Pimento Cheese is the best spreadable appetizer! Full of pimentos, cheeses and spices, everyone will be asking you for this easy southern recipe!
Living in the southern USA, pimento cheese is everywhere. From back yard barbecues to upscale southern restaurants, it's a very popular dish. It's also available at grocery stores to purchase, but it's so easy to make at home and only takes a few ingredients! Once you try this easy homemade Pimento Cheese, you'll never buy the pre-made version again!
If you aren't from the south, you might be asking yourself, What is Pimento Cheese?
Well, it's a delicious blend of pimentos (peppers), mayonnaise, extra sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and spices! There are several ways to make Pimento Cheese, but this recipe is my absolute favorite. If you want to kick the heat up a notch, add chopped jalapeños!
How to eat Pimento Cheese:
Pimento cheese is great alone, or spread onto other foods. Here are the most popular ways to enjoy it:
- Slather Pimento cheese on white bread and make a delicious sandwich. Take it to the next level by cooking it on the stovetop to make a Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese.
- Add a scoop inside your morning omelet or on top of scrambled eggs.
- Spread the dip on top of crackers or chips.
- Use vegetables such as celery, carrots, or pepper strips to scoop up the pimento cheese.
- Add the pimento cheese on top of these delicious Southern Fried Green Tomatoes (fried or in the air fryer!)!
- Add the pimento cheese on top of Air Fryer Hot Dogs or Air Fryer hamburgers!
- For a lower carb option, slice tomatoes and cucumbers and serve a dollop on top of each slice! YUM!
Where to buy pimentos?
- Pimento's are found in any grocery store. Look in the canned vegetable aisle, and they should be close to roasted red peppers, artichokes, and perhaps olives. They are typically in a small glass jar. I always find them on the top shelf.
- Alternatively, you can make your own, but I find it much easier and time saving to buy the store jarred version.
How to make Pimento Cheese:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Get all the ingredients together. This is a dump and mix recipe, so it's very easy.
- Using a large mixing bowl, add everything except the shredded cheese and mix well with a hand mixer or stand mixer. You can also mix by hand, but it's easier with the electric mixer.
- Once everything is mixed well, add the extra sharp cheddar cheese and mix well until combine. The cheese should be somewhat chunky, but incorporated with the other ingredients.
- Cover the dip and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. The longer it has to meld, the better. I find the flavor to be even tastier after 24 hours.
This Southern Pimento Cheese is a recipe you have to try, and let me know how you like it! Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!
If you like appetizers as much as I do, checkout these other recipes from Domestic Superhero:
- Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball
- Air Fryer Asparagus Fries (easy recipe)
- Baked Avocado Fries
- Caprese Stuffed Pull Apart Bread
- Caprese Sliders
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
- Mediterranean Pinwheels – Vegetarian Appetizer
- Creamy BLT Bruschetta (low carb appetizer)
Pimento Cheese is the best spreadable appetizer! Full of pimentos, cheeses and spices, everyone will be asking you for this easy southern recipe!
- 8 ounce block extra sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup pimentos (drained)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce, optional
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Using a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, mayo, all seasonings, pimentos, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until completely combined. Scrape down the sides using a spatula. Add grated cheddar cheese then mix on a low speed until combined with mayonnaise mixture.
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Cover the mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Recipe Video
I prefer to refrigerate 24 hours before serving.
Recipe makes a little over 2 cups of dip.
wilhelmina says
I loved this pimento cheese! I have never tried it with jalapenos, but I think I will add some to the next batch.
Allyson says
It has such a pp of flavor with the jalapeños, but if you have people picky with spiciness, then I would do half with and half without, so good!
katerina @ diethood.com says
This is absolutely amazing!! I LOVE Pimento Cheese!! YUM!
Stephanie says
Super good! I love the extra spice:)
Donna Harris says
I am from the south and Love me some Pimento Cheese . Thanks for sharing so other people can try this deviousness dish ❤️
Allyson says
It really is the BEST!!! I am so obsessed with it so I was happy to perfect the recipe! Cheers!
Jo says
I double the recipe and share it with my friends, They love it as well! So Yummy!
Catalina says
I am drooling over this cheese appetizer. Perfect for our movie nights!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This pimento cheese needs to happen at my house very soon!!
Amanda Livesay says
This is so good. I could eat it by the spoonful!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
This Pimento Cheese was SO GOOD!! Everyone loved it!
Beth says
Oh wow! This is our favorite cheese dip! So delicious and easy to make too! Definitely making this for little get togethers!
Alicia says
I love using pimento cheese on saltine crackers or on top of my eggs! This recipe turned out just like the South Carolina brand of pimento cheese (palmetto) I always buy!
Dee says
I liked this very much. I think next time I would put 1/2 the pimentos.
Allyson says
It is so good right?! Thanks for sharing!
Lanie Jones says
I haven’t made this yet, but definitely will. While visiting Charleston SC, I ate at a wonderful restaurant. They served my delicious steak with a small scoop of pimento cheese melting on top! This recipe made me remember & would love to try it at home!
Allyson says
It is SO tasty and pimento cheese is good alone or with so many things!!! Enjoy!
Lynn Frederick says
Stuffed celery with this recipe for a party and it was a hit. Left out the cayenne pepper and hot sauce as some of the guests don't like spicy. Next day I used leftovers melted on a burger, Yum!
Allyson says
Sounds like a winner for sure!