Ingredients
Gathering your ingredients is the first step in any culinary adventure. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
Feel free to experiment with substitutions, like using turkey bacon or adding a dash of hot sauce if you love extra heat!
Instructions
Let’s dive into the steps that will bring these savory bites to life:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, chopped jalapeños, and green onions. Mix until well combined.
- Add in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until all the spices are evenly distributed.
- Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1-inch balls. This part always reminds me of helping my abuela in the kitchen, rolling out dough for tortillas.
- Place the crushed tortilla chips in a shallow dish. Roll each cheese ball in the chips until fully coated, pressing gently to ensure they stick.
- Transfer the cheese balls to a lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow them to firm up.
- Once chilled, serve and enjoy! These can be made a day in advance, which makes them perfect for stress-free entertaining.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International