Name: Pimento Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated; ⅓ cup diced pimento peppers, drained; 3 tablespoons mayo; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon garlic powder

A delicious southern favorite, this homemade Pimento Cheese recipe is so much better than anything store bought and comes together in just 10 minutes!

I can’t wait to share this recipe with you! It wasn’t until I was an adult that I discovered how delicious homemade pimento cheese spread was.

While my husband loved pretty much any store bought or gas station version, I did not want to try it.

It wasn’t until I tasted what homemade pimento cheese tasted like that I fell in love. I couldn’t believe what I had been missing!

What is pimento cheese made of?

It’s a creamy cheesy mildly sweet pepper mixture that is spreadable and is best served on a sandwich (white sandwich bread is best) or with crackers.

All you need to make this delicious spread is just a few simple ingredients and a jar of pimento peppers.

This spread is also great as an appetizer which is what inspired me to make this pimento cheese ball for our holiday gatherings!

pimento cheese sandwich cut in half and stacked

pimento cheese ball

Pimento Cheese Ingredients

Cream cheese: the creamy base.
Cheddar cheese block: freshly grated is a must!
Diced pimento peppers: drained from the jar.
Mayo: this is key for getting a traditional flavor of pimento cheese.
Spices: salt, onion powder, and garlic powder are added for flavor.

What are pimento peppers?

The star of this dish, pimento peppers, also known as pimientos, are a type of pepper with a mild sweet flavor and no spiciness.

How to make pimento cheese dip

Step 1: Allow your cream cheese block to soften, which will take around 30-45 minutes depending on the temperature in your kitchen.

Once the cream cheese is soft, use mixers to beat it until fluffy.

Step 2: Add the fresh grated sharp cheddar cheese, diced pimento peppers, mayo, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.

If you like your pimento cheese with a little spiciness, you can also add cayenne pepper to taste.

Step 3: Beat to combine all of the ingredients together. Cover and chill it until you are ready to serve. Giving the dip a few hours in the fridge before eating really helps all of the flavors combine together.

adding the remaining ingredients to the cream cheese

How to serve

As a sandwich: Un-toasted white soft sandwich bread is the best for making pimento cheese sandwiches.
As a dip: Serve this spread with your favorite crackers or crunchy veggies for a snack or lunch. Bell pepper, cucumber, or celery slices would all make a good vessel for this dip.