Restless Chipotle

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×
Home » Recipes » Snack Recipes

Crispy Fried Pimento Cheese Balls

Published: Mar 13, 2025 · Updated: Apr 6, 2025 by Marye

These golden, crunchy bites of melty pimento cheese are dangerously addictive! Super easy to make and perfect for snacking, parties, or game day.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 1 hour hour
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Closeup of pimento cheese balls cut in half to show the gooey cheese insides.
Pimento cheese ball cut in half showing melty pimento cheese inside. Title text overlay for Pinterest.

Crispy fried pimento cheese balls are crunchy on the outside, melty on the inside, and absolutely not responsible for any sudden obsessions that may occur. One bite and you’re questioning all your life choices—like why you haven’t been frying pimento cheese this whole time.

An overhead view of crispy fried pimento cheese balls on a serving dish.

Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

Table of Contents
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
  • 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
  • 🔪 How to make pimento cheese balls: instructions for success
  • 💭 Insider tips: things to know
  • 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
  • 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
  • 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat pimento cheese balls
  • 👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
  • 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

The South didn’t invent cheese, but we sure as heck perfected what to do with it. And if you think pimento cheese is good on a cracker, just wait until you deep-fry it into crispy, golden bite-sized bliss. Go ahead, y'all—resistance is futile.

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

  • Fried pimento cheese balls are creamy, crispy, and cheesy, with just the right kick to make your taste buds holler for more!
  • Serve ‘em up as a party appetizer, tailgate snack, or, heck, toss them on a salad for a sinful topping twist.
  • You gotta freeze the balls of cheese before breading and frying them—otherwise, you’ll have a hot mess on your hands!

If you’re a fan of anything fried and fabulous, this crispy fried pimento cheese ball recipe will knock your socks off!

They’ve got gooey, tangy pimento cheese on the inside and a crunchy, golden crust on the outside—basically, everything you could ever want in a bite-sized appetizer.

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

An overhead view of the recipe ingredients with text overlay.

🔪 How to make pimento cheese balls: instructions for success

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

Rolling the pimento cheese into small balls.

Roll the pimento cheese into small balls and freeze them.

Dipping the flour-coated pimento cheese ball in egg.

Coat the frozen cheese balls in flour, then the beaten eggs.

Rolling the battered pimento cheese ball in breadcrumbs.

Roll the battered cheese balls in panko breadcrumbs.

Frying the pimento cheese balls.

Fry in batches in 350-degree F oil until golden brown.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  1. I like to use a small cookie scoop to shape the cheese, so it’s all the same size. It’s easier than doing it by hand!
  2. If you try to roll room-temperature pimento, you’re gonna make a mess. Let the cheese balls firm up in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before battering them.
  3. Keep your oil hot (350-360F), but not Texas-in-August hot. (If it's too cool, the cheese balls will soak up the grease. Too hot, and they’ll burn before the inside gets melty.)
  4. Don’t overcrowd the pan—otherwise, the oil temperature will drop too much, and the pimento cheese balls will get soggy.
  5. Drain the fried cheese balls for a few minutes before devouring them. Letting them sit in oil will make them soggy—that’s simply unacceptable!
  6. Prefer airfrying? That's all good—brush the pimento cheese balls with oil and cook at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or 'til crisp!

Marye's Tip o' the day

To minimize mess, roll the cheese balls in flour with one hand and coat them in beaten egg with the other. Then, roll the cheese balls into the breadcrumbs using the floured hand.

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

  1. Feel free to add crumbled bacon, chopped peppers, or fresh herbs to the cheese mixture, but do so sparingly. (The cheese will not hold its shape if you mix in too many other ingredients.)
  2. Try a mixture of pimento, Gouda, sharp white cheddar, or pepper Jack to switch things up.
  3. Add some smoked paprika for a deeper flavor, or turn up the heat with a dash of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper.

🍴Must have tools: essential equipment

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

You’ll need four mixing bowls: one for the cheese mixture, one for flour, one for egg, and one for breadcrumbs.

If you don't have a deep fryer, a Dutch oven, heavy-duty pot, or large cast iron skillet works great. You want something that holds heat well and prevents oil from splattering everywhere.

Oil temperature is key! Use a candy or instant-read thermometer to ensure your oil stays at 350 degrees F.

A slotted spoon or metal tongs help you remove those golden brown beauties from the hot oil without bringing half of the grease with them.
Use paper towels or a wire rack to drain excess grease.

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat pimento cheese balls

If, by some miracle, you have leftovers (doubtful), pop them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.

To reheat, throw ‘em in a 375-degree F oven or air fryer for 5-7 minutes. Microwaving is a no-go unless you like sad and soggy.

To freeze, let your cheese balls cool down to room temperature, then flash-freeze them on a baking sheet until frozen solid. Transfer them to a freezer bag or an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months.

To reheat frozen cheese balls, bake them in a 375-degree F oven or air fryer for 5-7 minutes.

An overhead view of crispy fried pimento cheese balls on an appetizer plate with dipping sauce.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up

I like using homemade pimento cheese but you can use store-bought as well.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

Get recipes to your inbox! Join the FREE membership group and get kitchen organizer packet ($9.99 value) as our gift.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I air-fry pimento cheese balls?

Yes, you can. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees F, cook them for 8-10 minutes, and shake the basket halfway through.

Can I make cheese balls ahead of time?

Sure can! Just roll ‘em, coat ‘em, and freeze ‘em until you’re ready to fry. However, be sure to shake off any ice crystals that have formed so they don't splatter in the hot oil.

A close-up view of crispy fried pimento cheese balls; one has a bite removed.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

Prep the cheese balls a day or two in advance. Dredge and bread the chilled balls, then flash-freeze them and store them in an airtight container to fry later. Just add an extra 1-2 minutes of frying time.

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

This copycat Red Robin campfire sauce is one of my favorite dips to serve with pimento cheese balls!

Love pimento cheese? Try this pimento cheese mac and cheese!

  • An overhead view of a pan of baked cheese dreams with a golden brown crust.
    Grandma's Cheese Dreams
  • Overhead view of baked sausage balls in a bowl.
    Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Recipe
  • Pineapple cheese ball covered in pecans with a serving knife.
    Pineapple Cheese Ball
  • Close up of hot dogs wrapped in golden brown puff pastry.
    Pigs in a Blanket

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Closeup of pimento cheese balls cut in half to show the gooey cheese insides.

Crispy Fried Pimento Cheese Balls

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
These golden, crunchy bites of melty pimento cheese are dangerously addictive! Super easy to make and perfect for snacking, parties, or game day.
Course Appetizer/Snack
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Chilling time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings:8
Calories:195
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pimento cheese, (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, (for extra crunch!)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

Shape

  • Scoop & freeze: Roll the pimento cheese into small balls (about 1-inch in size) and place them on a lined baking sheet.
  • Freeze for 30-60 minutes until firm.

Set up the breading station: In three separate bowls:

  • Bowl 1: Flour
  • Bowl 2: Beaten eggs
  • Bowl 3: Panko, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper

To make pimento cheese balls

  • Bread the cheese balls: Dip each frozen pimento cheese ball in flour, then egg, then panko mixture—pressing gently to coat well.
  • Fry: Heat oil to 350°F (medium-high heat). Fry in small batches for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Drain & serve: Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Serve hot with ranch,spicy mayo, or your favorite dipping sauce!

Notes

Storage:
Leftovers? Unlikely. But if you beat the odds, stash them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheat in a 375°F oven or air fryer for 5–7 minutes. Microwaving? Only if you enjoy disappointment.
Freezing? Let them cool, flash-freeze on a baking sheet, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat from frozen, straight into a 375°F oven or air fryer for 5–7 minutes—crispy, melty perfection all over again!
Tips:
Pro Tip: Want to bake or air fry? Brush with oil and cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy!
Warning: These disappear fast. You might want to make a double batch. 😉🔥

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 378mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

More Appetizers and Snacks

  • Someone getting a cracker out of a bowl
    Saltine Cracker Recipe
  • Closeup of pizza cups filled with ground beef, pepperoni, olives, pizza sauce, and cheese.
    Easy Pizza Cups
  • Closeup of pecans in a serving dish showing the bumpy texture of the crunchy candied pecans.
    Spiced Candied Pecans
  • Closeup of finished crescent rolls for feature image.
    Chicken Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Love it? Share it!

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard

About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    5 from 1 vote

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. P J Weaver says

    March 31, 2025 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness! Score! Thanks again marye. 🩵

    Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

Find out more

🍉 Summer Cookouts

  • Overhead view of potato salad in a glass bowl
    Mom's Homemade Potato Salad
  • Overhead view of the finished watermelon basket filled with an assortment of fruit.
    How to Make a Watermelon Basket
  • Closeup of a finished hamburger in a bun.
    Retro Lipton Onion Soup Burger (Vintage Recipe)
  • Closeup of a star shaped cake covered in white chocolate with red and blue sprinkles.
    Zebra Cake Recipe: Little Debbie Copycat

🫖 Picklefork Stories

Picklefork town crest.
Click here to visit Picklefork

👑 Reader Favorites

  • Square overhead of chicken for feature image.
    Crockpot Angel Chicken
  • Close up of the sauce showing the creamy texture.
    Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
  • Wooden spatula removing fried potatoes out of iron skillet.
    Crispy Fried Potatoes in a Cast Iron Skillet (Southern Style)
  • Blue cocktail with a red and white straw.
    Sex in the Driveway Cocktail
  • A sliced loaf of english muffin bread.
    Easy English Muffin Bread – No Knead, Perfect for Toasting!
  • Two finished loaves of Amish white bread cooling on a table.
    No-Fail Amish White Bread

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • About Marye Audet-White
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Contact
MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

Featured In:

Places Restless Chipotle has been featured

We improve our products and advertising by using Microsoft Clarity to see how you use our website. By using our site, you agree that we and Microsoft can collect and use this data. Our privacy statement has more details.

Copyright ©2006 - 2025 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC

Picklefork Tales Copyright ©2025 Marye Audet, Restless Chipotle Media

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.