The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had

I had no idea that an easy cheese ball recipe could be this good. Last year I had the best cheese ball I ever had and now I get to share how crazy easy this appetizer is!

Our neighbor, Michelle thought up the most genius idea, she cancelled neighbor gifts at Christmas. Can we all have a moment of cheering for Michelle? Now, I’m not against neighbor gifts, but I don’t know that I’m for pouring out all of that extra stress for a bunch of cookies the neighbors throw away. Don’t worry, I’m going to tie it all together so you know what it has to do with The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had. 

We were so impressed with not just Michelle, but how the neighbors responded. Michelle sent out a big letter announcing that instead of doing neighbor gifts, what if we donated to a cause. Everyone could come visit at a little Christmas gathering at her house, bring a donation for a family in need or a reputable charity and visit with each other, which is more of what Christmas is about.

Oh it was such a success!! So much money earned, and we stuffed our faces, I mean, we all got into the Christmas spirit so much more!

What is a Good Cheese Ball Recipe?

Another dear friend, Angie was there. I casually walked over to her and seeing the food said, “oh what is a good cheese ball recipe? I’m never as in love as I want to be.” And there we were, standing at the food table, shoveling crackers with the best cheese ball I ever had into our mouths. I finally said, “my gosh, who made this?!!!” And Angie says, “Oh, I did.”

What?! How have I never tasted of this goodness before and how could she stand there so nonchalant?! I mean, it looked like a classic cheese ball recipe, but something about it was different.

Look, I’ve had some pretty good cheese balls in my day. Our BBQ Bacon Cheese Ball and German Chocolate Cheese Ball are pretty dang amazing, but now I am sitting here making a humble pie because Angie’s is the best cheese ball I ever had!

Secret Ingredients in the the Best Cheese Ball

I think it’s the secret, artery clogging ingredient that you all are going to use and not complain a lick about because it’s just that worth it.

Kraft Old English Jarred Cheese.

Yes, it’s cheese in a jar. I’ve linked to it so you can see what to look for.

No, it probably isn’t real cheese. I can’t fight you on that one. Can you pretend it is? Just this once?

The rest of the ingredients are the norm, but I’ll do you a favor and give a quick overview because I love seeing a quick list of ingredients.

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Sweet Potato Rounds with Cranberry, Feta and Hazelnuts

Sweet potato rounds are like crostinis that you load up with goodness, but it’s all on top of roasted sweet potatoes making them a totally delicious and healthy side dish.

Years ago I started making little sweet potato rounds for our Christmas dinner. We did the gruyere sweet potato stacks the most but then with leftover cranberry sauce I started to experiment and eventually that led me to an adapted version of sweet potato rounds by Tidy Mom. I absolutely love making these and they are surprisingly very easy.

I love that I can use leftover cranberry sauce or fig spread. The cheese is also easy to swap and mix up. But most of all, I love that they taste absolutely scrumptious while looking stunning. Sometimes the best food is the ugliest, but that is not the case here!!

What Do I Need to Make Sweet Potato Rounds?

Just wait until you read all the delicious ingredients that go into this recipe! So much flavor in every bite…this is what you will need:

• Sweet Potatoes – you can peel the sweet potatoes if you want but I like to leave the skins on
• Olive Oil – used to roast the sweet potato rounds
• Fresh Orange Zest – you can’t beat the flavor of fresh citrus and it plays so well with the flavor of the toppings
• Kosher Salt – adds so much flavor
• Black Pepper – adds flavor and a teeny tiny kick
• Cranberry Sauce – you can use our recipe or make your own, but definitely make it from scratch
• Crumbled Feta – buy the brick of feta and crumble it yourself

For the Nuts

• Hazelnuts – easily swapped out for other nuts if you want, but roasted hazelnuts are so perfect for the holidays!
• Butter – helps roast the nuts and adds richness and flavor
• Cinnamon – adds flavor and warmth

For the Drizzle

• Honey – acts as the base for the drizzle and adds natural sweetness
• Balsamic Vinegar – adds a sweet tangy punch to the drizzle
• Fresh Thyme – adds a bright pop of flavor and freshness

Cheese Substitutes

If you aren’t a feta fan or want to change things up a little, then these are my suggestions for some possible cheese substitutes:

• Gorgonzola
• Bleu Cheese
• Gruyere
• Goats Cheese
• Parmesan Aged White Cheddar
• Manchego

Nut Substitutes

Hazelnuts can be a little harder to find than other nuts so if you have a hard time finding them or aren’t a fan, then try swapping them with any of these:

• Hazelnuts
• Pecans
• Walnuts
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Baked Cheesy Onion Dip

This delicious, easy baked onion cheese dip is great for a last minute appetizer. You guuuuyyyyssss, it’s SO good, I almost ate the whole pan myself! Serve it with tortilla chips, fresh bread, or pita chips.

Five different cheeses go into this fabulous hot onion dip, and there is no such thing as too much cheese!

Help!!

Ok, awhile back a darling reader reached out to me and shared her baked onion cheese dip which I’ve been holding onto to try. The problem is, I can’t remember her name!! So, if this recipe was from you and you DM’d it to me on Instagram:

1. Tell me who you are!
2. THIS IS THE BEST DIP!!

I adjusted things a bit to my family’s likes but my goodness, you weren’t kidding, this dip is everything.

Recommended Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Hand Mixer

Before You Begin…

Slice up the onion and get them caramelizing and then pull out all your cheeses to prep. The cream cheese needs to be softened, so get that out on the counter so it can come to room temperature. You’ll also want to grate the parmesan, Swiss and sharp cheddar cheeses yourself if you can. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well as cheese you grate yourself. The Mexican blend will always be a pre-shredded bag.

The Secret to Onion Dip

Caramelized onions.

Do not just throw those onions in there, caramelize them first! And in fact, if you want to really make your caramelized onions top notch throw in a little Worcestershire sauce. It adds a depth of flavor to those onions that you will love!

What Do I Need for Baked Onion Cheese Dip?

You will need cheese, cheese and more cheese!! Grab a sweet onion, a few simple ingredients and you’re on your way! Here is what you will need:

• Onions: Sweet Onion, Butter, Worcestershire Sauce
• Cheeses: Cream Cheese, Swiss Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Mexican Blend Cheese
• Dip: Mayonnaise, Sour Cream
• Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Herbs (thyme and chopped chives)

Keep scrolling to see the complete recipe card with all the measurements for each ingredient.

How to Make Cheesy Onion Baked Dip

1. Caramelize Onions: Preheat a cast iron skillet on the stove and add the butter to melt, then add the onions that let them get tender. Season them with a little salt and let them cook. Add Worcestershire sauce and allow the onions to caramelize stirring every few minutes.

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Zucchini Nachos Recipe

Use up your summer zucchini and whip up this easy, cheesy BBQ chicken zucchini nachos recipe! They make for a great party appetizer or a quick, healthy dinner!

I originally posted this recipe back in 2018 with the help of my sweet friend Kristy Denney. She is the best and always has the best healthy dinner ideas! Since then, I have changed the recipe a little, added a few more toppings, and they are better than ever. Zucchini nachos are the perfect way to use up your summer squash and indulge in a slightly healthier version of nachos. Because honestly, who doesn’t love nachos?!

I love good food but I love it even more when it’s easy and healthy…or at least healthy-ish! These can be a great game-day or party app, a quick lunch for mom (just make a smaller version), or make a giant pan for dinner for the family! Easy, cheesy, good!

Ingredients for Zucchini Nachos

All you really need is a few zucchinis and some cheese to make zucchini nachos, but why stop there when you can load them up with BBQ chicken, black beans, grilled corn, tomatoes, etc.? Here is the full ingredients list:

• Zucchinis – picked fresh from the garden or bought from the grocery store
• Olive Oil – helps cook the zucchini on the grill and keeps them from sticking
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor
• Garlic Salt – adds flavor to the zucchini
• Chicken – you can use rotisserie chicken, grill your own chicken, or use canned chicken
• BBQ Sauce – pick your favorite BBQ sauce or make your own
• Monterey Jack Cheese – we love monterey jack for nachos, but you could use whatever cheese you want
• Bleu Cheese Crumbles – we love the creamy umami burst the bleu cheese crumbles add, and they are totally optional if you have bleu cheese haters in the house
• Black Beans – drain and rinse the beans so that they don’t add any moisture to the nachos
• Grilled Corn – you can grill your own corn on the cob or buy grilled corn from the store
• Tomato – ok, I know there aren’t tomatoes in these photos, but I love some diced tomatoes on top
• Pickled Onions – these are quick and easy to make and add the best burst of flavor
• Red Onions – diced and sprinkled on top
• Bleu Cheese Dressing – I’ve linked to our homemade dressing, but you could also buy your favorite brand

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. You can also add to or change the toppings to your liking.

How to Make Zucchini Nachos

Zucchini nachos are so crazy easy to make. Even this cheesy bbq chicken zucchini nachos recipe! We like to

Thai Peanut Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Crisp cold lettuce wrapped around saucy flavorful turkey…and you have our favorite Thai peanut turkey lettuce wraps! A healthy and delicious appetizer or light dinner.

I love these turkey lettuce wraps!  Years ago I was living in Chicago and we all went out to PF Changs for dinner. Everyone was ordering the lettuce wraps and I was like, “meat in lettuce??… yeah sounds really great…blah!” And then I tried them and they were awesome!!!!!!!! I was totally thinking it would be lame, but it was delicious.

This is one of my favorite meals to make in the summer months when you want a light easy meal!

Ingredients for Turkey Lettuce Wraps

A quick and easy recipe is just what I need in the summer time! It always seems like we are running to a soccer practice or rushing in from being at the pool, and simple and delicious is my summer jam! Here are the ingredients that you will need…

For the Filling

• Ground Turkey: You can go as lean as you want, but know that the leaner the turkey, the drier the filling will be.
• Celery: diced up nice and fine
• Carrots: You can shred your own carrots or buy them already shredded.
• Red Bell Pepper: You could use yellow or orange too, but I wouldn’t use green.
• Onion: minced up small
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Slivered Almonds: adds the most amazing crunch to the wraps

For the Sauce

• Peanut Butter: You want creamy and it adds all the great peanut flavor to the sauce.
• Brown Sugar: adds a depth of flavor and richness to the sauce
• Sugar: adds more sweetness to the sauce
• Hoisin Sauce: a thick, dark colored sauce that is both sweet and salty
• Oyster Sauce: a thick, dark sauce made from oyster extract that doesn’t taste fishy despite the name and adds an earthy flavor
• Rice Vinegar: made from fermented rice and adds acidity
• Soy Sauce: adds great umami flavor to the sauce
• Red Pepper Flakes: adds heat to the sauce
• Lettuce Leaves: you want whole large leaves with no tears in them

Scroll down to the end of the post to find all the measurements you will need of each ingredient.

How to Make Lettuce Wraps

You only need about 30 minutes to make this flavorful recipe. It’s as simple as browning the turkey, sautéing the vegetables and whisking together the peanut sauce. Here are the basic steps…

1. Brown the turkey until it is almost totally cooked. Remove to a bowl.
2. Whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce in a separate bowl.
3. Add all the vegetables to the skillet and sauté until tender. Then add the meat back in.
4. Add the sauce and let it all simmer together for a few minutes.
5. Spoon the meat mixture into the lettuce leaves and sprinkle with slivered almonds and sliced green onions.<