Name: Southwest Cheese Ball
Prep time: 2 h 15 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature; 1/4 cup finely diced onion; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles; Chopped cilantro; Assorted crackers, for serving

This Southwest Cheese Ball is filled with all of your favorite Tex-Mex flavors – green chiles, cheese, and cilantro. Great for parties or game nights.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

If you love cheese balls, you also need to try my classic Cheese Ball Recipe, or try a dessert version, like this Red Velvet Cheese Ball.

Southwest Cheese Ball covered in cilantro on a plate with various crackers. — I’m a sucker for a good cheese ball, and I’m a sucker for anything with a Tex-Mex twist.

So you can bet that this Southwest Cheese Ball is right up my alley!

Filled with great southwestern flavors – like green chile and cilantro – this is a tasty appetizer perfect for any party.

I like to serve it up with an assortment of crackers, but it would also be great with veggies – like bell pepper sticks or celery sticks.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese: Make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature so that it mixes together easily.
Cheddar Cheese: I like to use sharp cheddar because it gives you the most flavor. Feel free to swap in another cheddar. Or use pepper jack – that would be delicious, too!
Butter: The butter helps with the consistency of the cheese ball. This needs to be at room temperature, as well.
Onion: The onion adds lots of flavor, but no one wants to bite into a big onion chunk. So make sure to dice this finely!
Garlic Powder: The garlic powder adds great flavor.
Green Chiles: This is my favorite ingredient in this cheese ball. If I can find them, I like to use Hatch green chiles.
Cilantro: The cilantro is what you roll the cheese ball in. Not only does it add tons of flavor, but a beautiful color, as well!

How to Make a Southwest Cheese Ball

Start by beating the cream cheese to make sure it is nice and smooth. I like to use a hand mixer, but you can do this by hand with a rubber spatula.
Mix in the cheese and butter.
Add the onion, garlic powder, and green chile and mix to combine.
Lay 2 pieces of plastic wrap on a counter, perpendicular to each other so that they cross in the middle. Place the cheese ball mixture on the center.
Bring the sides of the plastic wrap together to form a ball. Refrigerate this mixture for at least 2 hours.
Once the mixture has been refrigerated, unwrap and roll the ball in cilantro before serving.

Southwest Cheese Ball covered in cilantro and covered by crackers.

Tips and Tricks

I don’t drain the green chiles, so the mixture is a little more loose than a typical cheese ball. That’s why refrigerating this is important. You need to refrigerate the cheese ball for at least 2 hours, but I like to keep it in the fridge overnight.

This can be fully customizable! Add in some chili powder or cumin, switch up the cheese, add in some diced jalapeno for extra heat – get creative!

You can add a little cilantro or a lot. I like a lot because the bits with cilantro are my favorite.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

This southwest cheese ball can be made several days in advance and refrigerated. Just don’t roll it in the cilantro until you are ready to serve.

If you do have leftovers, place it in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-5 days.

Southwest Cheese Ball with a bite taken from it showing interior.

More Party Appetizers

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Crockpot BBQ Grape Jelly Meatballs
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Bacon and Cream Cheese Crescent Appetizer

Looking for more free recipes?

Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.