Hot Pimento Cheese Dip

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword hot-pimento-cheese-dip

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings servings (4 cups)

Calories 188kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 1 1/2 quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Whip together the mayonnaise, cream cheese, sour cream, reserved 2 TBsp pimento juice, garlic salt, onion powder, dry mustard and hot sauce for 1-2 minutes to combine.
By hand fold in the pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese, pimento, green onions and bacon. (Reserve 1/2 cup each of cheese to sprinkle on top.)
Pour into the dish, top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly.
Serve with veggies, crackers, pretzels, corn chips or garlic bread for dipping.

Pimento Peppers - You'll see the spelling as both pimentos and pimientos they're used interchangeably. Pimientos, are a mild Spanish red bell pepper that gives Southern pimento cheese it's classic flavor profile. In a pinch, you could use roasted red peppers.
Cheese - Pimento cheese is typically made using cheddar. You can use a blend of sharp cheddar cheese, colby jack cheese, mild cheddar cheese, gouda cheese or any variety of cheese that you enjoy.
Grate Your Own Cheese - Use freshly grated cheese and not bags of pre-shredded cheese for the best flavor.
Spices - You could add black pepper or use plain salt and granulated garlic in place of garlic salt.
Hot Sauce - You can replace the hot sauce with paprika for a milder smoky flavor or add one teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, instead.
Serving Options - While classic pimento cheese is typically served chilled you can enjoy this pimento cheese dip fresh from the oven with crackers, tortilla chips, veggies, pita chips, garlic bread, crackers, pretzels or corn chips for dipping.