One bite of this silky, herb-packed 6-ingredient spread, and you’ll wish you’d started making it from scratch sooner. Freshly whipped cream cheese with bright chives and seasonings comes together in under 5 minutes, giving you a spread so much bolder and creamier than anything you’d find in a store-bought plastic tub.
From Fridge Staples to Five-Star Flavor
I love indulgent, rich cream cheese. This recipe is the epitome of “The Kitchen Whisperer” philosophy; taking humble, budget-friendly staples and turning them into something that tastes like a million bucks. It’s thick, incredibly creamy, and has that perfect punch of fresh chives and savory garlic that you just can’t get from a factory-sealed container.
The beauty here lies in the versatility. While it’s the natural soulmate of a toasted bagel, it’s perfect for stuffing chicken breasts, swirling into warm mashed potatoes, or making a decadent pasta sauce. Best of all? You can make a double batch in under 5 minutes without ever touching a stovetop.
TKW Family Love
I swear you read my mind! I was grocery shopping and buying the ingredients for your chicken fajitas and happened to see this recipe.
Bought the ingredients and made this in minutes. Lori this is incredible; way better than the store stuff. Making a double batch later for the family.
Garlic Chive Cream Cheese Ingredients
I’m pretty sure you have most of these items in your kitchen right now. Maybe you don’t have fresh chives, but almost all grocery stores have them now. Now, I HIGHLY recommend you use fresh chives, as they really do make a difference in the overall flavor.
- Cream Cheese Block
- Fresh Chives
- Seasonings
- Heavy Cream
Chef Lori’s #1 Tip: The Temperature Secret
The key to that signature “whipped” deli texture is starting with truly room-temperature cream cheese. If the cream cheese is even slightly chilled, you’ll end up with “beads” of plain cream cheese rather than a seamless, herb-infused spread.
How to Make Homemade Garlic Chive Cream Cheese
The most important thing I can tell you about mincing chives is to make sure they are completely dry. If they are wet, they will stick ot eh knife and turn into a mushy paste.
- Bundle your chives intoa tight, neat bundle. Use your “claw” hand (fingertips tucked in) to hold them steady against the cutting board.
- Use a circular rocking motion to cut. Slide the blade forward and down, letting the sharp edge cut the chives into uniform rings.
- In a bowl, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Add in the heavy cream and whip until incorporated.
- Add in the chives and seasonings, and whip until fully combined.
- Transfer to a lidded container and allow to chill in the fridge for an hour to allow the flavors to marry before serving
Gourmet Garlic Chive Cream Cheese
This recipe is the definition of “small effort, massive reward.” If you’ve ever looked at the price of those tiny tubs of gourmet cream cheese and thought, “I can do better,” this recipe is for you.
Homemade Garlic Chive Cream Cheese FAQs
- How long does homemade cream cheese spread last? Stored in an air-tight container, this will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
- Can I use dried chives? You can, but fresh is what really makes this shine. If you’re dried, use about half as much as you would with fresh.
- Can I use roasted garlic instead of garlic powder? Absolutely! Just one whole head of roasted garlic, cooled and smashed.
- Can I use cream cheese spread or whipped cream cheese? You can, but omit the cream. The mixture may be slightly thin, but it will still be as yummy.
- Can I freeze this? I don’t recommend it. Cream cheese tends to lose its silky texture and become grainy once thawed.
- Can I use green onions instead of chives? No, please don’t Green onions are super watery and will alter the texture in this greatly giving you a soggy mess.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I’m a firm believer that homemade is best, and this spread is proof of that. From the incredible cost savings to that undeniable “fresh from the deli” taste, there are so many reasons this recipe has earned a permanent spot in my fridge.
- SIX SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: No preservatives or stabilizers – just real, fresh flavor
- BUDGET-FRIENDLY LUXURY: Double the spread for a fraction of the gourmet store price
- READY IN 5 MINUTES: It takes less time to make than it does to toast your bagel.
- PERFECTLY BALANCED: You control the garlic levels – mild and sweet to bold and punchy
- ENDLESS VERSATILITY: Use it as a dip, a sandwich spread, a bagel topping, or a savory cooking sauce base
What to Serve With Garlic Chive Cream Cheese
While this schmear is the natural soulmate to a tasted bagel, its bold flavor makes it a versatile powderhouse in the kitchen:
- The Ultimate Veggie Dip: Serve it as-is in a bowl surrounded by crisp cucumber slices, bell pepper stips and baby carrots on a charcuterie grazing board
- Gourmet Steal Topper: Placed a chilled dollop on a hot, seared steak right before serving. As it melts, it creates a rich, garlicky, silky sauce.
- Baked Potato Upgrade: Skip the plain sour cream and use a generous scoop of this spread to take your baked or mashed potatoes to a new level of creamy goodness!
- Savory Stuffed Chicken: Slit a pocket into a chicken breast, tuck in a spoonful of this, and then bake. It keeps the chicken incredibly moist while creating a delicious sauce.
Make It Your Own: Substitutions & Additions
One of the reasons why I love this recipe is that it’s nearly impossible to mess up.
- Cream Cheese: You can use whipped or cream cheese spread, but omit the heavy cream. You can also use ricotta (strained well) or mascarpone.
- Garlic: Roasted garlic is a great swap as well. If you’re not a garlic fan, you can omit it.
- Caramelized Onions: Remove as much liquid as possible, and add the caramelized onions to this for a more onion-forward flavor
- Heat: If you’re looking for heat, add a finely minced jalapeno or a pinch of red pepper flakes to give this a spicy wake-up call
Here’s what I used:
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Easy Garlic Chive Cream Cheese: Why You’ll Never Buy the Tub Again
One bite of this silky, herb-packed 6-ingredient spread, and you’ll wish you’d started making it from scratch sooner. Freshly whipped cream cheese with bright chives and seasonings comes together in under 5 minutes, giving you a spread so much bolder and creamier than anything you’d find in a store-bought plastic tub.
- Prep Time: 1 minutes
- Mixing Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dip
- Method: no bake, no cook
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block of full fat cream cheese, completely softened
- 1–2 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons minced fresh chives
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried onions
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (about a pinch) of kosher salt (can use sea salt as well)
Instructions
- Bundle your chives intoa tight, neat bundle. Use your “claw” hand (fingertips tucked in) to hold them steady against the cutting board.
- Use a circular rocking motion to cut. Slide the blade forward and down, letting the sharp edge cut the chives into uniform rings.
- In a bowl, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Add in 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream and whip until incorporated.
- Add in the chives and seasonings, and whip until fully combined. If it’s too thick, add in the remaining 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream. *I use the full amount.
- Transfer to a lidded container and chill in the fridge for an hour to let the flavors marry before serving.
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