Pumpkin-Shaped Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheeseball

A festive Thanksgiving appetizer everyone will love!

If you’re looking for the cutest, easiest, and most crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving appetizer… this Pumpkin-Shaped Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheeseball is it. I make this every single year, and it’s always the first thing devoured while we’re all hanging around the kitchen and waiting on the turkey.

It’s creamy, savory, a little spicy, and packed with cheddar, ranch, and crispy bacon - basically everything delicious wrapped into one adorable pumpkin. Best of all? It’s surprisingly simple to shape using jute string and plastic wrap. This is the ultimate holiday

share-board moment.

🧡 Ingredients

• 1 block cream cheese, softened to room temperature

• 12 slices cooked bacon, chopped

• 1 ½ large jalapeños, diced, seeds and membranes removed

  • Use 2 jalapeños if you love extra heat!

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for coating the outside

• 1 ½ tablespoons ranch seasoning

• Press & Seal or plastic wrap

• Jute string, for tying and shaping

• 1 bell pepper stem, for the pumpkin “top”

🧡 Instructions:

1. Mix the Cheeseball Base

In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cooked chopped bacon, diced jalapeños, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.

2. Shape Into a Ball

Using your hands, form the mixture into a round cheeseball. It doesn’t have to be perfect once it’s wrapped, it will naturally smooth out.

3. Wrap and Tie the “Pumpkin”

Place your cheeseball in a large sheet of Press & Seal or plastic wrap. Wrap tightly, then use jute string to tie around the ball four times (like tying a present), creating indents that will form the pumpkin ridges.

4. Chill

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best for the firmest, prettiest pumpkin shape.

5. Unwrap and Decorate

Cut off the jute, unwrap your cheeseball, and admire the pumpkin shape!

Top with a bell pepper stem to complete the pumpkin look.

6. Serve

Place your cheeseball on a platter and serve with:

• assorted crackers

• pretzels

• celery sticks

• sliced bell peppers

• carrot sticks

Perfect for snacking before Thanksgiving dinner or bringing to a fall party!

🧡 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Festive + adorable - looks like you spent hours on it

• Crowd-pleaser - everyone loves a cheeseball

• Easy prep ahead - make it the night before

• Kid-friendly to help with shaping!

• Customizable - make it spicier, smokier, or cheesier

This Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball is a tradition in our family and brings such a fun, festive touch to the Thanksgiving table. And truly - it sits beautifully as a centerpiece on your Thanksgiving spread or right in the middle of a charcuterie board, adding instant charm to your holiday grazing setup.

🧡 Love This Recipe?

Share your cheeseball creations with me over on Instagram!

Tag @sincerelychefmom so I can see your Thanksgiving boards.