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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Cauliflower Ziti
  • 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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FAQs

What cheese is clean keto? ›

Some cheeses suit the keto diet better than others. This mainly comes down to their carb and fat content and level of processing. The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties.

Is cubed cheese keto? ›

Keep in mind that while all cheese can be keto it's not all carb-free. The way you buy cheese can determine its keto value because the nutritional profile of cheese varies. Soft and semi-soft cheeses often have more lactose (carbs), while semi-hard and hard cheeses usually have less lactose and are better keto cheese.

What does keto mean in cheese? ›

Keep in mind that cheeses with higher amounts of lactose, a type of sugar, tend to be higher in carbs — which is exactly what keto avoids. Keto-friendly cheeses are the ones made without extra “processing,” meaning the cheese is actually cheese and not made with lots of extra preservatives, fillers, and sugars.

Are cheese strings keto-friendly? ›

Absolutely, String Cheese is indeed keto-friendly. This derives from its nutritional profile, notably its carbohydrate content. String Cheese contains 4.44g of carbs per 100g, a relatively low amount that aligns well with the dietary restrictions of a ketogenic diet.

What cheese is not allowed on keto? ›

Cottage cheese, like ricotta, is not as keto-friendly, and you should limit the amount you eat if you're on a strict keto diet, says Weiss. While cottage cheese is known for its high protein content, it also contains a relatively high amount of carbs and not that much fat, making it a less-than-ideal choice for keto.

What cheese has the lowest carbohydrates? ›

Got cheese has the lowest carb content out of all varieties. It contains zero carbs while supplying you with 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein per 1-ounce serving. Goat cheese is also easy to digest because of the lower lactose content in goat's milk, making it suitable for keto dieters with digestive problems.

Can you eat too much cheese on keto? ›

Consuming too much cheese on a keto diet can lead to an excessive intake of saturated fat and calories, which may hinder weight loss efforts. It's essential to maintain balance and moderation in food choices to achieve optimal results.

What is the best shredded cheese for keto diet? ›

Parmesan cheese: Nutty, salty, and keto-friendly, grated parmesan cheese is a good option. It is good on caesar salads, and more can be added to replace carb-heavy croutons. A tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese contains . 7 grams of carbs, 1.4 grams of protein, 1.4 grams of fat, and has 21 calories.

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.

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.

Which milk is better for keto? ›

Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, macadamia nut milk, flax milk, soy milk, cashew milk, and pea milk along with half-and-half and heavy cream are all keto-friendly milk options.

What fruit can I eat on keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

What snack food has no carbs? ›

In general, zero-carb foods and keto snacks include the following: Essentially all meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.) Fish (salmon and tuna are delicious options)

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 cheese is considered clean? ›

Buy actual cheddar, actual havarti, or gouda. There are so many options out there! The safest bet is always the block or wedge. If you can afford organic, that's always the better option, but not essential.

Can you have cheese on a clean diet? ›

For those who can tolerate dairy, cheeses can be a healthy and nutritious source of proteins and healthy fats if consumed in moderation. Cheese is allowed in the clean eating meal plan, but with an asterisk. Processed cheese slices or other packaged foods that contain cheese should be avoided.

Is feta cheese clean keto? ›

Over all the hundreds of cheeses that are available, the best ones for a keto diet include: cheddar, blue cheese, goat's cheese, feta, halloumi, cream cheese and cottage cheese. Cheese should be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

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