Make Amy’s Turkey Cheese Ball and watch your friends and family gobble him up!

If you are looking for a simple delicious appetizer that travels well look no farther!  My cheese ball has become a staple at family gatherings.  The kids are especially fond of when I sculpt it into shapes or let them use their own creativity.  The turkey cheese ball is one of their most  favorite!   Scroll down to find other ideas and inspiration to create other delicious appetizers using my cheese ball recipe.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz cream cheese
• 4 oz onion dip (like for chips)
• 2 cups shredded Colby and Monterrey jack cheese
• 1/2 TB Worcestershire sauce
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 2 TB Mrs. Dash original salt substitute.
• 1 celery stalk finely chopped
• 1 green onion finely chopped
• 1/4 cup carrots finely chopped or shredded
• Ritz cracker crumbs or seasoned bread crumbs.

For our friends outside the U.S.- Mrs. Dash is a salt free seasoning blend of herbs and spices.

To make your own or to substitute for Mrs. Dash combine:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp parsley flakes
• 1 tsp onion powder or crushed dried onion
• 1-1/2 tsp lemon pepper

Directions:

Set aside cracker crumbs. (They will be used to coat the outside of the finished cheese ball.)

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, onion dip, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Mrs. Dash, celery, onions and carrots. When mixture is creamy work in the shredded cheese and form a ball.

Coat cheese ball with cracker crumbs.   You could also coat with more cheese, chopped nuts, crouton crumbs, herbs…

This ball is very moist and will remain fairly soft even after being refrigerated.  You can refrigerate cheese-ball up to 5 days.  Ours never lasts that long, but I have been known to add it to our mac-n -cheese.

Other Ideas:

For turkey: Shape the turkey body, and coat with cracker crumbs. Use Pepperidge Farm Cracker Trio, or other crackers for tail feathers and wings.  Use chopped nuts and whole pepper corns for the eyes, a sliver of cheese for the beak (held in place with a tooth pick) and red bell pepper for the wattle.  (Cut a sliver from the top of the pepper. It has a natural curve to it perfect for the wattle just waiting for you!)

Denney was helping me and gave me this great photo bomb!

Mini Turkey Cheese Ball

Celeste was the master mind behind taking a mini cheese ball and making it into a mini turkey cheese ball!

Mini cheese-balls.  Roll mixture into small balls and roll in a variety of coatings like: cracker or crouton crumbs, chopped nuts, parsley flakes, Parmesan cheese…

To make a Christmas tree, or wreath- form desired shape and coat in dried parsley leaves, dice bell peppers to use for decorations.  (The moistness from the cheese-ball will soften the dried parsley flakes. The taste is amazing.) Top with a cheddar star.

To make a snowman, coat with Parmesan cheese.

Watch Amy’s Kitchen for more ideas for this and other great cheese ball recipes!

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