Classic Creamy Pimento Cheese
This classic creamy pimento cheese recipe delivers a delightful blend of sharp cheddar, softened cream cheese, and savory seasonings, perfect for spreading or dipping. Allow it to chill for at least an hour to let the flavors fully meld.
Equipment
- box grater
- food processor
- large mixing bowl
- spatula or electric hand mixer
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 16 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese freshly grated (a mix of yellow and white can add visual appeal)
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- ½ cup Mayonnaise (good quality, like Duke's or Hellmann's, makes a difference!)
- 4 ounces Diced Pimentos drained well
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Hot Sauce (or to taste, like Tabasco or a dash of cayenne pepper for heat)
- ½ teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
Instructions
- Grate the sharp cheddar cheese using a large-holed box grater or a food processor to ensure the right texture.
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure it mixes smoothly without lumps.
- In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce; mix thoroughly until smooth.
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until fully incorporated.
- Gently fold in the grated cheddar cheese and drained pimentos until everything is evenly distributed, being careful not to overmix.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to deepen and the dip to firm up.
- Give the pimento cheese a final stir before serving.
Notes
For best flavor, prepare pimento cheese a day in advance and allow it to chill overnight. This dip is incredibly versatile, serve it with crackers, celery sticks, or spread it on sandwiches. You can adjust the level of heat by increasing or decreasing the hot sauce or adding a pinch of cayenne pepper.