Keto Cheese Balls
These keto cheese balls are a delicious, low-carb, bite-sized appetizer that’ll jazz up any party table. They’re made from a mixture of cheeses, bacon, chives, and pecans. And trust me when I say that you don’t need any carbs to make these morsels taste utterly divine!
What makes these cheese balls super moreish is the textured crust. The crispy bacon gives the exterior an irresistible crunch, while the garlic powder and paprika bring an amazing savory flavor.
Although they look amazing at gatherings and potlucks, these balls of goodness are ridiculously easy to make.
You just need to mix the cream cheese, cheddar, and seasonings before rolling up your balls. Then, you’ll coat them with a delectable mixture of bacon, chives, and pecans before serving. That’s right, this is a no-nonsense, no-bake recipe for the books!
So, grab your mixing bowls, prepare a baking tray with parchment paper, and get ready to roll (literally!).
Why You’ll Love These Keto Cheese Balls
- They’re ready in minutes and require absolutely no baking!
- The balls are 100% keto-friendly and don’t contain any carbs.
- The crispy bacon and crunchy pecans give the outer shell an incredible texture that’ll keep you coming back for more!
- You can serve them up with a keto-friendly dipping sauce to give them even more oomph.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- Bacon: Makes up the crux of the crunchy crust. I recommend using bacon bits for extra crispiness.
- Cream cheese: You’ll want to use two packets for this recipe, and I suggest using full-fat cheese for extra flavor. If you’re trying to reduce the calories, low fat options can work too.
- Cheddar cheese: Any sharp cheddar cheese will be delicious in this recipe. The more mature, the better!
- Garlic powder: For a hit of savory flavor.
- Paprika: Adds a subtle sweetness and smokiness to the cheese mixture.
- Chives: To bulk out the crust and add a hint of herby flavor.
- Pecans: For extra crunch around the crust.
- Salt & pepper: To taste.
How to Make Keto Cheese Balls
- Step One: In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Step Two: Using a cookie scoop (or your hands!), roll the mixture to create 18 equal balls.
- Step Three: Place the balls on a parchment-lined plate and refrigerate them for around an hour.
- Step Four: Roll the cheese balls in the bacon mixture.
- Step Five: Serve cold or at room temperature.
Equipment Needed
These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.
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What to Serve with Keto Cheese Balls
You can eat these keto cheese balls on their own, but they also work well with any of the following recipes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Shape the balls small to keep them bite-sized. This also makes them slightly easier to roll around in the bacon mixture.
- I highly recommend getting your cream cheese to room temperature before mixing it with anything else. Otherwise, you might end up with lumps.
- If you want to make sure you get the exact number of balls, use a cookie scoop and roughly weigh each ball. You can add a small amount of extra mixture if some balls are on the tiny side!
Variations and Substitutions
- You can dial the spice up with red pepper flakes or just a hint of cayenne pepper!
- If you want a herbier taste, try mixed herbs or fresh mint.
- I love using pecans, but chopped almonds or walnuts would work equally well with these keto cheese balls.
- For an even crunchier crust, why not try out some keto bread crumbs?
- Taco seasoning is a fun way to flavor the cream cheese for a Mexican-inspired night. I also love using a bit of bagel seasoning to jazz things up!
- If you don’t want to use cheddar, you can use Monterey Jack, Pepperjack, or Swiss cheese for a different taste.
Storage Instructions
You’ll want to cover the keto cheese balls in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge (if you have leftovers!). I don’t recommend storing them for more than 2 days if you’re looking for optimal freshness.
When you’re ready to serve them, you can bring them to room temperature or serve them cold from the fridge. They’re tasty both ways, and they work amazingly as a next-day lunch option!
Can I Freeze?
I honestly don’t recommend freezing these keto cheese balls as cream cheese just doesn’t freeze well.
As it’s the main ingredient in this recipe, you don’t want to risk the extreme texture change – trust me!
Keto Diet Resources
Here are some keto diet resources that I think you’ll find helpful.
- Keto Subscription Boxes for Canadians
- Keto Meal Planning Subscription (Use the code SIMPLYSTACIE for 15% off)
- Kiss My Keto
- Ketosis Breath Sensor
Keto Recipes
Looking for more Keto recipes to enjoy? I got you covered.
- Keto Butter Chicken with Noodles
- Keto Brussels Sprouts Casserole
- Keto Zuppa Toscana
- Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Keto Cauliflower Ziti
- Lasagna Stuffed Chicken
- Low Carb Chicken Divan
You’ll also like Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Buffalo Popcorn.
Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.
Keto Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 packages cream cheese 8oz/250g package, softened
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ cup fresh chives chopped
- ⅓ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Using a cookie scoop or roll with your hands to make 18 small balls. Place on a parchment lined plate and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- In a small bowl, mix bacon, chives and pecans.
- Roll the cheese balls in the bacon mixture. Serve cold or room temperature.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Lots of flavor!
Can’t wait to try this one!
Your serving size says ‘1g’ but my calculations bring the serving size to approximately 22g, or about 1 1/2 Tbsp. Would that be correct?
Hi Lou, It’s an estimation that the program does, but your calculation sounds correct.
Can I use walnuts instead of pecans?
Yes, for sure!
Great recipe, thank you! I am follow the keto diet for over a month now and I trying to learn new recipes.
I can’t wait to try these!!
I hope you like them!
Now I want to try them out!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com