Smoked Cream Cheese
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Smoked Cream Cheese is the perfect appetizer to go along with your favorite smoked meats, like Smoked Pulled Pork or Smoked Brisket. It can be seasoned with a variety of spice blends and served with crackers or vegetables for dipping. It’s easy to make with just 5 minutes of prep time. And it’s guaranteed to be a hit at your next BBQ!
Table of contents
Smoked Cream Cheese became a viral hit in 2021 on the social media platform TikTok. As someone who loves cheese and any excuse to use my Traeger, I couldn’t wait to try this new trend!
And let me tell you, it does not disappoint! It’s easy to make and simple to spice it up just how you like it. You can even season it with cinnamon and sugar to make a dessert version!
My favorite seasoning I’ve tried so far is the Cajun Seasoning that you’ll see pictured throughout this post. The spicy seasoning, paired with the smoky flavor and creamy cheese is a match made in heaven! It’s awesome as an appetizer served with crackers, veggies or a sliced baguette.
You can also try seasoning the cream cheese with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Spread the smoked cream cheese on your bagel for breakfast. Now this is what I call a breakfast of champions!
Ingredients
- Cream cheese – you can smoke 1, 2 or 10 blocks of cream cheese at a time, and make as many variations as you like. I usually like to smoke at least 2 or 3 blocks of cream cheese at a time to create a delicious appetizer board. I always recommend using full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor in this recipe. A low-fat cream cheese just won’t give you the same flavor when the cream cheese is the star of the show!
- Olive oil – no matter the seasoning you pick, sweet, savory or spicy, you always want to coat the cream cheese in olive oil first. This way, the seasoning will easily stick to the cream cheese.
- Seasoning – now this is where you can get creative! For this post, I used Cajun Seasoning and Everything Bagel Seasoning to season the blocks of cream cheese. You can use any of your favorite seasoning blends. I also have a lot of variations listed below, if you’re looking for some inspiration!
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: coat every side of the cream cheese blocks in olive oil.
Step 2: sprinkle seasoning evenly over the block of cream cheese. Making sure that every side is coated.
Step 3: place the seasoned cream cheese in a small cast iron skillet or foil basket, made with heavy-duty nonstick aluminum foil. Use a sharp knife to cut 1/2 inch diagonal lines in the cream cheese, about 1/4 inch deep. This will allow the smoke to get into the cream cheese. It will also make it easy to dip up the cream cheese with crackers or veggies.
Step 4: smoke the cream cheese for 2 hours at 225°F. I used a Traeger pellet smoker, but feel free to use another brand of pellet grill, or whatever smoker you have at home.
Variations
Use the cajun seasoning or everything bagel seasoning pictured in this post, your favorite bbq rub, or try any of the following variations when making this smoked cream cheese recipe. From sweet, to savory, to spicy, you can’t go wrong with any of these seasoning and topping combinations!
- Taco seasoning + salsa = the ultimate party dip! Season the cream cheese with taco seasoning. After it comes off the smoker, top it with salsa and serve with tortilla chips or Fritos for dipping.
- Cinnamon sugar + cherry pie filling, blueberry pie filling, or apple pie filling = for dessert smoked cream cheese, combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Rub it on the cream cheese before smoking it. Once you remove it from the smoker, top it with cherry, blueberry, or apple pie filling. Serve with graham crackers, nilla wafers or fruit for dipping.
- Montreal steak seasoning – if you’re pairing the cheese with smoked meats, you can’t go wrong coating it in this delicious blend of coarse spices for a tasty crunch on the outside of the smoked cream cheese. You can serve it as is, or top it with bacon jam when it comes off the smoker!
- Ranch seasoning mix – this is basically ranch vegetable dip, taken to a whole new level! Coat the cream cheese in the ranch seasoning, smoke the cheese, then serve it with carrots, celery or bell peppers for dipping.
- Italian seasoning – for a delicious herb cream cheese, use this seasoning blend that contains 7 herbs and spices. This one is delicious spread on warm baguette slices!
- Pork chop seasoning – whenever I make smoked pork chops, I always use this seasoning and finish the pork chops with pepper jelly. You can do this same combo with the smoked cream cheese and I promise, you’re going to love it! Serve this combo with your favorite crackers.
Frequently asked questions
- Should you eat it hot or cold? You can eat it either hot or cold. It’s great when it’s warm, straight off the smoker. It’s also delicious the next day, cold out of the refrigerator.
- How long does it take to smoke cream cheese? I recommend smoking the cream cheese for at least 2 hours. This will impart the delicious smoky flavor into the cheese, and allow it to get soft and creamy on the inside. You can leave it on the smoker for up to 3 hours, for even more smoky flavor.
- How long does smoked cream cheese last? Once you’ve smoked the cream cheese, it will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Should smoked cream cheese be refrigerated? Yes, you will need to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Can you smoke cream cheese without a smoker? It wouldn’t really be smoked cream cheese, but you can use the same idea of seasoning the cream cheese and baking it in the oven at 250°F for 30 minutes. It will still be a delicious appetizer, just without the smoky flavor.
- What type of pellets should I use? I recommend using hickory or pecan pellets, or wood chips, to smoke cream cheese. But honestly, any flavor of pellets will work for this recipe. If you’re smoking the cream cheese alongside another recipe, feel free to use whatever pellets are best for that recipe.
- Is smoked cream cheese keto? Yes, this recipe is perfect for those on the keto diet at only 2 carbs per serving. Be sure to serve with vegetables, or keto crackers for dipping.
More recipes on the smoker
Try these other tested and perfected recipes on your smoker!
Smoked Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons seasoning, *see notes below for options
Instructions
- Heat a smoker to 225°F.
- Drizzle olive oil over the entire block of cream cheese.
- Rub the seasoning on all sides of the cream cheese.
- Place the seasoned cream cheese in a small cast iron skillet or foil basket, made with heavy-duty nonstick aluminum foil.
- Use a sharp knife to cut 1/2 inch diagonal lines in the cream cheese, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Place in a smoker and smoke for 2 hours.
Notes
- Seasoning options: try your favorite bbq rub or any of the following seasoning blends.
- Recommended pellet flavors: while really any flavor or pellets, or wood chips, would work for this recipe. I recommend using hickory or pecan if you have the option.
- Smoked cream cheese can be eaten either hot or cold.
- Leftover smoked cream cheese should always be refrigerated and will last up to 5 days sealed in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
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