• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
amycaseycooks logo in color

amycaseycooks

Jersey Shore's Premier Personal Chef Shares Tried and True Recipes

  • Home
  • About Amy
  • Personal Chef Services
    • FAQ
    • Menu
    • Testimonials
  • Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home » Recipes » Homemade Pimento Cheese

Homemade Pimento Cheese

Published: Jan 30, 2022 · Modified: Aug 21, 2022 · Amy Casey · 2 Comments

538 shares
  • Facebook422
  • Yummly
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Flipboard
Jump to Recipe
This post may be sponsored and may also contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy for further details.

Homemade Pimento Cheese is a popular southern delicacy that is a creamy and slightly chunky spread or dip. This snack recipe gets a spicy sweet kick from peppadew peppers. It’s the perfect for veggies, your favorite cracker or made into finger sandwiches.

pimento cheese with carrot, celery, and crackers

what is pimento cheese?

While visiting my daughter in North Carolina one summer, I was introduced to pimento cheese. The favorite southern cheese spread is known as Carolina caviar or the “pate of the south”. It’s a concoction of cream cheese, shredded cheese, mayonnaise, and chopped pimentos.

A hankering for the creamy yet slightly chunky cheddar cheese dip lead me to develop my own version.

Pimento cheese is sacred to many if not all southerners. Grocery stores in the south stock a variety of brands. It is served at every occasion imaginable. Found at picnics, baby showers, football tailgates, and Easter brunch. Most famously, the Masters golf tournament serves this delish dip/spread with carrots, celery, crackers or as a spread for finger sandwiches.

shreded cheese, cream cheese, peppadew peppers

ingredients for homemade pimento cheese

  • mayonnaise
  • cream cheese
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Dijon mustard
  • pepper
  • sharp cheddar cheese
  • Muenster cheese
  • Peppadew peppers
  • celery sticks, carrot sticks, and crackers for serving

Scroll down to the recipe for the full quantities of the ingredients.

adding cream cheese to mixer
adding shredded cheese to mixer
adding peppadew peppers to mixer
pimento cheese with crackers

cooking video

how to make homemade pimento cheese

Mayonnaise and cream cheese act as binders as well as adding to the creamy texture.

Typically the mildest of all peppers (the pimento) is added to the cheese dip. Kick the flavor. Add slightly sweet, slightly spicy pickled piquant peppers also known as Peppadew peppers. The small red pepper is the size of a cherry tomato.

A stand mixer is my preferred method of combining the thick mixture of ingredients. A food processor or hand-held mixer will work too. With a total mixing time is about 3 minutes, this cheesy dip/spread comes together quickly.

pimento cheese on a cracker

chef tips for making pimento cheese

  • I combined a couple kinds of shredded cheese. I use sharp cheddar. It has a tangy bite. Also it adds deep orange color to the Pimento Cheese. Muenster cheese adds a mellow smooth flavor. Mozzarella is a good substitute for Muenster cheese too.
  • Grate the cheeses by hand for the freshest tasting flavor. The pre shredded cheeses available at the grocery store are coated with an anti-caking ingredient that masks the true flavor of the cheese.
  • To meld the flavors of the ingredients, store the dip in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
jar of pimento cheese with crackers

what do you eat with pimento cheese

This cheesy dip is ridiculously good and easy to make. Serve as finger sandwiches. Spread between a couple slices of bread. Cut off the crusts. Slice into 4 portions.

Sturdy dippers such as celery and carrot sticks, pretzel rods, pita chips, and wheat crackers make tasty accompaniments to the hearty dip.

more snack recipes to try

  • Mac and Cheese Bites
  • Grandma’s Sausage and Cheddar Cheese Balls
  • Big Mac Sliders
  • BLT Bites
  • Easy Crispy Coconut Shrimp
  • Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Cream
  • Antipasto Skewers

just one more thing

If you make this delicious pimento cheese dip recipe, I’d love hearing from you all. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ~ I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories as I love seeing all your creations.

Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.

bowl of pimento cheese with celery, carrots and crackers
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Homemade Pimento Cheese


★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: amycaseycooks
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 3 cups 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Pimento cheese is a popular southern delicacy is a creamy yet slightly chunky spread or dip. Serve with your favorite crackers, carrot or celery sticks or as a finger sandwich.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • 8 ounces Muenster cheese (shredded)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped Peppadew peppers
  • Celery sticks (carrot sticks and crackers for serving)

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a standing mixer or with a hand mixer, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and pepper. Beat the ingredients until fully combined or for about 1 minute.
  2. Add the cheddar and Muenster cheeses and the peppers and beat for about 2 minutes, Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. Place the cheese dip in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
  5. Serve with celery and carrot sticks and crackers.
  6. Also spread on soft bread. Cut off the crusts then slice into 4 portions.

Notes

  • I combined a couple kinds of shredded cheese. I use sharp cheddar not only for the bite it adds to the taste of the dip but, also for the deep orange color. Muenster cheese adds a mellow smooth flavor reminiscent of a combination of mild cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Mozzarella is a good substitute for Muenster cheese too.
  • Grate the cheeses by hand for the freshest tasting cheddar and Muenster. The pre shredded cheeses available at the grocery store are coated with an anti-caking ingredient that masks the true flavor of the cheese.
  • To meld the flavors of the ingredients, store the dip in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: appetizer
  • Method: no cook
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 231
  • Sugar: 1.6 g
  • Sodium: 376 mg
  • Fat: 18.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10.2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.1 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 10.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 51 mg

Keywords: pimento cheese, cheese dip, pate of the south, cheese dip, appetizer

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @amycaseycooks on Instagram and hashtag it #amycaseycooks

538 shares
  • Facebook422
  • Yummly
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Flipboard

Appetizers, Recipes

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

~ get my latest recipes right in your inbox and receive my free e-book
20 Healthy Salad Recipes ~

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Comments

  1. Steve d'Ohio says

    07.14.2022 at 8:39 am

    Followed recipe exactly. Delicious, huge hit. Peppadews have such a unique flavor. It’s worth seeking them out. Take note of Amy’s suggestion to use only block cheese you shred yourself. You’ll get better texture and fresher flavor.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      07.25.2022 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks for sharing Steve. There’s such a difference when you shred your own cheese.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar


Welcome to amycaseycooks where I share recipes my personal chef clients love and family favorites made in my tiny Jersey shore kitchen. As you have probably guessed, my name is Amy Casey. My lifelong love of food lead me to my personal chef business as well as sharing my recipes and cooking tips with you. Visit my About page to learn more about my culinary journey. Thanks for stopping by amycaseycooks!

CATEGORIES

follow me

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

NEVER MISS A NEW RECIPE

~ get my latest recipes right in your inbox and receive my free e-book
20 Healthy Salad Recipes ~

Follow Me on Instagram

Footer

Disclaimer

amycaseycooks’ disclaimer, terms & conditions, cookie policy, and privacy policy can be found on my LEGAL PAGE.

I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. By using these affiliate links, you are helping support this site – at no additional cost to you – and I genuinely appreciate your support. For more information, please see my disclosure policy for further details.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

SEARCH FOR RECIPES HERE

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

~ get my latest recipes right in your inbox and receive my free e-book
20 Healthy Salad Recipes ~

CATEGORIES

  • Home
  • Personal Chef Services
  • Media
  • About Amy
  • Recipes
  • Disclosures

Copyright © 2023 · Amy Casey Cooks · Privacy Policy