Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe

by Lori Yates March 28, 2024 6 comments

Our perfect homemade Pimento Cheese Dip is better than anything you can buy at the store. Serve it for the Kentucky Derby, The Masters, or any party or tailgate.

A round wooden cutting board with a bowl of pimento cheese dip surrounded by crackers and cut vegetables.

Pimento Cheese Dip is so Easy and Delicious!

Pimento cheese is a beloved Southern recipe that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. And anytime! It’s often in our fridge for afternoon snacking, but we’ll take it to parties and tailgates, too.

At the heart of every great pimento cheese is a combination of cheese, mayonnaise and pimentos. From there, the seasonings are key. We use a few untraditional ingredients – sriracha and country Dijon mustard – to give our dip a distinct gourmet appeal.

Why You’ll Love this Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread

It’s great for those occasions associated with pimento cheese and Southern food, like The Masters and The Kentucky Derby.
Use it as a dip for crackers and veggies, or as a spread for burgers and sandwiches.
So much better than any pimento cheese you can buy at the store!

Ingredients on a textured brown surface, including cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, red peppers and spices.

Homemade Pimento Cheese Ingredients

extra sharp Cheddar cheese – this gives the dip it’s robust cheese flavor.
cream cheese – the creamy and smooth base of the dip.
mayonnaise – this loosens up the cream cheese a bit and adds extra creaminess.
green onions – provide a mild onion flavor and pop of color.
diced pimentos – find these in a jar near the olives at the store. These sweet and mildly tangy peppers are the star of this dip!
Dijon mustard – I like to use country style Dijon mustard for the visible pop of mustard seeds, but traditional Dijon will provide the same tang.
garlic and onion powders – these both add depth of flavor to homemade pimento cheese.
sriracha – an addition that adds a touch of heat to this pimento cheese dip recipe. Any hot sauce works, or you can omit it for a milder dip.
salt and pepper – seasonings to help balance the flavors of the dip.

Lighten it up!

In place of regular cream cheese, use light cream cheese (Neufchâtel) instead.
Greek yogurt can be used in place of the mayonnaise.

Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe Tools

Aside from measuring cups and spoons, you’ll need a few very basic kitchen tools for making pimento cheese dip:

Grater – for shredding the cheese
Mixing bowl – for stirring up the dip
Rubber spatula – the best tool for mixing up the dip.
Airtight container – like a jar or food storage container, to keep the dip fresh.

How to Make Pimento Cheese Dip

Cubed cream cheese on a wooden cutting board.

1. CUBE CREAM CHEESE. Cut the cream cheese into small cubes and let it stand at room temperature for an hour or until the cheese is very soft. Or, microwave the cubes for 15 to 20 seconds or until they are very soft.

A glass bowl filled with cubed cream cheese, shredded Cheddar cheese, red peppers and spices.

2. ADD. Put the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.

Homemade pimento cheese being stirred together in a glass bowl.

3. MIX AND CHILL. Stir together all of the ingredients. Refrigerate at least 2 hours for best flavor, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes prior to serving. If desired, garnish with extra pimentos and sliced green onion.

Home Chef Tips for Pimento Cheese Spread

For the best flavor, use freshly grated sharp cheddar, not the prepackaged kind. Bagged cheese contains cellulose, so the cheese will be more firm and dry, and will result in a drier dip.
Make sure to drain the pimento peppers – you don’t want the added liquid from the jar.
Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature. If it is too cold, it will not mix in properly. Cutting the cream cheese into cubes will help speed up the softening process, but you can also use the microwave.
If you cannot find a jar of pimento peppers, you can use an equal amount of jarred roasted red peppers. Just drain and chop them.

Pimento cheese spread in a gray bowl surrounded by crackers and cut vegetables.

What to serve with this recipe for Pimento Cheese Dip

Try serving this pimento cheese dip with crackers (we like Ritz and Crunch Master), pretzel crisps, bagel chips, toasted baguette slices, or your favorite veggies. It’s a very firm dip, so choose sturdy dippers!

A glass jar filled with a homemade pimento cheese recipe.

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How to Store Pimento Cheese Spread

Pimento cheese should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

How long does pimento cheese last?

When stored properly, this homemade pimento cheese recipe can last up to 1 week.

Can you freeze pimento cheese?

While it’s technically possibly to freeze pimento cheese, we don’t recommend it, as the texture may become grainy when thawed.