Southern Pimento Cheese
My Southern pimento cheese is simple to whip up in only 5 minutes, and it has the creamiest texture! I use wholesome ingredients like avocado oil mayo and raw honey, but it’s still got that classic, quintessential taste.
It’s my version of my favorite pimento cheese served at a local café just up the road here in Middle Tennessee. I love it spread on sandwiches or as a snack with crackers or tortilla chips. I hope this becomes your go-to pimento cheese recipe!
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I love pimento cheese so much my husband jokes with me when I say I’m craving it because he asks me, “Aren’t you always wanting pimento cheese?” Between this cheesy spread and homemade cheese straws, I don’t need any other snacks, haha! I can’t wait for you to make this recipe!
Inspiration Behind My Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe
When my husband, Tyler, and I moved to Tennessee from Indiana in 2022, the first restaurant we tried in our nearby town was a café serving the best pimento cheese. I had never had pimento cheese and thought I wouldn’t like it, but man, was I wrong!
After trying different pimento cheeses, 4 years later, it’s still my favorite, so I wanted to make a recipe replicating it for our home. I’m so excited to share it with you!
What is Classic Southern Pimento Cheese?
It’s a cheesy spread that’s creamy and so savory. It’s made with a base of mild-tasting pimento peppers, mayonnaise, and shredded cheese.
There are so many different variations of pimento cheese in the South, and they’re all unique. Every Southern cook has their favorite! After all, it’s called the “caviar of the South,” haha!
Mine has onion powder, sea salt, raw honey, and cream cheese added in for a perfectly balanced taste.
Why I Love This Creamy Pimento Cheese and Think You Will Too!
- Creamiest Texture: The added cream cheese creates the best creamy texture!
- Can Be Made in 5 Minutes: It only takes 5 minutes to whip up.
- Not Many Ingredients: The ingredients are simple.
- Wholesome Ingredients: We’re using things like avocado oil mayonnaise and raw honey for this recipe.
- The Best Flavor: It’s slightly sweet, tangy, peppery, and cheesy!
My Tips for Making Pimento Cheese Spread
- Read the full recipe before you get started. This will help you know what to expect.
- Shred your cheese at home! Do not use pre-shredded cheese.
- Use a good mayonnaise that’s got a tang to it. I really love using a wholesome option like homemade mayonnaise or Chosen Food’s Avocado Oil Mayo. They don’t have additives and harmful ingredients.
- Save the drained pimento juice in case you want to thin the cheese spread after it sets up in the fridge. I learned this little trick from another Southern home cook.
Best Wholesome Mayonnaise for Pimento Cheese
I really like using Chosen Foods avocado oil mayonnaise. The ingredients are simple, yet it tastes amazing, and there are no seed oils!
Best Cheese to Use for Pimento Cheese
The best cheese you can use for pimento cheese is sharp cheddar. I like to add a little mild cheddar as well to give it a different taste.
No matter what cheese you use, it must be shredded at home, not pre-shredded from the store. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents added, and they prevent the mayonnaise mixture from sticking to the shreds of cheese.
Ingredients You’ll Need (with notes and substitutions)
Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for measurements
- mayonnaise: I highly recommend using a wholesome avocado oil brand, like Chosen Foods or homemade
- plain cream cheese: make sure it’s unsweetened, I like Philadelphia or an organic brand with few additives
- raw honey: I like to use raw, unfiltered but you can use any
- onion powder: make sure it’s a salt-free option
- sharp cheddar cheese: make sure you shred it at home
- mild cheddar cheese: make sure you shred it at home
- jarred pimentos: use a brand that doesn’t have artificial coloring or lots of additives, I use the Kroger brand
- sea salt: this is my favorite wholesome salt option
Helpful Kitchen Tools for this Recipe
This section contains Amazon affiliate links to items I use and love for this recipe.
How to Make Southern Pimento Cheese From Scratch
Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for the full written recipe.
Add mayonnaise, cream cheese, honey, and onion powder to a mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth (or whisk by hand).
Add sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, and drained pimentos. Fold into mayonnaise mixture until evenly distributed. Stir in sea salt to taste (about 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp).
Best enjoyed after being refrigerating for 1-2 hours so it can set up. Enjoy!
My Favorite Ways to Serve Homemade Pimento Cheese
I love eating pimento cheese with crackers, tortilla chips, and even out of the container with a spoon! But it’s also absolutely delicious spread on sandwiches, both hot and cold.
Here are a few more ideas on how to serve Southern pimento cheese:
- spread it on sourdough French bread for a quick, easy snack
- add a dollop instead of using sliced cheese when making a ham and cheese crescent ring
- spread it on slider buns when making oven-baked ham and cheese sliders
- add some when making homemade chicken minis
- use it as a dip for mini pigs in a blanket
Storage Instructions
I highly recommend storing homemade Southern pimento cheese in an airtight glass container. It’ll last in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freeze pimento cheese for up to 3 months, but please note that it may affect the texture.
Pimento cheese will last about 1 week in the refrigerator, so you can make it about 5 days ahead. That way, it will have a few days before it needs to be eaten up after you serve it.
It’s cheesy, savory, tangy, and slightly peppery from the pimientos. It’s not hot or spicy, and it’s got a hint of sweetness.
Pimento peppers are red, mild, slightly sweet peppers. They’re sometimes called cherry peppers because of their size and taste.
In my opinion, it’s cream cheese! It adds a level of creaminess that you don’t get just with mayonnaise.
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded at home, is the star ingredient for making good pimento cheese great! Also, the mayonnaise you use really does matter. You want one that’s creamy and of good quality. I love using homemade or Chosen Brand’s avocado oil mayonnaise.
More Southern Staple Recipes to Try
If you’re looking for more made-from-scratch Southern staples, try a few of these:
- Sourdough Southern Cheese Straws
- Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits (Southern-Style)
- Southern Sweet Tea (better than restaurants)
- Honey Sourdough Cornbread
- The Best Southern Peach Sweet Tea
- Sourdough Angel Biscuit Recipe
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Recipe
Southern Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo is my favorite wholesome option)
- 3 ounces plain cream cheese, softened
- 2 tsp raw honey
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (salt-free)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (shredded at home, not pre-shredded)
- 1/2 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese (shredded at home, not pre-shredded)
- 2 Tbsp jarred pimentos, drained (about half of a 4 ounce jar, I use the Kroger brand)
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Add mayonnaise, cream cheese, honey, and onion powder to a mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth (or whisk by hand).
- Add sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, and drained pimentos. Fold into mayonnaise mixture until evenly distributed. Stir in sea salt to taste (about 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp).
- Best enjoyed after being refrigerating for 1-2 hours so it can set up. Enjoy!