Chicken Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites: a classic cheese ball made far more exciting; two cheeses, shredded chicken, & crisp Hatfield Quality Meats bacon in 2-bite sized treats.
This recipe yields 30 2-bite sized cheese balls.
Ingredients
2poundsApplewood Smoked Bacon
1/4cupfinely chopped fresh parsley
2packages of cream cheese8 ounces each, softened to room temperature
1brick of sharp cheddar8 ounce, about 2 cups, grated
2cupsshreddedfully-cooked chicken
4green onionstrimmed of the root ends, thinly sliced
2tablespoonsDry ranch dressing mixhomemade or purchased
Instructions
Slice the bacon crosswise into 1/4-inch strips. Add them to a large frying pan over medium heat and fry until crispy, stirring frequently to separate and cook evenly. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the crispy bacon bits to a paper towel lined plate. Let them cool slightly, then chop finely. Transfer to a bowl and toss with the chopped parsley and set aside.
Use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or sturdy spoon to combine the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chicken, green onions, ranch dressing mix, and 1/3 cup of the bacon and parsley mixture until it is homogeneous and even in texture. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop the mixture onto a plate. If you don't have a medium cookie scoop, you can divide it out in generous tablespoon servings. Roll each serving into a ball with your hands then roll each ball in the remaining bacon and parsley mixture. Arrange on a serving plate and insert an appetizer pick into the top of each Chicken Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least an hour but up to 12 hours before serving for best quality.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.