Pimento Cheese

Dip into this quick and easy Southerner-style Pimento Cheese with your crackers! It only takes 10 minutes to make and is the perfect spread, dip or delicious in sandwiches.

Pimento cheese is a cheesy and rich cold dip that is so easy to make! If you’ve never had it, it’s a classic spread or dip popular in the South, and it’s the best appetizer, or you can use it as a topping or filling for so many other dishes. You’re going to love it!

Make this pimento cheese for parties, game-day, holidays, or any time you’re craving a savory, cheesy dip. It’s spreadable, dippable, and so good! If you love cheesy appetizers like ham and cheese pinwheels and ham and cheese sliders, then you’re going to love this cheesy dip.

Why This Recipe Works

• You can buy classic pimento cheese at the grocery store, but you’ll skip it once you try this homemade recipe. The flavors are so much better!
• It’s so easy to make pimento cheese! All you need is a bowl and spoon to make it. It’s ready to serve in about 20 minutes.
• You can make this recipe ahead of time, which is always a lifesaver! Keep it in the refrigerator. The flavors just get better when it has a chance to sit.

Ingredients for Pimento Cheese

• Cream cheese – Leave the block of cream cheese out at room temperature to soften. It will be much easier to mix together then.
• Shredded cheese – We like sharp cheddar cheese or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, plus pepper jack cheese and Gruyere cheese
• Mayonnaise – For the best dip, use high-quality mayo like Duke’s or Hellman’s. It makes the most creamy pimento cheese spread.
• Worcestershire sauce – Add more depth of flavor with a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
• Lemon juice – For best results, use fresh squeezed lemon juice instead of bottled.
• Jarred pimento peppers – If you can’t find pimento peppers, then you can use jarred roasted red peppers!
• Hot sauce – This is optional, but we love a few dashes to add a kick of heat. Or, you can add a few pinches of cayenne pepper.

How to Make Pimento Cheese

Place the cream cheese and all of the shredded cheese in a large mixing bowl then stir to combine.

Add the mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, peppers, and hot sauce and mix until the mixture is well combined.

Serve the spread immediately, or refrigerate for later.

How to Store Pimento Cheese

Keep leftovers of this pimento cheese recipe in an airtight container and, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to ten days. 

Can pimento cheese be frozen?

Because of its cream cheese base, I don’t recommend freezing pimento cheese. It will likely have a very odd texture once thawed. This recipe is so easy to make that you can just whip up a new batch whenever you get a craving for creamy and rich pimento cheese.

Garnish Ideas!

You can serve the pimento cheese plain, but to make it even better, add some garnishes to dress it up! Here are some I love to use:

• Crumbled cooked bacon for a crispy texture!
• Add some freshly ground black pepper.
• Sliced green onions for a pop of color and freshness. 
• You can also garnish with fresh herbs like chopped parsley or chives.
• Toasted nuts add some crunch – chopped walnuts or almonds work great!
• For a kick of heat, try some finely diced jalapeno.
• Or, add some small sliced green olives or black olives for a tangy bite.

What to Serve with Pimento Cheese

Make it a Dip: Serve it as a dip with some veggie sticks like celery sticks, carrots sticks, and sliced bell peppers. Add some crunchy crackers or tortilla chips on the side for scooping.

Make it a Spread: Or spread it on all the things! It’s great on toasted baguette slices or spread it on flour tortillas, roll them up, and slice them to make pinwheels.

Make it a Sandwich: Homemade pimento cheese makes a fantastic sandwich filling. Spread some on white bread, add a tomato slice, and lettuce for delicious cold pimento cheese sandwiches! Or, turn it into an epic grilled cheese sandwich. Use the pimento cheese in place of the cheese and then toast it. Delicious!

​Make it a Topping: We love it with baked potatoes! Use it like other toppings and add a spoonful over your hot baked potato. It’s so good!

​Make it a Filling: If you love deviled eggs, you can add some to the filling to make pimento deviled eggs!

What do pimentos taste like?

Pimentos are a super mild and slightly sweet pepper. They’re a bit like bell peppers but more sweet. Red bell peppers can sometimes have a little bit of a bitter taste, but pimento peppers don’t! However, if you can’t find pimentos when you make this classic pimento cheese, you can substitute bell peppers.

Are you ready to try this pimento cheese recipe? Add the ingredients to your shopping list and give it a try this week. I know it will be a favorite once you try it. Enjoy!

More Easy Cold Dip Recipes

• My Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is loaded with so many flavors! It’s a great make-ahead dip for parties and holidays.
• Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip combines tart and sweet cranberry sauce with creamy cream cheese for an irresistible appetizer!
• No one can resist a bowl of Guacamole, and my recipe is so easy and so delicious!
• For a super easy dip, you have to try my Dill Pickle Dip!
• Million Dollar Dip is quick, easy, and delicious with crackers.