Learn How to Make Smoked Cream Cheese Dip with three different flavor variations! With a hot buffalo blue cheese option, a Mexican-inspired flavor, and a sweet and spicy honey citrus version, there’s a smoked cream cheese recipe to satisfy all your cravings.
Viral Smoked Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
There is a reason recipes go viral on social media. Oftentimes, you’ll say to yourself “Why didn’t I think of that”? And let’s face it, along with buffalo chicken pizza and buffalo wings, no tailgate or Super Bowl party is without cream cheese in some shape or form. It’s a staple in most appetizers!
In the recipes below, I’ve taken the viral smoked cream cheese a step further to make your game-time noshing NEXT LEVEL! Because nothing is better than cream cheese that has been infused with smoke flavor on your charcoal grill or pellet smoker and topped with these three addictive flavor combos! When I tell you these recipes are a match made in smoked cream cheese heaven, I truly am speaking the cheesy gospel!
And, if you’re trying to eat low-carb and Keto, you’re in luck, swap your crackers with pork rinds to keep the buffalo and blue cheese and Taco dips low-carb! The pineapple jelly in the third variation is not low-carb. So, you’ll just have to have a cheat day with that one!
When I tell you that you’ll eat your weight's worth of cheese in one sitting with these dips, well, enjoy the ride! Because you’re going to savor every cheesy moment of it!
Recipe Ingredients for Each Flavor
- Cream Cheese – Use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese as the base of each recipe.
Taco Dip Smoked Cream Cheese
- Taco Seasoning – Use any store-bought or homemade taco seasoning you like best.
- Pickled Jalapeños – Use store-bought or homemade pickled jalapeños chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- Shredded Cheese – I use a Mexican cheese blend, but Cheddar cheese will also work.
- Tortilla Chips – Again, use pork rinds to keep this recipe low-carb.
Buffalo Blue Cheese Smoked Cream Cheese
- All-Purpose BBQ Rub – Use any BBQ rub seasoning you like best.
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce – Adjust to taste, and swap out any hot sauce you have on hand.
- Crumbled Cheese – I use blue cheese, but gorgonzola cheese also tastes great.
- Crackers – Use your favorite buttery crackers for dipping, or opt for pork rinds to keep the dip low-carb.
Pineapple Express Smoked Cream Cheese
- Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub – If you don’t have this on hand, substitute another sweet, savory, citrusy spice rub.
- Pineapple Reserves – I use Melinda’s pineapple reserves, but any brand will work.
Tools Needed
- Skillets – I smoked my cream cheese in 6.5” cast iron skillets I bought on Amazon. They make for a fun presentation at your Superbowl or tailgate spread! You can also easily use aluminum foil loaf pans on the grill.
- Wood Chips – Bourbon barrel wood chips, oak, or maple wood chips are my preferred wood choices for smoked cream cheese. Use what makes you happy!
How to Smoke Cream Cheese
** Full printable instructions at the recipe card at the end
No matter which flavor variation you choose, each smoked cream cheese recipe starts with the same steps:
- Add charcoal to the LoCo kettle, and set the grill temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add plenty of wood chips to create smoke. Then, add the place setter (fully closed) to the grill, and put the grill grates in place on top of the setter.
- Once the grill reaches the desired temperature and the wood chips begin to smoke, place the cream cheese block in a mini skillet.
Buffalo Blue Cheese
- Sprinkle the cream cheese with the BBQ rub.
- Place the skillet on the LoCo kettle, and let the cream cheese absorb the smoke flavor for 15 minutes.
- Add the hot sauce and blue cheese, and let the ingredients smoke until the blue cheese begins to melt.
Taco Dip
- Sprinkle the cream cheese with the taco seasoning.
- Place the skillet on the LoCo kettle, and let the cream cheese absorb the smoke flavor for 15 minutes.
- Add the Mexican cheese and pickled jalapeños, and continue to smoke until the shredded cheese is melted.
Pineapple Express Dip
- Sprinkle the cream cheese with the Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub.
- Place the skillet on the LoCo kettle, and let the cream cheese absorb the smoke flavor for 15 minutes.
- Add the pineapple preserves, and continue to smoke until the preserves begin to melt and caramelize.
Serving Suggestions
As mentioned, I love to serve these dips with crackers, tortilla chips, or pork rinds. However, they’re also great with dippers like pretzels, veggie sticks, grilled okra and tomato skewers, BBQ chicken, peach, and poblano skewers, and spicy honey kissed chicken wings!
How to Store
These dips are best served right away while they’re still warm. However, if you have leftovers, you can transfer them to a covered bowl or airtight container, and store them in the fridge for 1-3 days.
Serve cold. Or, reheat your smoked cream cheese in the microwave, oven, or air fryer just until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
All three flavor combinations take about 30 minutes to smoke properly, infusing the cream cheese with a delicious smoky taste.
Smoking uses a fairly low temperature that simply infuses the cheese with flavor. It does not require a long enough cooking time to melt the cream cheese completely.
Each variation provides a different flavor profile. However, on its own, smoked cream cheese is rich and tangy with a bold, smoky taste.
I don’t recommend it! It doesn’t have as rich of a flavor or soften properly.
More Dip Recipes
Smoked Cream Cheese (3 Ways)
Equipment
- 1 1 mini skillet or disposable loaf pan
Ingredients
Taco Dip Smoked Cream Cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- 1 heaping Tablespoon of Taco Seasoning
- 1 cup of pickled jalapenos if they are large, chop them up before adding
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- Tortilla chips
Buffalo Blue Cheese Smoked Cream Cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- 1 Tablespoon all purpose BBQ Rub
- 1 cup franks red hot sauce
- 1 cup blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese crumbled (or more to taste)
- Crackers or pork rinds if doing low carb for dipping
Pineapple Express Smoked Cream Cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- 1 Heaping Tablespoon of Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub or more to taste
- 4 ounces about half a jar of Melinda’s (or your preferred brand) Pineapple Preserves
Instructions
Taco Dip Smoked Cream Cheese:
- Add charcoal to the LoCo Kettle, then set grill temp to 300 degrees.
- Once the coals are ready for cooking, add plenty of wood chips to create smoke. Add the place setter (fully closed) onto the grill and then put the grillgrates in place (on top of the place setter).
- Once the grill gets to temp and wood chips begin to smoke it’s time to put your cream cheese onto the grill.1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- Place the block of cream cheese in the mini skillet and then sprinkle with the taco seasoning.1 heaping Tablespoon of Taco Seasoning
- Place the skillet onto the LoCo kettle and let the cream cheese absorb smoke flavor from the grill for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, add the Mexican cheese and the pickled jalapenos and let it continue to smoke until the cheese has melted, this should take about 15 minutes.1 cup of pickled jalapenos, 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- Once the cheese has begun to melt and the ingredients start to combine, remove the skillet from the grill. Place the hot skillet on a pot holder and put out your tortilla chips and tell friends and family to dig in! This dip gives Mexican Queso dip vibes, the kind you can make an entire meal out of! It’s so addictive- you will make this one again and again!Tortilla chips
Buffalo Blue Cheese Smoked Cream Cheese:
- Add charcoal to the LoCo Kettle, then set the grill temp to 300 degrees.
- Once the coals are ready for cooking, add plenty of wood chips to create smoke. Add the place setter (fully closed) onto the grill and then put the grillgrates in place (on top of the place setter).
- Once the grill gets to temp and wood chips begin to smoke it’s time to put your cream cheese onto the grill.1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- Place the block of cream cheese in the mini skillet and then sprinkle with your favorite all purpose BBQ rub.1 Tablespoon all purpose BBQ Rub
- Place the skillet onto the LoCo kettle and let the cream cheese absorb smoke flavor from the grill for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, add the hot sauce and blue cheese and then let it smoke for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the blue cheese has begun to melt.1 cup franks red hot sauce, 1 cup blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese
- Once the blue cheese has begun to melt and the ingredients start to combine, remove the skillet from the grill. Place the hot skillet on a pot holder and put out your favorite crackers OR pork rinds and tell friends and family to dig in! Trust me when I tell you, this dip will be gone in a hurry!Crackers or pork rinds
Pineapple Express Smoked Cream Cheese:
- Add charcoal to the LoCo Kettle, then set the temp to 300 degrees.
- Once the coals are ready for cooking, add plenty of wood chips to create smoke.
- Add the place setter (fully closed) onto the grill and then put the grill grates in place (on top of the place setter).
- Once the grill gets to temp and wood chips begin to smoke it’s time to put your cream cheese onto the grill.1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese
- Place the block of cream cheese in the mini skillet and then sprinkle with Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub.1 Heaping Tablespoon of Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub
- Place the skillet onto the LoCo kettle and let the cream cheese absorb smoke flavor from the grill for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, add the pineapple preserves and let the cream cheese continue to smoke for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the preserves have begun to melt and caramelize.4 ounces about half a jar of Melinda’s (or your preferred brand) Pineapple Preserves
- Once the cheese has begun to melt and the ingredients start to combine, remove the skillet from the grill. Place the hot skillet on a pot holder and put out ritz crackers and prepare for the compliments of friends and family to come in! This dip is so easy and such a crowd-pleaser, you will add it to your regular appetizer rotation!
