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A creamy Dill Pickle Cheese Ball coated in shredded cheese and herbs, garnished with fresh dill and served with crackers and pickles.
Daniel

Dill Pickle Cheese Ball

A tangy, creamy party centerpiece loaded with dill pickle flavor and rolled in crunchy coating - the ultimate retro appetizer that disappears fast.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 245

Ingredients
  

For the Cheese Ball
  • 16 oz cream cheese softened, full-fat
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded, cold
  • 0.5 cup dill pickles finely diced, plus 2 tbsp brine
  • 1.5 tsp dried dill weed
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For the Coating
  • 0.5 cup chopped pecans toasted, cooled
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill minced
  • 1 tsp dried dill weed

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Plastic wrap
  • Small plate or shallow dish

Method
 

Make the Cheese Mixture
  1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a rubber spatula until completely smooth and no lumps remain, about 2 minutes. This is the foundation - any lumps now stay lumpy later.
  2. Add the shredded cheddar, diced pickles, pickle brine, dried dill, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Fold together until evenly distributed but do not overmix - you want visible flecks of pickle and cheese, not a homogeneous paste.
  3. Scrape the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Gather the wrap around the cheese and use your hands to form a tight, round ball about 5 inches across. Twist the plastic to seal and refrigerate at least 2 hours until firm enough to hold its shape.
Prepare the coating
  1. On a small plate, combine the toasted pecans, minced fresh dill, and dried dill weed. Toss with your fingers until evenly mixed.
  2. Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll it directly in the coating mixture, pressing gently so the nuts and herbs adhere all over. Pat any bare spots with your hands. Transfer to a serving plate and let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before serving for best texture.

Notes

For extra pickle punch, use dill pickle relish instead of hand-diced pickles - just drain it well first. Make this up to 3 days ahead and keep wrapped in the fridge; add the coating just before serving so the nuts stay crunchy. Serve with sturdy crackers like Ritz or Triscuits, or thick-cut potato chips that can handle the weight.