Pineapple Cheese Ball

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 07/3/21
Pineapple Cheeseball

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Chill Time: 60 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 ball
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
452 Calories
41g Fat
20g Carbs
7g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 452
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 52%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 57mg 19%
Sodium 458mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 344mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Cheese balls of all flavors have been party appetizer staples for decades and are still popular today. Even with the wide variety of snacks and treats served nowadays at holiday parties, showers, cocktail parties, and other gatherings, nothing can beat the simple and delicious retro cheese ball. Some even believe that no appetizer table is complete without a good, old-fashioned cheese ball.

This recipe contains crushed pineapple for a hint of tropical, fruity flavor. When added to a traditional cream cheese mix along with bell pepper and onion, it takes the flavor and appearance to the next level. Bonus: pineapple is traditionally a symbol of hospitality, making it the perfect addition to a party menu or appetizer table. In other words, a pineapple cheese ball says “welcome!” to your guests.

Pair the pineapple cheese ball with a plate of assorted crackers and a variety of crudités like carrot sticks and celery sticks. You will find it disappears fast, so you might need to make extra. It’s no problem to have more on hand because they only take a few minutes to whip up and can be prepared well in advance of the party since they keep well in the refrigerator until serving time.

Ingredients

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

  • 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained

  • 2 cups pecans, finely chopped, divided

  • 2 tablespoons green bell pepper, finely diced

  • 2 tablespoons onion, finely diced

  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

  • Crackers, for serving

  • 1 cup celery sticks, for serving

  • 1 cup carrot sticks, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Pineapple Cheeseball ingredients
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, pineapple, 1 cup of the chopped pecans, green bell pepper, onion, and seasoned salt. 

    Pineapple Cheeseball ingredients in a bowl
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Shape the cream cheese mixture into a ball and roll in the remaining 1 cup of chopped pecans.

    Pineapple Cheeseball on a board
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (about an hour). 

    Pineapple Cheeseball wrapped and chilled
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Serve with crackers, carrot sticks, or celery sticks. 

Tips

  • Commercially-produced seasoned salt is a blend of table salt, herbs, spices, and sometimes monosodium glutamate (MSG). If you want to control the ingredients by making your own seasoned salt, combine table salt with dried thyme, marjoram, garlic powder, paprika, dry mustard, and onion powder. It can be kept in an airtight container and used whenever a recipe calls for seasoned salt.
  • This recipe calls for the traditional block-style plain cream cheese. These are sold in 8-ounce blocks and when softened are perfect for recipes like cheese balls or cheesecake. Cream cheese is also sold in tubs or in whipped varieties. While tub-style and whipped cream cheese are perfect for spreading on a bagel, they are not suitable for this cheese ball recipe. They tend to have more air incorporated into the product and won't garner the same results as block-style cream cheese.