Mexican Cheese Ball Recipe – An Easy Halloween Appetizer

Cheese Ball recipes are always favorite appetizer for gatherings. This Mexican Cheese Ball is a perfect Halloween appetizer sure to make your party a screaming success.

Want guests elbowing to get to the appetizer? Oo’ing and ah’ing, not able to stop themselves eating more? 

If so this Mexican Cheese Ball recipe is for you.

With delicious, creamy taco flavors, it’s completely addictive.

This version is dressed up to be a perfect Halloween appetizer. But there are modifications to enjoy it all year long.

What is a Cheese Ball?

If you haven’t ever eaten or made a cheese ball you are in for a treat. Cream cheese and other ingredients are mixed together and rolled into a large ball.

The Cheese Ball is then rolled in a final ingredient, usually nuts, herbs or dried fruit, to make an outer coating.

Cheese Balls are served with a knife for cutting slices and adding to crackers, bread slices, sliced fruits or vegetables.

It’s a very easy appetizer recipe and perfect for serving a group.

Guests serve themselves so the host can enjoy their company not serving food!

A great appetizer for Game Days and a holiday party.

Mexican Cheese Ball Recipe

Mexican flavors are always popular and this cheese ball serves them up in style.

A combination of creamy cheeses and taco flavors makes this the appetizer favorite.

To make it a Halloween appetizer the outside is rolled in black sesame seeds.

They add a nice texture and perfect color for the holiday.

Take it a step further and serve it with Black Sesame Rice Crackers!

How to Make Mexican Cheese Ball for Other Occasions

When not making a Halloween appetizer there is a second delicious coating!

Instead of sesame seeds, coat the Mexican cheese ball with finely crushed corn tortilla chip.

They make a great flavor complement to the spicy taco flavors.

PRO TIP: use colored crushed chips for different holidays

• Red tortilla chips for Christmas parties
• Blue tortilla chips for Memorial Day
• A mix of red, white and blue chips for Fourth of July

Mexican Cheese Ball Ingredients

All the tasty ingredients in this Mexican Cheese Ball should be easy to find at regular grocery stores.

• Cream cheese
• Mexican Cheese Blend (prepared or homemade)
• Unsalted Butter
• Milk
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Green Onions
• Pickled Jalapeno Peppers (canned)
• Black Sesame Seeds
• Where to Find or Buy

Here are tips for finding a few of the ingredients:

Pickled Jalapeno Peppers – this is a canned item. It will be with the Mexican cuisine ingredients or International section of the grocery store. It can also be found ONLINE.

Black Sesame Seeds – these should be available in the Spice section of the grocery store along with white sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds can also be found at Asian grocery stores or ONLINE.

Mexican Cheese Blend – available prepared in the dairy section. It’s a mix of three cheese that make this cheese ball delicious! Look for it with other grated cheese.

How to Make this Cheese Ball – Step-by-Step

Making a cheese ball is very easy. After doing it once, it will become your favorite appetizer recipe for gatherings and parties.

For a detailed printable recipe, refer to the recipe card at the end of the blog post.

STEP 1: Using a mixer beat together the cream cheese, grated Mexican cheese blend and butter until fluffy. NOTE: use either a standing mixer or hand held mixer.

STEP 2: Beat in the milk and Worcestershire sauce until fully combined.

STEP 3: On low speed, beat in the green onions and jalapeno peppers to combine.

STEP 4: Put the cheese ball mixture in an airtight container and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.

STEP 5: After chilling shape the mixture into a ball.

STEP 6: Place sesame seeds on a plate and gently roll the cheese ball in the seeds to fully cover.

Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving with crackers.

How Long Can a Cheese Ball Sit Out?

Don’t leave a cheese ball at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Refrigerate this Halloween appetizer after 2 hours for food safety.

How to Store the Cheese Ball

Kept in an airtight container or plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

More Halloween Recipes You’ll Love

• Turkey Meatballs Eyeballs & Black Bean Pasta: a Halloween Dinner Idea
• Jack-o-Lantern Fruit Dessert Pizza
• Graveyard Halloween Cupcakes: Favorite Halloween Party Recipe (+ VIDEO)
• Creepy Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

Try These Appetizer Recipes too!

• Blueberry Walnut Baked Brie with Drizzled Honey
• Slow Cooker Chex Party Mix (gluten-free)
• Roasted Red Peppers in Oil with Garlic
• Party Dips: Great Recipes to Make Any Occasion a Party!

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Mexican Cheese Ball recipe: a Halloween appetizer idea

The flavors of this cheese ball are definitely Mexican with some spice without being overwhelming. I opted to coat this with black sesame seeds for the Halloween color but you can use other coatings such has corn chips ground into crumbs or nuts (spiced nuts would be great). Kid approved too!

5 from 24 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours

Servings: 8 (large cheese ball 5 inches in diameter)

Calories: 157kcal

Author: Toni Dash

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 8-ounce package cream cheese , room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup prepared Mexican cheese blend , finely grated (or make your own of Colby, Monterey Jack and Cheddar)
• ▢ ¼ cup butter , unsalted and room temperature
• ▢ 1 tablespoon milk
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoons green onion , thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 tablespoons pickled canned jalapeno peppers , finely chopped
• ▢ ½ cup black sesame seeds

Instructions

• In the bowl of a freestanding mixer (or using a handheld mixer) beat the cream cheese, Mexican cheese and butter until fluffy and fully combined. Scrap sides of bowl as needed.
• Beat in the milk and Worcestershire sauce until fully combined.
• On low speed beat in green onions and jalapeno peppers to combine. Put mixture in a sealed container in a refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• When fully chilled, shape the mixture into a ball. Place sesame seeds on a plate and gently roll the ball in the seeds to fully cover. Allow to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving with crackers or flatbread.

Notes

Note: Total time dependent on how long cheese ball is refridgerated.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

Originally published: October 27, 2012

This Mexican Cheese Ball recipe is a perfect Halloween appetizer or for any gathering.