This pimento cheese recipe has been handed down through the generations in my family. I’ve made it an elevated classic, giving it a perfect balance of flavors, a creamy, irresistible texture, and easy to whip up! It’s the only recipe you’ll ever need!
Great Grandma’s Pimento Cheese Recipe
This recipe stands out from the millions because it’s a culmination of generations in my family that has been elevated throughout the years. I’ve been making this exact recipe for well over 45 years. Each bite is a testament to the time-tested flavors and feedback.
Great Grandma’s original recipe was a classic (just three ingredients), but I made it my mission (like the women before me in my family) to elevate it. I feel I’ve perfected it and haven’t changed it in almost 5 decades.
TKW Family Love
Not going to lie here TKW, as a southerner I take our Pimento cheese dip very seriously. It can make or break you down here but I’ve been following you for over 10 years and everything I’ve ever made of yours has been exceptional so I gave it a try.
After I made it and taste it I took a bite. I didn’t expect something like that. Your pimento cheese recipe is the best I have ever had in my 75 years. From my granny’s to the blue ribbon winners at the local fairs. Your recipe beat them all. I put away my granny’s recipe and replaced it with yours. Granny would understand.
Thank you so much dear for everything you do. You truly are a gift to all of us. God Bless
Whether you slather it on a burger, spread it on a sandwich, or serve it as a dip, pimento cheese brings a bit of Southern charm and elegance to any meal. This recipe feels like home.
Southern Pimento Cheese Dip Ingredients
What I love about this recipe is that it’s budget-friendly and uses simple ingredients. You don’t need a fancy machine to whip it up. Each specific ingredient plays a distinct role in this recipe, ultimately achieving the perfect balance of flavors.
- Dairy: cream cheese, mayo, cheese
- Seasonings
- Secret Ingredient: This is what truly elevates the recipe
TKW Family Love
Perfect recipe. Always add diced Jalapeños, my 3 grandsons eat all this in 2 days!
Chef Lori’s Pimento Cheese Secret Ingredient
This is specific to this recipe (though you’ll see I use this ingredient often in my beef recipes. It’s Worcestershire powder. It must be powder, not liquid. You won’t get the same result.
- Worcestershire powder is the dried version of Worcestershire liquid, BUT the liquid is more bitter and sour.
- The liquid impacts the texture and flavor.
- The Worcestershire powder can be used in beef recipes, cheeses, gravies, soups, and dips. It’s a Chef’s secret ingredient I’ve used for decades.
How to Make Pimento Cheese Dip
Mixing this recipe takes about 10 minutes, but you do need to allow time for the cream cheese to get super soft and room temperature. You also need to account for the time it takes you to shred the cheese.
No, do not use pre-shredded stuff in this recipe.
- Whisk together your seasonings and sprinkle them over the freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Give the cheese a few mixes to ensure the seasoning is evenly dispersed.
- Add the drained pimentos, cream cheese, and mayo. Mix until thoroughly combined. Since my cream cheese was super soft, I mixed it by hand. Some folks use a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment. You can if that’s easier.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge, covered, for a week.
TKW Family Love
Perfect recipe! I do add diced jalapeño sometimes 😋
What Mayo To Use in Pimento Cheese
This is a significant area of contention amongst folks. As someone who is NOT a mayo fan, I tried about 10 varieties and settled on one I liked the best (last bullet). Feel free to use what you like
- Almost every Southerner will say it’s Duke’s Mayo. This mayo has only egg yolks, no sugar, and ACV. We did a taste test here, and everyone preferred my brand.
- If you like Duke’s, then you should try Kewpie mayo. This, too, uses egg yolks, but it’s richer and more flavorful than Duke’s.
- Whatever you do, do NOT use Miracle Whip in this recipe. It’s incredibly sweet and zingy, and its spices make the recipe off-putting.
- I prefer Hellman’s mayo in this recipe. This is made with the whole egg, white vinegar, and sugar.
However, if you’re a die-hard fan of a specific mayo brand, go with that. I think Hellman’s, with Kewpie a very close second, are the best.
How to Serve Pimento Cheese
This is one of those recipes that’s good with way more stuff than you can imagine. It’s savory and flavorful and can withstand bold foods.
- Dip: This, as a dip for crackers, chips, veggies, and crostini, is amazing
- Grazing or Nibble Boards: try it on a charcuterie board
- Sandwich: a simple white bread pimento cheese sandwich is classic (and delicious!)
Why You’ll Love My Pimento Cheese Recipe
TKW Family Love
This is the best pimento cheese. Ever. Wonderful on burgers and even hot dogs!
- It all starts with decades of testing and perfecting it. As I said earlier, I’ve not modified this recipe in 45 years. Sure, you can make the 3-ingredient classic like my great-grandmother did, but to me, it fell flat; very one-note, even.
- It’s budget-friendly, easy to make, and a huge crowd favorite.
- It’s so perfectly balanced flavor-wise that you’ll return for bite after bite.
- It’s versatile! From crackers to veggies, chips to burgers, nibble boards to sandwiches, this is one recipe you’ll put on repeat.
Pimento Cheese FAQs
- Can I use other cheeses? White cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, and even Gouda will work, but sharp cheddar is classic.
- What can I use instead of pimentos? Roasted red bell peppers or piquillo peppers work.
- What are pimentos? They are a sweet, red, heart-shaped chili pepper. They are often what is stuffed in olives. They are much sweeter and aromatic than red bell peppers.
Pimento Cheese Recipe Suggestions
- SMOKED CREAM CHEESE: Follow the instructions in this post to smoke the cream cheese before making the recipe. Just smoke the cream cheese plain.
- HEAT: If you want more heat, you can add a diced jalapeno, or add more cayenne
- BACON: Add crispy, chopped bacon to the mixture
Here’s what I used:
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Southern Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe
This pimento cheese recipe has been handed down through the generations. It’s an elevated classic with a perfect balance of flavors, boasts a creamy, irresistible texture, & is easy to whip up! It’s the only recipe you’ll ever need!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups
- Category: charcuterie boards, cheese dips, condiments, dips, grazing boards, nibbles, pimento cheese
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: charcuterie boards, cheese dips, condiments, dips, grazing boards, nibbles, pimento cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire powder
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (very soft)
- 1/2 cup mayo (real mayo)
- 4 ounces pimentos, chopped and drained
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the seasonings and Worcestershire powder; whisk to combine.
- Add the cheddar cheese to a large bowl and sprinkle over the seasoning mixture. Gently mix to coat the cheese evenly.
- Add the drained pimentos, cream cheese, and mayo. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with chips, crackers, crostini, etc. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
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