Posted by Tastefully Simple on March 18, 2022
Cheese balls are the absolute perfect party food.
All you need are a few crispy pretzels, crunchy crackers or fresh garden veggies, and voila! You’ll have a complete, delightfully dippable appetizer in minutes that everyone will gather around, whether you’re hosting game day or girls’ night in.
But did you know that you can actually make a TON of different dishes with any of our savory cheese ball mixes?
Here are a few of our favorite secrets and shortcuts for mixing ‛em up, featuring NEW Roasted Garlic & Red Pepper Cheese Ball Mix for a little delicious inspiration!
So Versatile: 9 Ways to Use Your Favorite Cheese Ball Mix
1. Make Restaurant-Style Mashed Potatoes. Simply boil and drain potatoes as usual. Add 1 packet Roasted Garlic & Red Pepper Cheese Ball Mix (or any savory cheese ball mix), 1/3 cup milk and 8 ounces softened cream cheese. Mash and cover 5 minutes to let those delicious flavors blend together. Ta-da!
See the recipe: Roasted Garlic & Red Pepper Potatoes
You’ll have savory, creamy potatoes worthy of any five-star restaurant. They pair perfectly with steak, chops or chicken!
2. Serve as a Warm Dip. Some like it hot! If you can’t resist a gloriously gooey dip, just mix ½ cup shredded cheese into your favorite prepared cheese ball. Microwave in 30-second intervals until hot, and serve with crackers or crostini.
But … what if you’re feeling a little fancy? You’ll find a bunch of baked dip recipes online for your favorite cheese ball mixes, too. In fact, here are a couple of my personal new faves:
See the recipe: Roasted Garlic & Red Pepper Artichoke Dip
See the recipe: Baked Pizza Dip & Dippers
3. Make Stuffed Mushrooms. So savory. So delicious. So easy! Just prepare your cheese ball as directed on the package. Spoon the mixture into mushroom caps, and sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.
Tip: for a meaty variation, stir sausage crumbles into your filling.
4. Use as Filling for Stuffed Burgers. Prefer something a little heartier? Make your own “Juicy Lucy” burgers by stuffing your prepared cheese ball mixture into ground beef patties. It’s such a simple way to impress your friends or neighbors with pub-worthy burgers.
See the recipe: Stuffed Burgers
5. Try It as a Spread. Spread your prepared cheese ball mixture onto sandwiches, wraps and burger buns. My personal favorite: BLTs.
6. Create Lusciously Creamy Pasta Sauce. Microwave 8 ounces cream cheese for 30-45 seconds. Whisk in 1 packet of your favorite cheese ball mix, then ½ cup milk and 1 cup shredded cheese. Heat in 30-second intervals until creamy and smooth. Toss with prepared pasta.
I like to toss in some chopped rotisserie chicken and veggies, too!
Bonus tip: Reserve ½ cup water before draining, in case your sauce gets too thick. Adding a splash works great to reach whatever consistency you prefer.
7. Use as a Base for Specialty Pizzas. Microwave your prepared cheese ball mixture for 30 seconds, and then spread onto pizza dough, naan, lavosh or other flatbreads. Layer with your favorite meats, veggies and cheeses for the perfect pizza night.
8. Make Stuffed Chicken Breasts. They look SO fancy, but they are so easy to make! Use your prepared cheese ball mixture to stuff chicken breasts, and wrap them with bacon slices.
See the recipe: Roasted Garlic Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Serve with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, asparagus or roasted baby potatoes.
9. Make Easy French Bread Appetizers. And last but not least, try this never-fail appetizer! Spread any prepared cheese ball mixture onto slices of French bread; top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375°F until golden brown and bubbly. It’s unbelievably easy, and it will melt in your mouth every time!
Remember, you can always find lots of other versatile recipes for your favorite cheese ball mixes on Tastefully Simple’s website, too. I guarantee you’ll find new surprises, in addition to some of our most tried-and-true tips and tricks.
Whichever one’s your favorite, here’s to being a little cheesy … and having a “ball” in the kitchen!
Jen