This 10-minute Old-Fashioned Pimento Cheese recipe is a creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy Southern classic. Made with sharp cheddar, rich mayonnaise, and zesty pimentos, it’s a versatile spread!
Everyone loves a good cheese spread as part of their appetizers or as a pimento cheese sandwich. Setting this out along with a relish tray will keep hunger at bay while you work on the main dish. Whether you're from South Carolina or New York, this is good pimento cheese!
Add sliced baguette and Garlic Confit to your tray. Of course, Deviled Eggs with Relish are also a crowd-pleaser.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A classic southern spread that is easy to make yourself in just 10 minutes!
- Making this Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese recipe ahead means it tastes even better, so you can have some of the work done the day before. Great add for a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board!
- Easy to measure and mix, meaning kids and kitchen novices can lend a hand.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: Always use full fat for the best taste and texture. This is also what I use to make this Smoked Cream Cheese Recipe.
- Shredded Cheese: I like to mix sharp cheddar cheese with something spicy, like habanero jack cheese for a little kick even though it's not in a traditional pimento cheese!
- Pimentos: These are small peppers, sometimes called cherry peppers. We'll be using jarred in this Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese recipe as fresh are often hard to find.
- Mayo: Use whichever brand you love the flavor of. I typically use Hellman's but Duke's Mayonnaise is also a favorite.
- Sour Cream: Again, full fat, please! This adds creaminess to the mayo and cream cheese.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are best here. I don't recommend buying jarred garlic.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- Top your old fashioned pimento cheese recipe with a little hot honey, bacon, brisket, fresh jalapeños or candied jalapeno. Hot honey can also be used for Hot Honey Pork Chops!
- Can't find pimentos? Try roasted red peppers for a non-traditional twist in this easy appetizer.
- Swap in white cheddar or a smoked variety for the sharp cheddar.
- If habanero cheese is hard to find, any type of pepper jack or other spicy cheese is perfect. Monterey jack works if you don't want a spicy pimento cheese.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
How To Make Pimento Cheese Spread
Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2: Transfer to a pretty serving dish and serve with crackers, as pimento cheese sandwiches or on a veggie tray.
Expert Preparation Tips
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing. I like to unwrap and place it in my mixing bowl about an hour ahead of time.
- Try blending all the "soft" ingredients first, such as the mayo and sour cream into the cream cheese. This will ensure your cream cheese isn't lumpy before stirring in the shredded cheese and pimentos.
- Make this cheddar cheese spread the night before serving. I think the flavors really meld nicely in this time rather than serving it immediately after mixing.
- Try adding this southern pimento cheese to a burger, such as this pork burger recipe.
Recipe FAQs
The pimentos themselves, while technically a chile pepper, are actually quite mild and sweet like a bell pepper. I use a spicy cheese, but you can always use regular Monterey Jack in place of pepper jack in this southern staple if you aren't a fan of heat!
I think it's much easier to blend this and sort of whip the cream cheese in a stand mixer or using an electric hand mixer. However you can do this by hand by ensuring you start with room temperature cream cheese and use a sturdy wooden spoon to mix. Always mix in your mixer or a large bowl to get everything blended, and then transfer to a pretty bowl to serve. That way you don't have to worry about the mess!
I highly recommend shredding your own here. While I will always recommend shredding your own when melting, such as in Spicy Mac and Cheese, I also do that here. The bags of shredded cheese are coated in anti-caking agents which just aren't necessary in this dip. You'll prefer the feel of the freshly shredded cheese in your cheese spread.
Store this southern pimento cheese recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing as it will compromise quality of texture.
This easy dip can be served with a variety of things. Try it with crackers, celery sticks, or for game day with pork rinds or on a cold sandwich consisting of white bread and this homemade pimento cheese recipe.
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📖Recipe
Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- 1 food proccessor
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 14 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 7 oz habanero jack shredded
- 8 oz diced pimentos
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup mayo Hellman's or Dukes
- ¼ cup sour cream full fat
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Optional Toppings
- 2 strips thick cut bacon crispy
- ¼ cup candied jalapenos
Instructions
- Blend cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, habanero jack, pimentos, garlic, mayo, sour cream, salt and vinegar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until combined
- Top pimento cheese with bacon and/or candied jalapenos if desired then serve with crackers, on a sandwich or with veggies
Julann Palo
Delicious and easy to make!
Tammy Cruse
Delicious!
Krista
I cannot stop eating this! We eat it with crackers, on sandwiches, melted on top of cooked broccoli, with a spoon… It’s a party staple!
Stella
Best pimento cheese recipe I’ve found! Goes great on everything!
Krista Stechman
Happy to hear it!