Get ready for the holidays with this Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball! 5 minutes of prep are all you need to make this awesome party appetizer!Β Iβve loved jalapeno poppers for pretty much my entire adult life. I had never had one until one day when I was in high school we went to a TGI Fridayβs and someone ordered one. Having no idea what they were I figured it would be like a spicy mozzarella stick. No part of me expected to find half a jalapeno inside it! Or for it to be soΒ good!
If this sounds a bit crazy let me explain. In our house growing up we ate a very small variety of meals. If it wasnβt Armenian food it was steak or grilled chicken. So things like jalapeno poppers werenβt really a food choice my mom wouldβve made for us.
Now that I am in charge of what makes it into the house, jalapenos are one of my pantry ingredients. Every week when I do our main shopping I have a small list of everyday produce ingredients I keep on hand because I always need them including: Parsley, cilantro, jalapenos, green onions, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, lemons, limes, garlic, shallots, fresh ginger, lettuce, carrots, broccoli and yukon potatoes. If you happen to be my neighbor and you ever run out of one of those ingredients I can with 100% certainty let you have any of these because I always have them.
Since I always have jalapenos on hand and the kids and my husband wonβt eat them I usually end up slicing them thinly over my food or inside sandwiches if I havenβt used them in a recipe during the week. Iβve gotten pretty creative with them over the years too, adding them to everything from cheesecake (honey cheesecake, this is SO good), grilled cheese, breakfast quesadillas, etc. So when I had some friends coming over for a game night I wanted something that was a throwback recipe to an old school party favorite. It was either going to be this cheese ball or a jalapeno popper fondue. I think I made the right choice because this cheese ball is so easy but so addicting!
Mix half the jalapenos and the parsley together.Β In a second bowl add the second half of the jalapenos, cream cheese, jack cheese, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and cumin to a bowl.
The assembly of the cheese ball can be done a couple of different ways.Β You can either put it in the freezer for 20 minutes to really harden up then roll the mixture in the parsley/jalapeno or if you arenβt as patient as me grab a large square of saran wrap and put the mixture in the middle.Β Bring the edges together and twist the top to make a small ball.
Finally roll in the jalapenos and parsley. At this point you can either serve it right away (but it would be sort of soft) or Β keep it covered/refrigerated until you are ready to serve.Β Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley , finely minced
- 2 jalapenos , seeded and finely diced
- 8 oz cream cheese , softened
- 1 1/4 cup jack cheese , shredded
- 1 large clove garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ΒΌ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Mix half the jalapenos and the parsley together.
- In a second bowl add the second half of the jalapenos, cream cheese, jack cheese, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and cumin to a bowl.
- You can either put it in the freezer for 20 minutes to really harden up then roll the mixture in the parsley/jalapeno or if you aren't as patient as me grab a large square of saran wrap and put the mixture in the middle.
- Bring the edges together and twist the top to make a small ball.
- Roll in jalapenos/parsley.
- Keep covered/refrigerated until you are ready to serve.
- Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
Nutrition
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I have jalapenos that I just picked off the stems before our chill down tonight. I have all the tohr ingredients. I know it will be a hit especially since we are dieting and don’t treat ourselves often. I love anything with cream cheese too!
Great – looking forward to your feedback.
Thank you so much ! You covered my every question and recipe needs and I appreciate it very much.
Yum! This cheese ball is right up my alley! I love all things jalapeno! Perfect for game day!
Thanks!
The popper cheeseball looks amazing! My family is a huge fan of cheeses. This is going to be a hit.
Thank you! Let me know how they like it!
Sabrina, I am in love with this! So much heat, so much cheese, so much deliciousness! Shared!
Thanks! I love spicy foods too!
ooooh Spicey! I think people would just love the Jalapeno flavor of this cheese ball. A true party hit.
It really is perfect for parties!
This would be great for football parties! My husband would love it!
I agree!
This is mad awesome. Gotta have this at my next binge watching Doctor Who party.
Thanks! Let me know how you like it!
Im a food lover. Jalapenos looks delicious. Maybe i would make mine one of this days. The mouth watering cheesy dressing.
Thanks!
I am all over this! I’m obsessed with dressing cheese for the holidays lol
Ooh I like that, dressing cheese! haha.
That looks awesome! What a great idea for snacking or bringing to a party. My husband and older son love Jalapenos.
Yeah this is going to be a huge hit with them then!
What a beautiful looking appetizer. I’m going to make your cheeseball for our next party.
Thanks Janis! I hope you love it!
Such a vibrant color! And I’m sure I’d love these flavors. If I saw this at a party, I’d be snacking on it all night!
Thanks Brandon!
I love cheese balls. I have never had one with jalapeno, it sounds good.
Thanks!
This recipe looks so delicious. My family loves spicy food so i know they are going to love this. I will have to try this on the weekend.
Thanks! We love spicy food too!
This looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients so i can make the Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball for our get together this weekend.
Thanks, Ann! It’s a perfect appetizer for a get together!
Oh I’m definitely liking this idea. It’s such a cool looking appetizer and it sounds delicious with some flavorful crackers.
Thanks, Liz! You’re right – that’s the perfect way to enjoy them!
Oh wow! Does this look good! I love the jalapeno in there! Spice it up girl!
Thanks! Jalapeno is one of my favorite spicy flavors!
You know, over the holiday season we go to many, many, many holiday parties and I always have to bring something. This would be super-simple and great to bring with me.
It’s definitely a good party dish! Let me know how it turns out!
That looks SO good! I wish we could eat dairy, saving this one for a holiday kick!
Thanks!
I Love, love, love jalepeno poppers. I am trying this the first chance I get.
Thanks! Let me know how you like it!
I was hoping to find a new appetizer to make for the holidays! Totally pinning this for Christmas!! Thanks!
Great! Let me know how it turns out!
This sounds delicious! My husband loves Jalapeno’s so I will have to make this for him!!
Thanks! Let me know how he likes it!
I love cheeseballs and always wonder why I don’t make them more often! This jalapeno popper sounds awesome!
I love jalapeno poppers too! I was happy to be able to get the flavors into a cheese ball!
Thank you so much for sharing this! Jalapeno poppers are my favorite, so I can’t wait to bust out this cheeseball next Sunday for game day.
Thanks! Let me know whether the gang likes it!
I bet the cheese and parsley add a nice balance to the warm flavors- this is definitely something I’d serve at an upcoming holiday event. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks! Let me know how it turns out if you make it!
This is dangerous. I would literally sit and eat this whole thing all by myself.
Haha, thanks!