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Creamy Southern pimento cheese recipe spread featuring hand-shredded cheddar and vibrant red pimentos.

Pimento Cheese Recipe

Rebecca Blumer
Make this classic Southern pimento cheese spread using hand-shredded sharp cheddar, whipped cream cheese, smooth mayonnaise, and sweet pimentos for a rich, creamy texture with a hint of spice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dip
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 266 kcal

Equipment

  • Cheese grater
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Hand mixer
  • Spatula
  • airtight storage container

Ingredients
 

  • 8 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
  • 4 oz. can pimentos, chopped and drained
  • 4 oz. cream cheese room temperature
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions
 

  • Set out all of the ingredients and tools before you start mixing. Having everything ready keeps the texture consistent and makes the assembly go quickly.
  • Shred the sharp cheddar and drain the pimentos thoroughly. The cheese should look fluffy, and the pimentos should look moist but not dripping.
  • Chop the pimentos into smaller pieces if they look chunky. Smaller bits distribute more evenly so every scoop gets that sweet peppery flavor.
  • Beat the room-temperature cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl with a hand mixer until completely smooth. The mixture should look satin-like and creamy with no visible lumps.
  • Fold in the shredded cheddar, chopped pimentos, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper until evenly combined. The finished spread should look thick and beautifully marbled with orange cheddar and red pimento throughout.
  • Serve right away, or cover and chill until ready to use. As it rests, the color deepens slightly and the flavor tastes more blended.

Notes

Texture tip: Always hand-grate block sharp cheddar. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking starches that prevent the spread from blending smoothly, resulting in a drier and slightly gritty texture.
Lump prevention: Whip the room-temperature cream cheese and mayonnaise together until completely smooth and glossy before folding in the cheddar and pimentos to avoid stubborn lumps.
Watery spread fix: Thoroughly drain the pimentos and gently pat them dry with paper towels. Excess moisture will thin the spread and create watery puddles later.
Storage: Store the spread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Keep it chilled at 40 °F or below, following cold food handling for mayonnaise based dishes.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 8gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 321mgPotassium: 40mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword creamy pimento cheese, pimento cheese recipe, Southern cheese spread
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