This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. Full Disclosure Policy.
Easy and fast to mix up, and place in the fridge for later. A great make-ahead appetizer, this Ham & Pineapple Cheese Ball is sure to please the majority of guests!
Hi! This easy cheese ball recipe is deliciously simple and a HIT at parties, holidays and game days.
It’s one of those recipes that you literally just mix up and refrigerate, then pull out and serve. Total winner!!
Is this easy? Is it quick to make?
HECK YEAH!! I mix this up in under 5 minutes and set it in the fridge for later. I roll it in pecans, then set it on a platter – ready to serve whenever I am! Just add some crackers, and you’re good to go.
Meat + Fruit = okay, or no?
There are two distinct camps about mixing fruit and meat – those who love it (hi there Hawaiian pizza) and those who think it’s all wrong and should never happen. And then there are those that love Hawaiian pizza, but say that fruit and meat should never mix in any other way, ever. Hi there, Husband. Contradicting yourself a little there, but you just do you, okay?
Want another Cheese Ball Recipe? Grab my Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball.
Ingredients:
- CREAM CHEESE – softened, so it’s easy to mix
- PINEAPPLE – I use crushed, as it is then able to tasted in every single bite!
- POWDERED SUGAR – totally optional, but I think it works well with these flavors. Not a fan of sweet? Add a dash of hot sauce!
- GREEN ONIONS – don’t leave these out! They add a pretty color and subtle flavor
- HAM – I use a high quality thin sliced deli ham that I then chop into fine pieces
- CHOPPED PECANS – what is a cheese ball if not rolled in chopped pecans?
How to make this recipe:
- Mix all ingredients aside from the pecans together, and roll the mixture into a ball (I put it in plastic wrap to shape).
- Chill until firm, then roll in crushed pecans.
- Refrigerate until you want to serve. Allow to warm to room temperature (so you can dig in easily!).
- Serve with crackers.
- Devour.
FAQs and Kylee’s Notes
- You may like to add blue cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese (I use pre-shredded cheeses to keep this super fast)
- You can use a stand mixer to mix this, but I generally just use a large mixing bowl.
- Add a little garlic powder or ranch dressing mix for some added flavor!
- More appetizer recipes
- Baked Chicken Taquitos – Baked in the oven, not fried – easy to make, super delicious, and freezer friendly.
- Ham & Cheese Savory Palmiers – Make ahead, and bake as your guests arrive –yummy!
- Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls – sweet corn, black beans, spinach and cilantro. These are as tasty as they sound!
WANT TO TRY THIS RECIPE?
PIN IT TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARDS!
FIND ME ON PINTEREST FOR MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES!
Ham & Pineapple Cheese Ball
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 8 oz crushed pineapple (canned) drained
- 1 Tbs powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tbs green onions chopped
- 1/3 cup ham chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together, and form into a ball (I put it in plastic wrap to shape)
- Chill until firm, then roll in crushed pecans.
- Refrigerate until you want to serve.
- Devour.
nutrition facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
Recipes written and produced on Kylee Cooks are for informational purposes only. Kylee is not a certified nutritionist. Nutritional data provided on Kylee Cooks has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration.
Lexi says
I saw this recipe a few yrs ago on Pinterest, not sure if it was this blog or not. It is a HIT!!! Everyone loved it and I make it often! Only thing is that I make it as a dip, not a ball. I put it in a clear Pyrex bowl. Yum!!!!
Paul says
I had ham for Christmas. I do mine with red pop ,brown sugar.,and ham. I am going to try the cheeseball
Dorota says
Świetnie wygląda muszę wypróbować 🙂
Uwielbiam takie połączenia 🙂
Tiffany says
Hi Kylee! My eyes li t up seeing this recipe. Can you please share what ham you used? We don’t but a lot of ham here, so I don’t know which to select. The thin deli sandwich meat kind? A whole slab? Help me out here! (Please and thank you!)
Tiffany says
Sorry for the misspelling!
Lit* up
Buy*
Kylee says
Hi Tiffany
You can use any ham you like! I’ve used deli ham, sliced, and also chunked up some leftover easter ham!
Anita says
How long will it last. Can i make it a week ahead..?
Kylee says
I would only make this a few days ahead, and maybe wait to roll in the nuts – or they’ll go soggy
Linda says
Last time I made this was Oct 4, 2014 for a baby shower for my daughter to help out the friends giving it. I guess I was running late putting it together & had to microwave the cream cheese so it was more ‘creamy’ than the usual cheeseball. Still it tasted great. I’ve been looking for the recipe since then. Thought I knew the ‘work place’ cookbook the recipe was in & even who had put it in. Nope, no luck. Do not think it had the powdered sugar & we have a small can like tuna of canned ham [not spam] that my recipe originally called for. So glad I found your recipe. Saving it on Pinterest this time. Plan to have it this Christmas for sure – cant wait! By the way, my daughter had our first granddaughter the next day! [2 weeks early]
Beth says
I love your ham and pineapple cheese ball! It’s beautiful and delicious, too! I included it in my most recent blog post: https://talesfromwalnutstreet.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/keeping-it-simple-for-the-holidays/
I hope you don’t mind! Thanks for the inspiration! Happy Holidays!
Kylee says
Not at all – thanks for sharing, Beth!
Kate says
I’m having ham and cheese on pizza for lunch today!
Kylee says
I LOVE me some hawaiian pizza!