Smoked cream cheese is the perfect addition to your next barbecue. Toss a block of cream cheese coated in spices onto your smoker for an incredible appetizer that’s as easy as it is delicious!
What Is Smoked Cream Cheese
Smoked cream cheese is exactly what it sounds like: cream cheese that’s been placed on the smoker so those flavors are infused into the cheese. It can be smoked as-is or spices can be adhered to the outside before smoking for an explosion of flavors!
Why Make Smoked Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is one of my favorite ingredients because it’s so versatile. It can be made into a sweet dessert, smeared on a bagel, added to pasta, or any number of dishes.
You’ll love making smoked cream cheese not only because of its versatility, but it’s just so incredibly simple! It’s always the first appetizer to disappear whenever I’ve served it, and because I’ve already got the smoker going, it feels like an “appetizer freebie” since there are so few steps involved.
It also appeals to almost everyone’s palate and diets. It’s amazing with crackers but it’s just as delicious with sliced veggies for a low-carb snack. The leftovers can be used in any number of ways (not that you’ll have any!) and it’s an appetizer that’s easy on the wallet, too.
Ingredients
Just three ingredients and it takes just five minutes to get it ready for your smoker!
- Cream Cheese: Full fat is best. I’ve tried making this recipe several times with low-fat cream cheese and I don’t recommend it. It doesn’t have the same creaminess that its full-fat counterpart does, and the texture is just slightly off. This isn’t the time to save a few calories anyway!
- Olive Oil: The olive oil is there to help the spice rub adhere to the cream cheese. You don’t need much-about a tablespoon or less. The surface needs to be slick but be careful not to use too much oil. I like to use a heat-safe silicone brush to add the oil to the cheese.
- Your favorite bbq rub or spice mix: The rub choice is where things get fun! I’m partial to my favorite bbq rub that has just five ingredients (I’ve been using this rub for years and it never disappoints). It also has brown sugar in it which helps to give that nice caramelized crust to whatever I use it on. Smoked cream cheese is no exception!
Note: If you’re a Trader Joe’s shopper, pick up their Coffee BBQ rub and mix in a couple tablespoons of brown sugar for every ½ cup (which is about the amount you need to make two blocks of this recipe). I’ve made this recipe several times with it – we love it!
How To Make Smoked Cream Cheese
Here are the steps to make smoked cream cheese:
- Prep Your Pan: Line a small sheet pan with foil, then lightly grease the foil. Use the smallest size you have that will fit however many blocks of cream cheese you’re using. (Or go a bit larger if you’re planning to use the pan as a serving tray. For example, make this in advance then, once the pan is cool enough, add crackers and sliced veggies to the pan around the smoked cream cheese.)
- Prep & Season The Cheese: Unwrap a block of cream cheese and place it on the sheet pan. Using a small silicone brush, coat it lightly with a small amount of olive oil. Sprinkle on your favorite BBQ rub, taking care to make sure all sides are thoroughly coated.
- Score: Using a sharp knife, score the top of the cheese in a criss-cross pattern. This will help the smoke permeate the cheese, giving it that incredible flavor.
- Smoke: Place the sheet pan on the smoker alongside whatever you’re already smoking. The temp doesn’t really matter, but I’ve found that between 200F-250F works best. You don’t want the temperature too high or it’ll be done before it gets enough smoke flavor, but too low and it could get too much. So try to stay within that temperature range. Plan to smoke the cheese for about two hours. It can be removed as soon as just one hour, depending on how much smoke flavor you’re going for. I’ve found that 1 ½ to 2 hours is perfect!
- Serve: Serve the smoked cream cheese with crackers, chips, and/or freshly sliced vegetables.
Variations
You can use just about any spice mixture you like! I’ve made it with taco seasoning for Taco Tuesday and it’s incredible. Here are some more ideas if you’d like to switch things up:
- Taco seasoning
- Cajun, Creole, or blackening seasoning
- Italian seasoning
- Greek seasoning
- Za’atar seasoning
- Adobo
- Jerk seasoning
- Everything but the Bagel seasoning
- Montreal Steak seasoning
- Lemon-Pepper seasoning
- I haven’t tried it (yet), but a sweet seasoning mixture for a dessert version sounds fantastic, especially served with graham crackers for dipping
Storing and Make Ahead
Smoked cream cheese can be made ahead of time, although its texture is best when it’s just off the smoker. To make ahead, wrap it in foil and place it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving for best results. Any leftovers should always be stored in the refrigerator.
Smoked Cream Cheese
You’ll love the few minutes prep time but loads of flavor you get with this easy recipe for smoked cream cheese. It’s quick, versatile, and absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
- 8-oz block of full-fat cream cheese
- ¼ cup BBQ rub
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Line a small sheet pan with foil, then lightly grease the foil. You can also use a small dish if you’re sure it won’t get stained by the smoker.
- Unwrap a block of cream cheese, leaving it on the wrapper. Using a small silicone brush, coat it lightly with a small amount of olive oil (or just drizzle some on and use your hands, it’s easier but messy).
- Sprinkle on your favorite bbq rub, taking care to make sure all sides are thoroughly coated. Place it on the sheet pan.
- Using a sharp knife, score the top of the cheese in a crisscross pattern.
- Place the sheet pan on the smoker alongside whatever you’re already smoking. The temp doesn’t really matter, but I’ve found that between 200F-250F works best. See the blog post for more details.
- Smoke the cheese for about two hours. It can be removed as soon as just one hour, depending on how much smoke flavor you’re going for.
- Serve the smoked cream cheese with crackers, chips, and/or freshly sliced vegetables.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 127Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 141mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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