Pepperoni Cheese Ball

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This pepperoni cheese ball is full of pizza flavor but in a fun, spreadable appetizer form. It is sure to be a hit at your next party and would be great at a tailgate.

A pepperoni cheese ball is the perfect party food.  It is easy to make, can be made ahead and tastes like pizza. 

So many things to love.  It is great for game day, a potluck and more. It tastes amazing and people will enjoy it.

Cheese Balls Are Perfect Party Food

Cheeseballs are such a great appetizer for parties. There is something about a creamy ball of cheese that draws people in.

While the more traditional cheese ball with bacon, ranch and cheddar is always a hit, it is fun to change up the flavors to match the occasion.

We have done mini cheese balls with cranberries for several events, including holidays. They are fun because they are more of a grab and go version.

A havarti cheese ball coated with colored peppers always makes a statement. Or you can make carrot shaped cheese balls for Easter.

We have even done football shaped cheese balls for game day. And cookies and cream cheese balls for dessert.

This cheese ball takes that party food vibe to the next level by mixing in the flavors of another party food favorite: pizza! It’s hard to go wrong with that flavor combination!

What’s in This Pepperoni Cheese Ball?

As you might expect, the key to making this cheese ball creamy and spreadable is a cream cheese base. It gives us the perfect canvas for adding the rest of our flavors.

Of course we need pepperoni and mozzarella cheese to get the pizza flavors going. Some oregano, parsley, basil and garlic add the herby flavor that the sauce usually provides.

You can play with the herbs to match to your taste preference or what you happen to have on hand.

A few red pepper flakes help to give the spicy flavor throughout and Parmesan cheese rounds out the flavor profile. It hits on most of the big pizza tastes.

I like to use a food processor to bring the mixture together. It makes it easier than stirring it by hand and helps to distribute all of the ingredients throughout while chopping up anything that needs to be finer.

Coating the Cheese Ball

To give your cheese ball a finished look, you will need something to coat it with. The options really are endless here.

You could go with the traditional chopped nuts, but I like using something that adds another layer of pizza flavor.

I have coated this cheese ball in fresh herbs and shredded Parmesan cheese and that was delicious.

As you can see, we have also coated it in chopped pepperoni and that was a hit too. It gives your guests a visual indicator of the flavors they can expect inside.

Feel free to experiment here. There really are no wrong answers.

Serving the Cheese Ball

You can make your pepperoni pizza cheese ball in advance if you would like. Just wrap it in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator.

I like to pull cheese balls out about 20 minutes before serving so they have a chance to warm up a bit. They taste great straight from the fridge, but the mixture will be a little bit harder to spread.

You can serve this cheese ball with your favorite crackers. It is also great spread on toasted slices of baguette.

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