This quick and easy flavor-packed Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe takes less than ten minutes to make and is a favorite appetizer for friends and family. Sharp cheddar, white cheddar, pimentos, and a handful of other common kitchen ingredients are added to a cream cheese mayonnaise base to make one of the best dips ever!
This crazy good cheese dip can be prepared in advance, stored in an airtight container, and stirred before placing it in a serving bowl. It is delicious served with celery, carrots, crackers, and crostini. Serve leftovers on baked potatoes or spread between two slices of white bread and make delectable pimento cheese sandwiches. If you like this dip, try my spinach artichoke dip, pizza dip, and jalapeno popper dip.
What is Pimento Cheese?
Pimento cheese is a creamy, tangy cheese spread made with cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar, and pimentos. It is a trendy dish in Southern cuisine and is sometimes referred to as “Southern Pate.”
Pimentos are a type of chili pepper. They are as red as bell peppers but slightly sweeter and mildly hot. Pimentos are canned or jarred.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Cream Cheese: preferably full-fat and softened to room temperature
- Mayonnaise: I like Duke’s, but there are other good brands out there
- Cheddar Cheese: good quality, sharp or white cheddar cheese with tons of flavor
- Spices: a few common pantry spices like onion powder, garlic powder, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Worcestershire Sauce: Lee % Perrins is the best
- Pimento Peppers: diced and jarred. They are usually in the same aisle as the pickles at the grocery store.
- Mirin: Although most Southerners would turn their noses up at this, it adds a sweetness that melds with the other flavors.
How to Make Pimento Cheese
This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Using a stand or hand mixer and a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth, creamy, and lump-free. Then add your cheeses, spices, Worcestershire Sauce, and mirin (optional). Finally, stir in the pimentos and refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes before serving.
Preparation Tips
- Use an electric mixer or spoon to combine for optimal texture and flavor. A food processor is not recommended.
- You can substitute roasted red pepper for the pimentos.
- Mirin is a sweetened sake and can be found in the Asian food section of some grocery stores. Substitutions for mirin include 2 tablespoons of sherry mixed with 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar. You could also substitute maple syrup.
Ways to Serve Pimento Cheese
- With saltines, Ritz crackers, crisp crackers, chips, crostini, or try them with my Fire Cracker Crackers.
- Spread over thin slices of rye or white toast for tea sandwiches.
- With veggies like celery sticks, carrot sticks, and red bell peppers.
- Stuffed in little steamed red potatoes (hollow out the inside with a melon baller).
- With slices of bell pepper or cucumber.
- In a warm omelet.
- Spread between slices of white bread and grilled (the best grilled cheese sandwich ever).
Storage
Store this spread in the fridge until about 30 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
This delicious dip is delectable, easy, loved, and foolproof. Put the ingredients on your grocery list, and let me know what you think.
More Party Appetizers
Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) box cream cheese softened
- ½ cup mayo preferably Duke’s
- 1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon mirin optional
- 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimentos drained
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and mirin (optional); beat just until blended.
- Stir in the pimentos. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate until 30 minutes prior to serving.
Video
Notes
- Use an electric mixer or spoon to combine for optimal texture and flavor. A food processor is not recommended, as you want the spread to retain most of its texture.
- You can substitute roasted red pepper for the pimentos.
- Mirin is a sweetened sake and can be found in the Asian food section of some grocery stores. Substitutions for mirin include 2 tablespoons of sherry mixed with 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar. You could also substitute maple syrup.
Nutrition
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Ranae Ahmann
This is our favorite pimento cheese! I have made it 4 times now but to my dismay I realized what I thought were pimentos were in fact roasted red peppers! It is still absolutely delicious! I have pinned so many of your recipes and have never been disappointed.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Renae! That is an easy mistake!
Kent
So glad I found this recipe. It’s funny because I was actually thinking about adding dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce to my pimento cheese to kick it up on the flavor scale. So when I read through this recipe and saw those ingredients, I made it immediately. So delicious! Thank you for posting it.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Kent! I am glad tht you enjoyed it!
Kristine
YUM! Such a great football dip. This pimento cheese dip is unique and everyone loves it.
Katernya
I love pimento cheese, and this recipe was so easy and delicious! Try it with pita chips or crostinis! Delicious!
Kimmie L
This pimento cheese is a true delight! The flavors are perfectly balanced, and it’s so easy to make—definitely a 5-star recipe. Thanks, Beth, for sharing this classic Southern favorite!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Kimmie!
Stephanie
Lovin’ this pimento cheese dip recipe. Its great for dipping crackers and veggies – I even spread it on a ham sandwich!
Sandy
I had never tried pimento cheese dip because I didn’t think I would like it. Boy, have I been missing out! I hosted a shrimp boil and made this for an appetizer. It was a huge hit! I already have plans to make it again.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Sandy! It is addicting! I love it too!
Marie
This is so so good! Deliciously cheesy and creamy and the perfect snack for entertaining too.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Marie! We love pimento cheese. Everyone should try it.
Kelly
So good and thought it would be a good low carb snack so how do you get 27 g of carbs? Just curious
Beth Pierce
The software that is available to bloggers is only so accurate. If you are watching your carbs be sure to skip the mirin,
Kevin Moore
My kids really love this cheese. It is quick to make and so darn tasty. It is difficult to stop eating it. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Kevin!