dried beef cheese ball with ritz crackers on table

Dried Beef Cheese Ball Dip

Cheese Dips & Cheese Balls, Southern Appetizers

This dried beef cheese ball is perfect for parties, get togethers, game days, and really… any time you want people to congregate.

I first heard about dried beef from my mother.

Like all good things in life.

She was introduced to it when she married into my dad's family. My grandfather was a wonderful cook in addition to being a great doctor. One of his signature dishes was "chipped beef" on toast.

It included dried beef and a yummy cream sauce on top of crisp, toasted bread. She thought it was delicious and so simple.

It just goes to show you that a little jar of dried beef can be used in more ways than you might think…like a cheese ball for instance!!

Psstt… this pimento cheese dip and this pineapple cheeseball are fan favorites.

cream cheese, dried beef, cheese ball ingredients, green spatula

What to eat with your dried beef cheese ball

This dried beef cheese ball can be served with a variety of crackers from whole wheat to veggie and everything in between.

Two of my favorites are Ritz crackers and Captain's Wafers.

I have been known to coat these buttery crackers with Ranch dressing while waiting for my meal in a restaurant…but that is a story for another time. In addition to crackers, any type of chip, like Tostitos or Ruffles would be a nice change of pace.

As long as they are stiff enough to dive into the tasty cheese ball, they are good to go.

dried beef cheese ball, cream cheese ball with green onions and dried beef in saran wrap on blue and white striped tea towel

How long will it keep in the fridge and how to store it

One of the main ingredients in this cheese ball is the cream cheese, which ordinarily lasts for a week or two in the refrigerator once it's opened. Wrap thecheese ball securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

After forming thecheese ball and it's ready to be put into the refrigerator, it's important the wrapping is done well. Not only does it help theball keep its shape, but it can prevent spoilage. Using the fresh green onion tops, which is a perishable ingredient, may reduce the storage life of the cheese ball by days.

Tofreeze – you can wrap the cheese ball – uncoated with onions – in plastic wrap and inside a resealable freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to a month. Then you can bring it out and add your fresh onions.

If the party is happening the same day, completely prepare the cheese ball and refrigerate, wrapped tightly, until time for the festivities to begin!

Ingredients for the Dried Beef Cheese Ball

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ( 4.5 oz) jar dried beef, finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 tsp. mustard
  • 2 to 3 green onion tops, finely chopped
dried beef cheese ball on white plate and wooden table with ritz crackers

Directions for dried beef cheese ball

Directions

  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, dried beef, mustard, and green onion tops.
  2. Shape into a ball.
  3. Refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.
  4. This recipe may be doubled for a large crowd.

This recipe was first published in Cancer Freeze: Cookin' For A Cure. Printed with permission.

dried beef cheese ball with ritz crackers on table

Dried Beef Cheese Ball

This dried beef cheese ball is perfect for parties, get togethers, game days, and really… any time you want people to congregate.

Prep Time 10 mins

Optional Refrigeration Time 1 hr

Total Time 10 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 164 kcal

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 4.5 oz jar dried beef finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 tsp. mustard
  • 2 to 3 green onion tops finely chopped

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, dried beef, mustard, and green onion tops.

  • Shape into a ball.

  • Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

  • This recipe may be doubled for a large crowd.

Calories: 164 kcal Carbohydrates: 3 g Protein: 7 g Fat: 14 g Saturated Fat: 7 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g Cholesterol: 39 mg Sodium: 430 mg Potassium: 143 mg Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 2 g Vitamin A: 411 IU Vitamin C: 1 mg Calcium: 33 mg Iron: 1 mg

Let us know how it was!

Rachel Norman

Rachel is a southern born and bred mother of 5 and founder of Southern Eats & Goodies. She's an entrepreneur, country girl, and world traveler who speaks 3 languages and loves Southern food.