Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe
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Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe is a staple spread in Southern homes and parties. It is a classic! It is delicious as a spread, dip, or sandwich and is made with cheddar cheese, pimentos, and a secret ingredient!
Looking for more cheese recipes? I think you’ll love my Queso recipe, Skillet Mac and Cheese, and my Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball.
My grandmother made her pimento cheese the old-fashioned way. She had a dedicated meat grinder she used to grind her cheese. It was a process I enjoyed watching as a little girl. And it resulted in the best pimento cheese I’ve ever tasted.
Southern Pimento Cheese is a recognized staple in southern kitchens, just like good sweet tea and flaky buttermilk biscuits! And one thing I love most about pimento cheese is its versatility! It’s just as perfect for serving at a bridal shower as it is at a football tailgate or on a tasty sandwich for lunch! So whether you serve it as a dip or as a pimento cheese sandwich with a side of chips and a pickle, it’s always a crowd favorite! And you should try my hot pimento cheese dip recipe, too!
How to Make Pimento Cheese
Not having my grandmother’s meat grinder, I quickly shred the cheese and add it to a few other ingredients to make the quickest, easiest, and most delicious pimento cheese I’ve ever tasted! And it includes my grandmother’s other secret ingredient (cream cheese).
Shred Your Cheese
You can easily shred your cheese in a food processor or even with a box grater, but I recommend shredding your cheese instead of storing pre-shredded cheese.
Can I use packaged pre-shredded cheese?
Store-bought pre-shredded cheese includes a coating to prevent clumping, which causes the cheese to not cream together, as does cheese that is freshly shredded from a block of cheese.
Now, if you are in a pinch, you certainly can use pre-shredded cheese. But shred your own cheese sometimes when making it, and I think you’ll see the difference.
Combine
Once I shred my cheese, I mix in my softened cream cheese until well combined. Since I was already using my food processor, I switched out my blades and continued using it. Of course, you can easily mix it by hand or even use an electric mixer if you like.
Once my cheeses are well combined, I stir in the remaining ingredients: pimentos, salt and pepper, and any mayonnaise or Greek yogurt that I may be using.
Optional Add-ins
You can also include other spices and seasonings if you prefer. Garlic powder, onion powder, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or even a couple of dashes of hot sauce. I think I’ve tasted and love them all! But I always begin with my Grandmother Verdie’s base recipe. I usually stop there since it is practically perfect in every single way, but sometimes I spice it up a bit, depending on my mood.
What to Serve with Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is delicious served with bagel chips, pretzels, or crackers, and I especially love it spread on a sandwich or wrap or served with veggies. Basically, it just goes well with anything and just about everything!
And one thing is for certain, it always disappears!
More Favorite Appetizers or Snacks
Here’s how I make Grandmother’s recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (8-ounce) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup diced pimentos
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise, optional
Instructions
- Cream together cheddar cheese with the softened cream cheese until well combined.
- Stir in pimentos and salt and pepper.
- If you prefer your pimento cheese to be a bit thinner for spreading, add in optional mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or liquid from the diced pimentos to preference.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Optional Ingredients:
Add garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper or hot sauce to your preference.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Thank you for this recipe. It is perfect and easy to make. No need for extra ingredients.
Just made this after searching different recipes and I love this the most. The simplicity of it is wonderful! I made a double batch because we will be eating it for a few days. Everyone loves it! Delicious on butter crackers and croissants!
Hi Harmony,
So happy you like this pimento cheese. It is a favorite of ours, too. Thanks!
Yummy. Just made this yesterday. Added a bit of Worcestershire sauce, a little hot sauce & garlic powder. Did not have to use a mixer or blender, just hand mixing & it came out nice and creamy.
It’s been one of our family favorites for many years, Carolyn and I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it as well! xo
Can the sandwiches be made the night before, I’m making for 75 people?
Dawn,
If you need to make these sandwiches the night before, just place them in an airtight container and keep refrigerated til time to serve. Hope you enjoy!
This was easy to make with my mixer and all I added was a bit more pimentos and it was perfect for me! Thanks for sharing this!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it too, Rose! xo
My mother used and old fashioned meat grinder and it was outstanding. She had hard boiled eggs crackers olives and onions. I think most of the additional ingredients were used to clean out the grinder. I remember they always went into the grinder last.
Great memories, Scott! Thanks!
Love this recipe, Plan to take it to a family picnic in April. Enjoy your spring.
I grew up in South Carolina and we ate Pimento Cheese sandwiches at least one a week. My homemade Pimento Cheese never results in a creamy texture and now I know why….I needed cream cheese! Love your recipe Robin and I am making this tomorrow.
I have always loved pimento cheese, especially sandwiches. I haven’t been able to find it in the stores, so I’ve been making my own. Your recipe looks great!!
The ladies in Catering at the hospital that I work at swear by adding jalepeno juice (from a jar of pickled jalepeno’s – as in the ones they put on nachos) as the liquid to thin it out a little… I’ve also had it with Pepper Jack cheese grated into the mix…
We eat at a seafood restaurant, Tubbs, in Florence, SC and they have a pimento cheese appetizer — warm pimento cheese with hot hushpuppies. We now have this appetizer down to a science or an art by cutting the hushpuppy into 4 parts to dip in the pimento cheese. It is wonderful!
If you want a REALLY awesome twist use the pimentos out of olives. I do this to serve with wheat crackers (or cornbread crackers when I can find them) at parties. Talk about a WOW taste! Very addictive!