{"id":27702,"date":"2024-05-08T10:34:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T14:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/?p=27702"},"modified":"2025-03-31T12:45:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T16:45:48","slug":"pimento-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/pimento-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Pimento Cheese (A Southern-Style dip and sandwich spread)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pimento cheese<\/strong> is such a delicious Southern dish, used commonly as a dip for crackers<\/strong> and crudité or spread between two slices of bread for an easy sandwich<\/strong>! Cheddar cheese is mixed with – you guessed it – pimentos (which are a type of roasted red pepper that comes in a jar)<\/em>. This recipe uses whipped cream cheese<\/strong>. This will make it super spreadable, even straight from the fridge. We’ll also add pickled jalapeños<\/strong> for a tangy zing. You’ll love this easy 5-minute recipe<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Overhead<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First off, if you’ve never had pimento cheese, welcome to your new favorite thing to eat! This is a delicious and versatile recipe commonly enjoyed in the South in the United States. A blend of grated cheddar cheese, pimentos (you know, the little chopped red peppers that you sometimes find in the hole of a green olive?),<\/em> cream cheese, mayo, and spices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, a jalapeño is added for a little extra crunch and spice. For this version, I opted to use pickled jalapeños instead of a fresh one, which added a nice sweet and tangy flavor (I used my favorite Hot & Sweet Jalapeños<\/a> from Trader Joe’s).<\/em> You can use whatever kind or brand you want, which is a great way to control the end flavor result. Or, you can just leave them out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did something else a bit unconventional here: I used whipped cream cheese instead of a block.<\/strong> With a block of cream cheese, you need to wait for it to soften before mixing up the pimento cheese. And it also hardens significantly when it cools down in the fridge, making the pimento cheese difficult to spread or dip into. Nobody likes an unwieldy pimento cheese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using whipped cream cheese ensures you can mix up a batch of pimento cheese at a moment’s notice. It also ensures that it remains soft, spreadable, and dip-able even right out of the fridge.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use pimento cheese as a dip for crackers, but for so many other things too. Sandwiches (grilled or cold)<\/em>, burgers, omelettes, and even mac and cheese! More on that below. Let’s make some pimento cheese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients in Pimento Cheese (and Substitutions)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n