This Thanksgiving, treat everyone to the most adorable appetizer ever when you serve this Turkey Cheese Ball! It’s easy to make and is sure to get plenty of attention. The cheese is super creamy and it’s enjoyed with plenty of tasty dipping options that all come together to resemble the cutest little turkey!

A cheese ball is decorated with sliced meats, pretzels, and more to resemble a turkey.


Turkey Cheese Ball

Gobble gobble! As it turns out, the turkey that’s slowly cooking to perfection in the oven won’t be the only turkey on display this Thanksgiving. This turkey cheese ball is a picture perfect appetizer that’ll be enjoyed by kids, grandparents, and everyone in between.

You know when the smells of roasting turkey fill the house and everyone’s ready to eat, you’ll need something tasty to keep them at bay. That’s where this cute as can be cheese ball comes in!

Complete with finger foods like hard salami and pretzels, there’s something in this appetizer for just about everyone. The cheese itself is scrumptious, too, as it’s made with both cream cheese and port wine cheese. It’s creamy, flavorful, and perfect for dipping your chip or bell pepper into. It’s also got a little added flavor and texture from pecans and cranberries, two of my most favorite autumnal ingredients.

A close up picture shows the pecans and chips on a cheese ball.

How to Make A Turkey Cheese Ball

  1. Beat the cheeses. Add the cheeses to a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until well blended.
  2. Make it flavorful. Fold in the pecans and cranberries, mixing until combined.
  3. Make a cheese ball. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and spoon the cheese mixture into the center of the plastic wrap. Carefully start wrapping the cheese in the plastic wrap forming it into a ball as you go. Seal the plastic wrap tightly and transfer to the refrigerator for 4 hours or until firm.
  4. Unwrap it. When ready to serve, unwrap the cheese ball and place on a platter.
  5. Skewer the salami. Fold the salami in half and then in half again. Skewer each piece on the skewer.
  6. Make the tail feathers. Stick the skewered salami in the back side of the turkey to form the first row of tail feathers.
  7. Add the peppers. Arrange the bell pepper slices in the cheese ball to form the next row of feathers.
  8. Form the body feathers. Fill in the gaps with the pretzel sticks and then arrange the pecans all over the exposed areas of the “body” to form the body feathers.
  9. Make the wings. Using two tortilla chips, create the wings by stick one chip on each side.
  10. Give the turkey a head! Glue the eyes and candy corn to the pretzel rod to form the head.
  11. Finish the turkey. Stick the pretzel in the front of the cheese ball to finish your turkey.
  12. Enjoy! Serve immediately with crackers or tortilla chips.

Storage

If you’d like to make this cheese ball ahead of time, you certainly can! Once assembled, this appetizer will stay fresh in an airtight container for about 6 hours. It’s great for making a little bit before a party!

Chips are placed next to a turkey cheese ball.

More of my favorite appetizers to serve on Thanksgiving!

This cheese ball makes a fun centerpiece to your Charcuterie board, too!

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Chips are placed next to a turkey cheese ball.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Cheese Ball Recipe

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
This easy appetizer is fun and festive for Thanksgiving. Super simple to make and a hit on your favorite cheese board.
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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces port wine cheese, room temperature
  • 2 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces hard salami
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 cup pretzel sticks
  • 1 cup shelled pecans
  • Assorted chips
  • 1 pretzel rod
  • 2 candy eyes
  • 1 candy corn
  • Honey, to glue the eyes and candy corn to the pretzel rod
  • 12-16 skewers

Equipment

  • hand mixer

Instructions 

  • Add the cheeses to a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until well blended.
  • Fold in the pecans and cranberries, mixing until combined.
  • Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and spoon the cheese mixture into the center of the plastic wrap.
  • Carefully start wrapping the cheese in the plastic wrap forming it into a ball as you go. Seal the plastic wrap tightly and transfer to the refrigerator for 4 hours or until firm.
  • When ready to serve, unwrap the cheese ball and place on a platter.
  • Fold the salami in half and then in half again. Skewer each piece on the skewer.
  • Stick the skewered salami in the back side of the turkey to form the first row of tail feathers.
  • Arrange the bell pepper slices in the cheese ball to form the next row of feathers.
  • Fill in the gaps with the pretzel sticks and then arrange the pecans all over the exposed areas of the “body” to form the body feathers.
  • Using two tortilla chips, create the wings by stick one chip on each side.
  • Glue the eyes and candy corn to the pretzel rod to form the head.
  • Stick the pretzel in the front of the cheeseball to finish your turkey.
  • Serve immediately with crackers or tortilla chips.

Notes

Cheese ball can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
Once assembled, serve immediately.
Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 138mg, Potassium: 111mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 959IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American