An easy and delicious Caramelized Onion and Bacon flavored cheeseball. Please any guest low carb or not with this yummy appetizer. Nobody will know that it is low carb and keto-friendly.
Caramelized Bacon and Onion Cheese Ball…oh yeah!
I love a good cheese ball, you guys. I will proudly wear the title of “cheese head”. Although it does sometimes get me into trouble with portion sizes. I enjoy it so much I find myself pushing it out of my mind that I could easily overindulge in things like this cheese ball.
So take my word for it and be ready to ration this baby out or get your serving and walk away. Just walk away Keri, walk away. Yes, I have had this conversation with myself before. Nothing like coaching yourself out of a cheese overdose! No judgment, right?
It is so delicious and very addicting! With only around 2 net carbs per serving it makes a great snack with your favorite low-carb crackers or raw veggies. This Caramelized Onion and Bacon goodness is very rich so a little will go a long way.
You will not feel deprived with just a few tablespoons. So don’t worry. For those that follow THM, this will fall into the “S” category.
This irresistible snack is perfect for those family game nights or holiday parties. Oh, and we can’t forget those Super Bowl gatherings in a couple of months.
Isn’t it insane that we are already thinking about things in 2017? Where does the time go when it is going by so fast? Time is so precious and it seems to fly. Enjoy every moment with your loved ones and make them happy with good food, like cheese balls!
Whoever you choose to share this Caramelized Bacon and Onion Cheese Ball with will absolutely love you when you bring this simple dish out surrounded by their favorite crackers like these easy almond flour crackers.
These quick crackers are a family favorite and they are gluten and grain-free. You can find these Crispy Almond Sesame Crackers over at the Low Carb Maven’s site.
Her recipe calls for sesame seeds but I had used the last of mine the night before making this Lemon Sesame Chicken for dinner. I just threw in a few poppy seeds.
If you need a nut-free cracker you can check out my easy Garlic Poppy Seed Flax Crackers here.
Making the Cheese Ball
To make this recipe you will need five basic ingredients found at any local grocery store plus a couple of spices. It is not complicated nor is it time-consuming. The longest step in this process will be letting the cheese ball chill the fridge.
For your shopping list, you will need 2 blocks of cream cheese, bacon, one medium onion, cheddar cheese, walnuts, or pecans. The pantry items you will need for this recipe are your staple spices like garlic and onion powder and plastic wrap.
If you have a favorite spice that you think would go well with the bacon and onion flavor feel free to sub that spice here.
Always start dips and cheese balls with softened cream cheese. I just set mine out on the counter early in the morning or the night before and let it come to room temperature.
Once your cheese is soft enough to mix you just need to cook your bacon until it is crispy and caramelize your onions.
Fry the bacon until it is nice and crispy then set it aside on a paper towel until it is cool. Next, chop the onion up into small dice and toss it into a hot skillet with a little of the bacon drippings.
To get a sweeter caramelized onion you can add a teaspoon of sweetener if you like. I love to sprinkle in a little low-carb brown sugar, but that is totally optional. The goal is to have nicely browned onions that are tender and flavorful.
By this time in the process, I am usually drooling from all the wonderful smells that are filling the kitchen. But somehow I always manage to hold out for the finished product.
It is so worth the wait my friends! If you have made it this far without eating all the bacon then it and your onions to the softened cream cheese with your spices and mix it thoroughly.
Place the mixture in the center of a piece of plastic wrap. Cover the cheese ball mixture in the plastic wrap making sure to cover all areas.
Next, use your hands to gently form a ball shape. Chill it in the fridge for at least an hour. The chilling period will help the cream cheese set up firm making it easier to roll it in your chopped nuts before serving.
The longer you allow it to chill the more the flavors marry together.
And oh what a sweet delicious union those flavors make! Are you a cheese head like me? Do you find yourself hovering close to the cheese ball table at parties?
If so I would love to hear about your favorite recipe and hope you will give this recipe a try as well.
Caramelized Bacon & Onion Cheese Ball
A savory cheeseball featuring caramelized onions and crispy bacon. Wonderful served on a holiday platter with crackers and raw veggies for dipping.
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ball
- 16 oz of softened cream cheese
- 1 medium white onion, chopped small
- 8 to 10 slices of bacon, fried crispy (or 1/2 of real bacon bits)
- 1/3 cup of shredded cheddar or jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon of butter for onions
Nuts
- 1 cup of walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Bring your cream cheese to room temperature or until soft enough to mix with a spoon.
- Fry your bacon until crispy and drain on a paper towel before chopping it into small pieces. You can skip this step by using 1/3-1/2 cup of real bacon bits.
- Chop the onion into small chunks and cook them in a tablespoon of butter. You want to cook them slow on low heat until they are very tender and caramelized. For a bit of extra sweetness, I like to add a sprinkle of Sukrin Gold, a brown sugar substitute. This is totally optional.
- Once your onions and bacon have cooled add them into the softened cream cheese and season it with your favorite spices. I use 1/2 tsp of garlic and onion powder.
- Taste the mixture and adapt seasoning to your taste preference.
- Add the combined cheese ball mixture to the center of some plastic wrap. Wrap the ball up tightly, gently pressing and forming a ball as your wrap. Make sure all the ball is covered.
- Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for at least an hour so it will firm up. The longer it sits the more the flavors will marry.
- Once you have chilled the cheese ball you can remove it from the place wrap and roll it around in the chopped walnuts.
- Store in a plastic bag or airtight container in your fridge.
I am a southern girl through and through that loves to laugh, cook, read and spend time with family. My passions outside of home schooling my son are ministering to those in need and creating art in the kitchen! Every day is an adventure in our little house and I wouldn’t trade it or the chance to share here with you for anything!
how much garlic and onion powder?
I start with 1/2 to 1 tsp each.
Do you add the cheddar cheese with the cream cheese?
Add in the shredded cheese when you add in the bacon and onions.