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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
recipe
Homemade Pimento Cheese
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
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
- 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
- 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.
- Add the cheddar and Muenster cheeses and the peppers and beat for about 2 minutes, Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Place the cheese dip in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Serve with celery and carrot sticks and crackers.
- 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
Steve d'Ohio
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.
Amy Casey
Thanks for sharing Steve. There's such a difference when you shred your own cheese.