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Home Β» Recipes Β» Cooking Basics

Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe

Published: Mar 16, 2020 Last Updated: Jan 11, 2023 by Marye 771 words. | About 4 minutes to read this article.

Easy, homemade pimento cheese is a creamy Southern dip that is great for parties or as a filling for sandwiches. Budget friendly recipe that anyone can make - and it's delicious!
Total time 8 hours 5 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

Everyone needs a homemade pimento cheese recipes! Sharp cheddar, tangy cream cheese, rich mayonnaise, and plenty of mild pimentos make this southern favorite perfect for everything from lunch box sandwiches to weekend burgers on the grill.

Pimento cheese in a green bowl with a serving spoon.
Jump to:
  • Shopping list
  • Tips
  • Storage
  • Variations
  • Related recipes
  • Kaffeeklatch
  • Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe
  • πŸ’¬ Comments

Shopping list

All of the ingredients are readily available - nothing weird here!

  • Sharp Cheddar
  • Mild Cheddar
  • Cream cheese
  • Mayonnaise
  • Pimentos
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Chipotle powder (optional)
  • Smoked paprika (optional)

Tips

  • I used shredded cheese to save time
  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature
  • Add more mayonnaise if you want a creamier spread
  • You should let pimento cheese sit in the refrigerator for an hour or so to let the flavors blend
  • Use it for sandwiches, on top of burgers, on crackers, or as a dip

Storage

This doesn't freeze well but it will keep in your refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 2 weeks.

Variations

There are a ton of variations to homemade pimento cheese recipes. I think it tastes best served at room temperature - the flavors seem to really bloom.

Here are some of my favorites -

  • Add chopped jalapeno
  • Add chopped candied jalapeno
  • Add chopped celery
  • Chopped pickles are delicious in this
  • Finely chopped onion can be added
  • Use smoked Gouda instead of Cheddar
  • Or try Pepper Jack
  • Use it instead of sliced cheese on burgers
  • Add a little mustard
  • Stir in mashed chipotle in adobo
Pimento cheese sandwich showing the filling

Related recipes

Cheese is such a budget friendly protein! Here are some more of my favorite recipes that feature it.

  • Macaroni and Cheese topped with crispy, buttery breadcrumbs brings old fashioned goodness to your table whenever you need serious comfort food.
  • Mac and Cheese with Beer is creamy, gooey-cheesy with a crispy topping like the old fashioned mac and cheese recipe your kids love but with a grown up flavor all its own!
  • Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese is a classic southern recipe that you’ll find at picnics and potlucks all summer long. Sweet peas, salty cheddar, crisp bacon, and mild red onions are blanketed with a simple mayonnaise dressing. 

Kaffeeklatch

If you've lived in the South for any length of time you've come upon pimento cheese in one form or another. It might be on sandwiches, mounded on a cracker, or slathered across a piece of celery but it will show up at parties nearly as often as deviled eggs.

There are as many homemade pimento cheese recipes as there are Southern cooks. Each has her own recipe passed down through the generations, and probably tweaked each time.

This is my favorite. The cream cheese adds a weight and richness to the spread that I love. I've had it made with just mayo before but it just seems bland to me -- and of course, the more jalapeΓ±os the better.

Try this between two slices of Amish milk bread for a real treat.

Bowl of pimento cheese on a table
4.67 from 6 votes

Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe

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Easy, homemade pimento cheese is a creamy Southern dip that is great for parties or as a filling for sandwiches. Budget friendly recipe that anyone can make - and it's delicious!
Course Appetizer/ Sandwich Filling
Cuisine Southern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Chill: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings:12 servings
Calories:297
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar, shredded
  • 8 ounces Mild Cheddar, or one of the variations - shredded
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 8 ounces pimentos, drained. You may want to use just 4 ounces - I like a lot of pimentos.
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • Β½ cup Hellman's Mayo, , or your favorite brand, or homemade
  • ΒΌ teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • ΒΌ teaspoon Chipotle powder
  • ΒΌ teaspoon onion powder
  • ΒΌ teaspoon garlic powder

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Put everything into a bowl and stir together until well mixed.
  • Cover and refrigerate 8 hours before using to allow the flavors to blend, if possible.
  • Sprinkle with more smoked paprika before serving.

Notes

Tips
  • I used shredded cheese to save time
  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature
  • Add more mayonnaise if you want a creamier spread
  • You should let pimento cheese sit in the refrigerator for an hour or so to let the flavors blend
  • Use it for sandwiches, on top of burgers, on crackers, or as a dip
Storage
This doesn't freeze well but it will keep in your refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 2 weeks.
Variations
There are a ton of variations to homemade pimento cheese recipes. I think it tastes best served at room temperature - the flavors seem to really bloom.
Here are some of my favorites -
  • Add chopped jalapeno
  • Add chopped candied jalapeno
  • Add chopped celery
  • Chopped pickles are delicious in this
  • Finely chopped onion can be added
  • Use smoked Gouda instead of Cheddar
  • Or try Pepper Jack
  • Use it instead of sliced cheese on burgers
  • Add a little mustard
  • Stir in mashed chipotle in adobo
  • Stir in crisp, crumbled bacon

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2428IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 295mg | Iron: 1mg

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    First published June 16, 2015, last updated March 16, 2020 -improved images and readability plus updated information.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Smegner

      May 28, 2021 at 9:11 am

      Recipe sounds great. I only question 1 thing. 28 oz. of pimento? Must be a typo.

      Reply
      • Marye

        June 01, 2021 at 7:00 pm

        Sigh. You are right - it was. I use 8 ounces but most people use 4 ounces. Either way is fine depending on how well you like pimentos!

    2. Laura @MotherWouldKnow

      June 01, 2015 at 9:15 am

      Marye, I've never lived in the south but I've heard so much about pimento cheese and I'm so intrigued by your recipe. Also, this past weekend, my son and his boyfriend were waxing eloquent over hatch chilies and I had to admit that I've never cooked with them. Guess that changes now:)

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 01, 2015 at 9:39 am

        Laura - there are 2 kinds... mild and spicy. If you don't like spice go for the milder ones if you can find them (here they are labeled). The canned ones work if you can't get fresh.... and if you can't find them use what you can find... poblanos are great. πŸ™‚ Let me know what you think. Signed... the pimento cheese addict

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