Pimento Cheese Recipe

This easy Pimento Cheese Recipe takes minutes to prepare! This classic Pimento Cheese is perfect for a spread, veggie dip, or pimento cheese sandwich.

Pimento Cheese Recipe

We had the opportunity to explore the Pimento Cheese Passport in Columbia, South Carolina in partnership with Experience Columbia, SC!

It was a dream weekend getaway filled with epic restaurants, delicious cocktails, and exploring Congaree National Park.

The Pimento Cheese Passport led us to five different restaurants known for their versions of pimento cheese. On our next visit, we need to check out a ton more restaurants on the passport.

We kicked off our trip at Bourbon with Creole Pimento Cheese and Pimento Mac and Cheese. Both were delicious, and I am now working on a new Pimento Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe to hopefully share soon.

Next up was Rambo's Fat Cat Biscuits for their Chipotle pimento cheese and sausage biscuit sandwich. They also had delicious Congaree Milling Co. Blue Corn Grits with Pimento Cheese. I am ordering the grits online to work on making this at home. This restaurant's logo was so cute I had to buy their sticker. A big orange cat...yes!

I fell in love with pimento-less cheese at Spotted Salamander Cafe and with everything we had there. I would put it at the top of our favorite Columbia, SC, Restaurants!

The War Mouth had Pimento Cheese Yukon Potatoes and a Pimento Cheese appetizer spread served with fried saltines. I didn't know fried saltines existed until we were in Columbia, SC. I may need to see if I can make an air fryer version.

Our last stop for this trip was DiPrato's Delicatessen. They have multiple pimento cheese varieties, including a gouda pimento cheese with bacon, which I will try to make soon! Their classic pimento cheese was also delicious with pita chips.

We still need to go back and try the pimento cheeseburger pizza at Terra, the Pimento Cheese sandwich at the Sandwich Depot, Pimento Cheese Fries at Midwood Smokehouse, and the Low Country Hashbrowns topped with pimento cheese at Cafe Strudel Lexington. These are just some of the restaurants on the pimento cheese passport.

I can't wait to return to Columbia, South Carolina! Check out John's Columbia, SC Trip Report on Park Ranger John for more about our trip. We stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Trundle and would recommend it to everyone. They have a unicorn theme—what more can you ask for?

What does pimento cheese taste like?

Yummy deliciousness. Pimento cheese tastes depends on the base cheese used and the added ingredients.

This version has a peppery flavor but is not overwhelming. The texture and creaminess of the pimento cheese spread help it spread onto crackers, veggies, and sandwiches, adding great flavor.

What is in Pimento Cheese?

This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients to make homemade pimento cheese dip and spread! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Extra sharp white cheddar
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Duke's Mayonnaise
• Cream cheese
• Diced pimientos

Dippers - crackers, celery sticks, veggies, red bell peppers, carrot sticks, ritz crackers, slices of white bread, cucumber slices, a spoon, pretzels, saltines, cherry tomatoes, club crackers, artisan crackers, bagel chips, sliced baguettes, corn chips

Mayonnaise - Let's take a second to talk about what mayo to use..Southerners will tell you the ONLY option is Duke's Mayonnaise. It makes the best pimento cheese..no question.

You can use a different mayo if that is all you can find. Before we moved to the south we didn't hear about Duke's or find it frequently in our local PNW stores.

Pimento Peppers— At the grocery store, you can normally find the jar of diced pimento peppers near the pickles and relish.

Cheese - We like to use a mix of sharp cheddar cheeses to add flavor. You can easily make this with just extra-sharp cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese. Just make sure to buy it in the block and grate it at home. The shredded cheese at the store doesn't work great due to the anti-caking agents.

Equipment Needed

• Cheese grater
• Large mixing bowl
• Hand mixer / electric mixer
• Spatula
• Serving dish
• Storage container with a lid
• Measuring cups
• Food processor - if desired to shred the cheese

 

How to make Pimento Cheese 

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Grate Cheese and set it to the side.

Add mayonnaise, cream cheese, and pimento peppers to a large bowl. Stir by hand or use a hand mixer until desired creaminess is reached.

Add in shredded cheese and stir to combine. Can you believe how easy it is to make?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead – Pimento Cheese tastes fantastic when made the day before you need it. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Storage – Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Can you freeze Pimento Cheese? You can freeze it for up to three months, but the texture may change.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions/Adaptions - This southern pimento cheese recipe can be adapted easily by adding in a few ingredients.

A few options include adding in chives, hot sauce, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, green olives, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, diced onion, or your favorite seasoning.

We kept this pimento cheese spread recipe really basic so you can adapt it with your favorite flavors.

This pimento cheese recipe is creamy with both mayo and cream cheese. Some recipes remove the cream cheese but we like how it holds everything together and makes it easier to spread on crackers.

Vegetarian Option - This recipe is vegetarian.

Vegan Option – You could use veganaise and vegan cheese, but I have not tried them.

Gluten Free - This recipe is gluten-free

Smaller Serving Size – The current recipe makes 16 ounces of pimento cheese dip. You can use the recipe card below to change the serving size to half if desired.

Larger Group/More servings – This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger events.

Tips for the Best Pimento Cheese

• Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.

Pimento Cheese is also known as Pimiento Cheese, depending on who writes it.

What to serve with Pimento Cheese

Sides - Southern fried cabbage, BLT Pasta Salad, Air fryer baked potato, Cheesy ranch potatoes, Cheesy hashbrowns, Stuffed Peppers,

Main Dishes - Slow cooker gumbo, chicken and dumplings,

Desserts - ooey gooey butter cake, dreamsicle salad, Bisquick peach cobbler, Banana pudding poke cake, Nutter Butter Banana Pudding,

Drinks - Lemonade, sweet tea, watermelon aqua fresca, Brazillian Lemonade, Passion Tea Lemonade, and frosted lemonade

When to serve

• Picnic
• Appetizer
• Football parties
• Afternoon snack
• Any day you want a cheesy dip

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