Pimento Cheese Dip

Cheese Dips & Cheese Balls, Southern Appetizers

If you've been in the South long you know we love our pimento cheese. Here's a pimento cheese dip that'll please the crowds at any potluck.

While pimento cheese isn't for everyone (even in the south), everyone can appreciate a quick and easy recipe with a unique taste.

It is easy to prepare and simple to serve. It is great for informal gatherings and makes a great finger food when served with bread or crackers. This is a typically southern mix and is very versatile to the extreme.

You can use the pimento cheese dip for dip, on burgers and sandwiches, stuffed in meat or put into mac and cheese.

Literally the sky is the limit!

Watch How to Make Pimento Cheese Dip

What exactly is pimento cheese?

In the cuisine of the South,pimento cheese is arelish or spread made with cheese, mayonnaise, andpimentos.

It can be served on bread, crackers, vegetables, or in sandwiches.

A pimento is actually a very mild slightly sweet pepper. Compared to a jalapeno pepper, they are around 30 times milder. So without much kick at all.

In fact, it has the lowest Scoville scale rating of all the chilies and is generally only used to stuff into olives or put into a cheese mix.

Enter pimento cheese.

pimento cheese dip in a mason jar with a ritz cracker sticking out of the top

Ingredients needed to make a rockin' pimento cheese dip

Ingredients

  • 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1- 4 oz. jar diced pimentos
  • 1.5 cups of mayonnaise
  • garlic powder to taste
  • salt and pepper to taste
the ingredients for pimento cheese dip on a wooden table with a navy napkin

This is a relatively easy dip to make, and quick too.

Excellent for a potluck or a family gathering when you don't want to spend tons of time on an appetizer, but are ready to make something snacky that people love in a jam.

Here's how you do it.

Directions for the pimento cheese dip

Directions

  1. Mix together cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and garlic.
  2. Stir until blended.
  3. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1 -2 hours.
  4. Serve with crackers (veggies or bread)
fingers holding pimento cheese dip on a cracker

Notes about storing the pimento dip

Youcan keep the pimento cheese dip at least 1 week as long as you keep it wellrefrigerated in an airtight container. It may last longer, but really, you will eat it before the week is over.

There are also debates about how to grate the cheese—should you use the smaller holes or the larger holes—or grate it in the food processor?

It is simple to use the small side of the box grater, however, cooks in the south have been known to grate with the small blade in their food processor, which makes everything so much easier.

It is up to you…old school or new age…both get the job done!

Ways you can eat pimento cheese

  • Pimento cheese crab dip
  • Pimento cheese sandwiches
  • Or maybe pimento cheese dip with bacon
  • Grilled cheese with pimento
  • You can put the cheese on sandwiches, crackers, in quesadillas, and macaroni and cheese.
  • Put the cheese mix on burgers, stuff it into chicken, in a biscuit, in scones, pinwheels (with puff pastry), and in deviled eggs!

Pimento Cheese Dip

If you've been in the South long you know we love our pimento cheese. Here's a pimento cheese dip that'll please the crowds at any potluck.

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Southern

Servings 4

Calories 907 kcal

  • 4 cup shredded cheese you can cut it up small
  • 1 4 oz. jar diced pimentos
  • 1.5 cup mayonnaise
  • pinch garlic powder to taste
  • pinch salt and pepper

  • Mix together cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

  • Stir until blended.

  • Place in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours (or overnight).

  • Serve with crackers.

Calories: 907 kcal Carbohydrates: 3 g Protein: 26 g Fat: 88 g Saturated Fat: 25 g Cholesterol: 124 mg Sodium: 1236 mg Potassium: 102 mg Sugar: 3 g Vitamin A: 812 IU Vitamin C: 1 mg Calcium: 572 mg Iron: 1 mg

Let us know how it was!

This recipe was first published in Cancer Freeze: Cookin' For A Cure. Printed with permission.

Rachel Norman

Rachel is a southern born and bred mother of 5 and founder of Southern Eats & Goodies. She's an entrepreneur, country girl, and world traveler who speaks 3 languages and loves Southern food.