Last spring, our new neighbors from Georgia invited us to a backyard cookout and served Pimento Cheese Recipe as an appetizer with crackers and celery. I'll admit I was skeptical about orange cheese spread, but one bite of this creamy, tangy, slightly spicy mixture changed my perspective entirely. Twenty minutes later at home, we made our first batch using their basic guidance, and Lina declared it "way better than any cheese dip we've ever had," eating it on crackers, sandwiches, and straight from the spoon over the next three days.
Why You'll Love This Pimento Cheese Recipe
This classic pimento cheese recipe has rescued countless gatherings when I needed impressive appetizer that looked and tasted like I'd put in serious effort but actually came together in ten minutes using ingredients I already had in my refrigerator. The creamy Pimento Cheese Recipe texture from cream cheese and mayonnaise mixture creates spreadable consistency that works equally well as sandwich spread on bread, cracker dip for entertaining, or straight-up snacking directly from the container when nobody's watching.
What really wins me over is how this southern comfort foods classic tastes complex and sophisticated despite dead-simple preparation that requires zero cooking, just stirring ingredients together and letting flavors meld for optimal results. The sharp cheddar provides tangy depth while diced pimentos add sweetness and beautiful orange-red color that makes this visually appealing alongside taste appeal. These potluck-friendly dishes work year-round for any occasion from casual weeknight snacks to elegant party spreads when presentation matters alongside flavor, and the recipe scales easily for feeding crowds or making small batches for personal consumption.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need For Pimento Cheese Recipe
- How To Make Pimento Cheese Step By Step
- Storing Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Pimento Cheese Recipe Variations
- Equipment For Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Smart Swaps for Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
- The Secret Recipe My Cousin Will Never Share
- Top Tip
- FAQ
- Creamy, Tangy, Perfect!
- Related
- Pairing
- Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need For Pimento Cheese Recipe
For Classic Pimento Cheese:
- Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- Cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- Mayonnaise
- Jar diced pimentos, drained
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese Recipe:
- Use hand-grated cheese
- Add 1 tablespoon pimento liquid
- Include pinch of smoked paprika
- More traditional texture and flavor
For Pimento Cheese Recipe Without Cream Cheese:
- Omit cream cheese entirely
- Increase mayo to ½ cup
- Pimento cheese recipe no mayo alternative: use sour cream
- Different but still delicious
For Spicy Version:
- Hot sauce to taste
- Add diced jalapeños
- Jalapeño pimento cheese variation
- Extra cayenne pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Pimento Cheese Step By Step
Prepare the Cheese:
Shred sharp cheddar cheese using the large holes of a box grater or food processor – freshly shredded melts and incorporates much better than pre-shredded cheese which contains cellulose coating that prevents clumping in the bag but also prevents proper incorporation into creamy spreads. Let shredded cheese come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes if it's been refrigerated, which helps it combine more smoothly with other ingredients. Sharp or extra-sharp cheddar provides the best flavor – mild cheddar creates bland pimento cheese lacking the tangy punch that defines this Southern classic.
Mix Cream Cheese Base:
In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise, stirring with a sturdy spoon or spatula until completely smooth with no lumps remaining – this creates the creamy base that binds everything together. The cream cheese should be truly softened (leave at room temperature 30-60 minutes or microwave 10 seconds) or it won't incorporate smoothly and you'll have cream cheese chunks throughout. Some people use a hand mixer or food processor for this step to ensure completely smooth texture, though vigorous stirring works fine if you're patient.
Combine Everything:
Add shredded cheddar cheese to the cream cheese-mayo mixture, stirring thoroughly until cheese is evenly coated and mixture becomes cohesive rather than separate ingredients sitting together. Fold in diced pimentos along with one tablespoon of their liquid for extra flavor and moisture, plus garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together until evenly distributed with pimentos and seasonings throughout rather than clumped in some areas. Taste and adjust seasonings – you might want more cayenne for heat, additional salt for savory depth, or extra Worcestershire for umami complexity.
Let Flavors Meld:
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. This resting period allows flavors to marry and meld together, creating more cohesive taste than freshly made pimento cheese which can taste like separate components. The cold temperature also firms up the mixture slightly, making it easier to spread on bread or scoop onto crackers without being too soft and loose.
Serve and Enjoy:
Bring pimento cheese to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving for best spreadability – cold pimento cheese is too firm and tears bread when spreading, while room temperature is perfectly smooth. Serve as sandwich spread, cracker dip, vegetable dip, burger topping, or however you prefer. The pimento cheese keeps refrigerated for up to one week, though it rarely lasts that long in our house before we've eaten it all on various applications throughout the week.
Storing Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
Room Temperature (2 hours max):
- Serve for eating
- Don't leave out longer
- Mayo-based, perishable
- Refrigerate promptly
Refrigerator (1 week):
- Store in airtight container
- Best after 24 hours (flavors meld)
- Bring to room temp before serving
- Lasts 5-7 days easily
Freezer (Not Recommended):
- Best made fresh
- Texture becomes grainy when thawed
- Mayo separates during freezing
- Cheese texture degrades
Pimento Cheese Recipe Variations
Jalapeño Pimento:
- Add diced fresh jalapeños
- Spicy pimento cheese classic
- Remove seeds for less heat
- Popular variation
Pimento Cheese Dip:
- Thin with extra mayo
- Warm before serving
- Party-friendly
- Smooth consistency
Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich:
- Spread between bread slices
- Butter outside, grill until golden
- Southern comfort classic
- Melty, delicious
Pimento Cheese Burger:
- Top burgers with generous scoop
- Melts beautifully
- Gourmet upgrade
- Restaurant-quality
Equipment For Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Box grater or food processor
- Large mixing bowl
- Sturdy spoon or spatula
- Airtight storage container
- Can opener for pimentos
Smart Swaps for Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
Cheese Variations:
- White cheddar → Yellow (white cheddar pimento cheese, milder)
- Mix of cheeses → All cheddar (complexity)
- Pepper jack → Cheddar (spicy throughout)
- Smoked gouda → Cheddar (smoky depth)
Dietary Modifications:
- Greek yogurt → Mayo (lightened-up pimento cheese, healthier)
- Light cream cheese → Regular (reduced fat)
- Vegan mayo + cheese → Dairy (plant-based)
Spice Adjustments:
- Horseradish → None (sharp kick)
- Fresh jalapeños → Cayenne (chunky heat)
- Chipotle powder → Cayenne (smoky spice)
- Hot sauce → Cayenne (vinegar tang)
The Secret Recipe My Cousin Will Never Share
My cousin has been making pimento cheese for every family gathering and holiday celebration for nearly fifteen years, and over that time her version developed legendary status in our family where anyone who'd tasted it at reunions or picnics would rave about how it was dramatically better than any pimento cheese they'd made at home despite following what seemed like standard Southern recipes. For over a decade, multiple family members tried replicating her spread using various recipes from cookbooks or online sources, producing perfectly acceptable pimento cheese that was good but somehow never achieved that same incredible creaminess.
Last summer at a massive family reunion requiring food for sixty people, she finally asked for help making enough Pimento Cheese Recipe to feed everyone and we discovered the secrets she'd been protecting since college when her Southern roommate's grandmother had taught her the "real way" to make it. First, she used a mix of extra-sharp white cheddar and regular sharp yellow cheddar for complexity regular cheese alone couldn't provide. Second, she added two tablespoons of the pimento jar liquid plus one tablespoon of pickle juice for extra tang and moisture that created her signature creamy texture.
Top Tip
- Use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded which contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth incorporation and create grainy texture. Let cream cheese soften completely at room temperature or it won't mix smoothly and you'll have lumps throughout. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving so flavors meld together – freshly made tastes like separate ingredients while rested tastes cohesive.
FAQ
What are the ingredients of Pimento Cheese Recipe?
Traditional pimento cheese Recipe contains: sharp cheddar cheese (shredded), cream cheese (softened), mayonnaise, jarred pimentos (diced, with some liquid), garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Some recipes add onion powder, black pepper, or hot sauce. The proportions are typically 2 cups shredded cheddar, 4 oz cream cheese, ⅓ cup mayo, and one 4-oz jar pimentos. Variations exist across the South with some families using different cheeses or additional seasonings, but these core ingredients remain consistent.
Do you eat Pimento Cheese Recipe hot or cold?
Pimento cheese is typically eaten cold or at room temperature as a spread for sandwiches, crackers, or vegetables. However, it's also delicious warm – grilled pimento cheese sandwiches are popular Southern comfort food where the spread melts between buttered bread similar to grilled cheese. Some people warm pimento cheese slightly in the microwave to make it more fluid as a dip. For best spreadability on bread or crackers, bring refrigerated pimento cheese to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
What's in Chick-fil-A Pimento Cheese Recipe?
Chick-fil-A's pimento cheese Recipe contains sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, roasted red bell peppers (instead of traditional jarred pimentos), and seasonings. The exact recipe is proprietary, but their version is notably sweeter and smoother than traditional Southern pimento cheese. They use it as a sandwich topping and offer it with waffle fries. While delicious, homemade pimento cheese is easy to make and customize to your preferred spice level and texture at fraction of the cost.
Why do southerners love pimento cheese?
Southerners love pimento cheese because it's a nostalgic comfort food tied to childhood memories, family gatherings, and regional identity. It's inexpensive to make from simple ingredients, versatile (sandwiches, crackers, burgers, vegetables), and travels well for picnics and potlucks without refrigeration for short periods. The combination of sharp cheese, creamy texture, and slight spice hits the perfect savory-tangy-rich flavor profile.
Creamy, Tangy, Perfect!
Creamy, tangy, perfect those three words sum up everything that makes this pimento cheese truly shine. Now you have all the secrets to creating a spread that proves Southern classics deserve both respect and proper technique. With thoughtful touches like swapping jarred pimentos for roasted red peppers, or whisking in a bit of Dijon mustard to create a smooth, flavorful emulsification, this recipe shows how high-quality ingredients and a few smart upgrades can elevate a regional specialty into something universally loved.
If you’re craving more Southern-inspired recipes, we have plenty to explore. Our Healthy Naan Bread Recipe capture iconic flavor with a silky filling and a hint of tang. For a no-effort lunch idea, our Delicious Crepe Recipe In 30 Minutes is simple, satisfying, and showcases this spread at its best. And if you enjoy creamy, savory spreads, our Easy Banana Bread Recipe - Ready in 70 Minutes | So Moist flavor and works beautifully for parties, pretzel dips, or charcuterie boards.
Did you make this pimento cheese? We’d absolutely love to see how it turned out whether you spread it thick on sandwiches, scooped it up with crackers, or added it to a party platter. we can celebrate your Southern creations alongside you.
If you enjoyed this Pimento Cheese Recipe, please consider leaving a rating. Your feedback helps more people discover this comforting Southern classic, and it encourages home cooks to make their own pimento cheese instead of settling for store-bought versions.
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Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Shred cheddar cheese using a box grater or food processor. Let it come to room temperature for 15–20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, stir together softened cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and lump-free.
- Fold shredded cheddar and diced pimentos into the cream cheese mixture. Add garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and pimento liquid if desired. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor and spreadability.
- Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Use as a sandwich spread, dip for crackers or vegetables, or burger topping.
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