Pimento Cheese is a creamy, savory, cheesy and everything-that-is-good-in-the-world dip that's just too good! Great with chips or crackers, delicious on a sandwich or your next Southern-style charcuterie board! Try this once and I promise you'll keep a batch in the fridge at all times!
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I have to admit, I'm not sure that you could have told me a few years ago that I would fall in love with Pimento Cheese. I have memories of it from childhood coming from a tub from the store and I thought it was repulsive. The store-bought version, in my opinion, still is. So, if that's all you know of this wonderfully savory cheese dip, please hear me out. The homemade stuff that I'm about to show you is incredible.
Pimento cheese is a well-loved and well-known Southern cheese and pimento pepper dip. Also known as “pâté du Sud,” or Southern pâté, this classic dip is savory and creamy and cheese - all the things good in the world. My twist is to fold in some caramelized green onion to give the flavor such a boost that you'll lose your mind.
For your next party, to keep in the fridge for a quick and easy snack, and even to throw in lunchboxes for a midday treat away from the house, you've got to try it.
The hardest part? Deciding what vehicle to get the dip from the bowl to your mouth.
Key Ingredients
All of the ingredients in this easy Pimento Cheese recipe are super easy to find. The others come right out of the pantry. The ingredient list is short, but I beg you, make sure you get good quality versions of the following. It will make a huge difference.
White Cheddar Cheese - My favorite for pimento cheese. The flavor is fantastic. Grab a block and shred it yourself. Don't even think about using pre-shredded. Not on my watch.
Cream Cheese and Mayonnaise- For the creamy, spreadable, scoopable component. I am a Duke's mayo fan from way back. In my opinion, there is no other option. For cream cheese, use Philadelphia. Again, it's my favorite. Not sponsored by either company. These are just my standard
Pimentos - For color and a hit of sweetness. They're usually found in the pickle aisle. I like the bigger ones that I chop down myself. I like the look of the more rustic version.
Green Onions - Caramelized and added to this dip. It's a game changer. This is what makes my pimento cheese recipe different. The flavor of the caramelized onion is just incredible here!
Buy Now → Tips and Tricks
- Use softened cream cheese. It will mix into the pimento cheese much easier if you pull it out of the fridge for a bit before making.
- Shred the cheese yourself. Don't use pre-shredded here. Or ever.
- To make the pimento cheese more spreadable, simply pull it out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before serving. It will get fairly stiff when it's super cold.
Substitutions and Variations
- Make it spicy! Sauté some jalapeño with the green onion, throw in some chili flakes, or even a bit of sriracha to kick it up a little!
- Have fun with the cheese! If you don't have white cheddar, feel free to use something like a Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack for a kick. As long as you shred it yourself, you have a lot of options!
- The consistency is up to you. If you like it smooth, make it smooth. You like it chunky? Make it chunky. The world is your oyster.
Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-5 green onions
- avocado oil
- 12 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 oz pimentos, drained
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet on medium-high heat, sauté the green onions in a little bit of avocado oil until they develop a deep, golden brown color. Remove them from the heat, let cool, and dice. Throw these into a food processor.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients to the bowl of the food processor except for 4 ounces of the shredded cheese.
- Pulse until you achieve your desired consistency. Fold in the remaining cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pimentos?
Pimentos are a small, sweet variety of cherry pepper. For the purposes of this recipe, we are using jarred pimentos and those are readily available and extremely easy to find. Even my small town grocery store has them. They are not spicy in the least.
Do I have to sauté the green onions?
You do not, but you should. Sure, you can throw them in there raw, but letting them get caramelized add a layer of flavor that is so good. Take the 5-10 minutes to do this and you can thank me later!
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! No worries at all for those concerned about gluten!
Can I freeze pimento cheese?
No. Don't do it.
Serving Ideas
Pimento Cheese is classically served cold as a dip with crackers, chips, veggies, etc. It's also very popular on tea sandwiches for things like baby and wedding showers.
However, spread it on toast, use it as a French Fry dip, and a welcome addition to your next charcuterie board. Serve it warm as a grilled pimento cheese sandwich?! Yes, please!
You can also slather this in a warm tortilla for an out of this world snack. We all know how I feel about a good flour tortilla situation!
Storage Instructions
Pimento Cheese is safe for up to 4 days if kept in an airtight container and refrigerated. It actually tastes better the next day. If you decide not to add the green onions, Pimento Cheese can last about 7 days in the fridge.
Thank you!
If you guys make this Pimento Cheese, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Pimento Cheese recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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Queso Fundido - A melty, cheesy dip of my dreams! This one is so good and so easy! All you need is one baking dish!
Bernard Kraft says
We love this recipe and have made it several times now! Have also used it to make grilled cheeses! My kids love it.