This smoked salmon cream cheese spread is luscious, creamy and perfect for your next party! Cream cheese, Greek yogurt, horseradish, fresh dill, capers, lemon juice, and gorgeous smoked salmon all stirred together into the creamiest, most flavorful dip you'll put out every time you entertain.
Quick Look: Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Spread
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🐟 Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 169 calories per serving
- 🥯 Flavor Profile: Creamy, briny, herby. Like a perfect smoked salmon bagel.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy. Perfect for entertaining!
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Smoked salmon spread is one of those things that looks like you spent way more time on it than you actually did. We're talking five minutes, a bowl, and a wooden spoon. No mixer, no cooking, no stress. If you want to show up to a gathering with something impressive to put on the table, this is your answer. Creamy, briny, full of fresh dill and capers. This recipe is a total crowd pleaser and it goes with basically everything. Brunch spreads, cocktail parties, dinner party, bridal shower, whatever the occasion, this is the recipe that will quickly become most requested.
If you're looking for more great party appetizers that feel a little fancy, you will also love these goat cheese stuffed prunes, crispy rice squares with spicy tuna, antipasto skewers and these ridiculously good deviled eggs with bacon and jalapeños.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Salmon spread a great way to stretch an expensive ingredient and elegantly serve smoked salmon to a crowd.
- It's a great recipe for any event - Easter brunch spread, Christmas morning breakfast, bridal shower, New Year's Eve, special occasions - this easy smoked salmon dip is always a perfect appetizer for any party!
- It's a no-cook super easy recipe with simple ingredients that can be made in advance to help make your next event a breeze.
- This delicious salmon appetizer is guaranteed to get rave reviews!
Ingredient notes
For complete ingredient list, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Nova smoked salmon - I use Nova smoked salmon here, which is cold-smoked and has that silky, delicate texture. You'll chop it up before mixing in so it distributes evenly through the spread. Any cold-smoked salmon will work.
- Cream cheese - use a block of full fat cream cheese for best results. I would not recommend using whipped cream cheese.
- Greek Yogurt - Full fat plain Greek yogurt is what you want here. It lightens up the cream cheese a bit and adds a subtle tang that makes the whole thing taste fresher and less heavy. Sour cream also works in a pinch.
- Creamy prepared horseradish - look for the small jars of creamy horseradish in the grocery store. Don't use horseradish sauce which is usually a sandwich spread mixed with mayo or mustard.
- Fresh dill - don't skip the dill, it adds so much fresh flavor and a pop of color! You can also use green onion.
- Fresh lemon juice - adds a touch of acid and tang.
- Everything bagel seasoning - This is just for garnish but it adds great texture, flavor, and visual appeal on top of the spread. It also just makes sense with the smoked salmon vibe.
- Dippers - bagel chips (or even cut up chunks of fresh toasted bagels), melba toasts, your favorite crackers or pita chips. Fresh veggies are a must - cucumber slices, whole cherry tomatoes, radishes and leaves of white endive lettuce are all great choices!
Smoked Salmon Spread Step By Step
Step 1: Add softened, room temperature cream cheese, greek yogurt, horseradish and lemon juice to a medium bowl and stir together to combine.
Step 2: Finely chop smoked salmon.
Step 3: Add chopped smoked salmon, chopped fresh dill and whole capers to the cream cheese mixture.
Step 4: Stir everything together until well combined.
Step 5: Garnish with more capers and a sprinkle fresh dill and everything bagel seasoning.
Expert tips
- Use room temperature cream cheese. This will make everything stir together easily to make the perfect dip. Cold cream cheese will make it a little lumpy.
- Make this dip the night before or earlier in the day. Letting it sit in the fridge for a while helps the flavors come together.
- Place the dip in a bowl of ice on your serving platter to keep it at a safer temperature for a longer period of time during your party.
- To make a passed hors d'oeuvres, use a piping bag to pipe the spread onto cucumber slices or bagel chips to make the perfect little salmon cream cheese bites.
Storage
This spread will keep for as long as the salmon allows. Be sure to read the packaging for when it needs to be consumed once opened. This is usually within 2-3 days. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Slather the leftover dip on a toasted bagel the morning after your party for an awesome breakfast! This spread will not freeze well.
Recipe FAQs
Lox is salt-cured salmon with no smoking involved. Nova smoked salmon (often just called smoked salmon) is cold-smoked, giving it that subtle smoky flavor and silky texture. Both will work in this recipe but Nova smoked salmon is what I like to use.
Yes! This is actually a great make-ahead recipe. Make it up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors deepen the longer it sits. Give it a stir before serving and garnish fresh just before putting it out.
You can! If Nova smoked salmon isn't available, hot-smoked salmon or even canned smoked trout would be delicious here. The flavor will be a bit smokier and more intense, but still really good.
More party appetizer recipes you will love
Smoked Salmon Spread
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Nova Smoked Salmon chopped
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- ½ cup plain full fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon creamy horseradish
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons capers
- ½ lemon juiced
- everything bagel seasoning for garnish
- bagel chips, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, radishes for serving
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese, greek yogurt, horseradish and lemon juice together in a bowl until smooth. It's ok if everything isn't completely smooth, just break up the larger chunks of cream cheese.
- Stir in dill, capers, chopped smoked salmon.
- Garnish with a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning, more capers and dill and serve with bagel chips or crackers and raw veggies.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese. This will make everything stir together easily to make the perfect dip. Cold cream cheese will make it a little lumpy.
- Make this dip the night before or earlier in the day. Letting it sit in the fridge for a while helps the flavors come together.
- Place the dip in a bowl of ice on your serving platter to keep it at a safer temperature for a longer period of time during your party.
- To make a passed hors d'oeuvres, use a piping bag to pipe the spread onto cucumber slices or bagel chips to make the perfect little salmon cream cheese bites.
Cheryl
This salmon spread is so easy to make and so good. I especially like the addition of horseradish, which gives it a nice kick. If you're making this for a party, definitely make double - it will disappear fast.
Jacqueline Serrao
I made this for NYE, and I've thought about it every day since. A few simple ingredients, and it's the best use of smoked salmon EVER . I am drooling thinking about it, and I AM NOT EXAGGERATING!!!
Diane
Made this for Christmas Eve and it was delicious! Absolutely perfect balance of flavors.
Jessica
I'm so happy you enjoyed this. It's one of my favorites!