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    Whip & Wander » Recipes » Appetizers & Bites

    Published: Sep 3, 2018 · Modified: May 12, 2022 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pimento Cheese (a 5-minute labor of love)

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    pimento cheese in a glass jar, cucumbers, crackers with white text
    Pimento cheese in a glass storage container with a cheese spreader with white text

    Pimento cheese in a glass storage container with a cheese spreader

    A southern specialty for my favorite midwesterner

    Until I met my fella, I had pretty much lived my whole life without Pimento Cheese. Though I had a vague idea what it was, it wasn't a regular guest in our house growing up. So, I assumed his adoration with the dish was a "charming midwest thing" - a category where I organize the things he loves or grew up with that I don't really understand.

    Once I finally tried it, I realized I had definitely been missing out and because my charming midwest fella puts up with my teasing, I decided to develop this Pimento Cheese recipe for him. In actuality, Pimento Cheese is actually a southern specialty, with a pretty traditional base of cheese, mayo, and pimentos blended together, with additional ingredients added to your taste. I like to give ours a small kick with a tiny bit of cayenne pepper, but if you prefer yours on the mild side, it's super tasty without.

    pimento cheese in a glass jar, cucumbers, crackers

    cucumbers in a white dish, pimento cheese in a glass dish and crackers in a white dish

    Pimento Cheese in 5

    This Pimento Cheese is awesome eaten as a classic dip with low-carb veggies and parmesan crisps or used as a spread for sandwiches or burgers. The best part? This labor of love takes a whopping 5 minutes or less in your food processor.

    A note for special diets

    This Pimento Cheese is gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free and friendly for Keto diets. If you chose to use a lactose-free cream cheese in this recipe, it is also friendly for SIBO and Low-FODMAP diets.

    a hand scooping pimento cheese up on a cracker

    pimento cheese, cucumbers, and crackers on a wood board

    Print
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    pimento cheese and cheese spreader in a glass jar

    Pimento Cheese (a 5-minute labor of love)

    ★★★★★ 5 from 25 reviews
    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: approx 5 ¼ cups 1x
    • Category: Appetizers & Bites
    • Method: No-Cook
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Pimento Cheese is a southern specialty with a base of cheese, mayo, and pimentos blended together, with additional ingredients added to your taste. I like to give ours a small kick with a tiny bit of cayenne pepper, but if you prefer yours on the mild side, it's super tasty without.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 oz cream cheese (I like to use this lactose-free version but you don't have to)
    • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 2 tbsp mayo
    • ¼ c diced pimentos
    • ¼ tsp  sea salt
    • ¼ tsp  cracked black pepper
    • ¼ tsp  paprika
    • ¼ tsp cayenne (omit for a milder mix)

    Instructions

    1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until well-incorporated. I like to leave mine a little chunky, so I am careful not to over-blend.
    2. Store in a covered glass dish in the refrigerator until ready to use. Cheese will soften slightly after a few minutes at room temp, making it perfectly spreadable.

    Notes

    Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ¼ cup
    • Calories: 97
    • Sodium: 134 mg
    • Fat: 9 g
    • Saturated Fat: 5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 1 g
    • Protein: 3 g
    • Cholesterol: 27 mg

    Keywords: cheese, pimentos

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shashi at SavorySpin says

      September 07, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      I've lived in the South for most of my life and have yet to make my own pimento - that needs to change eh?!

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:17 am

        Definitely! It sounds like you've found your next southern recipe to try!

        Reply
    2. camila says

      September 07, 2018 at 7:29 pm

      Ohhhh now this is my kind of dip for real!!! YUMMY!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. linda spiker says

      September 07, 2018 at 6:24 pm

      I am pretty much all about anything involving cheese:)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:18 am

        Me too! Cheese is the best!

        Reply
    4. Sandi says

      September 07, 2018 at 6:09 pm

      Pimento Cheese is one of our go to's during fall. Love your recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:18 am

        What a great way to ring in the fall months!

        Reply
    5. Valentina says

      September 07, 2018 at 4:21 pm

      First of all, I LOVE the title to your recipe. 🙂 Very cute. I also love pimentos! My grandmother always had dozens of cans of them in her pantry and used them all the time in her cooking. Now I do the same. The dip sounds delish!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:18 am

        Yum! Sounds like your grandmother was a great cook!

        Reply
    6. Veena Azmanov says

      September 07, 2018 at 9:20 am

      I love how the cheese got such a pretty color from the pimento. This would make a perfect picnic food for us in the coming weeks. I love such food that you don't have to work hard all the time. Sounds yum.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says

      September 07, 2018 at 7:26 am

      I didn't know what pimento cheese was either until a friend from the south always made it for our gatherings. It's so good! I'll have to try it with dairy free cream cheese too. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Marisa Franca says

      September 07, 2018 at 5:10 am

      What a pretty color. It looks like it could be the whole party!! I've tasted pimento cheese spread but I've never tasted a homemade version. From what I've seen of the ingredients -- the homemade would be out of this world. Will have to give it a try.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:19 am

        Homemade is almost always better, in my opinion. I hope you give it a try!

        Reply
    9. Julie says

      September 06, 2018 at 9:59 pm

      This sounds so tasty! I will have to try it out!

      Reply
    10. Claudia Lamascolo says

      September 06, 2018 at 4:45 pm

      Well this is a win win ... love cheese, spreads and appetizers and a bonus is that its easy too!

      Reply
    11. Karen says

      September 06, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      I will always be a fan of an easy recipe! Love how it can be made for 5 minutes only.

      Reply
    12. Catherine @ To & Fro Fam says

      September 06, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      My dad loves this stuff, though he's from Illinois... I wonder what's the connection there?!

      Reply
      • Whip & Wander says

        September 11, 2018 at 9:20 am

        My fella is from Illinois as well. There must definitely be something going on there!

        Reply
    13. Amber Battishill says

      September 06, 2018 at 9:24 am

      Mmmm, pimento cheese is definitely one of my favorites and a staple at every midwest gathering! LOL. Love the simplicity and quickness of this recipe!

      Reply
    14. Em Smith says

      September 06, 2018 at 8:26 am

      A healthy perfect snack! I love cucumbers, even my kids love it too!

      Reply
    15. Nicole Pyles says

      September 05, 2018 at 10:55 am

      I can't believe how doable this is! I loooooove cheese too 🙂

      Reply
    16. Chanell says

      September 04, 2018 at 10:37 pm

      So excited to try this! It looks super simple and extra yummy! I might score some extra brownie points with the hubby when I make this!

      Reply
    17. Amanda says

      September 04, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      I'm not a fan of pimento cheese, but my hubby will be all over this! I love the cream cheese idea.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. Amanda says

      September 04, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      I love quick and easy recipes like this. My hubby would love this for our next date night in!

      Reply
    19. Emily says

      September 04, 2018 at 5:39 pm

      This looks so good! I'm definitely going to make it next time I need a dip!

      Reply
    20. Glenny says

      September 04, 2018 at 12:48 pm

      wow this looks so easy an yummyyyy to make. I can't wait to try this recipe out one day

      Reply
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