Southern Pimento Cheese

This Southern Pimento Cheese is a creamy, cheesy classic made with sharp cheddar, sweet pimentos, and simple Southern ingredients. Perfect as a dip, sandwich spread, appetizer, or party favorite!

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword best-southern-pimento-cheese-recipe, southern-pimento-cheese

Prep Time 10

Chill time 8

Total Time 8 10

Servings cups

Calories 632kcal

Ingredients

4 1/2-5 cups aged sharp 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 use a whisk to combine mayonnaise, pimiento plus reserved juice, onion, worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, paprika, pepper and mustard. Add a few dashes of hot sauce, if desired.
Add shredded cheese, stir to fully combine. Place into an airtight container and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Serve slathered on grilled burgers. crackers, celery or with corn chips as a dip.

Notes

Cheese - Can I use a different variety of cheese to make pimento cheese? Oh yes, you can! You may opt to use freshly shredded 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!
Freshly Shredded Cheese - To make your own cheese blend for this recipe you'll need to the equivalent of 4 1/2-5 cups cups of shredded cheese.
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.
Add-Ins - I've had pimento cheese with olives, pickled jalapeños, pickles, crispy bacon and other mix-ins.
Mayonnaise - You could use avocado mayonnaise, but I don't recommend using Miracle Whip as it's a bit sweet for this savory cheese spread. Unless, you like it sweet, then carry on.
Onion - You can use one teaspoon of onion powder in place of grated onion.
Garlic - You can use plain table salt and garlic powder in place of garlic salt.
How to Serve Pimento Cheese - It can be served as a dip, on slices of white bread as a sandwich or cut into triangles for tea sandwiches. Pimento cheese makes a spectacular grilled cheese sandwich!

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