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 definitely worth watching as a little girl. And it resulted in the best pimento cheese I’ve ever tasted.
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 sometime 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. Most times, I stop there since it is practically perfect in every single way, but there are times that 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!
Whether you serve as a dip or as a pimento cheese sandwich with a side of chips and a pickle, you can’t go wrong! If you prefer it as a hot dip, you definitely should try my hot pimento cheese dip recipe, too!
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. Â
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
add finely chopped green olives with pimento.
Thanks for telling us the way you make this pimento cheese, Ellen. I haven’t made pimento cheese with green olives.
Best I have eaten
Thanks, Sarah.
I always make this for baked potatoes or add to a sandwich wrap with bacon and tomato.
Sounds like an amazing sandwich wrap, Paula.
Love it
just made this and it’s delicious!
added garlic powder, red pepper flakes and a bit of cayenne.
oh my goodness!
Thanks, Susan.
Will try
Very good recipe! Love the cream cheese, not a fan of mayo!
You can always use Greek yogurt if you don’t like mayonnaise,LaTai.
Looks Great!!
I’m going to make this – need to get some pimentos first. Going to use it to make your Pimento Chicken. It looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. Going to look to see if you have alternative recipes for chicken. Bought quite a lot of frozen chicken to use.
I hope you like the pimento cheese and the pimento chicken recipes, Priscilla. I have many chicken recipes on my site I hope you will like. Just Search for chicken in the Search bar at the top of the page and it should bring up all the recipes I have that include chicken. Hope this helps. xo
Try it on a hamburger! Pimiento burgers are popular here in South Carolina!
Thanks, Linda. Pimento cheese is really good on a hamburger, isn’t it?
Finally got to make your mom’s pimento cheese tonight, first time I have ever made any pimento cheese.  It is awesome I will be making more.  We actually served it grilled and it was delicious.  Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks Andy,
So happy y’all liked the pimento cheese. We actually love it grilled, too. Aren’t you glad it is so easy to make?