My smoked cream cheese is the perfect dip or spread. Made with just cream cheese and seasonings and smoked until soft and infused with flavor, it’s a recipe that’s easy to make and hard to stop eating.
When I need delicious appetizers or an easy dip recipe, I always think of cream cheese first. This rich, tangy, soft cheese makes the perfect base for a wide range of delicious recipes.
From spicy jalapeno cream cheese dip to a sweet cream cheese Danish bread, cream cheese is perfect for just about anything.
This smoked cream cheese dip is the perfect example of that. Made with nothing more than a block of cream cheese and some spices, it’s an easy dish that’s a fantastic dip or a spread on all kinds of sandwiches.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- VERY Limited Ingredients: Cream cheese and seasonings are all you need to make this recipe.
- So Easy: Just coat the cream cheese with the seasonings, then smoke it. That’s it!
- Rich and Creamy: The smoking process softens and warms the cream cheese, making it rich, creamy, and dippable rather than runny.
- So Much Flavor: Every bite of this cheese is infused with bold seasonings and tons of smoke.
- Customizable: It’s easy to tweak this recipe to make it your own.
- Versatile: This is a great dip or a spread on sandwiches.
- Great for Meal Prep: This is a freezer-friendly recipe, so you can make extra for future parties.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Cream Cheese: I recommend full-fat cream cheese for the richest flavor and texture.
- Seasonings: True Texas BBQ Sweet Texas Heat adds sweet, savory, spicy flavor to the cream cheese.
Variations
- Seasonings: This recipe works with any seasonings. Try sweet or savory spice blends for different flavors.
- Homemade Blend: Make a blend of your own seasonings for an almost endless variety of flavors.
- Extra Spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the seasoning blend for an even bigger kick of heat.
- Add Nuts: Coat the outside of the seasoned cream cheese with nuts to add toasted nut flavor.
- Wood: Different woods or smoking pellets give the cream cheese a different flavor. Try all your favorites.
How to Make Smoked Cream Cheese
Step 1: Score the top of the cream cheese. Then, liberally coat it with the seasonings.
Step 2: Smoke uncovered until hot, softened, and fragrant. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use an oven-safe dish to smoke your cream cheese. Just like an oven, a smoker can warp or crack pans or dishes not rated for ovens.
- When scoring the cream cheese, make your cuts about halfway through the block. This allows the smoke and seasonings to permeate the entire cheese.
- If using wood chips, soak them for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
Smoked Cream Cheese FAQs
The recommended temperature range for smoked cream cheese is between 210°F and 225°F. At this temperature, the cheese will heat up and soften without becoming overly melty.
You can use this dish as a dip with chips, tortilla chips, or veggies. It’s also an excellent spread for sandwiches and burgers.
Refrigerate this smoked cream cheese for up to a week in an airtight container. For longer storage, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
More Delicoius Smoked Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ★★★★★ rating below and leave a comment! You can also pin it to your favorite Pinterest boards and save it for later.
Also, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Smoked Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounce cream cheese
- 6 tablespoons favorite seasoning blend, I used HEB True Texas BBQ Sweet Texas Heat
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 210 degrees.
- Remove the cream cheese from the wrapper and score the top, about half way through.
- Pat the seasoning to each side of the cream cheese until heavily coated.
- Place in a bowl, uncovered and suitable for smoking, and place in the smoker.
- Smoke for 2 hours.
- Serve hot or cold.
- Optional: top with raspberry jalapeno bacon jam
Notes
- Use an oven-safe dish to smoke your cream cheese. Just like an oven, a smoker can warp or crack pans or dishes not rated for ovens.
- When scoring the cream cheese, make your cuts about halfway through the block. This allows the smoke and seasonings to permeate the entire cheese.
- If using wood chips, soak them for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
Nutrition
Leave a Reply