Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe

Pimento cheese in glass jar on wood board next to a spoon full of the dip and scattered bagel chips.

5 from 9 votes

Southern favorite homemade pimento cheese is a creamy, irresistible, crowd-favorite dip and sandwich spread that takes only 10 minutes to make!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Appetizer, Dip/Spread

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: cups

Calories: 78kcal

Author: Traci

Equipment

mixing bowl
stirring utensil or electric hand mixer
cheese grater
airtight container

Ingredients

8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese 2 cups, shredded
8 ounces Cream Cheese softened to room temperature
½ cup Mayonnaise
2 Green Onions thinly sliced
1 (4-ounce jar) Diced Pimentos drained
1 Garlic Clove finely grated (or ¼ teaspoon granulated)
¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika or Cayenne Pepper, to taste
Optional: Sea Salt to taste

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, use any utensil or an electric hand mixer to combine CREAM CHEESE, MAYONNAISE, GREEN ONIONS, DICED PIMENTOS, GARLIC, and PAPRIKA until smooth and creamy.
Fold in the CHEDDAR CHEESE. Add salt to taste, if needed.
Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 7 days.

Video

Notes

Cream Cheese: Ensure your cream cheese is as soft as possible. If you're short on time, you can soften it in the microwave by heating it in short intervals until it's warm and soft.

Shredding Cheese: For the best texture, opt for shredding block cheddar cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents.

Make ahead: Preparing the pimento cheese a day or two ahead allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in an even more pleasing flavor.

Serving tip: Let the dip sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving so that it's soft and spreadable.

Nutrition