With the popularity of my cowboy butter, I knew I had to try the flavor combination with cream cheese, and I am glad I did! This Cowboy Cream Cheese is a bold, savory spread with tangy mustard, herbs, garlic, and a little kick from cayenne pepper that is perfect for crackers, burgers, and vegetables! Once you have tasted all the flavor packed into this spread, be sure to check out more of my Cowboy Butter recipes, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese has come to room temperature before blending it with the other ingredients.
How To Soften Cream Cheese Quickly
Warm Water Method: Place the wrapped block of cream cheese in a bowl of warm water for about 10-15 minutes. Flip it over every few minutes or so.
Microwave Method: Remove the cream cheese from its packaging and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave it on low power in 15-20-second intervals until it reaches the desired softness. Be careful not to overheat it, as cream cheese can quickly become too runny or even melt.
- Mustard: Whole-grain Dijon mustard gives this spread a little extra texture and a rich, tangy flavor that goes really well with the creamy cheese and bold spices. The mustard seeds add a fun pop and make it feel a bit fancy—even though it’s super easy to make! If you don’t have whole-grain Dijon, you can use regular Dijon mustard instead. It’s smooth but still has that same zippy flavor. Spicy brown mustard works, too, if you like a bit more heat.
- Herbs: I added dried chives, dried parsley, and dried thyme, which help make the cowboy cream cheese fresh and balanced.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds a garlicky taste to the cream cheese. If you don’t have garlic powder, you could use minced garlic (a small clove, or about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon minced garlic). Minced garlic will give the spread a sharper, stronger flavor with a little extra texture.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice in this recipe adds a fresh, tangy flavor that helps balance the rich cream cheese. It brightens up the spread and makes the other flavors pop. The acidity of the lemon juice cuts through the creaminess and gives the spread a little extra zing! It is amazing how a simple ingredient makes a big difference in how delicious it tastes!
- Paprika: Paprika adds a warm, smoky flavor and a nice color to the spread. It helps make the cowboy cream cheese taste more interesting and gives it a little depth. If you don’t have paprika, you can use smoked paprika for a stronger smoky taste.
- Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a spicy kick to the cowboy cream cheese. It brings a little heat that balances the creamy texture and other flavors. If you don’t like spice, you can skip the cayenne and use a little more paprika—especially smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon more paprika, depending on how much heat you want. If you prefer a different kind of heat, crushed red pepper flakes or jalapeño powder are great substitutes!
Can You Use Fresh Herbs Instead Of Dried Herbs?
Yes, you can definitely use fresh herbs instead of dried ones in your cowboy cream cheese! Fresh herbs give the spread a fresher, more vibrant flavor. Just remember, fresh herbs are milder than dried herbs, so you’ll need to use more of them. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried herbs, use 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs instead. This substitution works well with fresh chives, parsley, and thyme. Simply chop the fresh herbs finely before mixing them in for the best taste!
Can You Use Neufchâtel Cheese Instead of Cream Cheese in Cowboy Cream Cheese?
Yes, you can use Neufchâtel cheese instead of cream cheese in cowboy cream cheese! Neufchâtel cheese is a soft cheese similar to cream cheese, but it has less fat and a lighter texture. It has a mild, creamy flavor that works well in this spread. While it’s not as rich as cream cheese, it still gives the cowboy cream cheese a smooth, tangy taste. Just keep in mind that Neufchâtel may be a little less creamy, but it can be a great lower-fat alternative.
Can You Make Cowboy Cream Cheese Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can make cowboy cream cheese ahead of time! In fact, it’s a great idea to prepare it at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors have time to blend together. (That 30 minutes does make a difference!) For the best taste, you can make it a day or two ahead and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This will give the flavors more time to develop and make it even more delicious when ready to serve!
Best Ways To Serve Cowboy Cream Cheese: Dips, Spreads, & More!
Cowboy cream cheese is more versatile than you might think! Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- With Crackers – Spread it on your favorite crackers (like sourdough crackers) for a quick, easy snack.
- On Burgers – Use it as a creamy, savory topping for burgers (like my favorite classic cheeseburger) or sandwiches.
- With Vegetables – Serve it as a dip for fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumbers, or bell peppers. Be sure to add it to your Vegetable Tray!
- With Chips – Perfect for dipping homemade tortilla chips or homemade potato chips.
- As a Spread – Use it as a spread on plain bagels (for a delicious pop of flavor), toast, or buns.
- With Pretzels – Dip homemade pretzel bites into this creamy, flavorful spread for a delicious snack!
How To Store Cowboy Cream Cheese?
To store cowboy cream cheese, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days.
Can You Freeze Cowboy Cream Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze this cowboy cream cheese spread. If you made a large batch or want to keep it for longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to let it thaw in the refrigerator before using it, as it may change texture slightly when frozen.
Cowboy Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Dijon mustard, dried chives, parsley, thyme, garlic powder, lemon juice, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy. You can also use a food processor for quicker blending.
- Transfer the cowboy cream cheese into an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using to allow the flavors to blend.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is super flavorful! I love it on crackers, but it would be good with so many things!
Elizabeth
This is so flavorful! If you love flavored cream cheese, I think you will really like this!
Stephanie
This is so easy to make and it really elevates the taste of cream cheese! So good!
Bella
This is really good! I would add a little more cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes to kick up the heat a notch. But, it is definitely flavorful!
Annabelle
This is a tasy upgrade on cream cheese, for sure!
Love this Larry Joslin
Your recipes are the Bomb, just decovered
them today. i will be using the homemade
cream cheese recipe🌼🌻🌼🌻🌼🌻🌼
Yay! Thank you. Enjoy!
I add shredded Armour dried beef to mine and back it at 350 for a short time
I just wish we could print all the information that you give the variations of things we can use in it and so forth us it would be ideal when I when I printed out to get all that information put it on paper and keep it for later on thank you I hope you have a great and blessed day
HI Maxine!
You certainly can print the page, just highlight everything you want to print and click print. You can also utilize the PRINT button right in the recipe card. Hope that helps! 🙂
Sounds and looks awesome ! Thanks.
Looks great 👍
I bet this would be good inserted into baked chicken breast.
Need cowboy dip recipe
Simple versions chicken dip with jalapeños anything else crowd pleasers alike same recipes thank you!!
Sone of my favs to fix for many occasions and just to have on hand in fridge for unexpected days busy and mom stops by before you know it full weekend schedules and suddenly everyone has fav food in a hat for drawing & no one specific to saybuuuttt,,,so, ya kniw whatcha do,pick em all leave dips oyt for snacks and all mons homemade favs and long family wounds full great foods as long as all help with clean up and if needed help preparing when all else fells get out da kitchen and her my tine my mom space bc once piss em off well….normuch live goes in it and if the happy mood disputes like has for us alleven men & grill bonfires or home don’t matter…..no favs so save tome troubles I say happy smiles prayer n love family time good food enjoy lul moments all em even if u gotta Stat 5 extra min if u can n do thst with it being OK n safely then he’ll do so bc it’s memories food time small shit matters to healing hearts or in need of such things knowing feeling that won’t be fir long soak up good times let em simmer as u do crackpot foods for later all ya got is wisdom n smartness knowing difference n hopefully what and when do say what uf not just be thankful! Nuthin like good easy foods dips esp easy on all it time wallet buy etc…lol again thank you
Hi there! 😄 I think I caught what you’re asking—and I LOVE how much heart and energy you bring to your gatherings. It sounds like you’re looking for a few easy, crowd-pleasing dip recipes that work for busy weekends, family visits, or just something to keep in the fridge for “everyone’s-favorite-food-in-a-hat” nights (I’m stealing that idea, by the way!).
Here are a few simple dip recipes you might love: (you can search all of them right here on my website!)
Cowboy Cream Cheese – easy, spicy, creamy, and super versatile
Jalapeño Corn Dip – can be made ahead, served warm or cold
Buffalo Chicken Dip – classic, always a hit
Cream Cheese Tortilla Bites – not a dip, but snackable and great to prep ahead
Cheesy Sausage Dip – another great one for a crowd
Wishing you lots of good food, great memories, and zero clean-up arguments this weekend.
WHAT??!!??
Hello Amanda! This recipe is so delicious! I made a large batch for a party and of course it was a big hit. The leftovers I used as a base for fat bombs for my keto diet. Worked really well! Thanks!
Love this!