Cream cheese is one of those versatile ingredients you can use in many recipes, including dips, soups, and desserts. It’s creamy but not overpowering, smooth but not bland, and “cheezy” without any distinct saltiness.
Here are some of the tastiest recipes you can prepare with cream cheese:.
- Artichoke Dip
- Onion Dip
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
- Cheesecake
Dips With Cream Cheese
Artichoke Dip
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients: Artichoke hearts (8 oz), ½ cup mayonnaise, 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream,1-2 cloves of garlic, 1 cup parmesan cheese
Tip: Can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer uncooked
The party doesn’t start until artichoke dip shows up. This ultimate party dip comes together in less than thirty minutes!
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Combine the mayo, chopped dill, parmesan cheese, garlic, sour cream, and cream cheese in a bowl. Stir chopped artichoke hearts into the mixture. You can also use artichoke bottoms that have a similar taste for more texture.
Transfer your dip to an oven-safe dish and bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and dill weed on top while it’s hot. Serve it warm with a side of chips, bread, or roasted veggies.
Using frozen or canned artichoke hearts is a good idea since you won’t have to trim the stems yourself.
You can make artichoke dip ahead of time and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you want to serve, pop it in the oven for 40 minutes or until it’s warm and bubbly.
Onion Dip
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: 3 medium-sized onions, 4 oz of cream cheese (room temperature), 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, 3 tbsp butter, salt and pepper to taste
Tip: Bring the cream cheese to room temperature for a smoother dip
Onion dip with chips is a delicious treat you can prepare with the ingredients you have lying around.
Start by melting some butter over medium heat. Add onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to the pan and stir in the chopped onions, the real stars of the show! Let this concoction simmer over low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the onions turn into a nice golden brown, they’ll taste sweet like caramel, and you can remove them from the stove. Let them cool down as you prepare the base of the dip.
Combine sour cream, mayo, and room temperature cream cheese in a bowl. Microwave your cream cheese for 10 seconds if you forgot to take it out of the refrigerator. Stir in the caramelized onions and mix well. Put the bowl in the fridge for 2 hours to marry the flavors.
Soups With Cream Cheese
Creamy Tomato Soup
Preparation Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Ingredients: 1 can of diced tomatoes (28 oz), 1 red bell pepper, 4 oz cream cheese, 4 cups of beef broth, 1 tbsp flour, ½ tsp sugar, 1 stalk of celery, salt, and pepper to taste
Tip: Add dried rosemary and thyme to enhance the flavor
What is better than tomato soup? Creamy tomato soup! This silky and smooth soup is a perfect way to combine tomatoes with cream cheese.
To get the best flavor, we suggest baking your tomatoes. Butter an oven-safe baking dish and place the chopped tomatoes, celery, red pepper, and garlic.
Sprinkle some salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 325°F (165°C) for 20 minutes.
In a large pot, start making a roux with flour and a little bit of butter. Slowly add beef stock and seasonings like rosemary and thyme. When it comes to a boil, add your baked goods into the pot and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.
Finally, blend cream cheese in a food processor until smooth and slowly add it to the soup, stirring constantly. You can add it without blending, but the soup won’t have the same silky texture. Garnish with some parsley or some grated parmesan, et voila!
You can also opt for vegetable broth and make your soup vegetarian-friendly.
Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
Preparation Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients: 1 small to medium onion, 1 carrot, 2 potatoes, 3 cups chicken broth, 2 chicken breasts, 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature), 1 tbsp butter, flour, and milk for roux
Tip: Use pre-cooked chicken
You can give the classic chicken soup a creamy make-over with this crowd favorite recipe.
Start by sauteing onions in a large pot. When onions are tender, add bite-sized carrots and potatoes to the pot along with your broth and some salt to taste.
Bring it to a boil, close the lid and reduce to heat to allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes. Shred your pre-cooked chicken and add it to the soup.
In a separate pan, prepare a roux with some milk and flour and slowly feed it to the simmering broth. Add the cream cheese in chunks and stir well for 5 minutes until the consistency is creamy and smooth. Top it off with some parsley or with some crackers, and enjoy.
Dessert With Cream Cheese
Cheesecake
Preparation Time: 6-7 hours (chilling time including)
Ingredients: 32 oz cream cheese (room temperature), 250 grams of sugar, 160 gr sour cream, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 4 large eggs, 7 tbsp melted butter, 170 gr graham crackers
Tip: Chilling your cheesecake overnight makes the consistency of the batter even better
Next time you want to serve dessert, give this easy and extremely delicious cheesecake recipe a chance.
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). To make the crust, smash the graham crackers into crumbs in a blender. Add melted butter, stirring the mix with a fork or a spatula. Butter an oven-safe dish and press your mixture firmly into the bottom and sides.
For the cheesecake filling, combine cream cheese with sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt and blend with a mixer. Add sour cream and eggs, making sure to scrape the sides of your bowl so that everything is well incorporated.
Your eggs should go in one by one as you continue mixing on low speed. Pour the batter over the graham cracker crust.
Place your cheesecake at the center of the oven and cook for 75 minutes. When it’s done, the edges will look slightly golden, but the center will still look jiggly.
Remove the dish from the oven and wait until it cools down. If you can touch it without burning your fingers, you can pop it in the fridge to chill. Let it rest for a minimum of 4-5 hours or overnight.
Conclusion
Cream cheese is a kitchen staple that could be used for various recipes. You can make freezer-ready party dips, creamy soups, and rich desserts with it.
If you have more cream cheese than you can use, freeze it to use later. It can last up to six months in the freezer. When you want to use it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and microwave for 10 seconds. Stir with a whisk or fork to make it smoother.
Bon appetit!
