Turkey Cheese Ball

This Turkey Cheese Ball is a delicious blend of Buddig ham, chives, and cream cheese with a coating of chopped walnuts. It is shaped into an adorable turkey and fitted with fruit and cheese kababs as turkey feathers. It is the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer.

Turkey Cheese Ball

When I entertain in the fall, I like to set out classic appetizer recipes such as spinach dip in a bread bowl, cheesy garlic bread appetizer bites, and ranch pinwheel appetizers.

You can never go wrong with a classic cheeseball recipe like the one that I grew up with. It has made a presence at every family holiday function.

Here’s What You’ll Love about this Turkey Cheese Ball

• It is easy to make
• It has very few ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store.
• It is fun and festive Thanksgiving appetizer

Turkey Cheese Ball Ingredients

To make this turkey cheese ball you’ll need…

cream cheese – I have used both regular cream cheese and 1/3 less fat. They both work great.

Chives – You’ll want a handful of crisp green chives. This adds great flavor

Buddig ham – Yes. The cheap lunchmeat hanging up near the other lunchmeats and cheeses

walnuts – Get chopped walnuts, but we are crushing them even further to form a delicious crunchy outside to the cheese ball that is brown in color.

Kabobs

cubed cheese – I bought some white cheese cubes, and a couple of yellow cheese cubes which included white cheddar, yellow cheddar, and gouda

grapes – get seedless green and purple

skewers – you’ll want the wooden skewers. Mine were around 12 inches tall, but I had to cut them down to 8 inches to work with my cheeseball

Turkey Face

orange bell pepper

whole cloves

red mini pepper – you can substitute a red bell pepper

a cube of cheese cut in a diagonal to use as the beak

Extra

whole almonds

Equipment Needed

Mixing bowls

toothpicks

How to Make a Turkey Cheese Ball

In a medium sized bowl, mix the cream cheese, chives, and ham

Set out a of wax paper and spoon the mixture onto it

Pull the wax paper up and around the cheese to form a ball

Place about 1 cup of walnut pieces into a large ziptight bag

Use a rolling pin or similar item to crush the walnut pieces into smaller bits

Pour those walnut bits onto another sheet of wax paper

Use food safe gloves to roll the cheeseball into the walnut pieces – coating the cheeseball

Place the cheeseball on a plate or platter, cover and refrigerate for at least two hours to firm the cheese back up

Meanwhile, prepare fruit and cheese kabobs

Cut skewers into 8 inch long skewers

To each skewer, add a combination of cheese, grape, cheese, two grapes

Cover and refrigerate the skewers

To make the head, cut a section of an orange bell pepper

Use kitchen shears to make a spoon-shaped head and neck

Push two whole cloves into the cutout pepper for eyes

Cut a cubed piece of cheese into a diagonal for the beak

Use a toothpick piece to stick the cheese beak onto the pepper

Cut a slice from a sweet mini red pepper for the turkey waddle

Use a toothpick piece to attach it to the turkey face

Use another toothpick to add stability so the head does not fold over

Finally, use one more toothpick as a way to attach the head to the cheeseball

When you are ready to serve your cheese ball, assemble it by pushing the turkey head into the ball

Add fruit kabobs to the back of the cheeseball as feathers

Add whole almonds to the bottom of the cheese ball in groups of three to make the turkey feet

Tips and Tricks

I like to use wax paper as a way to form the cheese ball. You can also use it as a way to pull nuts around the ball and push them into place

Food-safe gloves are a great way to keep your hands from getting coated with sticky cheese

Don’t set your turkey out too early, or the cheese will warm up and the skewers on the sides and back might start to pull downward

FAQs

What are Cheese Balls Made Of?

Typically, the base of a cheese ball is cream cheese with other ingredients folded in like chives, bacon, cheese, jalapeno, ham, and nuts.

How Long Can I Store a Cheeseball?

A covered and refrigerated cheeseball can be stored up to a week

What Type of Crackers Should I Serve with a Cheese Ball?

Fancy crackers like artisan crackers, butter crackers, or Ritz. Saltines do not pair well with cheeseballs

Will the Cheeseball Hold the Weight of the Skewers?

Yes and No. While the cheese is cold and firm, the skewers should stand perfectly fine in the cheese ball. Once the cheese softens to room temperature, the skewers on the sides might start to pull downward

Flavor Variations

While I love this easy ham and cheese ball recipe, you can use any other cheeseball recipe. The only ingredient that I would keep is a nut coating. The nut coating gives the cheese ball a brown coating for the turkey’s body.

Add-Ins: Shredded cheese, bacon, minced jalapeno, and dried cranberries

Other Serving Ideas

Spread more cheese and fruit around the platter, along with crackers for serving

Make Ahead and Storage

You can make this turkey cheeseball ahead of time, but store the parts separately. The skewers, ball, and turkey head can be covered in separate containers and assembled just before your holiday party

Serve With

More Appetizers You’ll Love

Watch My Video for Making this Turkey Cheese Ball

Printable for Turkey Cheese Ball