Homemade Pimento Cheese

July 11, 2012
Pimento Cheese is a Southern institution!  This classic creamy cheese spread is perfect on crackers and in classic pimento cheese sandwiches.  And with this recipe, it's super easy to make your own tasty pimento cheese at home.

Bowl of Homemade Pimento Cheese Image

Ahhh, pimento cheese -- one of those quintessential Southern treats.

Seriously, if you're not from or familiar with The South, let me just tell you -- pimento cheese (usually pronounced pi-men-uh) is a Southern institution.  Like pulled pork barbecueSweet tea.  Cheerwine (which is a soda, by the way ... not a wine).  Hushpuppies.  Peach cobblerFluffy buttermilk biscuits.  And so many other wonderful Southern specialties.

It's tough to go to pretty much any type of Southern gathering, be it pot-lucks, church gatherings, bridal showers, or picnics, without finding pimento cheese served up in some way, shape, or form.

This classic creamy cheese spread is perfect on crackers and in classic pimento cheese sandwiches.

Most typically, we find the classic pimento cheese sandwich.  Which is simply pimento cheese slathered thick between two slices of bread.  Nothing fancy, but sooooooo good.

But take the crusts off the bread and cut the sandwich into shapes? And now you've got fancy!  Which make pimento cheese just perfect and classic for enjoying as tea sandwiches.

Or serve pimento cheese up with crackers.  Or in grilled cheese that's oh-so-yum.  Put it with bacon ... even better.  Or slather some on top of a burger.  Yes, these are just some of the ways we Southerners enjoy our pimento cheese.

Pimento Cheese Sandwich Image

Pimento Cheese is also one of those things I had never even heard of until I moved South. 

When my brother's mother-in-law, a true Southern lady, asked me if I liked pimento cheese, I had to admit I had no earthly idea what she was talking about.  So I asked her to explain. 

Pimento Cheese is one of those things I had never even heard of until I moved South. 

She proceeded to explain that it was grated cheese mixed with mayonnaise, diced pimento, and some seasonings.  Translation ... take some fat, mix it with more fat, add some pimento and seasonings -- and you've got yourself some pimento cheese.  

Yes, you've gotta love the South.  But hey -- that fat with more fat sure is delicious!

Jar of Sliced Pimientos Image

If you're not familiar with pimentos (also spelled pimientos), they're a type of cherry pepper with a sweet flavor -- Much like the flavor of a red bell pepper.  They don't really have any heat to them at all.

Pimentos typically come in small jars, usually found in the pickle/olives aisle of the grocery store.  Though in our local grocery store, they're found with the canned vegetables -- so be sure to look in both areas of the store if you're ever having trouble finding them.

One key point to making this classic treat is to grate your own cheese.

To make a batch of homemade pimento cheese, start by shredding some cheese.

One key point to making this classic treat -- please, oh please, us Southerners beg you -- is to grate your own cheese.  Please don't dishonor this classic Southern institution with store-bought pre-shredded cheese.  The store-bought pre-shredded stuff has a coating on it that will all-kinds-of-mess-up the texture of the pimento cheese.

This particular pimento cheese recipe includes a combination of orange sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, and a little cream cheese.  The combination creates a very nice flavor and texture.

It's traditional to use orange cheddar in pimento cheese, but I'll admit I do break with tradition here on occasion and use a combination of orange and some white cheddar.  Go all-orange cheddar, though, for truly classic pimento cheese.

Grated Cheese to Make Homemade Pimento Cheese Image

Once the cheese is grated, combine it with mayonnaise, chopped pimentos, a little Worcestershire and hot sauce, a touch of salt, and a little pinch of cayenne pepper.

How to Make Homemade Pimento Cheese Image

Mix everything together until it's all well combined.  Then chill the mixture overnight to allow the flavors to meld.

Mixing a Bowl of Homemade Pimento Cheese Image

Then you're ready to enjoy the creamy deliciousness!

So, if pimento cheese is new to you, are you curious?? If it's an old-standby for you, what's your favorite way to enjoy it?  I'd love to hear.  

My favorite way to enjoy pimento cheese is straight up on a cracker!

Homemade Pimento Cheese On a Cracker Image

So grab that cheese grater and a jar of pimentos, and get ready to whip up a batch of this Southern institution.  With this recipe, it's super easy to make your own tasty Homemade Pimento Cheese.

Check out these other tasty dips & spreads:
Homemade Pimento Cheese Image
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

pimento cheese recipe, homemade pimento cheese, Southern pimento cheese, cheese spread recipe
Appetizers & Snacks
Southern
Yield: About 3 cups
Homemade Pimento Cheesehttps://youtu.be/iewaHORnyXwDemonstration of how to make homemade Pimento Cheese.
Homemade Pimento Cheese

Homemade Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese is a Southern institution! This classic creamy cheese spread is perfect on crackers and in classic pimento cheese sandwiches. And with this recipe, it's super easy to make your own tasty pimento cheese at home.
Prep time: 15 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 c. shredded orange sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 3 T. finely chopped pimento
  • 1/2 c. mayonnaise
  • Dash of salt
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • Dash of hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, salt, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
  2. Add cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and pimentos. Stir until well combined. Add a touch more mayonnaise if the mixture seems too stiff.
  3. Refrigerate over night to let the flavors meld together.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. It's important to grate your own cheese from blocks for this. We do not recommend using store-bought pre-shredded cheese as it won't produce the "proper" pimento cheese texture.
  2. For hot sauce, we use Frank's Red Hot.
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Homemade Pimento Cheese ~ A true Southern institution!  This classic creamy cheese spread is perfect on crackers and in classic pimento cheese sandwiches.  And with this recipe, it's super easy to make your own tasty pimento cheese at home.  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


12 comments

  1. I simply LOVE pimento cheese! I'll take mine anyway at all, but I've never made it myself! I need to sometime, because your recipe looks easy and good! Mmm, I like diced hot peppers in mine, too!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  2. I am excited to see this recipe. Our church has an annual bazaar. An older lady always made homemade pimento cheese spread for sandwiches and it was one of the highlights of the bazaar for me. But she wouldn't share her recipe, and literally, she took it to her grave. When visiting our son in South Carolina last fall, I had a grilled cheese sandwich with pimento cheese and I've been wanting to try it back here in Kansas. Thanks for sharing one of your family favorites!

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    Replies
    1. Kim, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for sharing your story about pimento cheese. Great recipes help make memories.

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  3. I was raised on pimiento cheese sandwiches. I can't remember a time without them. My parents always, always grated the cheese with a mouli grater. I bet some of you remember those. And, my daddy had to use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp cheddar cheese.

    Now, you got me wanting one right now.

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  4. This Yankee ♥ good pimiento and cheese on rye!

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  5. We would fry up a half pound of bacon really crispy and crumble that into the pimento cheese. Truly awesome on white bread.

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  6. Yapppppppppp its yummy...............thanks for sharing.

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  7. These look absolutely delicious. Keep it up !

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  8. Pimento Cheese is one of my favorite things! Can't wait to try this recipe!

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  9. Oh my WOW! One of my favorite things is Pimento Cheese and I love your special additions. I bet this is amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Dawn, my family thinks it is amazing; I bet your family will feel the same.

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