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    Home » Appetizers & Drinks

    Published: Aug 13, 2019 · Modified: Jan 2, 2022 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Jump to Recipe

    Pimento cheese is a spread that is part of life in the South.   It has salty sharp cheddar cheese, creamy mayo, and cream cheese, some spices, and sweet red bell peppers diced, known as pimento (pimientos).  It is an easy appetizer dip that is great for any get-together and can be spread also on just about anything you like cheese with.  My kids love it too as an after-school snack to make any day of the week feel special. Pimento cheese is a great make-ahead recipe that everyone will love. It is low-carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and can be enjoyed by those on a keto or diabetic diet.

    Years ago when I wanted to first learn how to make this, I read up about it a lot.   It seems every family has their own recipe that they swear by.  Many are heavy on mayonnaise and if you know anything about me, mayo is one of the foods I am not a fan of.  So I tweaked this recipe a few times to ensure it was creamy, spreadable, and stayed as true to the southern roots this recipe has.  The trick is a fine shred on the sharp cheddar cheese!

    Jump to Recipe

     

    Many Ways to Enjoy Pimento Cheese

    • with crackers
    • with crudites (raw vegetables)
    • in a sandwich or atop a burger
    • atop crostini
    • as a quesadilla

    How to Make Pimento Cheese

    Use a cheese grater with a fine grate option.  By using a fine grate, the cheddar perfectly incorporates into the spread and blends smoothly. Therefore; the need for all that mayo to make it creamy is not necessary. You will need 3 cups of finely grated sharp cheese.  Do not measure it packed, into the measuring cup. Lightly place it in the measuring cup to get the 3 cups.

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Finely shredded cheddar cheese

     

    Place the finely shredded cheddar to a medium-sized bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and then stir lightly to combine evenly. You want the shreds to show slightly and the pimentos to still be intact. If you over-mix with a heavy hand, the pimentos can become mushy.

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Pimento Cheese ingredients

     

    Once combined, place in a serving bowl.  Serve with crackers, raw vegetables, or whatever you would love to serve with creamy, sharp, pimento cheesy goodness.   We love carrots, celery, and sturdy crackers so that we can spread and pile a lot of the pimento cheese on it.  Seen below with celery and Simple Mills grain-free crackers.

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Southern Pimento Cheese with crudites and crackers

     

    PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

     

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Southern Pimento Cheese PIN

     

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

     

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

     

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Southern Pimento Cheese

    Angela
    Pimento (pimiento) Cheese is a true Southern staple for any get-together. This classic recipe is a crowd-pleaser and my version has only a bit of mayo but all the creaminess. This easy appetizer is wonderful for keto, low-carb, and gluten-free diets.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 C sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
    • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature/softened
    • 2 TB mayonnaise
    • 2 oz pimentos drained from the jar
    • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper **

    Instructions
     

    • Use a cheese grater to grate cheddar cheese using the small shredded option. This ensures it is a finer shred and blends into the mixture more smoothly.
    • In a medium-sized bowl, combine the finely shredded cheddar with the remaining ingredients. Stir gently to combine all together until smooth. There should be visible shreds of cheddar and diced pimento pieces.
    • Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve with crackers, apple slices, olives, pickles, and raw vegetables.
    • Refrigerate if you are not using right away. Bring to room temperature before serving so it is softer and easier to spread or dip into.
    • **if you like a spicier version, double the cayenne or sprinkle additional on top before serving.

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 6
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 154
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 12.8g 16%
    Saturated Fat 7.4g 37%
    Cholesterol 35mg 12%
    Sodium 181mg 8%
    Total Carbohydrate 4.9g 2%
    Dietary Fiber 0.6g 2%
    Total Sugars 2.5g  
    Protein 5.4g
    Keyword appetizer, comfort, diabetic, easy, fast, gluten-free, grain-free, keto, low carb, special occasion

    Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?

    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

     

    « Grilled Peach, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
    Keto Belgian Chaffles »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kendra says

      August 16, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      Yum! We Love Pimento Cheese on Fried Bologna Sandwiches!

      Reply
    2. Pauline says

      August 19, 2019 at 7:35 am

      This looks divine. I'm going to have to try it for our next family dinner. I live pimento cheese but haven't been able to find a good recipe.

      Reply
    3. Amy Irvin says

      August 19, 2019 at 7:48 am

      Looks delicious! I'd try any kind of cheese, and I've never had this one before. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    4. Laura Lee says

      August 19, 2019 at 8:58 am

      I have never heard of this before, but it looks and sounds great! It's definitely something I'm going to try!

      Reply
    5. Melissa Parcel says

      August 19, 2019 at 9:41 am

      Yum! You would have to post this right when I'm trying to be super careful with food choices...I am drooling!

      Reply
    6. Suzan says

      August 19, 2019 at 11:50 am

      Cheese is something I often serve at gatherings with my homemade rosemary & lavender crackers. This looks like it would be a great addition!

      Reply
    7. Brittany says

      August 19, 2019 at 12:02 pm

      Oh my goodness yummy!! Pimento Cheese is one of my favorites =) I will definitely be trying this recipe out!

      Reply
    8. Sian says

      August 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      I'd never heard of this! Great find!

      Reply
    9. jen says

      August 19, 2019 at 2:02 pm

      oh dear god this reminds me of my childhood.....

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 19, 2019 at 5:31 pm

        I hope this is a good food memory!

        Reply
    10. Tiffany says

      August 19, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      I'm gonna have to try this for the kids sometime!

      Reply
    11. Heather says

      August 20, 2019 at 4:49 am

      I love making cheese dips. This looks like a great one for upcoming football games.

      Reply
    12. Alexandra says

      August 20, 2019 at 9:46 am

      Thank you for posting! sounds as a delicious recipe

      Reply
    13. Lisa says

      August 20, 2019 at 9:50 am

      Looks good. Never knew how to make it at home, we’ll have to give it a try.

      Reply
    14. Cindy says

      August 20, 2019 at 5:25 pm

      I’m vegan now but I used to love pimento cheese spread. I never thought of making it myself!

      Reply
    15. Catherine says

      August 21, 2019 at 6:00 am

      I am so excited! I love pimento cheese and was just looking at recipes online the other day! I will be giving this a shot 🙂

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 21, 2019 at 6:27 am

        Timing is everything. Enjoy !

        Reply
    16. Leslie Susan Clingan says

      August 22, 2019 at 7:59 pm

      Girl, YOU read my mind! I have been craving some pimento cheese. Always remember eating with my mama when I was growing up. Thrilled to have your recipe for it and deviled eggs. Another fav of my mama's. Pinned them both.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 22, 2019 at 9:12 pm

        I am so happy to hear this - family and food memories are the best. I cannot wait to hear how much you like the recipes and I hope you share them with your family. Enjoy!

        Reply
    17. T.M. says

      August 28, 2019 at 8:50 am

      I've never been a pimento fan, but this sounds really good. I may just have to bend and give it a try!

      Reply
    18. Karly says

      August 30, 2019 at 9:04 am

      Love this dip/spread! My problem is not to eat the whole thing.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 30, 2019 at 9:16 am

        Ditto! I have to admit I have to split them up in the fridge when I make them. Then I bring one out for us to eat - otherwise it is gone immediately and I usually want some later that night or the next day - ah, mommy has a secret stash. Don't tell my family!

        Reply
    19. Deborah says

      November 09, 2020 at 4:00 am

      I love homemade pimento cheese. Perfect for the upcoming hoidays. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        November 09, 2020 at 9:00 am

        You are welcome and happy holidays.

        Reply

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