HOMEMADE PIMENTO CHEESE
This Homemade Pimento Cheese is an easy recipe your family will love. Pimento Cheese is a very popular southern spread and it is served as a sandwich or on crackers or vegetables. If you have followed our website for any amount of time you know we love pimento cheese and many different variations of it.
What is Pimento Cheese?
Pimento cheese is traditionally made with shredded cheddar, mayonnaise and pimentos. Pimento peppers also spelled pimiento are small red peppers that are not spicy. They are more mild than bell peppers so don’t think because they are red they are spicy because they are not.
Homemade Pimento Cheese is much much better than store bought and you will find many different variations but the main ingredients are shredded cheddar, mayonnaise and pimentos. I truly believe you must shred your own cheese for this to be authentic. Shredding your own cheese will make all the difference.
How to Make Pimento Cheese?
Now, some people like to take all the ingredients and mix them with a hand mixer, I have never found that to be necessary. I just add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Then I let it chill because it’s much better cold.
This recipe is different from our other pimento cheese spread. We have two different versions on our website and they are both delicious. The Pimento Cheese Spread is made with shredded cheddar and cream cheese, while this one has more of a tangy taste to it. We recently made both and did a taste test and honestly we couldn’t come to an agreement about which one was better because they are both delicious!
How to Serve Pimento Cheese?
Pimento Cheese is very versatile and there are many different ways to enjoy it. Most common would be the Pimento Cheese Sandwich, which I think is best on just plain white bread. Now.. if you want to take it to the next level then grill it.. oh my lawd.. a grilled pimento cheese is wonderful especially with a bowl of tomato soup!
You can also use it as a dip or spread and have it on crackers. We prefer it on Ritz crackers, the buttery flavor mixed with the pimento cheese is really good. It’s great on celery or carrots and a refreshing snack on a hot day.
Now here are other ways we love to use pimento cheese:
- Pimento Cheese Tomato Pie -if you love a traditional tomato pie, you have to try this one!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs – these are amazing!! Great for any gathering. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Pimento Cheese Biscuits – Great twist on a classic and delicious with chili!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Pimento Cheese Cheese Ball – This cheese ball is great for any holiday gathering!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Homemade Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound shredded cheddar cheese You can also make this using shredded Monterey Jack or any cheese of your choice or mix your cheeses.
- 1 (4 ouncjar diced pimentos undrained
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish optional
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pinch cayenne or a few drops of hot sauce optional
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients well. Serve with crackers or on bread.
Notes
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I actually made this. I didn’t have relish, but I added a tiny bit of Worcestershire sauce. Delicious! My guests all asked for the recipe.
YAY!! So glad!
I grew up on this. But my Mom would use the block sharp cheddar cheese cut into squares and grind it in the grinder along with a jar of pimientos and then mix with mayonnaise. It’s was so delicious.
Sounds wonderful!
I use Block sharp cheese, large bar of cream cheese, Miracle Whip, a must for me, pimento, garlic, salt pepper, couple dashes of worster.
Dukes is made and sold in SC
My mom made pimento cheese with grated american cheese, pimentos and miracle whip. She would then cut the crusts off the bread…best sandwiches ever!!! Oh how I miss those days.
I use to only make it with Velveeta ~~ pimentos ~~mayo and a dash of cayenne ~salt ~My former Mother in law from Kentucky’s way but now i have branched out on my own and mix half medium cheddar and Velveeta along with pimentos ~~best food mayo ~~dash of garlic powder ~white pepper ~cayenne and really fine minced jalapeno ~~hated pimento cheese the first time i did taste it and after 23 years of marriage I grew to love it ~~now always have some in my fridge
HEY SOUTHERN LADY I JUST LOVE YOUR RECIPES.IM GONNA TRY THIS PIMENTO CHEESE IT LOOKS GREAT!
If I use Velveeta or “processed” cheese, it would be like the pimento cheese at my grocery deli. I would prefer the real thing, cheddar. Thanks for the recipe.
half cheddar half velvetta, mayo, chopped green olives with pimento (drained), salt and pepper to taste.
I grew up knowing only one way to make pimento cheese. It is with grated cheese (cheddr), diced pimentos, drained, salt , pepper, and mayo. Thats all. I can’t see all the other stuff in it.
I have never known anyone besides my mother and I to make pimento cheese with Velvetta! I’m so glad to know others also know this fabulous recipe. I use a grater for my cheese and only add pimentoes and mayo. I may have to experiment with the other things you’ve added.
Me too, Christy. That’s the “purist” version – just Velveeta and pimiento and mayo! I will try the other too, but how do you improve on perfection! I live in Chicago now and no one “gets” it. Nobody has ever heard of pimiento cheese here!
Mary it is a southern “thang”
That’s why. Love it!
I make this, but I melt the cheese in the microwave.( Put about 1 or 2 tbs. milk in it,then melt)
Cannot wait to try this, thought I made the best, but I will use the regular cheese not velvetta,,, I guess I’m just old fashioned… buy it in Hunks… still It’s higher but better in my opinion, wil try cheddar and montery Jack to regular cheese… thanks for posting
My aunt used to make this with velveeta, miracle whip, mayo, pepper and a little bit of grated onion….delicious!!! And, yes, better the 2nd day!
Eww…Eww….Eww….Velveeta? That is sacrilegious.
I love this recipe. I like to mix Velveeta & cheddar in about equal amounts. Makes great pimento cheese.
yep that is how I make it 1/2 Velvetta and 1/2 cheddar…it is the best!
Here is a dish my mom used to make and it brings back some warm memories of gatherings. Thanks for the recipe. Take Care, BAM
I need to make this. Even our special occasion serves it. The other day one of the courses was a cream puff type appetizer with bacon jam and pimento cheese, just wonderful.
How I LOOOOOOOVE pimento cheese – thrilled to have a recipe for it. I like adding it to the deviled eggs along with a little mayo. YUUUM!