When you need a snack that takes almost no effort and zero cooking, these cucumber cream cheese bites are your answer. Crisp cucumber rounds topped with seasoned cream cheese and a generous sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning — it's fresh, crunchy, creamy, and completely satisfying. Each serving comes in at just 3g net carbs, making them an ideal vegetarian keto snack for hot afternoons, quick lunches, or when you need something to bring to a gathering that everyone will enjoy (yes, even the non-keto crowd). The whole thing comes together in about 10 minutes, requires no cooking whatsoever, and tastes far more interesting than the simple ingredient list would suggest. Sometimes the best recipes are the simplest ones.

Why This Works on Keto

Cucumbers are mostly water with very few carbs, making them one of the most keto-friendly vegetables you can snack on. Full-fat cream cheese provides the fat and richness that keeps you satiated, while the everything bagel seasoning — a blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt — adds layers of flavour without adding significant carbs. This no-cook snack demonstrates that vegetarian keto doesn't have to be complicated to be effective and enjoyable.

Ingredients

  • 1 large English cucumber (about 350g)
  • 120g full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 15g everything bagel seasoning
  • 5ml fresh lemon juice
  • 1g garlic powder
  • 1g salt
  • Fresh dill for garnish (optional, about 3g)

Instructions

  1. Wash the cucumber and slice it into rounds about 1cm thick. You should get roughly 24–28 slices. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove surface moisture.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt until smooth and well combined.
  3. Spoon or pipe about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each cucumber round. If you want a polished look, transfer the mixture to a small zip-lock bag, snip off a corner, and pipe it on.
  4. Sprinkle each topped round generously with everything bagel seasoning.
  5. Garnish with small sprigs of fresh dill if you like, and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

  • English cucumbers (the long, shrink-wrapped ones) work best because they have fewer seeds and thinner skin. Regular cucumbers work too — just scoop out the seeds if they're large.
  • Score the cucumber skin lengthwise with a fork before slicing for a decorative edge.
  • Swap the everything bagel seasoning for za'atar for a Mediterranean twist, or use tajin for a Mexican-inspired version.
  • Add 30g of finely chopped smoked salmon on top for extra protein (not vegetarian, but an option for pescatarian keto).
  • Mix 10g of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes into the cream cheese for extra flavour.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prep the cream cheese mixture up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. However, top the cucumber slices no more than 30 minutes before serving — if they sit too long, the cucumbers release moisture and the bites become soggy.
What is everything bagel seasoning?
It's a blend of white and black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and flaked salt. You can buy it pre-made (Trader Joe's version is popular) or mix your own using roughly equal parts of each ingredient.
How do I make this dairy-free?
Replace the cream cheese with a dairy-free cream cheese alternative made from cashews or coconut. Many brands now make versions that work well for spreading and have similar macros. Just check the label for added sugars.