This easy Smoked Salmon Dip is utterly irresistible, packed full of smoky, citrusy, and tangy flavors! Perfect for serving with all sorts of vegetable sticks, crackers, and crusty bread, this creamy dip will elevate your sharing platters for dinner parties or the holidays.
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We love enjoying smoked salmon flavors any time of year, and for all kinds of meals.
From morning breakfast dishes like this Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs to lunchtime Smoked Salmon Chowder and dinner mains like this Hot Smoked Salmon recipe, it’s so versatile!
This creamy smoked salmon dip is perfect for any salmon lover. It’s so flavorful, with a mix of smoky flavors as well as bursts of lemony citrus and tangy notes throughout.
Check out my other easy party appetizer recipes for more inspiration on party favorites like sauces, dips, snacks, and delicious sharing appetizers! Our family loves seafood appetizers! We also love Maryland Crab Cakes, these Crispy Coconut Shrimp and these delicious Bacon Wrapped Scallops!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easily customize this dip exactly to your taste preference.
- Made with ingredients easily found at your local grocery store.
- Quick to make, it’s ready in just 10 minutes!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Cream Cheese – Use full fat cream cheese for the best creamy texture and flavor. Lower fat cream cheese will work fine if you prefer.
- Sour Cream – Adds a tanginess and creaminess to the dip.
- Smoked Salmon – Fresh salmon that you have smoked yourself is best, or splash out on a high quality smoked salmon from the grocery store for the best flavor.
- Capers – Adds a burst of flavor to the dip and compliments salmon well.
- Lemon – We’ll be using fresh lemon zest as well as fresh lemon juice, so you’ll need one whole fresh lemon for these.
- Paprika – Use smoked paprika for the best-smoked flavor throughout.
- Horseradish – This adds a welcome tang to the dip, which goes great with the citrus flavors. Prepared wasabi will also work well.
- Chives – Finely chopped fresh chives will garnish the dip and add a fresh flavor. Green onions would be a good substitute but would taste a bit different.
- Vegetables and Crackers – Use your favorite kinds for serving.
How to Make Smoked Salmon Dip
Blend ingredients. Place the cream cheese, sour cream, half of the smoked salmon, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, and horseradish in a food processor (affiliate link) and pulse just until slightly chunky. Scrape the dip into a bowl and add the remaining roughly chopped salmon and half of the capers. Stir to combine.
Garnish. Add the remaining capers and chives to the top of the dip and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve. Serve in the middle of a platter with crispy vegetables and crackers on the side for dipping.
Recipe FAQ’s
A smoked salmon dip is typically made with a creamy dairy base, like cream cheese, as well as smoked salmon pieces, citrus flavors, horseradish for that classic tangy flavor, and typically fresh dill too. It can be seasoned with salt and black pepper, as well as spices like paprika or cayenne pepper for added flavor. I always add capers and chives to mine for added flavor and texture.
Store smoked salmon dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tips for Success
- Make a double or triple batch, depending on how many people you’re serving. This delicious smoked salmon dip will go fast!
- Spread this dip on toasted baguettes for a yummy brunch or lunch the next day!
- Add a dash of fresh lemon juice to the dip if serving it the next day or after to freshen it up a bit.
This dip will set slightly once it is refrigerated. Let it come to room temperature for a few minutes and stir before serving it. Add a dash of fresh lemon juice to soften and freshen it up if needed.
Substitutions and Variations
- Garlic. Add some freshly minced garlic for an added depth of flavor.
- Garnish. Fresh herbs like fresh dill or parsley will taste great on top of this dip. Alternatively, add some finely chopped green onion to garnish.
- Yoghurt. You can use plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream in this dip if you prefer or have it to hand instead.
- Onion. Add some finely chopped red onion for an extra sweet and tangy flavor.
- Spice it up. Add some hot sauce or some cayenne pepper to the mix for added heat.
- To Serve. Serve with vegetables like cucumber slices, carrot sticks, or sliced bell peppers, and carbs like crusty bread, bagel chips, pretzels, or other appetizers for a great sharing platter.
- Seasoning. Add a dash of kosher salt and black pepper to taste if needed.
More Easy Recipes for Dips
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Maryland Hot Crab Dip
- Homemade Aioli
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip (Healthy Recipe!)
- 7 Layer Mexican Dip
- Philly Cheesesteak Dip
- Skillet Jalapeño Popper Dip
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 ounces smoked salmon roughly chopped and divided
- 2 tablespoons capers drained
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon horseradish or prepared wasabi
- 1 teaspoon chives chopped
- Vegetables and crackers for serving
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese, sour cream, half of the smoked salmon, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, and horseradish in a food processor (affiliate link) and pulse just until slightly chunky. Scrape the dip into a serving bowl and add the remaining roughly chopped salmon and half of the capers. Stir to combine.1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, 4 ounces smoked salmon, 2 tablespoons capers, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon horseradish or prepared wasabi, ½ cup sour cream
- Garnish the dip with the remaining capers and chives and refrigerate until ready to serve.1 teaspoon chives
- Serve with crispy vegetables and crackers for dipping.Vegetables and crackers
Notes
- Storage: Store any uneaten dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Made this for brunch yesterday, huge hit, everyone (even our non-fish eaters) loved it, the capers bring it over the top!
It was the added horseradish for me! YUM!
Thanks! It adds a little bit of a kick and amazing flavor!
Granulated sugar was mentioned under “what you’ll need.” No sugar was listed in the ingredients. So?
I’m sorry! That was just a mistake and shouldn’t have been in there! There is no added sugar in this dish. It’s fixed now.
Can you substitute canned salmon, smoked salmon?
You could try, it will change the flavor of the dip quite a bit without the smoked salmon. Smoked salmon also has more of a dry texture so if you are to use canned make sure you drain as much of the liquid as you can so the dip does not become watery.