This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn qualifying purchases. Click here for more about this policy.
Everyone will beg you to make this rich Smoked Salmon Dip time and time again. It tastes decadent and is perfect for an elevated cocktail party or holiday gathering.
While this homemade salmon dip tastes luxurious, it’s incredibly easy to make and takes less than 20 minutes to mix. The smoky flavor of the cured salmon pairs well with tangy cream cheese and yogurt with fresh dill. You can serve it as a dip or as a spread for bagels at a fun brunch. Just be prepared for everyone to beg you for the recipe.
If you like delicious salmon recipes, you will love my Healthy Mustard Salmon and Baked Pesto Salmon!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich and Flavorful: Smoked salmon is bursting with flavor. Combine that with tangy cream cheese, spicy brown mustard, hot sauce, and fresh dill, and you have a dip exploding with flavor.
- Simple Ingredients: Despite its luxurious flavor, this dip is made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients like cream cheese, yogurt, and hot sauce. You can even find smoked salmon in the seafood section of most major grocery stores.
- Always a Hit at Parties: The flavor of this dip is so unique and delicious, you will never leave the party with leftovers, just like my cottage cheese spinach artichoke dip.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Greek Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt is a great alternative to the sour cream usually found in this type of dip. It has a similar flavor, but with more protein, fewer calories, and less fat. I also use it in this healthy taco dip.
- Cream Cheese: Reduced-fat cream cheese keeps this dip a bit little lower in calories, but still brings the tangy flavor and creamy texture you want.
- Spicy Brown Mustard: One of the ingredients that makes this the best smoked salmon dip is the spicy brown mustard. It adds a bold and zesty kick that complements the tangy yogurt and salmon.
- Hot Sauce: If you like a little kick to your dip, add your favorite hot sauce. You can skip this one if you don’t want it spicy. Use the extra hot sauce to make this buffalo chicken pasta for dinner during the week.
- Smoked Salmon: You can find two variations of smoked salmon at the grocery store, thin salmon like lox, or thicker cuts that you can easily flake apart. The thick, flaky salmon is best for this recipe, but you can use either one.
- Dill: Fresh is absolutely best for this dip! It has a better flavor and a more fragrant smell.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations & Dietary Modifications
- Try It with Trout: Mix things up and use smoked trout instead of salmon in your dip. It is typically sold tinned like sardines and is very flavorful.
- Make It Dairy-Free: Use a dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free Greek yogurt to make a dairy-free version of this simple smoked salmon dip.
- Add Capers: Give your dip an extra briny and salty kick by adding a few capers to it. These pickled flower buds pair well with creamy seafood dishes.
How to Make Smoked Salmon Dip
This smoked salmon dip recipe with cream cheese tastes like it was complicated to make, but it really isn’t. You’ll need a hand mixer to make it creamy, but that’s it. Whip it up in less than 20 minutes and impress everyone with how good it tastes.
- Step 1: Blend the Cream Cheese and Yogurt. Add the cream cheese and Greek yogurt to a medium mixing bowl and use an electric hand mixer to beat them together until they’re smooth.
- Step 2: Add Other Ingredients. Mix in the mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, hot sauce, and pepper.
- Step 3: Stir in Smoked Salmon. Flake the salmon apart and stir in the pieces and the fresh dill by hand. Taste test it and adjust any necessary seasonings before transferring it to a serving bowl to take to your party along with some buffalo chicken meatballs, another easy appetizer!
Recipe Tip
- Use Softened Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing the dip to make it easier to mix.
- Blend to Make It Smoother: Instead of a hand mixer, you can use a blender to combine all of the ingredients. You could even blend the salmon into the dip if you don’t want large chunks of fish.
- Remove the Salmon Early: Let the salmon sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before flaking. It will break apart more easily and mix in smoothly.
- Store in the Refrigerator: Store any leftover dip in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. It doesn’t last long!
Serving Suggestions
This decadent smoked salmon dip with cream cheese will be the hit of every party and holiday gathering! It’s creamy, smoky, and delicious. Use crackers, sliced baguettes, or veggies like carrots, celery, and cucumber to scoop it up and enjoy it! You can enjoy it as an appetizer or as part of an elevated snack spread.
- For a seafood dinner party, serve this dip as an appetizer with seafood chili as the main course.
- Try making this dip for a brunch party and serve it with Greek yogurt bagels to make the best breakfast sandwiches.
- Every party needs dessert! Chocolate hummus is sweet, rich, and the perfect dippable dessert when people are mingling and socializing.
Recipe FAQs
You can use fresh salmon instead of smoked, but you’ll need to cook it before adding it to your dip. You can bake, air fry, or pan fry the salmon. This recipe for oven-fried salmon is a great way to cook your salmon for the dip.
Absolutely! You can make this dip up to 1 day in advance and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I find that leaving it overnight in the fridge actually makes it taste even better.
The flaky “hot” smoked salmon is fully cooked, while cold smoked salmon, like lox, is cured. Cured salmon is safe to eat but has more of a raw texture.
More Healthy Dip Recipes
Appetizers
Hot Crab Dip
Appetizers
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Appetizers
Healthy French Onion Dip
Seafood
Creamy Hot Shrimp Dip
If you tried this Smoked Salmon Dip recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt, plain
- 6 oz Cream Cheese, reduced fat at room temperature
- 2 tsp Spicy Brown Mustard
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 4 dashes Hot Sauce, or to your preference plus more for topping
- 8 oz Smoked Salmon, hot smoked salmon is best, flaked into small pieces
- 2 tbsp Dill, finely chopped plus more for topping
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the yogurt and cream cheese until smooth.
- Next beat in the mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper and hot sauce.
- Stir the flaked salmon and dill by hand. Taste the dip and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Transfer to a serving bowl then top with more dill and hot sauce. Serve with freshly sliced vegetables, crackers and pita chips.
Video
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese that’s been at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, so it is easier to blend into the dip.
- Room-temp salmon flakes best. Let it sit out briefly before breaking it apart for the best texture.
- Use a blender instead of a hand mixer to blend the smoked salmon spread into a creamy, not chunky texture.
- Refrigerate leftover dip in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
You will love this high-protein dip recipe. It’s simple to make and tasty!