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    Home » Appetizers

    Smoked Cream Cheese

    Published: Jul 31, 2022 » Modified: Oct 25, 2022 » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. » 8 Comments

    13.7K shares
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    This smoked cream cheese is loaded with so much flavor you'll never believe it's made with just 2 ingredients! A quick coat in my favorite dry rub and 2 hours slowly smoking in a pellet grill transforms the cream cheese into a creamy, savory appetizer your guests will love!

    White plate with smoked cream cheese, crackers, and sliced French bread.
    Table of Contents show
    You Will Love This
    Ingredients and Substitutions
    Instructions
    Tips
    Are you new to smoking?
    Variations
    Serve With
    What Type of Wood Chips to Use
    FAQ
    Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
    More Easy Appetizer Recipes
    Smoked Cream Cheese

    You Will Love This

    • It requires just 2 ingredients! Cream cheese and my easy dry rub are all you need! If you don't have literally 3 minutes to throw together my dry rub - which perfectly blends the flavors of sweet and savory - you can use your favorite BBQ rub from the store as well!
    • If you loved this easy smoker recipe, be sure to check out my smoked mac and cheese, 10-minute smoked salmon dip, and 5-ingredient smoked queso.
    White plate with ingredients to make smoked cream cheese.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Cream Cheese - Use full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture. Low fat or fat-free just won't be as good.
    • Easy Dry Rub - My easy dry rub is perfect for anything you want to smoke, including cream cheese! It relies on brown sugar for a hint of sweetness. Chili powder, cumin, and paprika for a little spice and smoke. And garlic powder and onion powder to tie it all together.

    Instructions

    Turn the pellet grill to smoke. Spread dry rub on a rimmed plate. Coat cream cheese in the dry rub, gently pressing it into the surface of the cream cheese, until the entire block is coated.

    White plate with a block of seasoned cream cheese on it.

    Score the top of the block of cream cheese in a cross-hatch pattern. If desired, drizzle with olive oil or spray with olive oil spray.

    Metal pan with a block of cream cheese coated in dry rub seasoning.

    Transfer to a disposable aluminum pan or cast iron skillet. Turn the pellet smoker to 250 degrees and smoke for 2 hours.

    Metal pan with a block of smoked cream cheese.

    Drizzle with honey and garnish with sliced green onion if desired. Serve with sliced French bread and Ritz crackers and enjoy!

    White plate with smoked cream cheese, crackers, and sliced French bread.

    Tips

    • Make your own crostini! If you want to take this appetizer to the next level, try pairing it with my super easy crostini recipe! Crispy, crunchy olive oil drizzled slices of French baguette are the perfect accompaniment for this warm, creamy dip!
    • Don’t forget to score the cream cheese. This step may not seem important, but it really does make a huge difference! Scoring the cream cheese opens up the block which helps make sure the smoky flavor gets to the middle of the cream cheese and that it warms through evenly.
    • While you're scoring the cream cheese, it may stick to the knife along with some of the dry rub. To remedy this, you can slightly wet a sharp knife before scoring, or you can use a paper towel to clean the knife in between each slice.
    • You'll know the cream cheese is done when the edges of the score lines begin to pull away from each other and the center is warm. To check if it's warm, insert a butter knife into the center for a few seconds. Carefully feel the end of the butter knife and if it's warm the cream cheese is done. If it's cold, give it a bit more time and then test again.
    • If you're feeding a crowd, feel free to smoke 2-3 bricks of cream cheese at one time!

    Are you new to smoking?

    Looking for an affordable smoker?
    Not sure which wood pellet grill is best for your needs?

    Click here to check out my full review of my favorite Z Grill wood pellet smoker! I'll share with you everything I love about this grill and why you'll want to add it to your backyard space right now!

    Variations

    This smoked cream cheese recipe is really like a blank canvas! You can make it sweet, savory, or a mix of both. Some of our family's favorite variations include:

    • bagel seasoning
    • taco seasoning
    • cinnamon sugar
    • crispy crumbled bacon
    • seasonal jellies (cherry, marionberry, raspberry)
    • pepper jelly

    Serve With

    • crackers
    • crostini
    • sliced French baguette
    • carrots
    • celery
    • apple slices
    • pita chips
    • tortilla chips

    What Type of Wood Chips to Use

    • For this smoked cream cheese I like to use a mix of apple and hickory.
    • Hickory and mesquite are traditionally used for meat as they have a strong flavor so if you're planning to use one of those, I recommend blending it with something a bit milder like apple, oak, maple, or cherry.
    • This article talks a lot more in-depth about what types of wood to use and why. I highly recommend taking a look if you're undecided.
    White plate with smoked cream cheese, crackers, and sliced French bread.

    FAQ

    How long does it take to smoke cream cheese?

    Cream cheese will take about 2 hours or so depending on what temp you smoke it at and how smoky you want it to taste. I like to smoke it at 250 degrees for about 2 hours for the best smoky flavor and creamy texture.

    How long does smoked cream cheese last?

    Once you've smoked the cream cheese it will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days sealed in an airtight container. I'm quite certain, however, that you likely won't have leftovers anyway!

    How do you know when smoked cream cheese is done?

    Smoked cream cheese is done when the cross-hatch pattern has become quite visible, meaning the slices in the cream cheese have started to pull away from each other, and it's warm and creamy in the middle. To see if it's warm in the middle, carefully insert a butter knife into the center for a few seconds. Carefully feel the knife - if it's warm the cream cheese is done. If it's cold, give it some more time.

    Should smoked cream cheese be refrigerated?

    Smoked cream cheese does still need to be refrigerated after it’s cooked. Simply place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    What does smoked cream cheese taste like?

    The flavor of the smoked cream cheese will vary depending on what type of wood pellets you use and what you top it with! Coating it in my easy dry rub recipe is going to give you that classic pellet smoker flavor, while the honey and green onions had a bit of sweetness and a bite.

    Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

    • Make-Ahead: While I do prefer this smoked cream cheese straight from the pellet grill, it can be made ahead of time and reheated! You can reheat it in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through.
    • Storage: Store leftover smoked cream cheese in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil/plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • Reheating: Reheat the smoked cream cheese in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through. I don't recommend reheating it in the smoker as it will take a long time to heat up and can potentially dry out.

    More Easy Appetizer Recipes

    • Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    • Coconut Curry Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce
    • Easy 20-Minute Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
    • Oven Baked Juicy Panko Chicken

    Questions?
    Leave a comment below!
    Liked the recipe?
    Leave a comment below!
    Made this dish?
    Leave a comment and star rating below!

    Print

    Smoked Cream Cheese

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    ★★★★★

    5 from 3 reviews

    This smoked cream cheese is loaded with so much flavor you'll never believe it's made with just 2 ingredients! A quick coat in my favorite dry rub and 2 hours slowly smoking in a pellet grill transforms the cream cheese into a creamy, savory appetizer your guests will love!

    • Author: Kylie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 2 hours
    • Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings 1x
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: Pellet Grill
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 oz. block cream cheese
    • 2 tablespoons easy dry rub

    Optional

    • 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • thinly sliced green onion

    Instructions

    1. Turn pellet grill to smoke.
    2. Spread dry rub on a rimmed plate.
    3. Coat cream cheese in the dry rub, gently pressing it into the surface of the cream cheese, until the entire block is coated.
    4. Score the top of the block of cream cheese in a cross-hatch pattern.
    5. If desired, drizzle with olive oil or spray with olive oil spray.
    6. Transfer to a disposable aluminum pan.
    7. Smoke at 250 degrees for 2 hours.
    8. Drizzle with honey and garnish with sliced green onion if desired. Serve with sliced French bread and Ritz crackers and enjoy!

    Equipment

    Z Grill

    Buy Now →
    Image of cast iron pan

    cast iron pan

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    • Make your own crostini! If you want to take this appetizer to the next level, try pairing it with my super easy crostini recipe! Crispy, crunchy olive oil drizzled slices of French baguette are the perfect accompaniment for this warm, creamy dip!
    • Don’t forget to score the cream cheese. This step may not seem important, but it really does make a huge difference! Scoring the cream cheese opens up the block which helps make sure the smoky flavor gets to the middle of the cream cheese and that it warms through evenly.
    • While you're scoring the cream cheese, it may stick to the knife along with some of the dry rub. To remedy this, you can slightly wet a sharp knife before scoring, or you can use a paper towel to clean the knife in between each slice.
    • You'll know the cream cheese is done when the edges of the score lines begin to pull away from each other and the center is warm. To check if it's warm, insert a butter knife into the center for a few seconds. Carefully feel the end of the butter knife and if it's warm the cream cheese is done. If it's cold, give it a bit more time and then test again.
    • If you're feeding a crowd, feel free to smoke 2-3 bricks of cream cheese at one time!

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 103
    • Sugar: 1.1 g
    • Sodium: 89.5 mg
    • Fat: 9.9 g
    • Saturated Fat: 5.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 2.3 g
    • Fiber: 0.1 g
    • Protein: 1.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 28.7 mg

    Keywords: cream cheese appetizer

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan Cairns Hatcher

      March 02, 2023 at 7:34 am

      Is there another way to smoke the cream cheese if you do not have a pellet grill?

      Reply
      • Kylie

        March 03, 2023 at 4:00 pm

        I do think that you can smoke cream cheese without with a regular grill and some soaked woodchips, but I am not an expert in this field unfortunately!

        Reply
    2. Jackie Moore

      December 23, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      Love this smoked cream cheese! I’m new to this process. I see you can smoke 2 blocks at a time. Could I use different rubs on each and still smoke together, or would the flavors commingle? Thanks for your help!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        December 24, 2022 at 9:08 pm

        No you should definitely try two different rubs - I think that would be amazing!!

        Reply
    3. Poppy

      November 16, 2022 at 7:23 am

      When you do your variation with pepper jelly, do you smoke the cheese with the pepper jelly on it? Or do you add the pepper jelly after smoking?

      Reply
      • Kylie

        November 16, 2022 at 7:34 pm

        I like to add the pepper jelly after smoking the cream cheese. Great question, Poppy!

        Reply
    4. Elsie S. Stewart

      October 27, 2022 at 6:24 am

      I tried this recipe and it's really good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to try the recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Sharon

      July 31, 2022 at 10:42 am

      Such an easy and delicious recipe! We will be making this again and again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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    HELLO FROM THE MIDWEST - I'm Kylie and as a mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie, I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food.

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