Last spring, I was helping organize our church potluck when Mrs. Betty cornered me by the dessert table. "Hannah, honey, I've been making pimento cheese recipe variations for forty-three years, and I still can't get mine as smooth as my mama's." That conversation sent me on a six-month journey testing seventeen different methods, talking to four generations of Southern cooks, and discovering why this humble cheese spread has sparked more family feuds than Sunday dinner seating arrangements.
Why You'll Love This Classic Pimento Cheese Recipe
Making pimento cheese from scratch changed everything about how our family snacks. Gone are the days of store versions that taste fake and separate in the container. This recipe creates a creamy cheese spread that stays good for over a week, costs half what you'd pay for the fancy brands, and tastes like it came from a Southern grandmother's kitchen.
Plus, Lina actually asks for this in his school lunch sandwiches - something that never happened with the store-bought stuff. You get to control every ingredient, from how sharp your cheddar is to how much heat you add. It's become our go-to for everything from after-school snacks to party appetizers, and I love knowing exactly what's in it.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Classic Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Ingredients for Perfect Pimento Cheese Recipe
- How To Make Pimento Cheese Recipe Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Equipment For Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Pimento Cheese Recipe Variations
- Storing Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
- How My Neighbor's Dish Became a Household Staple
- Top Tip
- What to Serve With Pimento Cheese Recipe
- FAQ
- Southern Comfort in Every Bite!
- Related
- Pairing
- Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients for Perfect Pimento Cheese Recipe
The Cheese Foundation:
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Extra sharp white cheddar
- Cream cheese
The Signature Elements:
- Diced pimentos
- Real mayonnaise
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Sweet paprika
Optional Flavor Boosters:
- Hot sauce
- Onion powder
- White pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Pimento Cheese Recipe Step By Step
Prep Phase:
- Remove cream cheese 2 hours early
- Drain pimentos completely on paper towels
- Grate cheese using large holes of box grater
- Let everything reach room temperature
The Main Method:
- Pulse cheese in food processor until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs
- Add cream cheese and pulse until just combined
- Mix in mayo gradually until creamy but not wet
- Fold in pimentos and seasonings by hand
- Taste and adjust heat level
Final Touch:
- Serve at room temperature for best flavor
- Chill for minimum 2 hours before serving
- Stir once before serving
- Adjust consistency with more mayo if needed
Smart Swaps for Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
Cheese Options:
- Sharp cheddar → Mild cheddar (reduce other seasonings)
- Cream cheese → Greek yogurt (tangier flavor)
- All cheddar → Half Monterey Jack (milder taste)
Texture Tweaks:
- Mayo → Half mayo, half sour cream
- Regular mayo → Avocado mayo
- Smooth → Chunky (hand-mashed cheese)
Heat Levels:
- Extra hot → Dash of hot sauce
- Mild → Add jalapeño juice
- Spicy → Include diced jalapeños
Equipment For Pimento Cheese Recipe
- Food processor (changes everything for texture)
- Box grater with large holes
- Large mixing bowl
- Good rubber spatula
- Airtight storage containers
Pimento Cheese Recipe Variations
Bacon Lover's:
- Crumbled bacon pieces
- Smoked paprika
- Touch of maple syrup
Jalapeño Heat:
- Diced fresh jalapeños
- Pepper jack cheese
- Extra cayenne
Garden Fresh:
- Finely minced chives
- Roasted red peppers
- Fresh herbs
Holiday Special:
- Cranberry pieces
- Toasted pecans
- Orange zest
Storing Your Pimento Cheese Recipe
Refrigerator (Up to 10 days):
- Store in airtight containers
- Bring to room temperature before serving
- Stir gently if separated
- Cover surface with plastic wrap
Make-Ahead Magic:
- Flavors improve after 24 hours
- Great for meal prep
- Portion into small containers
- Label with date made
Serving Tips:
- Serve with quality crackers
- Remove 30 minutes before serving
- Stir once if needed
- Taste and adjust seasonings
How My Neighbor's Dish Became a Household Staple
My neighbor discovered our favorite twist to this pimento cheese recipe quite by accident. One busy Tuesday when she was rushing to get dinner ready, her 8-year-old son was helping crush crackers for a different recipe. He accidentally knocked over his cup of pickle juice right into the pimento cheese bowl! She was about to start over when he convinced her to try it anyway.
The subtle briny note cut through the heaviness and made it taste more complex. Now we deliberately add that small splash every time, and everyone always asks what makes our version taste so much better than theirs. Her other discovery? A tiny pinch of celery seed in the mix. It's so subtle you can't identify it, but it adds a freshness that takes this pimento cheese from good to something people remember.
Top Tip
- Remember, good pimento cheese is like a good friendship - it gets better with time. The flavors need at least 24 hours to really come together and create that smooth, well-balanced taste that makes people ask for your recipe. I've learned this the hard way after serving it too soon and wondering why it didn't taste as good as usual. Now I always make it the day before I need it, and sometimes I'll make a double batch just so we have some for the week.
- The cheese softens, the pimento juice gets absorbed, and all those seasonings blend together into something that tastes like it came from a grandmother who's been making it for fifty years. As my neighbor always says, "Patience makes everything taste better, especially when there's cheese involved!" Trust me on this one - that extra waiting time turns good pimento cheese into the kind people remember and talk about.
What to Serve With Pimento Cheese Recipe
The classics never fail - buttery round crackers like Ritz, toasted baguette slices, celery sticks for crunch, and fresh bell pepper strips. For sandwiches, white bread makes traditional pimento cheese sandwiches, while sourdough adds extra tang. You can also grill it between thick slices for a hot sandwich or stuff it into hollowed tomatoes.
At parties, try spreading it on cucumber rounds for lighter bites, endive leaves for fancy appetizers, or stuffed into cherry tomatoes. This pimento cheese pairs well with cold fried chicken at picnics, sliced ham for Southern lunch plates, sweet tea and pickles, or fresh fruit to cut the richness. The spread tastes good straight from the container with a spoon, but letting it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving makes it spread easier and brings out all the flavors.
FAQ
What are the ingredients in Pimento Cheese Recipe?
Traditional pimento cheese contains sharp cheddar cheese, diced pimentos, mayonnaise, and basic seasonings like garlic powder and cayenne. Our best pimento cheese recipe adds cream cheese for smoothness and a secret splash of pimento juice for deeper flavor. The key is using block cheese instead of pre-shredded for proper texture.
What is Chick-fil-A Pimento Cheese Recipe made of?
Chick-fil-A's version includes sharp cheddar, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and their own blend of spices. While they don't share exact recipes, our homemade version captures that same creamy texture and balanced flavor using similar ingredients. The restaurant version tends to be milder than traditional Southern recipes.
What is Pimento Cheese Recipe called in the south?
In the South, pimento cheese is known as "the caviar of the South" or simply "PC" among close friends. Some families call it "Christmas cheese" because of its festive red and orange colors. Old-timers sometimes refer to it as "cheese spread" or "pimento spread," but most Southerners just call it pimento cheese.
What is a substitute for pimentos in Pimento Cheese Recipe?
Roasted red peppers work best as a pimento substitute, offering similar sweetness and color. Diced red bell pepper (raw or lightly sautéed) also works well. For heat lovers, cherry peppers or mild banana peppers add different flavor profiles. Just remember to drain any substitute thoroughly to prevent watery pimento cheese.
Southern Comfort in Every Bite!
Now you have all the secrets to making the South's most beloved cheese spread - from proper cheese selection to that splash of pickle juice trick. This creamy cheese dip proves that some of the best comfort foods come from the simplest ingredients prepared with just a little extra care.
Craving more comfort food classics? Try our Best Swedish Meatball Recipe that brings cozy flavors to your dinner table. Need something warming? Our Classic French Onion Soup Recipe delivers rich, satisfying comfort in every bowl. For a weeknight winner, our Easy Chicken Fajita Pasta Recipe combines two family favorites into one delicious meal!
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Pairing
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Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Remove cream cheese from fridge, drain pimentos, and grate the cheese.
- Grate sharp cheddar and extra sharp cheddar using a box grater.
- Pulse grated cheese in food processor until coarse breadcrumbs.
- Gradually mix in mayonnaise to achieve a creamy but not runny texture.
- Gently fold in pimentos and all seasonings by hand for even distribution.
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