Smoked Cream Cheese

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Customizable: The best part of this recipe is that you can customize it to suit your preferences. You can add more or less of any of the seasonings or use any other spice blend that you prefer to adjust the flavor.
Versatile: You can use it as a dip, sandwich spread, or even a pasta sauce. Plus, it’s a great recipe for any occasion. The rich, smoky flavor with a hint of spicy jalapeno makes it a real crowd-pleaser.
Add on Recipe: If the smoker is on cooking some meat, you can easily make this smoked cream cheese, too.

Smoked Cream Cheese Recipe Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Cream cheese: This is the main ingredient in the dip, giving it a rich, creamy base that’s the perfect canvas for all the other flavors. You can use full-fat, low-fat, or even vegan cream cheese if you prefer, and it will still turn out delicious.
Jalapeños: The jalapeños add a spicy kick to the dip. Seeding them will help to reduce the heat level if you prefer a milder dip.
Smoked paprika: This adds a robust, smoky flavor to the dip. It’s different from regular paprika, so try not to substitute it if you can help it.
Garlic and onion powder: These ingredients add a subtle depth of flavor to the dip.
Beer: The beer adds a hint of bitterness, which contrasts nicely with the other flavors. You can use any kind of beer in this recipe, but IPA works best.
Seasonings: These include brown sugar, ancho chili powder, white pepper, and salt, and all add their own unique flavors to the dip. They can be adjusted to your preference, of course.

How to Make Smoked Cream Cheese Dip

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare cream cheese: Unpackage the cream cheese and place it in a casserole dish, cast iron skillet, or on aluminum foil. Make sure it’s at room temperature.
Prepare seasonings and jalapeños: Mix the olive oil and beer together. In a separate bowl, mix the seasonings and slice the jalapeños, removing the seeds if you prefer a milder dip.
Season cream cheese and add jalapeños: Brush the cream cheese with the beer mixture and season it and the jalapeños with the seasoning mix.
Smoke cream cheese: Put the prepared dish in a preheated smoker and smoke for 2 1/2 hours.
Serve: Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the smoked cream cheese dip and serve with gluten-free crackers, chips, pretzels, or bread.

Substitutions and Variations

Seasonings: You can vary the seasonings in this smoked cream cheese dip recipe to give it a different flavor each time. Try a ready-made meat or chicken rub, or taco seasoning for a different twist.
Wood pellets: If you want to experiment with different flavors, try using different wood pellets in your smoker. They can impart a unique smoky flavor to your cream cheese dip.
Sweet version: If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you can add cinnamon sugar instead of savory seasonings. Serve the sweet smoked cream cheese dip with chopped firm fruits like apple slices for a delicious gluten-free dessert or party snack.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Smoked cream cheese dip is the perfect party appetizer. Guests can enjoy it with a variety of dippers such as pretzels, crackers, bagel chips, pita chips, or slices of French bread. You can also serve it with puff pastry twists or tortilla chips for a fun twist.
Spread: You can also use this smoked cream cheese dip in your main course. Spread it on top of a piece of hot toast or a bagel for a quick and easy lunch or dinner idea.
Other Smoker Recipes: It’s the perfect add-on recipe to make alongside any of your favorite smoker recipes, such as smoked beer can chicken with Mexican BBQ sauce, smoked Cuban mojo pulled pork, or smoked Caribbean jerk spiced shrimp. Plus, the flavor pairs incredibly well.

How to Store Smoked Cream Cheese Appetizer

Store: Leftovers can be saved for your next snack attack. Just keep the dip in an airtight container, and it will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freezing is not recommended for cream cheese dips. Freezing alters the texture, making it grainy once thawed.

Top Tips 

Choose the Right Cream Cheese: When making a smoked cream cheese dip, it’s important to choose a good quality, full-fat cream cheese. This will ensure that your dip is creamy and rich, with the perfect texture for dipping.
Don’t Skip the Smoking Time: Smoking the cream cheese for the full 2 ½ hours is crucial for infusing it with a delicious smoky flavor. Don’t rush this step, as it can make all the difference to the end result.
Be Mindful of Your Seasonings: When choosing your seasonings, avoid blended rubs where salt is the #1 ingredient. This can make the dip too salty, especially if you’re serving it with salty crackers or pretzels. If in doubt, stick to the recipe’s recommended spices or make your own blend.