This Traeger Smoked Cream Cheese will become your new favorite summer BBQ appetizer. Make it your own by customizing it with a variety of seasonings.
The results are a gooey lightly smoked brick of cream cheese that tastes good enough to rival even the best-baked brie.
Smoking a cream cheese block softens it and gives it an earthy smoke flavor that is perfect for smearing across your favorite crackers.
This smoked cream cheese appetizer recipe is so easy to whip up and cook along side other dishes.
Go ahead and add a couple blocks of cream cheese to your smoker the next time you are making one of your favorite smoker recipes like these Smoked Chicken Wings, Smoked Potato Skins, this Smoked Pork Roast, or this Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This Smoked Cream Cheese couldn't be easier to make. Just coat a block of cream cheese with olive oil and sprinkle on some of your favorite seasonings then smoke it for a few hours.
- It is easily customizable by switching up the seasonings. See the list below for some suggestions.
- Serve it with some crackers or freshly cut vegetables to make the perfect appetizer.
Try one of these other delicious recipes at your next BBQ: Grilled Marinated Bok Choy, Baked Kohlrabi Fries, Roasted Summer Vegetable Salad, and Provel Macaroni and Cheese.
Recipe Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this easy Smoked Cream Cheese.
Block of Philadelphia Cream Cheese: This isn't the time to count calories. Go ahead and use full-fat cream cheese.
Olive Oil: Coating the cream cheese in olive oil will help keep the outside of the cream cheese from drying out. Don't worry about using fancy extra virgin olive oil regular olive oil will work just fine.
Your Favorite Seasoning: There are so many options for flavoring the cream cheese. Check out some popular variations below.
Dippers: Try dipping crackers, chips, produce, or bread in this delicious cream cheese appetizer.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
There are so many different variations of Traeger Smoked Cream Cheese that you could make depending upon your chosen seasoning. Here are some you should definitely try.
- Your Favorite BBQ Rub
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Lemon Pepper
- Taco Seasoning
- Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Onion Soup Mix
- For a dessert version try using Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust (a mixture of cinnamon sugar)
- Pretty much anything that sounds like it will taste good with cream cheese
Step by Step Directions
Step 1: Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Step 2: Heat the smoker to 250°F (121°C). Place the cream cheese on a piece of foil or in a disposable aluminum pan. Score cream cheese in a crosshatch pattern. Brush the entire block with olive oil.
Step 3: Sprinkle cream cheese with your favorite rub.
Tip: If the cream cheese sticks to the knife, while scoring the block or cream cheese, lightly wet the knife with a little water. Scoring the cream cheese opens up the block allowing the smoky flavor to reach the middle of the cream cheese.
Tip: If you don't want to use aluminum foil you can place the cream cheese on a metal baking dish or cast iron skillet.
Step 4: Smoke the cream cheese uncovered for 3 hours. While it smokes your cream cheese may crack. This is completely normal. The sides may also turn a golden brown color.
Step 5: Remove the cream cheese from the smoker and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes. Serve this creamy goodness with your favorite dippable items like crackers, chips, produce, or bread.
Tip: The cream cheese is done when the score lines begin to pull away from each other and the center of the block feels warm.
Serving Suggestions
This weekend I served smoke cream cheese as a part of a charcuterie board with tomato chutney on top of wedges of homemade flatbread.
Serve hot straight off the smoker or chill it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. There are a variety of delicious accompaniments for smoked cream cheese.
A few of them include:
- Crackers
- Pita Chips
- Bagel Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- Vegetables such as carrots, snap peas, carrots, and bell peppers
- Fruit Jams like this Small Batch Blueberry Jam or this Roasted Balsamic Strawberry Jam
- Spicy Pepper Jelly
- Maple Onion Bacon Jam
- Fresh Spinach Pesto
- Tomato Chutney
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Fruits such as apple slices
Recipe FAQs
I prefer to use mild wood pellets like apple or cherry.
If you don't have a smoker you can still make this delicious cream cheese appetizer.
Prepare the cream cheese as recommended in the recipe. Instead of using foil place the cream cheese in a shallow pan and add a small dash of liquid smoke to the top of the cream cheese.
Preheat your oven to 250°F (121°C) and bake the cream cheese uncovered for one hour. If it has softened, remove the cream cheese from the oven.
If it is still firm continue baking for an additional 30 minutes. Allow the cream cheese to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Try smearing savory smoke cream cheese across your favorite bagel or baguet. Or scoop some up with crackers, pretzels or serve it along with some freshly chopped vegetables.
For sweet smoked cream cheese, I would serve it with some fresh fruit, graham crackers, or vanilla wafers.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To reheat: Microwave the cream cheese in 30-second intervals until warm or bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 250°F (121°C).
Smoked cream cheese shouldn't be frozen.
Nope if it is smoked at the correct temperature cream cheese actually dries out a bit when it is smoked rather than melt.
Expert Tips
- Vary the flavor of your smoked cream cheese by changing the seasonings used.
- Don't forget to score the cream cheese. Scoring the cream cheese opens up the block allowing the smoky flavor to reach the middle of the cream cheese.
- If the cream cheese sticks to the knife, while scoring the block or cream cheese, lightly wet the knife with a little water.
- The cream cheese is done when the score lines begin to pull away from each other and the center of the block feels warm.
More Easy Sides
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📖 Recipe
Smoked Cream Cheese
Equipment
- aluminum foil, baking pan, or cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 8oz block of cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of your favorite spice mix
Instructions
- Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Heat the smoker to 250°F (121°C). Place the cream cheese on a piece of foil or in a disposable aluminum pan. Score cream cheese in a crosshatch pattern. Brush the entire block with olive oil.
- Sprinkle cream cheese with your favorite rub.
- Smoke the cream cheese uncovered for 3 hours. While it smokes your cream cheese may crack. This is completely normal. The sides may also turn a golden brown color.
- Remove the cream cheese from the smoker and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes. Serve this creamy goodness with your favorite dippable items like crackers, chips, produce, or bread.
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