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Chicken Cheese Ball always made an appearance around my house growing up. Especially around the holidays, whenever Mama hosted a shower, or for other special occasions, her chicken cheese ball was sure to requested.
It is definitely one of the easiest recipes to toss together when entertaining, which probably explains why she has always loved to make it through the years.
I just remember being excited when it was finally time to serve her chicken cheese ball at whatever event she was hosting so that I could have a bite. She’d usually prepare it the evening before, or even earlier, and there it would be, taunting me in the refrigerator until time for her party. Talk about tempting!
Now that I’m older, I’m the one keeping the cheese ball covered in the refrigerator and begging my family not to dive into it too early. I probably should learn to just make two of them, one for entertaining and one for my family to enjoy.
Mama’s chicken cheese ball recipes are legendary in our family. The one I’m sharing today is her classic version that we all loved. I’ll have to share some of her other chicken cheese ball recipes soon so that you can give them a try, too. They are out of this world.
Here are a few tips for making her chicken cheese ball ahead of time.
Have all of the ingredients at room temperature before you begin mixing them. Then, you can easily stir all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Have a large piece of plastic wrap ready for wrapping the chicken cheese ball for chilling as you begin mixing your ingredients together. Then, just pour your cheese ball mixture onto the center of the wrap and form it into a ball.
Press the chopped pecans onto the cheese ball before it is refrigerated as they will adhere better to the outside of the chicken cheese ball once it is chilled.
So, be sure to pick up the ingredients for this recipe if you don’t already have them in your pantry so that you can make this over the holidays. It’s perfect to pull out of the refrigerator to snack on anytime of the day.
Here’s Mama’s Chicken Cheese Ball recipe. I can’t wait to hear how you love it.
Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce can ) chicken , white meat only preferred
- 2 (8-ounce packages) cream cheese , room temperature
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion or ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 cups finely chopped pecans
- crackers and fruit for serving
Instructions
- Mix together chicken, cream cheese, onion or onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and ½ cup of chopped pecans in a medium mixing bowl.
- Pour chicken cheese ball mixture into the center of a large piece of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap, press chicken cheese ball mixture to form a ball.
- Press remaining chopped pecans onto top and sides of chicken cheese ball.
- Wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 1 hour up to 3 days before serving.
- Serve with crackers and fruit.
Nutritional Information
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Hey Robyn-
I enjoy you recipes BUT why so many pictures of the same item???? I don’t think looking at SEVEN pictures adds to the value of your blog. It just means it takes a long time to get to the recipe. Ree Drumond has many pictures but they are all the process of the recipe not the finished product from 7 differen angles. Just saying….one would be enough.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Sheryl. I really appreciate it. xo
I’ve never heard of a chicken cheese ball! Looks yummy and I can just imagine the variations!
Good afternoon, Robyn. I absolutely love all of the pictures, so please keep them coming. Whenever I am baking one of your recipes, the pictures actually help me to visualize what I am attempting/preparing is supposed to look like as I go along. Pictures let me know whether I am doing it right or not with each step as I go along. So please, for the bakers out there like myself who like to look at the pictures to see if they are doing it right, keep the pictures going. The chicken cheese ball looks awesome. I will make this for my family’s Christmas eve party and let you know how they turn out. I give you five stars for the pictures alone. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Andrea. xo
Beautiful photos and looks super delicious! Another soutthern Christmas favorite in my house! 🙂
Beautiful photos and looks super delicious! Another southern Christmas favorite in my house! 🙂
Cheese balls are the best this time of year!! I love how loaded yours is. YUM!
Canned chicken?? Yikes, at least use rotisserie chicken…you’re too good to suggest less.
You can easily use rotisserie chicken or chicken breasts you’ve cooked in the slow cooker and then chopped. Whatever you prefer.
This looks so yummy, and I will be making it tonight. Using canned chicken is not as appealing, so agree that rotisserie chicken should be used.
Yes! By all means! I use canned all white meat chicken! (Drained)
Beautiful and delicious. My family loved this chicken cheese ball recipe all the way til there was none at our Christmas Eve Party last night:) Thanks Robyn and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Sounds wonderful!! Just wondering, I noticed in the list of ingredients that you can use either 1/2 cup finely chopped onion or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Seems like this would make a big difference in the onion taste. Which do you prefer to use? I might make this for a installation reception at church and am concerned about it tasting too oniony. Thanks for sharing your mothers recipe!!!!!!
I’m trying to figure out what type of fruit that you serve with it. Do you eat it on the fruit? I’m trying to imagine this, but I can’t figure that one out. Also, are chipped onions the same as minced onions? Thanks for the reicpe, I think I’ll try it this season sometime soon.
This looks SO amazing!!! Thank you, I LOVE the pictures, and I even wonder what kind of crackers those are. It all fits together so perfectly. Thank you so much for your recipes!!
Hi CiCi,
The crackers photographed were a seasonal Christmas butter cracker. I can’t remember the brand!
My sister-in-law was telling me she had tried a chicken cheese ball and loved it. I’m sure yours will be good. Pinning it!
I’m going to try this tomorrow, for Sunday. The crackers you show look so buttery and delicious. What is the brand name. I can’t wait to share this deliciousness. Kind regards, Dina
Very good recipe, and very versatile. Next time I’ll add some chopped craisins for a holiday flair.
I made this recipe as written except I didn’t have to bake the full 10 minutes the second time. I’ve burned plenty of pecans in the past from not watching close enough. These turned out perfect and some will be used on our salad with grilled chicken. Thanks for sharing this and the chicken cheese ball which I plan to try soon.
Glad you enjoyed it, Glenna! Thanks! xo
I have made this recipe time and again and went to make it again today and couldn’t fine my recipe! I googled chicken cheese ball and when I saw your recipe, it was exactly the same as the one I had. I do use the canned chicken and it’s makes it so easy! Buy a good brand and all white meat and it’s just fine. Finely diced onion does add a better flavor than the onion powder (in my opinion).
Thanks so much Micki! Have loved this recipe for such a long time! Isn’t it delish?! xo
I have been making a chicken cheese ball and I use a ranch powder packet the amount varies to your taste have your family tried this? I use the same ingredients can chicken, cream cheese and pecans I love this recipe too!
Hi Jill,
I’ve not tried ranch in this particular cheese ball – but thanks for the tip! Have you tried making Homemade Ranch Seasoning? It’s delicious and I love keeping some on hand! Thanks!
Can this cheese ball be frozen?
I’ve been making this every year for years! The canned chicken gives it more flavor and is easier to blend with the other ingredients. I’ve had guests tell me it’s addictive once you start you can’t stop so take my advice and make more than one. It’s a hit!
Made this tonight for the first time. I am taking it to Bunco. I am sure they are going to love it.
Hope you all enjoy it – it’s always devoured at parties in my experience. Thanks Tracie! xo
It was a huge hit! Everyone loved it. I used 2 breasts from a rotisserie chicken and used 4 finely chopped green onions for a little color. Served with Ritz crackers.