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Smoked Salmon Spread Recipe

Easy and Amazing Dip! Smoked Salmon Spread from @natashaskitchen

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This smoked salmon spread is a great way to stretch a pricey package of smoked salmon and impress a hungry crowd. I’m making this salmon dip for my sisters upcoming baby shower. I’ve been developing this spread for some time now and this version is my absolute favorite.

The ingredients are so simple. I lit up when I tried it and told my hubby, “this is it!” I was so excited :). It’s better than any store-bought version I’ve tried. It also keeps well in the fridge up to a week so you can absolutely make it ahead of time.

Easy and Amazing Dip! Smoked Salmon Spread from @natashaskitchen

Ingredients for Smoked Salmon Dip:

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (4 oz) sour cream
1/2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 tsp Tabasco hot sauce, or to taste
4 oz smoked salmon, (about 1 cup chopped)**
1 Tbsp Chives, chopped plus more for garnish
French Bread Baguette, sliced (to serve)

**Note: Lox (as pictured) or hot-smoked salmon flakes work in this recipe

Easy and Amazing Dip: Smoked Salmon Spread from @natashaskitchen

How to make the Best Salmon Spread:

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce. Pulse until well blended.

Smoked Salmon Spread-3

2. Add 4 oz chopped salmon and 1 Tbsp chives and pulse a few times just to combine. Add more salt or pepper if desired and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Easy and Amazing Smoked Salmon Spread Dip from @natashaskitchen

Easy and Amazing Dip: Smoked Salmon Spread from @natashaskitchen

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Smoked Salmon Spread Recipe

5 from 20 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Bowl of Smoked Salmon Dip
This smoked salmon spread is a great way to stretch a very expensive pack of smoked salmon and impress a hungry crowd. Stays fresh in the fridge up to a week.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 2 cups
  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup 4 oz sour cream
  • 1/2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Tabasco hot sauce, or to taste
  • 4 oz smoked salmon, (about 1 cup chopped)**see note
  • 1 Tbsp Chives, chopped plus more for garnish
  • French Bread Baguette, sliced (to serve)

Instructions

  • How to make the Best Salmon Spread:
  • In the bowl of a food processor, combine 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce. Pulse until well blended.
  • Add 4 oz chopped salmon and 1 Tbsp chives and pulse a few times just to combine. Add more salt or pepper if desired and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Price based on Costco pricing of $20 for a 24 oz package of smoked salmon.
**Note: Lox (as pictured) or hot-smoked salmon flakes work in this recipe
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Smoked Salmon Spread
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $7-$9

 

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Easy and Amazing Dip: Smoked Salmon Spread from @natashaskitchen

You’re going to love this salmon spread! Let me know if you make it for your next shindig 🙂

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Read comments/reviewsAdd comment/review

  • Terri
    August 23, 2023

    I had a lot of cucumbers from my garden. I halved and seeded them, then spread/stuffed them with this dip and sliced into maybe 1/4” pieces. It was a great appetizer.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 23, 2023

      That’s a great appetizer! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Erlinda Reyes
    November 3, 2021

    Smoked salmon is so expensive in our country. Can I substitute canned salmon instead?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 3, 2021

      It would be a good experiment. It would still be a salmon spread but wouldn’t have that smoky flavor. I haven’t experimented with canned salmon so I can’t say for sure, but if you try it, make sure you drain well so the dip isn’t too wet.

      Reply

      • Smitty
        March 27, 2022

        I’ve seen smoked canned salmon in the store. It wouldn’t be quite the same but the smoke flavour would be there.

        Reply

  • Charlene L Baker
    January 29, 2021

    Very good recipe and so easy. I don’t have a food processor so I just stirred it together with a heavy spoon. I replaced the sour cream with fat-free plain Greek yogurt.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2021

      I’m glad you found a workaround! Thank you for sharing your substitutions with us!

      Reply

  • Lynne Jones
    July 20, 2019

    Natasha, this recipe looks delicious. I have to make a smoked salmon appetizer for 400 people! We were thinking of putting it in small pastry cups. Do you think this will work or should we put between rye bread for tea sandwiches? Thanks for any help you can give!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 20, 2019

      Hi Lynna! 400! wow! That’s a lot of mouths to feed. I think both options would be great! The pastry cups sound like they will be visually beautiful! Taste-wise, I haven’t tested that in a pastry cup so I cannot advise. I hope you love this recipe and I can’t wait to hear what you chose!

      Reply

  • Stephanie
    June 14, 2018

    Hi Natasha, Im planning on making this appetizer for my dads 60th bday. Do you know how many days ahead would it be safe to make it? i just dont want to be making it last minute as i will be very busy.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 14, 2018

      It stays fresh in the fridge up to a week.

      Reply

  • Carol Neighbors
    October 21, 2017

    I have just made this salmon spread for the third time. It just keeps getting better and better. Yah, I like to eat it with a spoon it is SO deliciously good!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 21, 2017

      Lol, that’s awesome! I’m happy to hear you love the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review Carol!

      Reply

  • Vicki
    July 6, 2017

    Hi Natasha,
    I don’t have a food processor could I mix it with a spoon or it won’t turn out creamy? Or maybe use a mixer on low speed? Thanks! The dip looks delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 6, 2017

      Hi Vicki, I think you could make it work even blending with an electric hand mixer on low/medium speed.

      Reply

    • Connie
      July 7, 2017

      Hi, i used a hand-held mixer , and it came out delicious !

      Reply

  • Mirit
    February 22, 2017

    Hi, I came across a similar recipe several years ago but it also used capers (maybe instead of the lemon juice). Have you tried that?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 22, 2017

      I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure. I bet it could work, but the color might be a little off if you’re ok with that 🙂

      Reply

  • Donna G
    January 2, 2017

    Thanks for the recipe! We didn’t have Tabasco, but used Siricha. Also, my husband added a tiny dollop of dill paste on top of each and it was delicious! Quick and easy, too.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 2, 2017

      Mmmmm! That sounds good! Thank you for sharing your review Donna 🙂

      Reply

  • Connie
    November 26, 2016

    Hi Natash, can i make the spread the night before?

    Thank, connie

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 26, 2016

      Hi Connie, yes absolutely! 🙂

      Reply

      • Connie
        November 27, 2016

        Thank you, can not wait to make it for Christmas Eve .

        Connie

        Reply

  • Tzivia
    July 3, 2016

    Mmmmm does look really way good Natasha unfortunately I cannot eat salmon would this work with another fish like whitefish or sable or semga always like recreating things soooo much fun

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 3, 2016

      HI Tzivia, this might work with a smoked steelhead (trout) but I don’t know if it would taste right with any other kind of fish.

      Reply

      • Tzivia
        July 4, 2016

        Oh okay I’ll hafta try it sometime with a steel head trout always looking for ways to recreate something that these type of food stores do thanx luv i will definitely keep this in mind cheers

        Reply

        • Erin
          December 31, 2016

          Smoked walleye would taste good as well!

          Reply

  • Vika
    December 30, 2015

    Hi! Love your recipes but just wanted to let you know if you didn’t already know but your blog (well the appetizers part) was mentioned in a tv show called Young & Hungry 🙂 I sent a snapchat video but your private so you couldn’t receive it but it was really cool! Followed your blog since 2012-13ish time. Awesome to see how known you’ve got!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 30, 2015

      That’s so awesome!! I heard about that and it’s very exciting :). Thank you so much for sharing that with me and following my blog all this time. That’s quite a compliment 🙂

      Reply

  • Donna Romano
    December 27, 2015

    can i freeze the leftover dip/spread ?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 27, 2015

      Donna, I haven’t tried freezing it so can’t tell you how well it will freeze. If you decide to freeze it, let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  • Valentina
    December 8, 2015

    I am so Excited to try this recipie. My husband and I went to a restaurant recently and they had this appetizer. It was the most amazing thing that I have every tried. I was guessing what they put inside it. And I was so close. Thank you so much I am excited to try…..

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 8, 2015

      I hope you love the spread! 🙂

      Reply

  • Luba
    December 3, 2015

    Hello. Can I use frozen dill or is fresh preferable? Love your recipes. Diakuyu!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 3, 2015

      Luba, frozen dill is fine as well 😀, na zdodovlya.

      Reply

      • Kathy
        November 29, 2016

        This looks delicious, but I don’t see dill in the recipe. Did I miss something? Thanks for your post!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          November 29, 2016

          Hi Kathy, you can use dill if you wish. I used chives instead but I do think it would taste great with dill.

          Reply

  • Anya
    August 17, 2015

    Just whipped this dip up for lunch using hot smoked salmon. Delicious. Went great with cucumbers just picked from our garden. The best part – kids loved it too!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 17, 2015

      That’s wonderful! Thanks for the great review. That does sound great with fresh cucumbers!

      Reply

  • Bethany
    July 9, 2015

    It’s really good. I used homemade hot smoked salmon, minced onion instead of chives (didn’t have) and plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream. It turned out really good too.
    Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 9, 2015

      Bethany, thank you for the great review and great job on improvising :).

      Reply

  • Lasma
    May 24, 2015

    Tried this spread this morning! So good!!! Thank you so much for sharing it!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 24, 2015

      I’m so happy you liked it! It’s a great choice for breakfast 🙂

      Reply

  • Victoria
    March 9, 2015

    I have the Kirkland canned salmon at home and I’m trying to figure out what I can make with it. Do you think I can sub that in for the smoked salmon in this recipe? Or would it drastically change the taste?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 9, 2015

      It would be a good experiment. It would still be a salmon spread but wouldn’t have that smoky flavor. I haven’t experimented with canned salmon so I can’t say for sure, but if you try it, make sure you drain well so the dip isn’t too wet.

      Reply

  • Nadezhda
    March 1, 2015

    Hello from Russia! Came across with your blog two weeks ago and since that time became your fan)) Each recipe looks so delicious and easy to cook))
    Off topic)) Насколько я поняла у Вас и Вашего мужа славянские корни. На каком языке Вы общаетесь со своими родственниками?))

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 1, 2015

      We really speak a mixture of Russian and Ukrainian. I was very young when we moved to this country so I get the two languages mixed up sometimes. To be honest we speak mostly English at home.

      Reply

  • Lyubomira
    February 28, 2015

    Great recipe Natasha! Looks delicious and it is so easy to make! I like to buy the same salmon from Costco 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 28, 2015

      Thank you Lyubomira, it was easy to make indeed and was gone pretty quick :).

      Reply

  • Becky
    February 28, 2015

    My hubby fishes a lot here in central Oregon and we smoke a lot of fish! Been known to can it also. I make a dip /spread very close to what you made up but use fresh dill instead of chives when I can get it. Dried is not bad either.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 28, 2015

      I bet fresh dill tastes great as well. My parents are big on smoking fish as well :).

      Reply

  • Pat Tucker
    February 28, 2015

    Will try this, but question for you, presentation…can this be made into a log or rolled ball shape?? Just would like to up its looks more for a graduation party this June.

    Thanks…

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 28, 2015

      You might be able to make it into a log or a ball if you refrigerate it first. It still spreads pretty well even after being refrigerated but it will hold it’s shape better that way. I’m just not sure how long it will last in that shape once it’s served and gets to room temp.

      Reply

  • Julia
    February 27, 2015

    I cannot even look at this recipe, it’s making me hungry!!! I have an urge to run to the store and get everything for it. Absolutely love salmon/lox cream cheese and this looks incredible. Will be making ASAP. Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 27, 2015

      This recipe has the same effect on me! 🙂

      Reply

  • Viktoriya
    February 27, 2015

    Yummmm! I love smoked salmon..this would be so good on a bagel in the morning 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 27, 2015

      oooh I love how you think! This does sound amazing on a bagel!

      Reply

  • Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat
    February 27, 2015

    This dip looks perfect for crackers, bread and even bagels! Except its even easier because the salmon is already mixed in!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 27, 2015

      It does make for an awesome appetizer or meal! I do love that the salmon is already mixed in. Although there’s nothing wrong with putting a big strip of smoked salmon on top and eating it as a sandwich! 🙂

      Reply

  • Valentina
    February 27, 2015

    I was just at Whole foods the other day and they were sampling a delicious salmon spread. This looks just like it! Can’t wait to try it out!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 27, 2015

      I haven’t tried the Whole Foods version but I can tell you this one’s delicious. I hope you love it just as much (or more!) 😉

      Reply

      • Valentina
        February 28, 2015

        Just made this but with homemade hot smoked salmon. I think it’s a little different because it’s flaky and mine looks more pink. I also omitted the chives just because my hubby isn’t a fan of them and it came out so delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          February 28, 2015

          I do think there is a difference between the hot smoked home-made salmon (flakier) and lox (the one in the photos from Costco), but this recipe would work well with either one. I love both the flakier one and the lox versions – It’s hard to have self control around that stuff! How nice to be able to have homemade hot smoked salmon. Do you catch it yourselves? It’s one thing I definitely miss about living in Seattle. Anyway, I’m so glad you enjoyed the dip! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your great review 🙂

          Reply

          • Valentina
            February 28, 2015

            I am actually from the Seattle area but my husband isnt really into fishing so we usually buy ours from Costco. Last night we had grilled salmon for dinner and had some left over and I told my hubby about your new recipe and he went out and put it in the smoker so I could make some 🙂 Perfect timing!

          • Natasha
            natashaskitchen
            March 1, 2015

            It’s awesome that you have a smoker at home. That’s something that I’m hoping to get in the future. For now, or parents do all the meat smoking for us.

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