Pimento Cheese recipe that’s a classic Southern favorite, made with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and cayenne pepper. This homemade pimento cheese is easy to make and great as either a delicious dip or for sandwiches!

Pimento cheese in a white bowl on a cutting board with Ritz crackers.

Homemade pimento cheese spread is one of those classic Southern dishes that many of us remember from childhood as something we never gave much thought too, kind of like banana pudding or pound cake.

If you were hungry, you were likely to get a pimento cheese sandwich.

If you were going to a church dinner, your mama probably took pimento cheese sandwiches (cut in half!), which consisted of slices of white bread slathered with your grandmother’s recipe for homemade pimento cheese spread.

If you were attending a bridal shower, there was probably a tray of “fancier” sandwiches, cut into dainty squares with the crusts cut off.

The Masters pimento cheese sandwich is, of course, the most famous iteration of pimento cheese, and it still costs just $1.50. If you’re lucky enough to go to the Masters tournament, be sure and try it. (I think the sandwich is actually pretty bland but it’s still an iconic tradition.)

This easy spread is a ubiquitous part of Southern cuisine.

What is pimento cheese?

In its most basic form, pimento cheese is a combination of cheese, mayonnaise, and chopped pimentos.

From there, folks like to add other things, like Velveeta cheese, regular cream cheese, jalapeno, onion, Worcestershire sauce, or other seasonings. Others will throw in some chopped dill pickles or green onions.

Some people call this dip the caviar of the South or pâté of the south. Around here, we just call it lunch! Although it’s trendy now, and restaurants all over the country serve it, Southern pimento cheese is still the best!

Note: you’ll see a lot of recipes that include cream cheese, but I prefer a more traditional pimento cheese recipe without cream cheese. I like the sharp Cheddar cheese to be the star of the show!

For that reason, my recipe consists of just Duke’s mayonnaise, extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and a jar of pimentos (or roast your own peppers), with a little cayenne pepper (and optional black pepper) mixed in.

Closeup of a white bowl filled with dip and surrounded by ritz crackers.

Secret tip

When grating your cheese for this recipe be sure and use the small side of your hand-held grater. Or better yet, use your food processor to grate the cheese! It’s so quick and easy.

But here’s my new secret trick for this pimento cheese recipe: you can mix it up using a stand mixer! If you don’t have a Kitchen Aid or any kind of stand mixer (this one is my favorite), get yourself one! You can use it for so much more than just recipes for baking!

By using the food processor to grate the cheese and the stand mixer to stir it all together, you can have perfect Southern Pimento Cheese ready in about 6 minutes. It takes longer to clean the blades of the machines than to actually make this simple recipe!

Ingredients

👋 For ingredient amounts and instructions, use the Jump to Recipe button above or scroll down!

  • Two 8 oz. blocks extra-sharp Cheddar cheese — I like Cabot, Tillamook, or Cracker Barrel brand
  • One 4 oz. jar diced pimentos, drained
  • ½ – ¾ cup mayonnaise — Duke’s brand mayonnaise is my preference and the amount depends on how creamy you like it
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper — my default is 1 teaspoon, but that’s a little spicy for some people
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)

How to make pimento cheese

Step 1. Grate cheese.

To start, take cold Cheddar and grate in the food processor. Alternatively, you can grate some on the small side of the handheld grater and some on the large side until you have a bowl full.

Step 2. Mix ingredients.

Place grated cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, cayenne pepper, and a little freshly ground black pepper in large bowl of a stand mixer. (No added salt as the cheese is usually salty enough by itself.)

Cook’s Tip: When I use the stand mixer, I add ¾ cup of mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and it makes the perfect recipe for us. But it’s important for you to taste the first time you make it so you can determine for yourself how creamy and how spicy you want your pimento cheese.

Start with a smaller amount of mayo than the recipe calls for, as well as a smaller amount of cayenne pepper, then taste as you go.

Starting on low, mix for a minute just to blend and then turn mixer to medium-high to mix well and incorporate all the ingredients. Should take 2-3 minutes.

Mix everything together until it’s smooth and creamy and the mayonnaise is completely mixed in. And taste. This is the most important part.

Alternatively, just put everything in a large mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. This method takes a lot of elbow grease!

Tip: Mixing should take at least a couple of minutes in the stand mixer, and around 6-7 if doing by hand. You want to be sure the mayonnaise is fully mixed in because the texture and flavor will be better.

This recipe makes enough pimento cheese dip for a party and to have leftovers for sandwiches. You can keep it in the fridge for several days, although it probably won’t stick around that long.

What’s good with pimento cheese?

Um, no, the question should be…What’s not good with pimento cheese?

We love this classic Southern recipe with almost everything:

  • Celery sticks and/or carrot sticks
  • Red bell pepper strips
  • Slapped between two slices of bread (please, for the love of God, use regular old white bread or Sourdough bread!)
  • With your favorite crackers or bagel chips – ours is Ritz
  • Make a grilled pimento cheese sandwich – best sandwich EVER!
  • As a spread with fried green tomatoes
A dip with celery on a white plate.

Tips and questions:

Can you freeze pimento cheese?

No, because of the separation of the oil that is in the mayonnaise and the cheese.

How long does pimento cheese last?

This is a good recipe to make ahead because it keeps well in the refrigerator for several days. Just store it in an airtight container and serve at room temperature.

What’s a good pre-made brand?

There are plenty of times when I just grab something from the store in a hurry and if that’s the case, I always choose the Palmetto brand from South Carolina, which you can find at most any grocery store.

You may also like my spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese.

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4.65 from 42 votes

Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese recipe that's a classic Southern favorite, made with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and cayenne pepper.
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 24 servings

Ingredients 

  • 2 8 oz. blocks extra sharp Cheddar cheese, (I prefer Cabot or Cracker Barrel and usually use one white and one yellow)
  • 1 4 oz. jar diced pimentos, drained
  • ½ – ¾ cup mayonnaise, (Duke’s – amount depends on how creamy you like it)
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions 

  • Grate cheese into large bowl using small side of grater or food processor.
  • Drain pimentos and add to cheese.
  • Sprinkle the cayenne (start with 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon and taste after mixing) and black pepper over the cheese.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. You may decide to add an additional 1/4-1/2 cup depending on how creamy you like it. Mix well and taste.
  • Add more mayo, cayenne, and a little salt if needed–usually don’t need salt as cheese is salty.

Video

Notes

Tips for Making the Best Pimento Cheese:

  • Choose high quality cheese like Cracker Barrel brand.
  • I only use Duke’s Mayonnaise.
  • Use a food processor to grate the cheese and a stand mixer to stir together.
  • Start with a smaller amount of mayo and cayenne pepper and taste as you go. 
  • You can make this pimento cheese recipe several days in advance and store in the refrigerator. 
  • Do not freeze.
  • Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 24servings, Calories: 123kcal, Protein: 4g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 161mg
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Calories: 123
Keyword: homemade pimento cheese, pimento cheese, Southern pimento cheese
Love this recipe?Mention @southernfoodandfun or tag #southernfoodandfun!

Update Notes: This post was originally published April 4, 2011, and on June 16, 2022, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.

This post is part of my favorite Southern Foods at Home collection.

Lucy standing behind a counter with a cheese board and glass of wine.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It’s me again…I use my grandmother’s old cast iron hand crank food grinder. One to grate the cheese, and again to thoroughly blend before adding the mayonnaise.
    I know it is old fashioned and a bit of work, but it reminds me of wonderful days in my grandmother’s kitchen many years ago

  2. 5 stars
    I love homemade pimento cheese. My recipe is similar, but I add a small can of chopped green chiles and 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish. Some of our family are diabetic, so I use no sugar pickle relish made with Splenda.

  3. 5 stars
    This is my first time making Pimento Cheese and it turned out delicious!
    This recipe is so simple. Thank you.

  4. 5 stars
    My go to recipe! I always make some when my Grandson-in-law comes for dinner. He does love it. Just for him I add in diced fresh jalenops.He loves it. I must say it does taste rather nice. But for most part you just have to use this recipe for the best pimento cheese. Love your recipes.I’m a displaced southern gal in Texas and love my southern cooking.

    1. @Etta Mae Milhoan, I bet adding CANDIED jalapeños would take this up a notch! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you!

  5. 5 stars
    Not having made pimento cheese for a long while, I was sure I must have made a recipe card, but evidently I always just made it and never wrote it down. At 70, I seldom cook unless it’s something I can’t get made properly anywhere else, and if you look for them there are some pretty decent pimento cheese places around. I couldn’t remember my pimento-to-cheese ratio and was so shocked when I went online and couldn’t find the delicious, basic, unadulterated pimento cheese recipe. I’ve already been disgusted while eating out at the addition of onion, but now I know the addition of cream cheese is what has been wrong with those thick, tasteless ones, I kept being served. Not for me. Thank-you again for helping me with my recipe. (By the way, though it wouldn’t work well in large batches, I like it better when the cheese, Duke’s, pimento, and pepper(s) are tossed together with a fork rather than thickened in a blender.) Yum!

    1. I agree with you about the fork! I’ve made it that way for many years. However, I usually make a pretty large batch so tossing it in my mixer is so much easier. So glad you enjoyed the recipe.