Bland cheese balls sitting untouched on the appetizer table, you have seen it happen too many times. People take one polite bite and move on to something else, leaving you wondering why you bothered. The problem is not you, it is the recipe. Most cheese balls lack depth, complexity, and that wow factor that makes people go back for more. This French onion version solves everything with caramelized onions, real Gruyere, and layers of savory flavor that actually excite your taste buds.
This delicious classic cheese ball recipe is the perfect cheese ball to make during this holiday season for a holiday party as it is always a crowd favorite for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Eve. It is also a great recipe to make for football Sunday game day and is also the perfect appetizer for family gatherings, parties and special occasions. Since this french onion cheese ball is a family favorite, it can also be a great idea to make as an after school snack.
This was inspired by my French onion soup burgers recipe on this site, and pairs well with this hot honey chicken and waffles recipe.
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Ingredients
The base of this French onion soup cheese ball is made with a cream cheese mixture of cream cheese, caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, an onion soup packet, salt and pepper. The cheese ball is then coated with a layer of shredded gruyere cheese. This cheese ball mixture can be served with your favorite crackers, raw veggies or baguette slices.
- cream cheese
- onion
- butter
- onion soup packets
- gruyere cheese
- salt
- pepper
- crackers of choice
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Dice onion. Add to a medium frying pan with butter or olive oil. Cook on medium low for about 40 minutes or until onion are caramelized, stirring often.
- Step 2: Shred gruyere cheese. Place room temperature or softened cream cheese in a small mixing bowl. Add caramelized onion, French onion soup mix packet, ¾ of the gruyere cheese, salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
- Step 3: Using a small bowl, form cream cheese mixture to the bowl. Flip over on a plate to remove cheese ball. Smooth edges into a ball shape with hands.
- Step 4: Cover cheese ball with remaining gruyere cheese, pressing lightly into cheese ball so it sticks. Serve immediately with your favorite crackers or save for later.
Hint: low and slow is the only way to develop true caramelized flavor. High heat burns the sugars and creates bitterness instead of sweetness. This process will take about 30-40 minutes and should not be rushed in order to get that true, deep french onion flavor.
Substitutions
- Cream Cheese - instead of cream cheese use dairy free creamy cheese for a dairy free version
- Gruyere Cheese - use a vegan cheese for a dairy free option
- Crackers - use a gluten free cracker to make this recipe gluten free
Variations
- Crab Rangoon - mix crab meat and cover with sweet Thai chili sauce for a crab rangoon version
- Jalapeño Popper and Bacon Cheese Ball - add diced jalapeno, bacon and cheddar cheese with the cream cheese
- Honey Pecan - mix honey and pecan pieces to make a honey pecan cheese ball
See this crab rangoon version recipe on my website!
Equipment
To make this easy appetizer recipe you will need a sharp knife and cutting board, a medium or large mixing bowl and a small bowl. Serving knife or small serving spoon is also helpful to have. To mix the cream cheese mixture, for best results use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
How to Store French Onion Cheese Ball
Store the leftover homemade cheese ball in a fridge covered with a sheet of plastic wrap for up to 3-5 days.
These don't stand up well to freezing.
Top Tip
Remove the cheese ball from the fridge 30 minutes before serving. Cold cheese ball is too firm to spread and the flavors remain muted when served straight from the refrigerator.
FAQ
This cheese ball can be made up to 3 days in advance. This allows the flavors to meld together and also gives you more time to prep other foods the day of hosting. I suggest adding the outer layer of cheese right before serving so it doesn't get hard.
Buy pre caramelized onion jam but reduce the amount to half what the recipe calls for in fresh onions. Store bought versions contain added sugar and vinegar that concentrate the flavor.
Use dairy free cream cheese like Kite Hill and vegan Gruyere style cheese. The texture will be slightly different but the flavor profile remains similar. Add nutritional yeast to boost the cheesy flavor.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
📖 Recipe
Easy French Onion Soup Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- 1 sharp knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 large onions
- 2 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1 onion soup packet
- 8 oz gruyere cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Dice onion. Add to a medium frying pan with butter or olive oil. Cook on medium low for about 40 minutes or until onion are caramelized, stirring often.
- Shred gruyere cheese. Place room temperature or softened cream cheese in a small mixing bowl. Add caramelized onion, French onion soup mix packet, ¾ of the gruyere cheese, salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
- Using a small bowl, form cream cheese mixture to the bowl. Flip over on a plate to remove cheese ball. Smooth edges into a ball shape with hands.
- Cover cheese ball with remaining gruyere cheese, pressing lightly into cheese ball so it sticks. Serve immediately with your favorite crackers or save for later.
Notes
- save leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- these ingredients do not stand up well to freezing.
Nutrition
If you have any questions about how to make this french onion cheese ball or need other appetizer suggestions, leave a comment below!
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