Pimento Cheese Dip
Warm, creamy baked pimento cheese dip with sharp cheddar and tangy pimentos. An easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer best served hot.
Servings 16 servings
Calories 299kcal
Ingredients
- 5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 8 oz container chive and onion cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 7 oz jar diced pimento drained, reserve 3 Tbsp juice
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- few dashes hot sauce
- 3 medium green onions chopped
- tortilla chips, veggies, crackers, baguette, fritos for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 2 quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to whip together the mayonnaise, cream cheese, sour cream, reserved pimento juice, garlic salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, dry mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper and hot sauce for 1-2 minutes to combine.
- By hand fold in the shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos and green onions. (Reserve 1/2-3/4 cup cheese to sprinkle on top.)
- Pour cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with reserved cheese.
- Place dish into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and the top is lightly golden brown.
- Serve warm with crackers, french bread, tortilla chips or fritos for dipping.
Notes
- Cheese - Classic Southern pimento cheese is usually made with sharp cheddar cheese. That said, you can make it with extra-sharp cheddar cheese, smoked gouda cheese, colby jack cheese or spicy pepper jack cheese.
- Spices - You could add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Protein- You could add crispy bacon this hot pimento cheese dip for a smoky flavor.
- Peppers - Add diced jalapeños for a spicy flavor.
- Mayo - You can use your favorite brand of mayonnaise. I use Duke's.
- Onion- You can use finely minced sweet onion or yellow onion for a stronger onion flavor.
- Fresh Herbs - You could use fresh chives in place of green onion for a milder onion flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 517mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 452IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 264mg | Iron: 0.2mg