Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (2024)

These keto cheese balls are a delicious, low-carb, bite-sized appetizer that’ll jazz up any party table. They’re made from a mixture of cheeses, bacon, chives, and pecans. And trust me when I say that you don’t need any carbs to make these morsels taste utterly divine!

Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (1)

What makes these cheese balls super moreish is the textured crust. The crispy bacon gives the exterior an irresistible crunch, while the garlic powder and paprika bring an amazing savory flavor.

Although they look amazing at gatherings and potlucks, these balls of goodness are ridiculously easy to make.

You just need to mix the cream cheese, cheddar, and seasonings before rolling up your balls. Then, you’ll coat them with a delectable mixture of bacon, chives, and pecans before serving. That’s right, this is a no-nonsense, no-bake recipe for the books!

So, grab your mixing bowls, prepare a baking tray with parchment paper, and get ready to roll (literally!).

Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (2)

Why You’ll Love These Keto Cheese Balls

  • They’re ready in minutes and require absolutely no baking!
  • The balls are 100% keto-friendly and don’t contain any carbs.
  • The crispy bacon and crunchy pecans give the outer shell an incredible texture that’ll keep you coming back for more!
  • You can serve them up with a keto-friendly dipping sauce to give them even more oomph.
Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (3)

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

  • Bacon: Makes up the crux of the crunchy crust. I recommend using bacon bits for extra crispiness.
  • Cream cheese: You’ll want to use two packets for this recipe, and I suggest using full-fat cheese for extra flavor. If you’re trying to reduce the calories, low fat options can work too.
  • Cheddar cheese: Any sharp cheddar cheese will be delicious in this recipe. The more mature, the better!
  • Garlic powder: For a hit of savory flavor.
  • Paprika: Adds a subtle sweetness and smokiness to the cheese mixture.
  • Chives: To bulk out the crust and add a hint of herby flavor.
  • Pecans: For extra crunch around the crust.
  • Salt & pepper: To taste.
Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (4)

How to Make Keto Cheese Balls

  • Step One: In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Step Two: Using a cookie scoop (or your hands!), roll the mixture to create 18 equal balls.
  • Step Three: Place the balls on a parchment-lined plate and refrigerate them for around an hour.
  • Step Four: Roll the cheese balls in the bacon mixture.
  • Step Five: Serve cold or at room temperature.
Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (5)

Equipment Needed

These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.

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What to Serve with Keto Cheese Balls

You can eat these keto cheese balls on their own, but they also work well with any of the following recipes.

  • Keto Butter Chicken with Noodles
  • Spinach and Cheese Egg Muffins
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Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Shape the balls small to keep them bite-sized. This also makes them slightly easier to roll around in the bacon mixture.
  • I highly recommend getting your cream cheese to room temperature before mixing it with anything else. Otherwise, you might end up with lumps.
  • If you want to make sure you get the exact number of balls, use a cookie scoop and roughly weigh each ball. You can add a small amount of extra mixture if some balls are on the tiny side!

Variations and Substitutions

  • You can dial the spice up with red pepper flakes or just a hint of cayenne pepper!
  • If you want a herbier taste, try mixed herbs or fresh mint.
  • I love using pecans, but chopped almonds or walnuts would work equally well with these keto cheese balls.
  • For an even crunchier crust, why not try out some keto bread crumbs?
  • Taco seasoning is a fun way to flavor the cream cheese for a Mexican-inspired night. I also love using a bit of bagel seasoning to jazz things up!
  • If you don’t want to use cheddar, you can use Monterey Jack, Pepperjack, or Swiss cheese for a different taste.
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Storage Instructions

You’ll want to cover the keto cheese balls in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge (if you have leftovers!). I don’t recommend storing them for more than 2 days if you’re looking for optimal freshness.

When you’re ready to serve them, you can bring them to room temperature or serve them cold from the fridge. They’re tasty both ways, and they work amazingly as a next-day lunch option!

Can I Freeze?

I honestly don’t recommend freezing these keto cheese balls as cream cheese just doesn’t freeze well.

As it’s the main ingredient in this recipe, you don’t want to risk the extreme texture change – trust me!

Keto Diet Resources

Here are some keto diet resources that I think you’ll find helpful.

Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (8)

Keto Recipes

Looking for more Keto recipes to enjoy? I got you covered.

  • Keto Butter Chicken with Noodles
  • Keto Brussels Sprouts Casserole
  • Keto Zuppa Toscana
  • Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • Keto Cauliflower Ziti
  • Lasagna Stuffed Chicken
  • Low Carb Chicken Divan

You’ll also like Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Buffalo Popcorn.

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacie, TikTok@simplystacierecipesor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (9)

Rate this Recipe

4.42 from 12 votes

Keto Cheese Balls

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 18

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Additional Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Bite sized cheese balls make a delicious low carb appetizer! Flavorful cream cheese balls are rolled in a mixture of bacon, chives and pecans.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped
  • 2 packages cream cheese 8oz/250g package, softened
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ¼ cup fresh chives chopped
  • cup pecans chopped

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Using a cookie scoop or roll with your hands to make 18 small balls. Place on a parchment lined plate and refrigerate for 1 hour.

  • In a small bowl, mix bacon, chives and pecans.

  • Roll the cheese balls in the bacon mixture. Serve cold or room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 279mg | Sugar: 1g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Appetizers

Cuisine American

Keyword Keto Cheese Balls

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Keto Cheese Balls Recipe {Low Carb Appetizer} - Simply Stacie (2024)

FAQs

Why is shredded cheese not keto? ›

As a rule of thumb, soft cheeses may be less keto cheese friendly than hard cheeses because they have more lactose (a kind of sugar). Pre-shredded cheeses sometimes contain added starches that will add more carbs to each serving. For the best keto diet cheese experience, buy whole blocks like THE BIG MOO baked cheese.

What shredded cheese is best for keto? ›

You can eat high fat foods like cheese on the Keto diet. Cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese are the best to consider. Cheese to avoid on Keto are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties. The keto diet is a low carb, high fat diet often used to promote weight loss.

What string cheese is keto friendly? ›

String Cheese

Cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, feta, mozzarella — many types of cheese are fair game on the keto diet.

What crackers are keto friendly? ›

The Best Keto Crackers
  • Whisps Crackers. These crunchy, airy crackers are made entirely of cheese and baked to perfection. ...
  • Pork Rinds. Don't underestimate the power of pork rinds! ...
  • Sow Good Super Crackers. ...
  • Cali'flour Foods Crackers. ...
  • Fat Snax Crackers. ...
  • High Key Crackers.
May 2, 2023

Can I eat unlimited cheese on keto? ›

Enjoying cheese is one of the pleasures of the keto diet. But that doesn't mean it's unlimited and unrestricted. Nutritionists say that keto practitioners need to be selective with the cheese varieties they consume while on keto and enjoy them only in moderation to avoid disrupting ketosis and hampering weight loss.

What is the healthiest cheese for keto? ›

Which are the best cheeses for keto?
  • Cream cheese: Cream cheese is very popular in the keto diet. ...
  • Goat cheese: Also keto-friendly, goat cheese is a good choice. ...
  • Parmesan cheese: Nutty, salty, and keto-friendly, grated parmesan cheese is a good option.
Nov 28, 2022

Which butter is good for keto? ›

Grass-grazed raw butter may be one of the healthiest dairy products on a ketogenic diet menu. Grass-grazed raw butter is basically pure raw fat; it has zero carbs, zero sugars and zero grams of protein. As you can see, most of butters' fat is saturated.

Is sour cream keto friendly? ›

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

What cheese has the lowest carbohydrates? ›

Goat cheese is an excellent choice for someone following the keto diet. It contains 0 carbs, making it a great way to hit your macros — 1 ounce (oz) of goat cheese also offers 103 calories, 8 g of fat, and 6 g of protein, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

What is the most filling food on keto? ›

13 of the best keto foods that keep you full
  • Mushrooms are a very filling vegetable. ...
  • Sauerkraut is rich in filling fiber. ...
  • Coconut yogurt can promote satiation. ...
  • Green pesto has an amazing fiber content. ...
  • Sardines are incredibly healthy. ...
  • Add eggs to your diet . ...
  • Make sure you are consuming full-fat dairy.
Oct 9, 2018

How many olives can I eat on keto? ›

Olives, in green or black varieties, are the perfect addition to a ketogenic diet plan. With just 3 net carbs per 100 g serving (about 10 olives), they can be eaten alongside low-carb dishes like salads, dips, or even by themselves as a snack. And olive oil is equally as beneficial.

Are pickles keto friendly? ›

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

What diet sodas are keto? ›

You can drink zero-calorie sodas while on keto. These include Diet co*ke, co*ke Zero, Diet Pepsi, and other no-carb options. You can even make homemade soda with carbonated water, fresh fruits, and plant-based sugar additives.

What ice cream is low carb? ›

Comparing keto ice cream brands
BrandVarietyNet carbs
Halo TopMacadamia Nut3 grams
So Delicious No Sugar Added Coconutmilk Frozen DessertVanilla Bean10 grams
KETO FoodsPeanut Butter Fudge Swirl3 grams
Breyer's Carb SmartCoffee Cookie Crunch5 grams
3 more rows
Jun 1, 2022

Why does shredded cheese have more carbs? ›

Pre-shredded cheeses, for example, can have starches that prevent sticking—these will add more carbs to each serving that you eat. We recommend buying whole blocks that you can slice and shred yourself.

Why is cheese bad on keto? ›

If you're following or considering keto, not all cheese is ideal for the program, however. “Processed or low-quality cheese often contains added sugar or preservatives which can increase carbohydrate content, so these should be avoided,” says Nanavati, good news since we're artisanal cheese fans here anyway.

Will cheese kick me out of ketosis? ›

All types of cheese are allowed on the keto diet, as cheese is relatively low in carbohydrate, which complies with the key principle of the keto diet. The Ketogenic diet or “keto” diet is a low carbohydrate and high fat eating plan.

Why is shredded cheese not good? ›

Cellulose is added to several food products to increase insoluble fiber in those products. There is a drawback to adding cellulose and potato starch to pre-shredded cheese. It has a negative impact for some culinary uses, such as sauces.

References

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