Need a delicious, EASY, quick appetizer or sandwich? Make a small batch of classic pimiento cheese to serve on crackers or a favorite bread.
Need a delicious, EASY, quick appetizer or sandwich? Make a small batch of classic pimiento cheese to serve on crackers or a favorite bread.

True story. I used to cringe when my mom made or talked about pimiento cheese. She is from the South, and this is something she grew up with, and has great memories of eating. Growing up, she would occasionally make it, and I thought it was disgusting!

Classic pimiento cheese is basically a cheese spread, commonly used on crackers or sandwiches, especially in the South. I’ve now made it many times, and always enjoy it.

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Who Knew I Would End Up Loving Classic Pimiento Cheese? A True Story.

In January of this year, I helped my mom move from Southern California to Georgia. Once of the things she wanted on our first quick visit to the store to get a few necessities was PIMIENTO CHEESE. Pre-made pimiento cheese in a carton to have around. Ugh.

HOWEVER…(this is where it gets interesting)…one late evening after helping unpack her moving boxes (and not eating dinner) I was quite hungry. Mom didn’t have much food in her pantry because she eats most meals in the dining room at her retirement community. That’s when I saw it. That carton of pre-made pimiento cheese in her refrigerator, taunting me.

Well, against my better judgement, I spread a couple spoonfuls on a piece of bread (desperate times call for desperate measures). Guess what? I LIKED IT. What?  Ever since then, I’ve thought about that pimiento cheese, and now I’ve found a wonderfully delicious recipe to make it from scratch on my own (with a couple tweaks). I LOVE IT! My husband wasn’t sure he would like it when he first saw it, and HE LIKES IT TOO. Here’s how to make it (adapted from a Paula Deen recipe):

What Ingredients Will I Need?

To make this recipe for pimiento cheese, you will need mayonnaise, diced pimientos, yellow onion, Tabasco sauce (or other hot sauce), Worcestershire sauce, and SHARP cheddar cheese. I use light mayo, but feel free to use regular fat mayo, if that’s what you have. No problem.

NOTE: For this recipe I prefer to use sharp cheese that I grate myself with my box grater. I feel like it blends better than the bagged versions (which have added stabilizers), but it’s up to you which you decide to use. Sharp cheese is a must for the best flavor!

Ingredients used to make pimiento cheese, ready to go.

How To Make Classic Pimiento Cheese

This recipe is so super easy to make you won’t believe it! Place all of the ingredients EXCEPT THE CHEESE in a medium sized mixing bowl. This will be mayo, finely chopped and drained pimientos, finely grated onion, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Stir them together well, until they’re fully combined.

Mayonnaise, pimientos, Worcestershire, onion, and Tabasco sauce in mixing bowl.

Add the grated sharp cheddar cheese to the bowl, and stir really well. Keep on stirring until the pimiento cheese is completely mixed  together. This only takes a minute or two (with no special equipment needed), and BOOM- your classic pimiento cheese is DONE!

Grated sharp cheddar cheese is added to the ingredients in the mixing bowl.The pimiento cheese ingredients are stirred together until it forms a cheese spread.

Serving Classic Pimiento Cheese

You can eat the pimiento cheese right away if you want, OR you can cover it and let it chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so (whatever you want). This classic pimiento cheese will stay “good” for up to a week, if covered and stored in the refrigerator.

If you want to use it for an appetizer, simply transfer the cheese to a small serving bowl or crock. Serve with a variety of crisp crackers, and let your family or guests gobble it up. The recipe as written below will yield about 1¼ cups ( which comes out to about 20 servings, at 1 Tablespoon each). It is VERY easy to double this recipe, if serving more guests.

Classic pimiento cheese can be served with crackers for an appetizer.

My Mom’s absolute favorite way to enjoy classic pimiento cheese is to simply spread it on a fresh piece of white bread. She is in her “happy place” when she can enjoy a pimiento cheese sandwich for a quick lunch (or dinner, at times!).

A quick and delicious sandwich can be made with classic pimiento cheese.

If you’ve never made pimiento cheese before, I would urge you to give it a try. It makes a wonderful appetizer, and only takes 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare. That’s a winner in my book! Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for stopping by. Hope you come back soon.

Looking For More APPETIZER Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located in the Menu at the top of the page. I have some wonderful appetizer recipes you’ll enjoy, including:

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Recipe adapted from: pauladeenmagazine.com/classic-pimiento-cheese-recipe/

0 from 0 votes
Classic Pimiento Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Need a delicious, EASY, quick appetizer or sandwich? Make a small batch of classic pimiento cheese to serve on crackers or a favorite bread.

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: All Cuisines
Keyword: classic pimiento cheese
Servings: 20 Tablespoons (1.25 cups)
Calories Per Serving: 60 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • ½ cup light mayonnaise
  • 2 ounces jarred, diced pimientos , drained
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated yellow onion
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce , or other hot sauce
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , grated (fresh is best)
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients EXCEPT CHEESE in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir together, until fully combined.

  2. Add grated sharp cheddar cheese, and stir really well. Keep on stirring until pimiento cheese is completely mixed  together. This only takes a minute or two.

  3. To serve, transfer pimiento cheese to a small bowl or crock. Serve with crackers, or use as a sandwich spread. Store leftover pimiento cheese in covered container for up to a week. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Classic Pimiento Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 Tablespoon)
Calories 60 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 13mg4%
Sodium 115mg5%
Potassium 16mg0%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 193IU4%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Need a delicious, EASY, quick appetizer or sandwich? Make a small batch of classic pimiento cheese to serve on crackers or a favorite bread.

 

Classic Pimiento Cheese

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