Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

AKA BEST MAKE AHEAD APPETIZER

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz. bricks cream cheese at room temperature

• ½ Cup sour cream

• 3 Tablespoons (one package) Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix

• ½ Teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 Tablespoon of Poppy seeds

• ¼ Fresh cracked pepper, plus more for sprinkling on before serving

• 1½ + ¼ Cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided

• 1 Pound bacon, cooked and diced, divided

• ¼ Cup chopped green onions, divided

• ½ Cup chopped Italian Parsley

• ¾ Cup roasted and salted pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Add cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, pepper and poppyseeds to a mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Add 1½ cups cheddar cheese plus half of each: bacon, green onions, and Italian parsley. Mix until everything is well incorporated.

2. Drop the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, cover tightly, and shape into a ball. Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to firm up before rolling in coating. At this point, the cheeseball can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours if making ahead.

3. For the coating: Mix remaining bacon, green onions, and Italian parsley with chopped pecans on a large cutting board or baking sheet. Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and roll in the coating mixture, pressing to adhere, until evenly coated. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies and enjoy!