Simple Cheese Ball Recipe with Dried Tomatoes (5 Minutes, No Nuts)

This simple cheese ball recipe with dried tomatoes calls for only 5 ingredients, takes 5 minutes and has no nuts! The classic combination of cream cheese, garlic, and seasonings with dried tomatoes creates an appetizer with a delightful flavor that is also allergy-friendly, making it a perfect choice for any party. Plus the combo of the red dried tomatoes and coating of green chives makes a festive holiday addition to a charcuterie board. And trust me – this tastes amazing spread on artisan bread!

Looking for simple appetizers? Try my Quick Low Carb Pickled Bean Roll-Ups, Easy Homemade French Onion Dip (Better than a mix!), or these Maple Mustard Bacon Chicken Bites.

When you need a quick, tasty and super easy appetizer for a party, a classic cheese ball can’t be beat, and this simple version featuring dried tomatoes is no exception.

I found the original recipe in an old church cookbook and because it used only a few ingredients – one of them being marinated dried tomatoes like my homemade dried tomatoes in olive oil – I knew I wanted to try it.

I added some seasonings and streamlined the instructions (does anyone mix cream cheese with their hands? whaaat??) and a new family favorite was born!

Did I mention it takes only 5 minutes to mix and shape?

You can serve it in a bowl plain or shape into a ball and roll in chives like I did. Either way it will be the star of your next charcuterie board because once the flavors meld it tastes amazing!

In fact when I served it, pretty much everyone kept going back for more, saying things like “this is really good” and “I need more of that.”

Oh, and bonus if it’s the holidays – the red tomatoes and green coating make such a great presentation on an appetizer table! (And remember the 5 minute thing…)

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this simple cheese ball recipe:

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

I think the flavor of this cheese ball is such a surprise because the 5 ingredients (or 6 with the coating) are pretty straighforward.

• Cream Cheese: Both Neufchatel and regular cream cheese will work for this recipe. If you use Neufchatel, which is softer naturally, you won’t need to soften the cheese like the regular version.
• Dried Tomatoes: This recipe uses marinated or stored in olive oil dried tomatoes. To substitute dried tomatoes that aren’t softened, you would need to reconstitute them in warm water for 30-60 minutes until softened so they are more pliable.
• Italian Seasoning: I used a basic blend of herbs – if you don’t have an Italian blend, then use a mixture of basil, oregano and thyme.
• Salt: The amount of salt is very small, but I found even this amount enhanced the flavors of the tomatoes and seasonings. When tasted in the beginning it may seem too salty, but this is a case of NEEDING to let the flavors blend together while it rests in the fridge.
• Chives: Coating the cheese ball is optional (you can put it in a bowl and call it a spread!), but looks great on a cheese board, especially at the holidays. Other coating options include chopped parsley to keep the red-green look or the classic coating of chopped nuts.

Let’s Make This Simple Cheese Ball Recipe

Here are a few helpful visual instructions – the full instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Step 3: For a spread, place cheese mixture into a serving bowl. For a cheese ball, shape into a ball and roll in the coating of your choice.

TIP: I wet my hands with water and roughly shaped it and then shaped a bit more as I was covering in the chives. Perfection isn’t what we’re going for here!

Recipe Tips & Storage

• Initial Storage: Store the cheeseball on a plate covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container that won’t crush the top in the fridge for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
• Storage: This spread will last in the fridge for 5-6 days, covered well.

Leftovers? Use this as a spread for meat/veggie wraps or sandwiches for lunches – it’s terrific!

What To Serve This With

Crackers and bread are your best bets with this cheese ball – and we like bread the best! Here are my favs to use this spread with:

• Simple French Baguettes – The Bread You Can’t Stop Eating
• Easy Sourdough Artisan Bread Recipe (Ready in 1 Day)
• Easy Artisan Bread Recipe (yeast)
• Artisan Sourdough Rolls (with Everything Bagel Topping)

I hope you enjoy this simple cheese ball recipe – if you make it, be sure to leave a rating and review so I know how you liked it!