged pre-shredded cheese doesn’t mix as well and incorporate into cheeseballs, plus fresh shredded cheddar tastes better in this recipe!
Soften the cream cheese properly: Let it sit at room temperature until just soft—too cold won’t mix smoothly, too warm won’t hold its shape.
Mix before adding Fritos: Fully combine the cheeses, sour cream, and seasonings first so the base is smooth and evenly flavored.
Chill if needed: If the mixture feels sticky or loose, chill for 20–30 minutes before rolling to make shaping easier.
Crush Fritos finely: Smaller crumbs stick better and create a more even coating on each cheeseball.
Roll close to serving: For maximum crunch, roll the cheeseballs in Fritos shortly before serving.
Use a cookie scoop: This keeps the cheeseballs uniform in size and makes the process faster and cleaner.
Taste before seasoning more: Chili cheese Fritos already bring salt and spice, so avoid oversalting the base.
Add freshness at the end: Green onions or chives brighten the rich, cheesy flavors and add a pop of color.
Serve chilled: These hold their shape best when cold or slightly cool, especially for parties.
Make ahead smartly: The cheeseballs can be rolled and chilled a day ahead—just wait to coat in Fritos until serving time.
Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball FAQs
Cheeseballs can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container, making them a great party appetizer!
Cheese balls can sit out 4-6 hours when kept in a cool place, away from heat and direct sunlight.
Cheese balls are a huge hit at parties because they can sit out for a while before going bad.
You can freeze cheese balls for up to four months. Let thaw naturally in refrigerator.
While you can use bagged, pre-shredded cheese in a cheese ball, we recommend shredding your own as it tastes better and incorporates easier into this recipe.
Other Easy Cheesy Dishes You’ll Love
If you love this easy recipe, be sure to check our some of our recent favorites:
You can find more appetizers here.
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Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened slightly
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 8 oz. shredded medium cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ cups crushed chili cheese fritos
- ¼ cup chopped green onions or chives, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic and onion powder, and chopped green onion or chives.
- Mix with stand or handheld mixer. Can also mix with a spoon, but we find best results with a stand or handheld mixer for more even results.
- When cheese is mixed well, scoop up and roll into a ball shape, using your hands. Do this quickly, as the heat from your hands will melt the cheese.
- Once cheese has been shaped into a large ball, roll through crushed fritos.
- Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.
- Serve with crackers, chips, vegetables, or more fritos, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
