This Pineapple Cheese Ball belongs at every party! The sweet, smoky, tangy flavor is downright addictive, and prep couldn't be easier. With creamy and crunchy textures, your guests will love this easy appetizer.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make the pineapple cheese ball
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store the pineapple cheeseball
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- You only need five minutes of prep and a handful of kitchen staples to make this tasty appetizer!
- Serve up your pineapple cheese ball with some crackers, and you'll have the star of any party, potluck, tailgate, or backyard BBQ.
- Refrigerating the cheese ball overnight before serving is key!
Smooth cream cheese, sweet ‘n tangy pineapple, crunchy pecans, and fresh bell peppers and green onions create a Texas party food done right.
Watch this pineapple cheese ball disappear at your next get-together! Love vintage recipes like this one? Try these cheese dreams!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Feel free to swap out the pecans for toasted almonds or walnuts.
- You can replace the chipotle powder with smoked paprika for a milder smoky flavor or curry powder for a bolder, warm flavor.
- Amp up your pineapple cheeseball with a couple of teaspoons of copycat Popeye’s seasoning salt.
- Add a few tablespoons of finely diced fresh jalapeño for a fresh, spicy twist.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make the pineapple cheese ball
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Add cream cheese, pecans, pineapple, bell peppers, and chipotle powder to a large bowl.
Combine the ingredients until well-mixed.
Form cream cheese mixture into a ball, wrap it tightly, and refrigerate it overnight.
Unwrap the pineapple cheeseball and roll it in the remaining pecans.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Make sure you soften the cream cheese to room temperature before mixing—it's much tougher to stir cold cream cheese!
- Toast your chopped pecans in a single layer on a lined baking sheet in a 350-degree F oven for 7-10 minutes. Stir halfway through so they toast evenly, and watch ‘em closely so they don’t burn.
- I recommend using a mix of red and green bell peppers for a more rounded-out flavor.
- Refrigerating the pineapple cheeseball overnight is crucial! It needs to fully chill so you can roll it in the remaining pecans without making a gooey mess.
Marye's Tip o' the Day
Don’t forget to drain the crushed pineapple! No one likes soggy, curdled cream cheese.
🥫 Leftover love: how to store the pineapple cheeseball
Any leftover pineapple cheese ball should be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or sealed in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to one week.
I don’t recommend freezing leftovers since thawing the cheese ball will make the cream cheese a bit grainy.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
Jazz up your pineapple cheese ball coating with toasted sesame seeds, shredded coconut, or crushed pretzels!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Sure. Chopped walnuts or almonds would also work.
Pineapple cheese balls are perfect for charcuterie boards alongside cured meats, fruit, pastries, and other party appetizers. Serve the delicious dip with crackers or pretzels!
If stored properly, a pineapple cream cheese ball can last up to one week in the fridge! For food safety reasons, don’t leave uneaten leftovers at room temperature for more than two hours.
The leftover pineapple juice is liquid gold, so don’t toss it! Add it to smoothies, iced tea, or cocktails, like my Tropical Pineapple Sangria. Pineapple juice is also great in marinades, glazes, and stir-fry or BBQ sauces.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
If you don’t have time to wait for the cream cheese to warm up on the counter, unwrap it and microwave it for 10-15 seconds at medium power. Repeat in 5-second intervals until it’s soft enough—just don’t overdo it, or else you’ll have melty cream cheese!
You can also use a food processor to quickly chop the pecans.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
Leftovers aren't likely with an appetizer this tasty, but if you've got 'em, here are some fun ways to make pineapple cheese ball into something new:
- Scoop leftovers into phyllo cups or crescent roll dough for a tangy, cheese-filled appetizer.
- Stir leftovers into warm, cooked pasta with leftover ham for an easy Hawaiian pasta dinner.
- Stuff leftovers into celery sticks or mini bell peppers or spread it onto sandwiches or bagels.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
Cheese balls are such a retro thing. I can't imagine my parents having a New Years Eve party, a poker night, or a pool party without a pineapple cheeseball somewhere nearby.
They're just as perfect for 2021 as they were for 1961 - easy, delicious, and popular with the guests!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Pineapple Cheese Ball
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 cups pecans, chopped and toasted - divided use
- ¼ cup chopped bell pepper, red and green together is nice
- 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
- 1 pinch chipotle, optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl, using only 1 cup of pecans and reserving the other cup.
- Mix until well blended.
- Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Just before serving roll the cheeseball in the reserved 1 cup of pecans, pressing them into the cheese ball gently.
- Serve with crackers.
Notes
- Drain the pineapple well.
- Make sure you soften the cream cheese to room temperature before mixing.
- Toast your chopped pecans in a single layer on a lined baking sheet in a 350-degree F oven for 7-10 minutes. Stir halfway through so they toast evenly, and watch ‘em closely so they don’t burn.
- Refrigerating the pineapple cheeseball overnight is crucial! It needs to fully chill so you can roll it in the remaining pecans without making a gooey mess.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Comments
No Comments