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–+ servings
Smoked cream cheese on a cracker with pretzels and vegetables
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Smoked Cream Cheese

Learn everything you need to know about how to make Smoked Cream Cheese! 
A smoked cream cheese block is really easy to make on ANY grill or smoker and can be simply seasoned and served on a platter with crackers or vegetables or with hot pepper jelly.
Whether you've got a gas or charcoal grill, a Pit Boss or Traeger pellet grill, or even a Masterbuilt electric smoker, we've got you covered!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 198kcal
Author Mads Martigan
Cost $10

Equipment

  • Smoker or Pellet grill -OR-
  • Gas or Charcoal Grill setup for indirect heat
  • Hickory, Mesquite, and/or Apple pellets, woodchips, or chunks
  • Knife
  • Aluminum Foil or a Grill Mat

Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz Block of Cream Cheese
  • Cooking Oil
  • Barbecue Rub Seasoning to taste
  • 2 tablespoon Hot Pepper Jelly optional

Instructions

Prepare the Cream Cheese

  • Spray or brush some cooking oil onto a sheet of aluminum foil.
    Cooking Oil
  • Place your cream cheese block on the greased sheet of foil.
    1 8 oz Block of Cream Cheese
    three blocks of cream cheese on tin foil for smoking
  • Score the top of the cream cheese crosshatch style with a sharp knife.
    slicing crosshatches in a block of cream cheese before smoking
  • Brush some cooking oil on the top and sides of the block of cream cheese.
    Cooking Oil
    brushing oil on a block of cream cheese before smoking
  • Sprinkle your BBQ rub seasoning on the top and sides of the cream cheese block.
    Barbecue Rub Seasoning
    a seasoned block of cream cheese to smoke

Set Up the Grill or Smoker

  • Preheat the smoker, or grill setup for indirect cooking, to no higher than 180°F.
    a pit boss pellet grill making smoke
  • If using a pellet grill, load the hopper with your chosen pellets, turn on the grill, and set the temperature for 180°F or the "Smoke" setting.
    a smoker set to 180 degrees

Smoke the Cream Cheese Block

  • Once the grill or smoker is near its temperature, add your wood chips, wood chunks, or pellets into a pellet tube smoker and place it over the direct heat and close the lid.
    pouring pellets into a pit boss pellet grill hopper
  • Once the grill or smoker is producing smoke, place the foil with the cream cheese on it into the smoker, or on the cool side of the grill. Close the door or lid.
    three blocks of cream cheese smoking on a pellet grill
  • Smoke at no higher than 180°F for 2 hours.
  • Carefully remove the foil with the smoked cream cheese on it from the grill or smoker and place somewhere to cool for 10 minutes.
  • Gently soak up any grease around the smoked cream cheese with a paper towel and then transfer to a serving platter.
  • Serve warm with crackers or vegetables for dipping and spreading.
    smoked cream cheese on a platter with a cracker
  • Optional: Finish by gently spooning hot pepper jelly on top of the smoked cream cheese block for some extra sweet and spicy flavors.
    2 tablespoon Hot Pepper Jelly
    a smoked cream cheese block with hot pepper jelly

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 75mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 761IU | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 0.1mg