This smoked salmon dip is a creamy blend of chopped smoked salmon, lemon and dill that is an easy yet elegant party snack! Serve this smoked salmon appetizer with crostini, cucumbers and crackers and sit back and wait for the complements to pour in!
Need a quick appetizer? This salmon dip is ready in just 5 minutes and looks so impressive. It’s also great smeared onto a bagel for a breakfast treat. Serve this dip alongside other favorites such as baked chicken wings and cowboy caviar for an amazing party!
I happen to LOVE smoked salmon, and believe it or not, my kids do too. While smoked salmon is perfect on a bagel for breakfast, I think it’s even better in dip form! This smoked salmon dip is a light and creamy base chock full of chopped salmon. It’s ready in minutes and is always a welcome offering at any gathering.
This dip is one of my favorite appetizer recipes. If you want more delicious appetizer recipes, check out my cheese ball bites, hot spinach dip and pigs in a blanket.
Table of Contents
Smoked Salmon Dip Ingredients
To make this smoked salmon dip you will need cream cheese, sour cream, salt, black pepper, lemon zest, fresh dill, fresh chives and smoked salmon. You may want lemon slices, more dill and chives for garnish.
How Do You Make Smoked Salmon Dip?
When you make this smoked salmon dip recipe, start by placing cream cheese, sour cream, herbs and spices in a medium bowl. Stir them together until smooth. Add your salmon to the bowl, then fold the salmon gently into the cream cheese mixture. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for later use. Garnish with lemon, chives and dill before before serving.
Tips For The Perfect Dip
- Make sure your cream cheese is very soft so that you don’t end up with lumps in your smoked salmon dip. I often microwave the cream cheese in 15 second increments until soft to speed up the process.
- Fresh herbs are really best in this dip. I do not recommend substituting dried herbs.
- Serve smoked salmon dip with sliced bread, breadsticks, bagel chips, crackers, cucumbers or other fresh veggies.
- You can use a food processor to blend the cream cheese mixture. Simply remove the mixture from the processor when blended and fold in the salmon.
- If you’re planning to make the dip in advance, let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving so that it’s soft enough to scoop up.
Quick Tip
Look for high quality smoked salmon. I find that wild caught salmon often tastes better than farmed salmon. It should say on the package where the salmon is sourced.
Recipe FAQs
Smoked salmon dip consists of a cream cheese and sour cream base, along with flavorings including lemon, herbs and of course, chopped salmon.
I like to use a hearty cracker with this dip, such as a wheat cracker, or crackers with seeds such as everything bagel crackers. Water crackers are also a great choice.
Smoked salmon can have a salty and rich flavor. It pairs well with fresh herbs and lemon to offset the richness of the salmon, and is also great with creamy ingredients.
Salmon dip lasts in an airtight container in a refrigerator up to 3 days.
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Smoked Salmon Dip Variations
While this smoked salmon recipe is delicious as-is, you can absolutely change up the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Seafood: You can use other types of smoked seafood instead of salmon, including cod, whitefish, oysters or trout. Freshly cooked diced shrimp are also a great option.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add some veggies into the dip such as finely shredded carrot or minced cucumber.
- Flavorings: Amp up the flavor by adding capers, minced shallot or chopped olives. Keep in mind capers and olives can be quite salty, so if you add them to the dip, reduce the salt to taste.
- Lemon: You can mix a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice for a bright, citrus flavor.
- Brunch: Serve this dip as part of brunch with bagels, onions, tomato slices and cucumber slices.
Once you try this dip, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. It takes minutes to prepare, and is elegant enough to serve at a party, with familiar flavors that everyone loves.
More Fabulous Dip Recipes
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Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip
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Shrimp Scampi Dip
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Bacon Ranch Dip
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Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
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Smoked Salmon Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
- 6 ounces smoked salmon coarsely chopped
- lemon slices, dill and chives for garnish optional
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, lemon zest, dill and chives in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Add the smoked salmon to the bowl and gently fold until incorporated.
- Garnish with lemon slices, dill and chives if desired. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for later use.
Notes
- Look for high quality smoked salmon. I find that wild caught salmon often tastes better than farmed salmon. It should say on the package where the salmon is sourced.
- Make sure your cream cheese is very soft so that you don’t end up with lumps in your dip. I often microwave the cream cheese in 15 second increments until soft to speed up the process.
- This dip will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before serving.
This looks delicious! Could I make it two days in advance of a party? (I’m traveling and won’t have great options for assembling everything.)
Yes that’s fine, just let it sit out for about 15 minutes before you serve it so it can soften up!
This probably wouldn’t last more than a couple minutes in my apartment! *-* It looks so good!
I love smoked salmon and this sounds like a lovely recipe to use that in. It’s great for parties this Spring! Definitely my kind of dip!
I am so glad I came over this post. This is just in time recipe this coming Easter and probably any day of this Holy week. Perfect since we are avoiding meats this week.
We only eat Salmon in Sour Soup and Baked Salmon. Never thought that there will be a dip that can compliment snacks. I’ll share this recipe with my husband. Thank you!
OMG! This dip is so flavorful! It is a great a idea to use as crostini for my Easter dinner as appetizer!
This sounds SO good! I’m such a huge salmon fan. I need to try it out asap.
I am such a huge fan of salmon. this recipe looks really great.
I have recently (in the past couple of years) discovered a love of all things smoked salmon. I need to try this recipe ASAP!!
I have never tried something like this, but my husband has talked about enjoying salmon dip before. I gotta try this recipe.
This sounds so yummy! If I made it, tho, I’d be the only one in my house to eat it. I’ll have to make it for a family reunion where others can share 🙂
That is a great dip. I too love a chunkier dip, it lets you embrace the flavours
Yum. I am such a huge fan of smoked salmon. That, bagels, red onions, capers and cream cheese is the perfect breakfast. Oh, I’d add capers to this dip.
I love smoked salmon. Especially on my bagels. I can’t wait to try this dip. So yummy!
You have no idea how perfect this is. A friend of mine just smoked a whole bunch of salmon and was trying to find some good ideas to do with it. They will love this!
My husband and daughters love smoked salmon, so I am sure they would enjoy this. I’ll have to make it for them.
This looks like a fabulous dip! I always love to have dips in the house for veggies and those baguette chips. I’ll have to make this soon.
This makes me think about my Chicago roots – salmon like this is very popular there
I use to make this with the salmon we would catch and smoke. Never lasted long. So easy and delicious
My Mom is all about having lox on her bagels when she can, it’s her favorite way to eat them. I think she would enjoy this dip.