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Home » Recipes

Southern Pimento Cheese

May 6, 2020 · Modified: Jun 7, 2023 by JCP

Hey, y'all! Pimento cheese is sometimes referred to as the "pâté of the south" and/or the "caviar of the South". While it is certainly both of those things, it is also - simply put - my favorite food. As such, I'm excited to share the most popular dish that comes out of my kitchen (hands down!) with you today: my Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe!

I always joke that it's "Better Than MeeMaw's" -- but don't tell her that... she'll be awfully offended!

Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

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Southern Pimento Cheese

Southern Pimento Cheese Ingredients

  • 1.5 c. sharp cheddar, shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c. monterey jack, shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c. pepper jack Cheese, shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c. Duke's Mayonnaise, more to taste
  • 4 oz. cream cheese
  • 6 tbsp. diced pimentos
  • 4 tbsp. vidalia onion, grated
  • garlic powder, to taste
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • hot sauce, to taste/optional
Southern Pimento Cheese

How to Make Southern Pimento Cheese

  1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until well-incorporated. I typically make mine in my stand mixer!
  2. Add more kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to your desired taste. If the pimento cheese is too thick, slowly add more mayonnaise. Add hot sauce for a little kick.
  3. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Southern Pimento Cheese

Pro Tips For Making This Recipe

  1. I find that mixing this in the stand mixer is the easiest; everything mixes evenly and there's less stirring on your behalf!
  2. The pimento cheese will thicken up in the refrigerator; if you want it to be thinner in a day or two, simply add more mayonnaise.
Southern Pimento Cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cheese should you use in pimento cheese?

I like to use three! Sharp cheddar is classic and a must. I then add monterey jack and pepper jack cheese.

How long will homemade pimento cheese keep in the refrigerator?

You can easily keep homemade southern pimento cheese in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Simply store in an air-tight container!

Other Pimento Cheese Recipes You'll Love

  1. Tomato Pie
  2. White Cheddar Bacon Pimento Cheese
  3. Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
  4. Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls

Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

Southern Pimento Cheese

JC Phelps
Looking for the ultimate pimento cheese recipe? Try mine and you'll never try another. The key is in the cheeses - I use three!
5 from 62 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 272 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 c Sharp Cheddar shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c Monterey Jack shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c Pepper jack Cheese shredded/freshly grated
  • 1 c Duke's Mayonnaise more to taste
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese
  • 6 tbsp Diced Pimentos
  • 4 tablespoon Vidalia Onion grated
  • Garlic Powder to taste
  • Kosher Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • Hot Sauce to taste/optional

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until well-incorporated. I typically make mine in my stand mixer!
  • Add more kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to your desired taste. If the pimento cheese is too thick, slowly add more mayonnaise. Add hot sauce for a little kick.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 8gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 324mgPotassium: 57mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 577IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 219mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword pimento cheese, southern pimento cheese
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Pimento Cheese & The Mayonnaise Debate

According to Southern Kitchen, "the earliest home recipes were a mix of grated hoop or “rat” cheese, the cheddar-type sold at country stores, along with canned pimento peppers and mayonnaise, either homemade or one of the new store brands. There was Hellman’s, born in 1905 and popular in much of the upper South, specifically Kentucky and Tennessee. Duke’s was the regional brand of South Carolina. In fact, founder Eugenia Duke sold pimento cheese sandwiches to soldiers at Camp Sevier near Greenville, South Carolina, before she sold her mayonnaise in 1917."

JC's note: While I am from the upper South (Kentucky), I am team Duke's. Duke's is the "southerner's mayonnaise" and I find both the taste and the quality to be exemplary.

Southern Pimento Cheese

Y'all come back now, ya hear?

My best,

JC

Keep Up With JCP Eats

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  1. jennifer

    November 21, 2021 at 9:23 am

    Amazing! We ate the whole thing in one night

    Reply
    • JCP

      November 24, 2021 at 6:31 pm

      Jennifer -- thank you for your comment. It made my night!

      Reply

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Hey, y'all! I'm JC - and I thank you for stopping by my nook and cranny of the internet. Sit on down and I'll pour ya a glass of sweet tea! I'm a fiercely loyal southerner, the most devout mayonnaise fan below the Mason-Dixon Line, and pimento cheese's biggest cheerleader. Welcome to my Kentucky Kitchen!

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