Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball

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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!

picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

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picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

Crunchy Frito Cheeseball

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!

It’s a mixture of sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar – and comes together lightning quick, you can make it ahead of time or when you’re ready to serve, making this a perfect party appetizer.

What I will help teach you:

  • How to mix a cheese ball
  • How to store a cheese ball
  • What type of cheese to use in a cheese ball
  • How long a cheese ball lasts

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

How To Make A Cheese Ball

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.

  • 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!
picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

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!

FAQs

How long does a cheese ball last?

Cheeseballs can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container, making them a great party appetizer!

How long can a cheese ball sit out?

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.

Can a cheese ball be frozen?

You can freeze cheese balls for up to four months. Let thaw naturally in refrigerator.

Can you use pre shredded cheese in a cheese ball?

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.

picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

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.

picture of cheese ball covered in crushed chili cheese fritos on a wood cutting board with crackers next to it

Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball

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picture of chili cheese frito cheese ball on a wood cutting board

Chili Cheese Frito Cheese Ball Recipe

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Delicious savory cheese ball perfect for dipping, loaded with garlic, onion, cheddar and cream cheese, and crunchy chili cheese fritos!

Ingredients

  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened slightly
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 8 oz. shredded medium cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 1/2 cups crushed chili cheese fritos
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions or chives, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic and onion powder, and chopped green onion or chives.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Once cheese has been shaped into a large ball, roll through crushed fritos.
  5. Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.
  6. Serve with crackers, chips, vegetables, or more fritos, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 248Total Fat 18gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 25mgSodium 350mgCarbohydrates 17gFiber 2gSugar 0gProtein 7g

Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.

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About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet C’s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

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