By: Jill Mills Posted: Dec 9, 2025

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Salty dried beef combines with tangy cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese to make this irresistible Chipped Beef Cheese Ball. Serve with crackers for the perfect appetizer for Christmas, New Year’s, or game day.

A chipped beef cheese ball surrounded by crackers

Cheese balls are one of my favorite types of appetizers to make for parties and a lovely addition to charcuterie boards. They’re easy to make and made for sharing. I’ve made many different variations over the years, like my jalapeno popper cheese ball, French onion cheese ball, and festive Rudolph Christmas cheese ball. This chipped beef cheese ball is a new favorite – not just according to me but according to the entire family. The creamy texture and salty, savory flavor is simply a hit with everyone!

Why This Chipped Beef Cheese Ball Is A Holiday Favorite

Meaty flavor. I think this is one of the only cheese ball recipes I’ve tried where the focus is on meat. The dried beef adds salty, beefy flavor throughout that’s enhanced by a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Yum!
Great for game day. This chipped beef cheese ball recipe has been very highly requested at the last few game days I’ve attended. Guests cannot get enough of the savory, salty, beefy flavor! It’s also a great option for holidays and New Year’s Eve parties.
No cooking required. I think this is a great appetizer option when you’re looking for something that tastes great and requires minimal effort. All you need is a mixing bowl, an electric mixer, and some plastic wrap to make and shape this cheese ball.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make chipped beef cheese ball

Recipe Ingredients

This cheese ball is made with just 5 ingredients and a few spices. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Cream cheese – I used full fat cream cheese for this and am unsure if a lesser fat cream cheese would yield the same results. I suspect that it might be a bit too soft to hold the shape.
Worcestershire sauce – Adds more savory meaty flavor throughout the entire cheese ball.
Spices – Ground black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder season the cream cheese.
Dried beef – Sometimes labeled as chipped beef. It typically comes in slices so be sure to finely dice it into small pieces. Look for this in the canned meat aisle of the grocery store.
Green onion tops – Green onion adds flavor without the harsh bite of regular raw onion. Scallions are another option.
Grated cheese – I used sharp white cheddar because I like the strong, sharp flavor. Any other grated cheese works too.

How To Make Chipped Beef Cheese Ball

This dried beef cheese ball takes little effort to prepare. Just remember to make it in advance, as it needs to chill for two hours. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Cream cheese, chipped beef, green onion, and cheddar cheese in a bowl

Chipped beef cream cheese mixture wrapped in plastic

Mix the cream cheese. Add the softened cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and spices to a bowl. Mix with an electric mixer until combined and smooth.
Add the other ingredients. Add ¾ of the dried beef, diced green onions, and shredded cheese to the mixture. (Reserve the remaining ¼ of each ingredient for later.) Stir until everything is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Shape the ball. Spoon the mixture onto plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic around the cheese ball mixture, fully covering it, and using your hands to mold it into a ball.
Chill. Refrigerate the cheese ball for at least 2 hours.
Garnish. Combine the remaining beef and cheese on a medium plate. Place the unwrapped cheese ball on the plate. Press the mixture into the surface of the entire ball.
Serve. Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle the remaining green onions on top. Serve with crackers.

Overhead view of a dried beef cheese ball surrounded by crackers

Tips & Variations

Here are a few things I’ve found handy to keep in mind while making this chipped beef cheese ball.

Use freshly grated cheese. I like to use freshly grated cheese off the block as it yields more, and it doesn’t have the cornstarch mixed into it leaving the whitish powder. But, if you only have pre-shredded, that works well too.
Skip the salt. This recipe is salty due to the dried beef, so it’s unlikely you’ll need additional. Taste to determine yourself before adding salt.
Chill the ball. The cheese mixture will be very soft at first. Using the plastic wrap to shape it into a ball is helpful, and it will solidify more in the fridge. Once it’s solid, it’s easy to decorate and garnish.
Room temperature cream cheese. Remember to soften the cream cheese to room temperature before starting the recipe. Cold cream cheese is lumpy and much harder to mix.
Add some nuts. Feel free to add some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.

A hand holding a cracker dipped in chipped beef cheese ball

Serving

My go-to for this chipped beef cheese ball is to serve it surrounded by crackers, such as Ritz crackers. Pretzels, crostini, and fresh vegetables are also good options.

One thing to keep in mind is that this is much easier to serve when it’s at room temperature. If you chill it after assembly, I recommend pulling it from the fridge about 30 minutes or so before serving.

Make Ahead & Storage

This dried beef cheese ball is a great appetizer that can be made days in advance. Once assembled, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Before serving, I would allow it to sit covered at room temperature for an hour or so to make it more spreadable. It’s best enjoyed within 4-5 days.

5 from 1 vote