I am of the opinion that a celebration is not a celebration without a cheese ball. Some people might say the same about cake, but if you’re asking me, cheese is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion and a cheese ball feels even more special. Now, you can always go with a basic cheddar concoction, but if you’re looking for something a little more unique that will really wow your guests, look no further than this Dill Pickle Cheese Ball. Sure to please pickle lovers and pickle skeptics alike, it’s a little tangy, a little salty, and sure to disappear fast.

Cheese balls look impressive but in actuality, they’re very simple to make. You generally start with a base of cream cheese (that’s the case here) and then beat in some cheese and whatever flavor additions you’re planning to use. Here, you’ll start with that cream cheese and then add some garlic powder and Worcestershire. Once that mixture is smooth, you’ll add in some fresh chopped dill, some Monterey Jack cheese, and plenty of dill pickles. It helps to pat the pickles dry first, so their brine doesn’t make the cheese mixture too liquidy.

You take that mixture and transfer it to a piece of plastic wrap that you’ll use to shape the mixture into a ball. If it’s not perfect at this stage, don’t fret, once you chill it, it’s a little easier to refine the shape. When you’re ready to serve, you unwrap the ball and roll it in fresh dill to coat the outside and you’re ready to get to dipping.

Monterey Jack is the perfect choice of cheese here because it doesn’t overpower the pickle flavor, or really even compete with it. It adds the needed cheesiness but it’s mild enough that it lets those tangy, crunchy pickles shine, and that’s precisely what you want from a Dill Pickle Cheese Ball!