Cream cheese is one of the most versatile ingredients to grace the kitchen. From sweet and rich to savory and hearty, there are so many cream cheese recipes out there. Don’t get me wrong, I love a classic cheesecake dessert. But when I have a few extra bricks in the fridge, I look for creative uses. This list has 25 of my favorite uses for cream cheese, and you will love them, too! There’s everything from rich brownies and fudge, to creamy soup and mac ‘n cheese. If you have an extra block just waiting to be used, dig into one of these delicious cream cheese recipes today!
1. Cheesecake Brownies
Brownies are one of the most reliable and delectable desserts around. Take those brownies to the next level with a simple block of cream cheese! Imagine a merge between rich cheesecake and decadent chocolate brownies. Don’t be surprised if you go in for a second brownie! This sinfully sweet treat is made with a layer of gooey brownies on the bottom. Then, swirl on the cheesecake batter before baking.
2. Cream Cheese Cookies
Ditch the chocolate chip cookies and bite into one of these heavenly cookies. These are the perfect holiday cookies for any get-together! That is if they make it that far! There’s an ample amount of butter and cream cheese in them, so they’re delectably moist. Be sure to not overbake these cookies for the best chewy crumb. Sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar before serving them for a pretty presentation. Or, drizzle them with white chocolate for an extra touch of sweetness.
3. Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
Cream cheese is the perfect addition to a chicken recipe for ultimate comfort food. Cue this delicious easy chicken dinner! Chicken and mushrooms are cooked to perfection in a creamy sauce. This sauce is made with just two ingredients: cream cheese and chicken broth. Serve up this simple dish over rice, noodles, or with veggies.
4. Cream Cheese Enchiladas
Say adios to the painstaking process of enchiladas. These easy chicken roll-ups are the perfect fiesta food and are beyond simple. This recipe uses flour tortillas, which can easily be substituted for corn tortillas. Roll in the chicken and cream cheese mix, and arrange it in a pan. Cover each of those enchiladas with a creamy green chile mix, and bake them to perfection. Serve them with cilantro rice, and prepare to enjoy!
5. Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
Football season brings out some of the best finger rolls. These delicious sausage rolls are the perfect use for cream cheese! Raid the refrigerator for these four ingredients, and you’re ready to tailgate! You can also add some green onions, peppers, or even jalapenos for extra flavor. Sausage, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese make up the filling. Roll that cheesy goodness into buttery crescent rolls and bake.
6. Cream Cheese Fudge
Holiday fudge is my kryptonite, especially when it’s as easy to make as my favorite cream cheese fudge recipe. Adding cream cheese to the chocolate fudge makes for ultra-silky and smooth fudge. Toasted walnuts add the perfect crunch to every bite. The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the fudge to cool.
7. Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Who can say no to a hot cup of Joe and a slice of sweet and tangy coffee cake? If you can, you’re surely stronger than me. This recipe has a moist, buttery cake layer topped with cream cheese filling. Imagine yellow cake marrying cheesecake all in one pan! After layering the cake, cream cheese filling, and crumble topping, bake to perfection. Dessert for breakfast anyone?
8. Cream Cheese Pasta Bake
Pasta bakes are one of my favorite busy weeknight dinners. This delicious recipe is super rich and creamy, and easy to make in a pinch. In a casserole dish, bake the tomatoes, cream cheese, garlic, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir in pasta and spinach, and dig into delicious perfection! For a full dinner, fold in chicken, shrimp, or grilled fish.
9. Cream Cheese Lasagna
Okay, luscious lasagna is good any time of the year. But if you want a show-stopping pasta dinner, try this recipe instead! This recipe has a creamy combination of sour cream, cream cheese, and Italian cheese. Layer noodles, meat sauce, and cheese mixture in thirds before baking. Serve with a salad and garlic bread to scoop up any leftover sauce.
10. Creamy Cheese Dip With Bacon and Cheddar
I can’t be the only person who can order just appetizers for dinner. This creamy cheese and bacon dip is one I make at home instead! There’s cream cheese, chives, bacon, and cheddar baked in this beautiful party dip. A little bit of mayo and hot sauce make this dip super creamy and a little spicy. Serve it with tortilla chips, veggies, or crackers for dipping.
11. Million-Dollar Cream Cheese and Garlic Dip
You don’t need a million bucks to make a delicious dip. Though, you might feel like it’s worth its weight in gold! Cream cheese, mayo, and cheddar are a great base for a super creamy dip. Stir in green onion, garlic, and bacon for one divine dip. This cheese dip is great with crackers, tortilla chips, or even fresh veggies.
12. Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
Grab your favorite pot and prepare yourself for a creamy comforting chicken soup. Don’t let the ingredient list intimidate you, as this soup is actually quite simple. Chopped veggies, potatoes, and chicken are all in a creamy broth. Serve this hearty soup with buttery dinner rolls to scoop up every bit of the broth. Trust me when I say this soup is beyond delicious after a long day!
13. Creamy Taco Soup
With the colder months upon us, I can’t help but crave warm soup. What’s better than coming home to a big pot of flavorful soup? Creamy taco soup has everything you love about tacos in one big bowl. It contains cream cheese, hamburger, corn and black beans, peppers, and tomatoes. Serve this scrumptious soup with avocado, tortilla strips, cheese, and cilantro.
14. Baked Mac and Cheese With Cream Cheese
I’m certain that every dinner party deserves a big dish of mac and cheese. With a little mustard and hot sauce in the cheese sauce, there’s no lack of flavor here. Smooth and creamy cheese sauce and tender pasta are baked until bubbly. The only thing that could make this recipe better is a bit of bacon and chives. Who can say no to a big bowl of mac and cheese?
15. Keto Ground Beef Casserole
One of the best things about cream cheese is that it’s perfect for cooking keto. This cheesy casserole showcases that versatility in one baking dish. Cream cheese, seasoned ground beef, and cheese are the showcase of this recipe. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s such a simply scrumptious dish. Feel free to add in veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, or riced cauliflower for a fuller dish.
16. Cheesy Cream Cheese Hamburger Pasta Casserole
Hamburger Helper is good in a pinch, but this recipe is far superior. This hearty hamburger pasta bake has everything you want in a cozy dinner! There’s a delicious combination of tomato sauce, peppers, beef, and pasta in this dish. The cream cheese makes an ultimately creamy sauce! Combine the sauteed ingredients, sauce, and pasta in a dish and top with cheese. Bake it until bubbly and enjoy your new favorite dinner!
17. 2-Ingredient Cream Cheese Pancakes
Okay, the title may say pancakes, but these are really more like crepes. They’re light and tender, thin and delicate pancakes, nonetheless. Can you go wrong with a two-ingredient recipe? With only egg and cream cheese, they’re gluten-free and low-carb. Blend together softened cream cheese and eggs to prepare the batter. Pan-fry this simple breakfast and serve it with fruit and syrup, or powdered sugar.
18. Cream Cheese-Stuffed French Toast
Sunday morning brunch and stuffed French toast go hand in hand. This cream cheese-stuffed breakfast is beyond delectable for any weekend morning! Each slice of Texas toast is stuffed with a sweet cream cheese filling. Prepare it like traditional French toast, and enjoy. There are so many toppings for this divine breakfast. From nuts and syrup to fruits and whipped cream, you can’t go wrong!
19. Cold Crab Dip With Cream Cheese
There’s seafood salad on the table tonight! Or rather, cream cheese and crab dip. Whether you serve it hot or cold, there’s no going wrong with this savory seafood dip. It takes just seven ingredients. The mayo and cream cheese combine to make this an ultimately creamy dip. The lemon, hot sauce, and Old Bay are the perfect complementing flavors for succulent crab.
20. Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice! What better to enjoy the warm fall flavor than in a tender pumpkin cookie? These treats have sugar, spice, and everything nice, oh, and cream cheese frosting! There’s so much goodness from the brown sugar and spices, pumpkin puree, and crunchy walnuts. Top these tender cookies with a dollop of cream cheese frosting and savor every bite.
21. Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Cream Cheese, Roasted Peppers, and Basil
Let me translate that long title for you: bougie grilled cheese. See ya later Kraft cheese, the big dogs are in town! Ooey gooey melted cheddar and cream cheese between toasted bread is hard to beat. The addition of roasted red peppers and fresh basil takes it over the top. You can swap out the cheddar for mozzarella and add some extra herbs for flavor.
22. Easy Hormel Chili Cheese Dip
This delicious dip is an essential for warm fall flavor and football foods. It has everything you want to top a tortilla chip! You only need three ingredients for this delicious dip! Layer on the cream cheese, and top it with Hormel chili and cheddar cheese. You can top with onion, jalapenos, cilantro, or avocado for extra flavor. Either way, you’ll dip with delight!
23. Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer Bites
Take on the ominous cranberry sauce with a bit of cream cheese and pie crust. I’m talking about the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer that everyone will rave about. Line a mini muffin pan with pie crust and pre-bake to ensure a flakey golden crust. Fill each cup with a chipotle orange cream cheese mix, and top with cranberry sauce. You can use store-bought cranberry sauce for this recipe, but homemade is best. Bake the appetizer cups for an additional 8 minutes before serving.
24. Cowboy Crack Dip
If football food is your thing, look no further! Cowboy crack is an addicting addition to any old tortilla chip. Cream cheese, ground sausage, corn, Rotel, and cheddar cheese are all you need. Combine all that in a slow cooker, and watch the dip disappear! Okay, it doesn’t really disappear just from cooking. That’s more from the copious amounts of chip dipping that’s about to ensue!
25. Philadelphia 3-Step Cheesecake
Making the perfect cheesecake does not have to be a labor of love. This tangy, creamy, and slightly sweet cheesecake is so simple, and so delicious. Five ingredients and three steps sound too good to be true, I know! But I promise you, this is one delicious cheesecake you can make in no time. Layer in the graham cracker crust, and fill with cheesecake batter. Waiting for your dessert to cool will be the hardest part of this simple recipe! Click on a star to rate it!
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