What the heck is this?
It’s like your favorite pickle dip leveled up, rolled into a ball, and made ready to party. Cream cheese + shredded cheese + chopped pickles = magic. Add some dill, garlic, and a crunchy coating, and boom — the cheese ball of your dreams. It’s tangy, creamy, a little zippy, and wildly snackable. Bring it to your next potluck and watch it disappear in minutes.
Perfect for holidays, game day spreads, backyard BBQs, or when you’re just craving something unapologetically cheesy and pickle-y.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Pickle lovers: this one’s for you.
No oven, no stove — just mix, chill, and roll.
Ultra-creamy and packed with flavor.
Perfect make-ahead party snack.
Customizable with different coatings or mix-ins.
The Stuff You’ll Need
- 2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar (sharp is best)
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles (dry them a bit with paper towels)
- 1 tbsp pickle juice (for that extra zing)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp fresh dill or 1 tsp dried
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Coating
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles or pickle chips
- ½ cup chopped fresh dill or green onion
- ½ cup crushed pretzels, Ritz crackers, or bacon bits (optional but fun)
Let’s Get Rollin’
- Mix it up: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, and dill. Stir (or use a hand mixer) until fully blended and creamy.
- Shape it: Scoop it all into the center of a piece of plastic wrap, then use the wrap to form a ball. Twist the ends and pop it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour (longer = firmer).
- Coat it up: After chilling, unwrap and roll the cheese ball in your topping mixture until fully coated and fancy.
- Serve it up: Place on a cute board with crackers, pretzels, veggie sticks — whatever you like.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with buttery crackers, pretzel sticks, celery, cucumber slices, or pita chips.
Top with extra pickle slices or a tiny pickle skewer for that chef’s kiss moment.
Pair with an ice-cold beer or a crisp white wine.
Switch It Up
Add chopped bacon or ham for a meaty bite.
Use spicy pickles for heat or bread & butter pickles for a sweet-tangy vibe.
Shape into mini cheese balls and roll in different toppings for a party platter.
Swap cheddar for pepper jack or smoked gouda for a twist.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I make it ahead of time?
A: Totally! Make 1–2 days ahead and store tightly wrapped in the fridge. Just roll in toppings right before serving for max crunch.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Not recommended — the texture gets weird when thawed.
Q: What if I don’t like dill?
A: Try chives or parsley instead — and go lighter on the pickles. But also… this is a dill pickle cheese ball
Creamy Dill Pickle Cheese Ball: Tangy, Crunchy, Addictive
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Description
It’s like your favorite pickle dip leveled up, rolled into a ball, and made ready to party. Cream cheese + shredded cheese + chopped pickles = magic. Add some dill, garlic, and a crunchy coating, and boom — the cheese ball of your dreams. It’s tangy, creamy, a little zippy, and wildly snackable. Bring it to your next potluck and watch it disappear in minutes.
Ingredients
2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, softened
1½ cups shredded cheddar (sharp is best)
½ cup chopped dill pickles (dry them a bit with paper towels)
1 tbsp pickle juice (for that extra zing)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp fresh dill or 1 tsp dried
Salt & pepper to taste
For the Coating
½ cup chopped dill pickles or pickle chips
½ cup chopped fresh dill or green onion
½ cup crushed pretzels, Ritz crackers, or bacon bits (optional but fun)
Instructions
Mix it up: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, and dill. Stir (or use a hand mixer) until fully blended and creamy.
Shape it: Scoop it all into the center of a piece of plastic wrap, then use the wrap to form a ball. Twist the ends and pop it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour (longer = firmer).
Coat it up: After chilling, unwrap and roll the cheese ball in your topping mixture until fully coated and fancy.
Serve it up: Place on a cute board with crackers, pretzels, veggie sticks — whatever you like.
Notes
Serve with buttery crackers, pretzel sticks, celery, cucumber slices, or pita chips.
Top with extra pickle slices or a tiny pickle skewer for that chef’s kiss moment.
Pair with an ice-cold beer or a crisp white wine.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~210 per serving
- Protein: ~5g