Description
This Homemade Pimento Cheese recipe is a creamy, cheesy spread made from sharp cheddar, parmesan, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and pimiento peppers. Perfect as an appetizer or snack, it combines bold cheeses with a hint of spice and is great served with crackers, pretzels, or tortilla chips. The recipe is quick to prepare, requiring minimal cooking and ideal for entertaining or casual snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 2 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated (not powdered)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Other Ingredients
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (Duke’s or Blue Plate preferred)
- 8 ounces jarred pimiento peppers, drained and rinsed
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Serving Suggestions
- Crackers
- Mini pretzel twists
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Grate Cheeses: Grate the sharp cheddar cheese using a food processor or box grater for ease and freshness. Finely grate the parmesan cheese with a hand grater or zester to ensure a fine, even texture.
- Mix Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the grated cheddar, parmesan, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimiento peppers, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Mix for about 2 minutes until the mixture becomes creamy and well-blended.
- Chill: Transfer the cheese spread to a container, cover, and refrigerate for at least two hours. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and develop depth for a richer taste experience.
- Serve: Before serving, allow the pimento cheese to come to room temperature for ideal texture and flavor. Serve with your choice of crackers, mini pretzel twists, or tortilla chips.
Notes
- Using freshly grated cheeses instead of pre-shredded ensures creamier texture and better flavor.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amount to control the level of spiciness to suit your taste.
- Allow the cheese spread to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and spreadability.
- Store the pimento cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 5 days.
