Easy Smoked Cream Cheese (Pellet Smoker Recipe)

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Smoked Cream Cheese comes out soft and creamy, simply bursting with spectacular sweet and spicy flavors. It’s amazing what a few seasonings and a little time in the smoker can do! My smoked cream cheese recipe is perfect for parties, a Sunday brunch, or when you just want something scrumptious and snacky!

smoked cream cheese recipe.


 

Don’t miss out on this cream cheese appetizer!

It’s the perfect way to cook blocks of cream cheese, and it really does make an easy appetizer to pair with your favorite crackers, veggies, and more.

This would also be super good on a charcuterie board! 

The fun part is that it offers so much flavor! You can pair it with jalapeño poppers, hot honey, pita chips, apple slices, bagel chips, nilla wafers, or any other personal preference that you want.

The cream cheese taste can be sweet or savory, which means that it can be used with pepper jelly or topped with your favorite BBQ rub to let that smoke flavor shine. 

It’s the perfect appetizer and such an easy way to smoke a brick of cream cheese!

Keep it simple and add some bagel seasoning, or let this tasty appetizer be as versatile as you want.

The recipe card below shows how simple it is to make this easy smoked cream cheese, and trust me when I say that it has the best flavor! 

Create the ultimate party dip for your next party using this delicious recipe. You’ll love the simple process and each bite gives the best smoky flavor!

New recipes like this are the best! And the best part? It’s unique and fun! 

ingredients to make spicy smoked cream cheese

Smoked Cream Cheese

I’m all in for the smoked cream cheese recipes craze! To be fair, though, anything that’s as creamy, cheesy, and melty as this gets an immediate 5 stars in my book. 

Smoked cream cheese is decadent in flavor and texture. With a thick, creamy consistency and mouthwatering tangy flavor, you just can’t go wrong! 

This smoked cream cheese recipe adds an extra kick of spice, a bit of oil for that crispy exterior, and a slathering of beer to break through all of that rich cheese.

Speaking of rich, you just have to try adding cream cheese to your mac and cheese! Or, if you’re in it for the heat, try my buffalo chicken version

And for another perfect party appetizer, try this smoked queso!

tray of chopped jalapeno and onion with other ingredients nearby

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Cream Cheese – Be sure to use a block, not the whipped kind that comes in a tub. I only recommend using full-fat cream cheese.
  • Sweet BBQ Rub – Your favorite blend or brand will work, but I personally love making my own sweet BBQ rub at home to control the measurements of each spice. 

    The best blend is both sweet and spicy, with plenty of pepper!
  • Vegetable Oil – Olive oil is a good substitute, adding a bit more depth and a floral note when smoking cream cheese. Avocado oil is another great choice!
  • Beer – I recommend using an IPA for a touch more bitterness and additional herbal taste. If IPAs aren’t your thing, try a pale ale, lager, or any citrusy beer.
  • Onions & Jalapenos – The veggies are optional. I think they add a beautiful sweet, sour, and spicy flavor and overall aroma. 

    Give it a try, or sub in the vegetables you enjoy smoking the most. 
spice coated cream cheese blocks on sliced onions and jalapeno

How Long to Smoke Cream Cheese

First, the temperature your smoker is set to will often determine how long to smoke cream cheese.

I like to really take advantage of the low and slow method. So at 225°F, it will take about 1 hour to smoke cream cheese.

Serving Suggestions

You’ll need some dippers to munch on your smoked cream cheese! Crackers are a no-brainer, and pretzels are always a winning choice.

I’d also try tortilla chips! Slices of bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots are a couple of fresh and crisp dipper options, and you can’t go wrong with fresh bread!

smoked cream cheese dip.

Smoked Cream Cheese Recipe Variations

  • Try Different Flavors – Try smoking cream cheese of all kinds! There’s chive and onion, garlic and herb, spicy jalapeno… Any one of them would taste amazing.
  • Other Toppings to Try – Aside from BBQ, try topping your block with a hot Mexican spice blend, ranch dressing mix, or a combo of fresh and peppery herbs (thyme, dill, basil, etc.).

Storing & Reheating

We’re working with dairy here, so all leftovers need to go right into the refrigerator! If left out for longer than 2 hours, your smoked cream cheese is no longer good. 

Be sure to safely store any excess dip in an airtight container and transfer to the fridge if you’ve made too much. Leftovers can be chilled for up to 4 days.

To reheat, a short (and I mean short) trip in the microwave will be plenty. If 10 seconds doesn’t do it, continue in 5-second increments until it’s as warm as you’d like.

smoked cream cheese recipe.

Smoked Cream Cheese Recipes FAQ

How do you smoke cheese without it melting? 

When it comes to smoking cream cheese (or any cheese), low and steady wins the race!

Keep the temperature on the lower side. I recommend 225°F, and I’ve seen some smoked cream cheese recipes as high as 275°F — don’t go any higher than that.

For the same reason, avoid overstuffing with wood chips to prevent excessive smoking that may raise the temperature too high.

Does cream cheese curdle when cooked?

It shouldn’t. In this particular instance, the block is being slowly heated on its own and will remain solid. There shouldn’t be any breaking of the ingredients.

Now, if you add something like lemon juice or some other acidic agent, you’ll risk curdling. In this instance, wait until the very end to add such an ingredient.

Is smoked cream cheese dip served hot or cold? 

Well, that’s completely up to you! It can go either way. Some prefer it soft and melty, while others like a cool, creamy bite.

You might want to base it off of whatever you’re serving this smoked cream cheese recipe with — you’ll have a hard time scooping a cold, solid dip with soft bread, for example.

smoked cream cheese dip on tortilla chip.

Enjoy!
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smoked cream cheese with veggies.

smoked cream cheese dip.

Easy Smoked Cream Cheese (Pellet Smoker Recipe)

Donna Elick
Smoked Cream Cheese dip tops all cheesy appetizers! Taste the overlapping sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors in my smoked cream cheese recipe.
5 stars from 2 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Method Smoker
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

  • 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sweet BBQ rub
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 ounces IPA, or beer of choice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the smoker to 225°F.
  • Place cream cheese in a cast iron skillet or smoker safe dish. Use the tip of a sharp knife to cut/score crosswise slices in the cream cheese, about ½ inch deep.
  • Brush the cream cheese with oil and beer. Pour the remainder of the beer in the skillet.
  • Cover the cream cheese with sweet BBQ rub and use your fingers to pat it gently, to help it adhere.
  • Surround the cream cheese with sliced onions and jalapenos if desired.
  • Smoke for 1 hour, tossing the onions and jalapenos often to ensure coated with liquid and prevent from drying.

Donna’s Notes

1 serving equals about 2 tablespoons

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 263cal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 178mg | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 0.1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): smoked cream cheese

Originally published October 2022, updated and republished June 2024

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8 Comments

  1. I would like to try to do this but I only have a gas grill. Is there a way to smoke the cheese on the gas grill?

    1. Soak some wood chips and place them in an aluminum pouch(with slits)and set your grill(one burner only) and set the pouch over burner until it starts smoking.

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