Smoked Cream Cheese

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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.

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. 

Intricate, complicated dips are all well and good, but now that I know how to smoke cream cheese, it’s definitely my go-to dip for my favorite veggies and crackers. 

smoked cream cheese dip ingredients

Smoked Cream Cheese

Smoked cream cheese dip 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. Or for the perfect appetizer try this smoked queso!

smoking cream cheese recipe ingredients.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Cream Cheese – Be sure to use a block, not the whipped kind that comes in a tub and I only recommend 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 to the dish. 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. 
adding seasoning to smoked cream cheese

Smoked Cream Cheese Dip Tips & Things to Try

  • Try Different Flavors – There are several flavors of cream cheese, right? 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, some other great seasonings to top your smoked cream cheese block with include a hot Mexican blend, ranch dressing mix, and a combo of fresh and peppery herbs (thyme, dill, basil, etc.).
  • Recommended Dippers – 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 dippers that you can serve on the side as well.

    And you can’t go wrong with fresh bread!
smoked cream cheese recipe.

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, it’s no good.

Be sure to safely store 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, go for another 5, and so on until it’s as warm as you’d like.

Smoked Cream Cheese FAQ

How do you smoke cheese without it melting?

When it comes to smoking cheese, low and steady wins the race! Keep the temperature on the lower side. I recommend 225°F, and I’ve seen some 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 while smoking cream cheese.

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 the 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!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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smoked cream cheese with veggies.

smoked cream cheese dip.

Smoked Cream Cheese

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 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
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!
smoked cream cheese.

Originally published October 2022

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