Southern Pimento Cheese
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento®. The opinions and text are all mine.
Whether you’re hosting a casual barbecue with friends or serving appetizers for special holiday parties, Southern Pimento Cheese makes a quick and tasty addition to the menu. It can be served for between meal snacking, within sandwiches or used as a condiment for slathering on grilled burgers. Sargento® Reserve Series™ Shredded 18-Month Aged Cheddar Cheese lends a boost in flavor to this beloved Southern classic that makes it irresistible.
Southern Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is a lifelong love of ours. As a girl, it was often found ready-to-eat in both my mom and grandma’s fridge. I’ve continued the tradition for my own family. It’s ideal for slathering on celery and crackers, turned into a sandwich for a quick lunch or served as a dip with chips as an appetizer. During grilling season, it’s a given that pimento cheese will be used as a condiment on our burgers. I love setting up a toppings bar with a variety of choices such as lettuce, sliced onion and tomatoes, cooked bacon and more. It’s a terrific way to get everyone involved and people love building their burgers to their liking. Along with pickles and condiments, homemade pimento cheese is always the star of the cheese selection and there’s never a spoonful left over.
How to Make the Best Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe
The warm summer months bring with them casual meals, outdoor entertaining and grilling. Homemade Pimento cheese can be served as a spread for crackers, as a dip with Fritos or pretzels, on burgers, baked tomatoes, celery ribs and more.
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Southern Pimento cheese: 6 cups shredded cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimento, garlic salt, hot sauce, worcestershire sauce and black pepper.
- Kitchen tools you’ll need: A medium bowl, measuring cups and spoons, cheese grater and whisk plus a large spoon for mixing everything together.
- What is pimento cheese? Pimento cheese is a classic Southern cheese spread that’s made with sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and diced pimento or “pimiento” a mild Spanish red bell pepper. The types of cheese used and the seasonings can vary depending on the cook’s preference. You’ll also note that they vary from one recipe to another.
- What’s the best cheese to make pimento cheese? You can grate your own cheese of course, using the same amount called for in the recipe. Sargento Reserve Series is used in this recipe and can be found in the dairy cheese section at most grocery stores.
- Can I use a different variety of cheese to make pimento cheese? Oh yes, you can! You may opt to use any mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese either white or golden in color to make this Southern style pimento cheese recipe with excellent results. Freshly grated cheese is always a win!
- What’s special about aged cheese? They’re aged to reach full flavor and texture potential and the grated texture holds its own in this Southern classic pimento cheese. For this recipe, I used Reserve Series™ 18-Month Shredded Aged Cheddar cheese which lends an incredibly rich and savory flavor to the pimento cheese.
- This premium cheddar is aged to the just the right level of sharpness to add exquisite flavor to casseroles, appetizers, pasta dishes, and breakfast favorites. Everything’s better with this aged cheddar. It makes your favorite cheese dishes wonderfully creamy and tasty.
- Store homemade Southern Pimento Cheese chilled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- You can also freeze pimento cheese for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator and stir well before serving.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make
- Jalapeno Popper Puffs are made using crescent roll dough.
- My recipe for Shrimp Cocktail comes with two sauces for dipping.
- Restaurant Style Salsa is always a crowd favorite.
- Easy homemade Veggie Dip for your crudite tray.
- Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Kabobs are juicy and flavorful.
- Crab Rangoon are better than any you’ll get at a restaurant.
- Cheesy Rotel Dip is a game day classic.
- Spanish Olive Pimiento Cheese Spread is delicious for casual gatherings and snacking.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Southern Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 6 oz packages Sargento® Reserve Series™Shredded 18-Month Aged Cheddar Cheese
(See Cook's note) - 1 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 4 oz jar diced pimientos drained, reserve 1 Tbsp juice
- 1 tsp finely grated sweet onion
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- few dashes hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together mayonnaise, pimiento plus reserved juice, onion, worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, paprika, pepper and mustard. Add a few dashes of hot sauce, if desired.
- Add cheese, mix well. Place into an airtight container and chill for 4 hours.
- Serve slathered on grilled burgers. crackers, celery or with corn chips as a dip.
Notes
Nutrition
Definitely going to try this recipe though, thanks!
Thanks Emily, MUCH appreciated for the info you sent to me!
An excellent facsimile of Boursin cheese spread; I encourage everyone to try the recipe as is the first time. This time however, I halved the butter, and found that to be adequate. Make it at least the day before serving so that the dry ingredients can soften, mix together again, then serve in ramekins. Thank you, Melissa!
Hahaha….wrong recipe…!! I’ll be trying your Pimento cheese tomorrow and I will comment than! Sorry..:)
Linda, no problem at all!
By far the BEST pimento cheese we’ve tried! Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you!
Hi Melissa, your recipe looks yummy. I will be planting pimento peppers this coming year and was wondering if there’s a difference using fresh diced peppers rather than canned? Do you know if I need to do anything to my peppers before using them in this recipe, other than dicing them? Thanks
Hi Karin, what a wonderful idea. Yes, I would recommend that you roast those peppers then peel and chop (or dice). I suppose you could use them raw but I’m not sure if you’d be happy with them that way.
Where do I find aged cheese? I live in Tacoma, WA and it is not in regular grocery stores. Or can I substitute?
Hi Katherine, if you’re unable to find this specific brand of cheese please feel free to substitute an aged cheddar or even a sharp cheddar cheese instead.
I love pimento cheese….yours sound great, but I also add cream cheese and cheese whiz to mine…it’s very good.
I found this recipe on Pinterest and my boyfriend says this one is the best he’s ever had. Thanks!
Thank him for me!
Absolutely love this recipe! Simple and tasty!
Thank you!
If you have Siracha sauce in the fridge, try adding a bit to your PC…. it is amazing!
That would add a nice kick for sure.
Melissa I was wondering if you have ever added drained Dill relish to your pimento cheese and if so how did it turn out?
You can add dill relish, if you like. It takes on a bit more of a salty tart flavor but, delicious.
Connie, what is Siracha sauce? I have seen this in recipes before but have never seen it in our local grocery stores. TU
Sriracha sauce is a spicy Thai hot sauce found with the Asian products.
If I don’t add onions, will it keep longer?
I don’t think omitting onion will extend the shelf life, no.
I ran mine thru the food processor and used all the juice from the pimentos and it turned out really good. I am going to try it on a burger this weekend.
I just made a batch for this weekend Nd I pulsed mine a couple times in the food processor to break up the cheese. I am going to try it on hamburgers this weekend.
Can’t go wrong with pimento cheese burgers!
I have kinda made up my own pimento cheese recipe after living in the south for a few years. Happy to find a real one that sounds delicious!
Thanks Lisa, I hope you get to try it!
Can i use 2 years old cheddar.. cant find 18mon cheddar. Thanks
You can use any cheddar you like. That particular cheddar has a more intense flavor but, rest assured it will still be delicious.
Looks like I am going to try this very soon! How long will it keep in the fridge? Thanks
Lisa
You can keep this in the fridge up to 3 days.
We love this Pimento Cheese recipe
Thank you!
This recipe is fantastic. I couldn’t find the 18 month aged cheddar so I used extra sharp for half and mild cheddar for half and it turned out awesome! I definitely will make it again! ❤️❤️❤️
Awesome, I’m so happy you loved this, thanks!
Really stupid question but when do add the cheese
Not stupid at all, sorry that wasn’t more clear. After mixing together all of the ingredients, add the cheese last and mix well.
THIS IS THE BEST PIMENTO CHEESE I HAVE EVER TASTED. MY FAMILY LOVED IT AND WILL BE MY FAVORITE. I REALLY THINK THE AGED CHEESE IS THE SECRET .
I’m so happy you loved this Judy, thanks!