A pimiento cheese recipe is the ideal whip-up-in-a-flash dip or sandwich spread. This southern specialty is ready in under 15 minutes with a quick stirring together of shredded cheddar cheese, tangy mayonnaise, bright-red pimiento peppers and smoky, savory seasonings.
We’ll walk you through how to make pimiento cheese, step-by-step, so you can bring this dip to a party, or simply have it ready to spread on sandwiches when the mood strikes.
What is pimiento cheese?
Pimiento (also spelled “pimento”) cheese is a peppery, tangy cheese spread that’s made with cream cheese, shredded cheddar, mayonnaise, pimientos and spices. It’s ubiquitous in the South, bearing its common nickname pates du Sud, or “southern pate.”
Pimiento Cheese Ingredients
- Cream cheese: Soften the cream cheese before starting this pimiento cheese recipe. It’ll mix into the spread easier so the dip isn’t lumpy.
- Mayonnaise: Pimiento cheese gets its signature tang from mayonnaise. Southerners insist on Duke’s mayonnaise for pimiento cheese, but feel free to use what you prefer.
- Spices: We season this pimiento cheese with powerhouse spices like onion powder, garlic powder and smoked paprika. They give the pimiento cheese bold, unapologetic flavor.
- Pimientos: Buy pre-diced pimientos to save on time (just make sure to drain them first), or dice fresh pimientos yourself.
- Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese in an important standout ingredient. We recommend buying one of the best shredded cheddar cheese brands from the store.
- Hot honey: While totally optional, the spicy-sweet taste of sticky hot honey drizzled on top of pimiento cheese is a taste sensation you might not want to skip.
Directions
Step 1: Create the base
Place the cream cheese, green onions, mayonnaise, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and black pepper in a food processor. Process everything until the mixture is smooth.
Step 2: Pulse in the cheese and pimientos
Carefully scrape down the sides to ensure everything is incorporated. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and the pimientos.
Pulse everything until combined. The mixture doesn’t need to be completely homogenous—it’s nice to have small pops of red from the pimientos.
Editor’s Tip: In the market for a new food processor? See our Test Kitchen’s picks of the best food processors.
Step 3: Serve
Transfer the pimiento cheese to a bowl. If desired, drizzle with hot honey before serving.
Pimiento Cheese Variations
- Freshen up with pickles: Dice your favorite pickles, or squeeze some relish, and add to the food processor. The tangy-sweet flavors add a freshness everyone will love.
- Add bacon bits: If you’re anything like us, you look for any excuse to add bacon to a recipe! Cook the bacon first, then chop it up and add it in during Step 2.
- Create more tang: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a handful of chopped olives can add a fresh, tangy brightness. Add them in Step 1.
- Use an umami flavor: Add a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce to the mixture in Step 1 for a burst of robust, savory depth.
How to Store Pimiento Cheese
To store, wrap the bowl of pimiento cheese in storage wrap, or transfer the cheese to an airtight container. It can last in the fridge for up to four days.
Pimiento Cheese Tips
How do I serve pimiento cheese?
Pimiento cheese makes an excellent dip for a potluck, an appetizer for a Super Bowl party or a dip to snack on throughout the week. It’s the perfect dip for buttery and salty crackers, crispy kettle-cooked chips (especially jalapeno flavored!) and a rainbow of veggie sticks like cucumbers, carrots and bell peppers.
Pimiento cheese can double as a sandwich or cheeseburger spread, too. To build it on a sandwich, pair pimiento cheese spread with crispy veggies, spicy arugula, sliced turkey and a tangle of sprouts. Or spread a generous amount pimiento cheese by itself between two pieces of white bread—people swear by it!
What are pimiento peppers?
Pimiento peppers, also known as cherry peppers, are small, cherry tomato-sized peppers. Their flaming-red hue is deceiving; these peppers aren’t spicy at all. They’re even considered to be milder and sweeter than bell peppers! Pimiento peppers only register between 100 to 500 on the Scoville scale, which is extremely low.
