Smoked Cream Cheese (3 Ingredients + 8 Flavor Ideas)

This Smoked Cream Cheese Recipe is an easy cheese appetizer perfect for your holiday party or summer BBQ! It’s as easy to make as our Smoked Queso, Chili Cheese Dip Recipe and Rotel Dip. Serve this smoked cream cheese dip next to your favorite smoker recipes!

Grab your favorite dry spice rub to slather on a block of cream cheese and serve with chips, crackers, bread or even raw veggies. Keep reading for a list of dipper and spice rub ideas!

Ingredients

Only two non-pantry staple ingredients are needed to make this cheese appetizer:

Block of Cream Cheese

Use full-fat cream cheese or even Neufchatel. We’ve utilized both with great success. Philadelphia cream cheese is our go-to but use what you have.

Dry Seasoning Rub

Use your favorite seasoning rub, either store bought or homemade! You only need one tablespoon, but you can use up to 1.5 tablespoons. Do watch the sodium content of your selected rub, especially if your dipper containers a ton of salt.

Seasoning Ideas

• Montreal Steak Seasoning (As Pictured)
• Everything Bagel Seasoning (As Pictured)
• Creole Seasoning
• Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
• BBQ Rub
• Greek Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning
• Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix

Dipper Ideas

• Bread- bagel, baguette or French bread
• Crackers – bagel chips, pita chips, pretzel thins
• Chips – tortilla chips or your favorite!
• Raw Vegetables – bell peppers, cucumbers or carrots

Smoked Cream Cheese Dip

If you only have access to a tub of cream cheese vs a block of cream cheese, it’s workable! Just transfer the cream cheese to a container that can go inside the smoker. Think a disposable foil pan or a small cast iron skillet.

To make, spread the cream cheese evenly in the pan, coat with the olive oil and seasonings. You’ll have yourself a killer dip! Smoke the cheese as you would the cream cheese block. This is how I smoke this awesome Whipped Feta Dip.

Supplies

Here are the ‘must have’ Smoker Accessories needed to make this smoker recipe:

• Energy Source – This recipe will be on the heat for hours so make sure you stock up on your selected energy source: charcoal, pellets, propane, gas, etc.
• Smoking Wood –  Chunks, chips or pellets.
• Cooking Vessel –  Use a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, a disposable aluminum pan or a cast iron skillet.
• Smoker Box – You’ll need one to impart the delicious smoky flavor if using a gas grill. We’ve used this smoker box in the past.

Wood Recommendation

Wondering what wood to use? Anything goes! Cherry wood and apple wood are great options for a lighter smoke flavor, while pecan and oak provide a deeper smoke flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Use Low-Fat Cream Cheese? We don’t recommend it. It doesn’t have the same fat content, therefore won’t melt properly, changing the final texture and smoothness.

What Grill Can I Use? Dip recipes are some of the easiest grill recipes to master. You can use a pellet grill, gas grill or charcoal grill to make this dip. Consult the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full instructions.

Hot or Cold? Either or, baby! This dip tastes amazing served hot and cold.

How Long Does It Take To Smoke Cream Cheese? Anywhere between 1.5 – 3 hours. For a lighter smoky flavor leave it on for 1.5 hours. For a bold smoky flavor, go the full 3 hours.

Can You Freeze Cream Cheese? We do not recommend freezing, since dairy doesn’t freeze well.

Expert Tips

• If you’re not a fan of using olive oil, just omit it. It helps the seasoning stick to the cream cheese block, but you can opt to gently press in the seasoning instead.
• Don’t like aluminum foil? Bust out your cast iron skillet to make smoked cream cheese.
• This is a great “add on” recipe. Throw it on when you already have the smoker cranked up to grill a main protein.
• To make the cream cheese easier to handle, freeze it for 10 min before seasoning and scoring.
• To store, place the leftover block of cream cheese in an airtight container and cover with plastic wrap. Try and position the plastic wrap so it touches the top of the cheese, as to stop moisture from pooling.
• Use leftover cream cheese to add to Artichoke Dip or Crab Artichoke Dip.

Recipe Variations

This really is the best smoked cheese recipe. So much so you can utilize it in other recipes made with cream cheese. I actually love throwing them in Southwest Egg Rolls. Here are a few more ideas to get you thinking:

Carrot Cake Jam – The cream cheese is coated in cinnamon sugar then topped with my popular carrot cake jam recipe. See the post for the full recipe cream cheese and jam recipe.

Cranberry Jalapeño Dip – Smoke the cream cheese without any additives. Place the cream cheese in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to chill before adding the cranberry jalapeños mix to the top of the cream.

Red Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese – Smoke the cream cheese without any additives. Place the cream cheese in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to chill before adding the red pepper jelly to the top.

Captain Rodney’s Dip – use it in place of regular cream cheese.

Salmon and Cream Cheese – Smoke the cream cheese without any additives. Use it in place of plain cream cheese in your favorite smoked salmon and cream cheese recipe.

Meat Church Smoked Cream Cheese – If you’re a Meat Church fan, add 1 tablespoon of their Holy Voodoo or Holy Cow Seasoning. Both pair remarkably well with cheese.

Mac & Cheese – Smoke the cream cheese without any additives. Use it in place of plain cream cheese in your favorite Macaroni and Cheese recipe, such as Green Chile Macaroni and Cheese.

Cowboy Candy and Cowboy Candy with Pineapple – Smoke the cream cheese without any additives. Place the cream cheese in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to chill before adding the candied jalapeños to the top of the cream.

Hot Honey – Use your favorite BBQ rub and drizzle with hot honey after smoking cream cheese.

Click to see our list of 50 Best Things To Smoke In A Smoker.