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Nashville Hot Smoked Cream Cheese Recipe

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4.2 from 75 reviews

  • Author: Patricia
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Description

This Nashville Hot Smoked Cream Cheese is a smoky, spicy, and creamy dish perfect for sharing as a main course or appetizer. Infused with the iconic Nashville hot chicken seasoning, smoked to perfection, and topped with chopped hot chicken and pickles, it offers a delightful blend of bold flavors and textures, ideal for dipping with thick cut wavy chips.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Base

  • 2 x 8oz blocks of cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning
  • 1.5 tsp canola oil

Toppings

  • 6 tenders of local Nashville Hot Chicken, chopped
  • 2 tbsp pickles, chopped
  • 1 tbsp honey for garnish

For Serving

  • Thick cut wavy chips for dipping

Instructions

  1. Preheat the smoker: Set your smoker to 275°F for indirect cooking. Add your choice of wood chips or wood chunks to infuse extra smoky flavor into the dish.
  2. Prepare the cream cheese: Create a crosshatch scoring pattern on one side of each cream cheese block to allow better smoke penetration and seasoning absorption.
  3. Season the cheese: Brush the scored sides of the cream cheese with canola oil, then generously coat with Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning.
  4. Set up the skillet: Grease a cast iron skillet to prevent sticking. Place the cream cheese blocks, scored side up, close together in the center of the skillet.
  5. Smoke the cream cheese: Place the skillet in the preheated smoker and cook for 1.5 hours, or until the cream cheese edges are very soft and infused with smoke.
  6. Prepare toppings: While the cream cheese smokes, chop the Nashville Hot Chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces and dice the pickles.
  7. Add toppings to skillet: About 20 minutes before the cream cheese is done, scatter the chopped hot chicken around the cheese in the skillet and sprinkle the diced pickles on top of the cream cheese.
  8. Finish cooking: Continue smoking until the cream cheese is fully softened and the toppings are heated through. Remove the skillet from the smoker.
  9. Serve: Drizzle honey over the top of the cheesy mixture to add a sweet contrast to the spicy heat. Serve immediately with thick cut wavy chips for dipping.

Notes

  • Use local Nashville Hot Chicken tenders for the most authentic flavor; if unavailable, spicy fried chicken tenders can be a substitute.
  • Adjust the amount of hot chicken seasoning depending on your desired heat level.
  • The scoring pattern on the cream cheese helps it absorb smoky flavor and seasoning better.
  • Maintain smoker temperature consistently at 275°F for even cooking.
  • Honey drizzle provides a balance of sweetness against the spicy heat, but can be omitted for a purely savory experience.
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Smoking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://patriciarecipes.com/nashville-hot-smoked-cream-cheese-recipe/