Smoked Cream Cheese
on Feb 05, 2023, Updated Sep 21, 2023
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If I’m ever in the mood for a showstopping appetizer that’s ridiculously easy to make, I’ll throw this smoked cream cheese on the Traeger. Not only is it perfect for those all-important game night gatherings, but this tasty side dish is also ideal for lazy Sundays on the couch! Talk about a great all-rounder.
The smoke from the Traeger infuses right into the cream cheese, giving it an amazing smoky flavor and aroma. Plus, the layer of spice rub on the outside gives the cream cheese a fantastic bark and BBQ flavor.
Because the base recipe is so simple, there’s tons of scope for creativity here. I love topping mine with crumbly bacon bits, thinly sliced green onion, and a drizzle of honey for sweetness. But don’t be afraid to play around with BBQ rub, sauteed fajita veggies, or jalapeños for a fiery kick.
Oh, and there’s nothing wrong with serving this appetizer with a portion of guacamole or Pico de Gallo for the ultimate Mexican night!
As this is a reliable recipe that you’ll be pulling out again and again, don’t forget to bookmark this page or pin it for later. Trust me; you don’t want to lose track of this one!
💪 Why This Recipe Works
- It’s foolproof and simple to prepare (in just a few minutes!), making it the perfect grill recipe for beginners.
- It works equally well as an appetizer for dinner parties, tailgating events, and quiet nights in!
- It’s an excellent option for anyone following a keto diet as it’s packed with fat but contains few carbs.
- It requires just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients.
- There’s virtually no cleanup!
🍽 Ingredients
- Cream cheese. The star of the show! It’s best to use a full-fat cream cheese without preservatives for ultimate creaminess. Make sure you use blocks and not anything that comes in a tub. In my opinion, Philadelphia will always reign supreme for this appetizer.
- Olive oil. Adds a delicate floral flavor to the recipe.
- Spiceology Hickory Peach Porter Seasoning. This spice rub gives the cream cheese a rich and savory taste while helping the exterior to get that sought-after BBQ color and look. If you don’t have this on hand, just use your favorite spice rub.
- Honey. Adds a slight sweetness to the recipe that complements the dry rub perfectly.
- Bacon. The crumbly and crispy bacon bits add a touch of saltiness and tons of savory goodness.
- Scallions. For added crunch and a pop of color!
👨🍳 How To Make It
- Preheat the Traeger.
- Remove the cream cheese from its packaging and brush it with olive oil.
- Dip the cream cheese in the seasoning and coat it thoroughly.
- Slice the top of the surface of the cream cheese to create a cross-hatch pattern.
- Place the cream cheese on a baking dish and put it on the Traeger until the center is warm and soft.
- Remove the cream cheese from the Traeger.
- Top with honey, scallions, and crumbled bacon.
- Serve and enjoy!
Coat the cream cheese in olive oil and roll it in the seasoning to coat it on all sides. Slice the top surface in a cross pattern.
Place the cream cheese in a dish and put it on the Traeger. Smoke it until the cream cheese is warm and the slices open up.
😉 Tips For Success
- Make sure you score the cream cheese correctly. It might sound obvious, but it’s important to cross-hatch your cream cheese deeply enough. It opens the cheese to the Traeger, ensuring the smokiness reaches the middle of the block.
- Try using a warm, wet knife when you’re scoring the cheese. This technique will prevent the seasoning rub and cream cheese from sticking to the knife. Run your knife under hot water after each slice.
- Keep the cream cheese inside the Traeger until it’s warm, and the scores start slightly pulling away from each other and opening up. This helps to keep the middle slightly gooey and makes it perfect for dipping!
- Don’t be afraid to place multiple blocks of cream cheese in the Traeger if you’re serving large groups. This dish gets devoured, so you may want to multiply this recipe for a large gathering.
- If you want to reduce mess, you can use a disposable foil pan for your block of cheese. This makes cleanup simple and gives you more time to spend with friends rather than washing dishes.
- To prevent your cheese from drying out, put a pan of water in the Traeger. This increases the humidity in the Traeger and prevents the smoked cream cheese from becoming crumbly and dry.
❓ FAQ
You can use low-fat cream cheese. It’s a healthier alternative, but it doesn’t have that well-rounded and creamy flavor of full-fat cream cheese. It may not be as creamy, but it will still be delicious. However, you only live once, right?
I love eating this dip straight out of the Traeger, but you can also make it ahead of time and spread it on crackers once it’s cold!
As you can eat this recipe hot or cold, there’s no need to reheat it. However, if you want to have it hot again, just place it in the oven for approximately 10 minutes at 350°F. You can also put it in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-8 minutes.
You’ll want to use woods with strong flavors like hickory or mesquite. But if you want a slightly milder flavor, you can mix in oak, maple, apple, or cherry woods.
If you keep it sealed in an airtight container, your cheese should last approximately 3 or 4 days.
You can eat this smoked cream cheese with crudites, tortilla chips, air fryer wedges, or even pizza rolls! The sky’s the limit when something is this cheesy and delicious.
The flavor will change depending on the wood you use and the BBQ rub or seasoning you select, but it’s usually creamy, slightly sweet, and smoky.
🛠 Tools and Equipment
If you click on some of the following affiliate links and buy something, we might get a small commission. You don’t pay any extra, but it will help us keep the lights on and our bellies full!
This monstrous Traeger Timberline 1300 with enough space to smoke a brisket alongside several sides. Never run out of space on the smoker again! Pick up some pellets as well!
A gorgeous John Boos butcher block is essential in any kitchen. The large, high-quality surface is great for chopping and prepping your food. Pair it with this Shun chef’s knife.
🤤 Try These Amazing Recipes
Feeling cheesy? This Traeger smoked queso dip is incredibly gooey and packed with chorizo, bacon, onions, and jalapeños for a wonderfully mouthwatering chip dip that will have everyone begging for more!
This smoked jalapeño mac and cheese is essential for when the craving hits. It is gooey, slightly spicy, and loaded with lots of cheese!
Need something to dip in the smoked cream cheese or smoked queso dip? Try these air fryer wedges with a crispy cheese crust. Or maybe these grilled potato wedges are more your style.
I love a good cheesesteak and this Blackstone Philly cheesesteak is my go-to recipe for when I need my fix. It is incredibly easy to throw together on the large outdoor cooktop.
🎁 Wrap Up
Whether you’re on the hunt for a new appetizer for a big gathering or want something delicious for a tailgate party, this Traeger smoked cream cheese is perfect. Creamy, unique, and extremely easy to whip up, it’s bound to be a huge crowd-pleaser!
💬 Tell Me What You Think!
Did you try out this recipe? Please leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it. Also, snap a picture and post it to your favorite social platform. Be sure to tag me at @alicensetogrill and let me know how you liked it!
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Smoked Cream Cheese
I am telling you, this is one unique side dish that will turn any late-night party or game-day celebration into a touchdown!
The smoke from the Traeger infuses into the cream cheese, giving it a wonderful smoky flavor and aroma. You can even see the smoke ring in the cream cheese when you cut into it, so you know it is full of flavor!
Let your imagination run wild with toppings for the smoked cream cheese. I topped mine with crispy bacon, thinly sliced green onion, and a drizzle of honey. But you can test things like jalepeños, sauteed fajita veggies, or pico de gallo.
I coat the cream cheese in Spiceology's hickory peach porter rub because it is sweet and smoky, but you can use your favorite BBQ rub instead.
Ingredients
- 8oz block of cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Spiceology hickory peach porter rub
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 sprig fresh scallion
Instructions
- Preheat the Traeger to 225F°.
- Remove the block of cream cheese from the packaging and brush it with olive oil to coat it on all sides.
- Place the seasoning on a rimmed plate and dip the cream cheese in the seasoning until it is coated all around.
- Slice a cross-hatch on the top surface of the cream cheese, slicing about ¼ of the way through the cream cheese block.
- Place the cream cheese in a baking dish and put it on the Traeger for 2 hours, or until the cross slices in the cream cheese open up more and the center is warm and soft.
- Remove the cream cheese from the Traeger and top it with the honey, thinly sliced scallions, and crumbled bacon. Serve it with your favorite dipping foods.
Notes
- It should only take a maximum of two hours to smoke the cream cheese. The longer it smokes, the dryer it becomes. If you prefer a softer smoked cream cheese, take it off the Traeger after one hour.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 188mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is a guideline only, is calculated automatically by third party software, and absolute accuracy is not guaranteed.
