If you’re anything like me, you’ll absolutely adore this cozy, flavorful, and surprisingly simple appetizer. The Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe is one of those dishes that turns any gathering into a fan-freaking-tastic party. I love this because it’s creamy, tangy, and crunch-tastic all at once — plus, it’s perfect for making ahead and impressing everyone without breaking a sweat. Stick around and I’ll share all my tips to help you nail this crowd-pleaser every single time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: You don’t have to be a chef to whip this up, just mix and chill!
- Flavor-Packed: The Everything Bagel seasoning adds that signature bold crunch.
- Great Make-Ahead Option: Prep it in advance, freeing you up on party day.
- Versatile: Perfect with bagel chips, crackers, or fresh veggies for dipping.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are simple yet come together beautifully to create that creamy, tangy, smoky cheeseball with a pop from the Everything Bagel seasoning blend. When shopping, pick a good quality sharp cheddar cheese and don’t skip the bacon — it really elevates the flavor!
- Cream cheese: Make sure it’s softened so it mixes smoothly without lumps.
- Sour cream: Adds tang and a little richness to the base.
- Prepared horseradish: I love this for a subtle spicy kick that wakes up the flavors.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Finely shredded melts into the mix for bursts of cheesy goodness.
- Scallions: Freshness and mild onion flavor, chopped finely.
- Bacon: Cooked until crispy and chopped—this is the smoky superstar of your cheeseball.
- Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend: The savory, crunchy coating that makes this recipe sing.
- Bagel chips or crackers: For serving, choose your favorite crunchy dippers.
Variations
I like to play around with this everything bagel cheeseball recipe depending on the occasion. Feel free to tweak it and make it your own—the possibilities are endless and that’s part of the fun!
- Vegetarian version: Skip the bacon and bump up on extra scallions or add chopped roasted red peppers for a sweet contrast.
- Spicy kick: Adding a pinch of cayenne or a little hot sauce to the mix gave my last cheeseball a surprising punch that my guests loved!
- Herb infusion: Fresh dill or chives folded into the cheese mixture add a refreshing twist.
- Seasonal flair: Around fall, I make mine look like a pumpkin by adding a faux stem and carving shallow grooves with a chopstick—always a conversation starter.
How to Make Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe
Step 1: Mix and Meld
Grab a medium bowl and start by combining your softened cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, sharp cheddar, scallions, and crispy chopped bacon. I like to use a wooden spoon or simply my hands to knead everything together—the texture should be well combined but not overworked. If you’re worried about lumps, a hand mixer on low speed works, but don’t overdo it or it’ll get too soft.
Step 2: Shape and Chill
Once the mixture feels like one cohesive mass, form it into a ball shape with your hands. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour. This step is key — it helps the flavors marry and firms up the mixture so it holds its shape beautifully.
Step 3: Coat with Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
After chilling, unwrap your cheeseball and roll it gently but thoroughly in the Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend until it’s evenly coated. This is where the magic happens—each bite will have that classic bagel crunch and mind-blowing flavor punch.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Place your beautifully coated cheeseball on a serving platter surrounded by bagel chips and/or crackers. If you want to get festive, stick a small faux pumpkin stem on top and carve shallow grooves with a chopstick for a pumpkin look—your guests will go nuts for the creativity!
Pro Tips for Making Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe
- Softened Cream Cheese: Trust me, having cream cheese just barely soft makes a huge difference in getting a smooth, creamy base without clumps.
- Chill Time is Key: Don’t rush the chilling step—it helps the flavors blend and gives your cheeseball the perfect firm texture so it doesn’t fall apart when you serve.
- Even Coating: Use a shallow dish for your seasoning, roll the ball gently, and press with your hands to coat fully without breaking the ball.
- Bacon Crispness: Cook bacon until very crispy and cool before adding to avoid soggy bites and to keep each forkful perfectly textured.
How to Serve Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe
Garnishes
I always garnish my cheeseball platter with a sprinkle of extra Everything But the Bagel seasoning around the edges and a handful of fresh scallion slices for a burst of color and fresh flavor. Occasionally, I’ll tuck in some small pickles or bright cherry tomatoes to add variety and that pop of acidity.
Side Dishes
Pair this cheeseball with fresh vegetable sticks like crunchy cucumber, red pepper, or celery for lighter nibbles. A simple charcuterie board with olives, nuts, and sliced meats also pairs beautifully—your guests will feel like VIPs!
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve presented this Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe as a “pumpkin” by adding a mini faux stem and carving grooves. Another time, I shaped it into a football for game day fun. Using interesting serving plates—like rustic wooden boards or colorful trays—makes the presentation even more inviting.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap any leftover cheeseball tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. I find it stays fresh and creamy for up to 4 days, though honestly, it rarely lasts that long in my house!
Freezing
Freezing cheeseballs isn’t usually my go-to because the texture can change slightly, but if you need to, wrap it super tightly in plastic and foil, then freeze for up to one month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving and re-roll in fresh seasoning to revive the crunch.
Reheating
This cheeseball is meant to be enjoyed cold, but if you want a slightly softer texture, pull it out of the fridge 20–30 minutes before serving. Just avoid microwaving, which can make it oily or separate the cream cheese.
FAQs
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Can I make the Everything Bagel seasoning blend at home?
Absolutely! A quick homemade blend is equal parts dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and garlic flakes, plus kosher salt and black pepper to taste. This way, you can control the flavors and avoid any preservatives or additives.
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How long can I store this cheeseball in the fridge?
Wrapped well, your cheeseball will stay fresh for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. I recommend keeping it in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to avoid it drying out or absorbing other fridge smells.
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Can I make this recipe dairy-free or vegan?
You could experiment using dairy-free cream cheese and sour cream alternatives, plus vegan cheddar shreds. The texture may vary, so I suggest testing a small batch first. Also, swap bacon for smoky vegan bacon or omit entirely and add extra seasoning for flavor.
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What’s a good alternative to bagel chips for serving?
Crunchy crackers are great, but I also love serving this with pita chips, thinly sliced toasted baguette, or even crisp veggie sticks like celery and cucumber for a lighter option.
Final Thoughts
There’s something undeniably comforting and fun about the Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe that keeps me coming back to it for every party and gathering. I love how approachable it is—yet it looks and tastes gourmet without much effort. You really can’t go wrong making this; it’s like an instant crowd-pleaser that fills the room with happy chatter and full bellies. Go ahead and try it out—I promise you’ll be the host or hostess everyone raves about!
Print
Everything Bagel Cheeseball Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Everything Bagel Cheeseball is a flavorful and creamy appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings. Made with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, sour cream, horseradish, scallions, and crispy bacon, it’s rolled in a crunchy and savory Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend. Serve with bagel chips or crackers for an irresistible snack that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Cheeseball Mixture
- 1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
Coating
- About 1/2 cup Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend*
For Serving
- Bagel chips and/or crackers
Seasoning Blend Option
- Equal parts dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and garlic flakes
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, prepared horseradish, finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped scallions, and cooked chopped bacon. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form and Chill: Shape the mixture into a ball. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors meld and the cheeseball firm up.
- Coat with Seasoning: Remove the chilled cheeseball from the refrigerator and unwrap. Roll the cheeseball evenly in the Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend, pressing gently to ensure it sticks all around the surface.
- Optional Pumpkin Decoration: To create a pumpkin look, add a real or faux pumpkin stem to the top of the cheeseball. Use the tip of a chopstick or the back of a butter knife to carve shallow grooves vertically around the cheeseball, mimicking pumpkin ridges.
- Serve: Arrange the cheeseball on a serving platter alongside bagel chips and crackers. Serve chilled for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can make your own Everything But the Bagel seasoning blend by combining equal parts dehydrated onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and garlic flakes. Adjust with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
- The cheeseball can be made a day in advance and stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and consider adding chopped nuts or smoked paprika for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of cheeseball with chips
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
