There’s nothing like classic pimento cheese for a party, and it’s SO easy to make yourself! Our homemade pimento cheese recipe comes together in minutes from simple ingredients, and has all the classic flavor you love.

A bowl of homemade pimento cheese dip served with fresh veggies and gluten-free crackers

This Creamy Dip Is a Classic For a Reason!

Pimento cheese has been a southern staple for decades, popular at summer BBQs, pool parties, game day, the Kentucky Derby, and just about any other gathering you can imagine!

EASE: It might be nicknamed “the caviar of the south,” but there’s nothing fussy about making your own pimento cheese! If you can stir, you can make homemade pimento cheese dip! It’s just simple ingredients + some stirring.

FLAVORS: This easy pimento cheese recipe is creamy, cheesy, and savory, with warmth from the pimentos and subtle notes of garlic and hot sauce.

TOP TIPS: For the most delicious dip, make sure to use FRESHLY grated sharp cheddar cheese and well-drained pimentos!

Happy cooking! xo, Emily

Gather Your Ingredients

So what do we need to get started? Let’s take a look at our ingredient list:

Sharp Cheddar Cheese. For the cheese flavor to come through, you really do need to use sharp cheddar or extra sharp cheddar. I find mild cheddar and medium cheddar are too weak. Also: GRATE YOUR OWN CHEESE. Pre-grated cheese will make for gritty dip, since it runs dry, and it’s coated in an anti-caking agent.
Cream Cheese. There are some VERY strong opinions about whether cream cheese does or doesn’t belong in pimento cheese, but all I know is almost every brand I’ve ever tried contains cream cheese. It’s a great way to add body, a little tanginess, and richness to the dip. If you’re a no-mayo purist, see the recipe card below for mode ideas.
Mayonnaise. To help the pimento dip blend (and to help give it its signature flavor), you’ll need some good-quality mayo. Hellmans and Duke’s are two popular brands that can make a big difference here!
Pimentos. Look for jarred pimento peppers at the grocery store. I like to buy the diced ones to save time, but if yours come in strips, just dice them yourself. We ONLY need the pimentos here, not the liquid, which can water down the dip! (Keep in mind that pimentos are NOT the same as roasted red peppers. It’s a specific kind of pepper!)
Garlic Powder. A must for a subtle layer of flavor.
Salt & Pepper. Simple, but delicious seasonings for balancing the flavor.
Hot Sauce. My favorite addition! Some pimento dip recipes use cayenne pepper or diced jalapeño peppers, but I love adding a splash of hot sauce (like Tabasco) for a subtle bit of kick and brightness.

How To Make Homemade Pimento Cheese, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

Combine. In a large bowl, combine cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, drained pimentos, garlic, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
Mix Well. Use a flexible spatula or a hand mixer to blend the pimento cheese together until you reach a creamy, spreadable texture. (Some people prefer to do this in a food processor. I find it gets too smooth for my taste, but if you want super smooth dip, this can be a great option!)
Taste & Check. Ideally, you want the dip smooth enough to spread on a cracker. Taste and adjust seasoning, as desired, adding more garlic, salt, pepper, or hot sauce, to taste.
Serve & Store. Enjoy right away with crackers or veggies for dipping, or store in an airtight container in the fridge. up to 1 week.

A bowl of pimento cheese dip on a platter of veggies and crackers

Serving Ideas To Try

Now that you know how to make pimento cheese, let’s talk about what to serve with it! Here are a few of my favorites:

Celery Sticks & Carrots. Simple crudites are a classic choice! They’re fresh and crunchy–a great pairing for creamy dip! I’ve seen celery sticks spread with pimento cheese set out as an easy appetizer at parties, and it’s delicious!
Crackers. Pimento cheese is delicious spread on crackers. Saltines & Ritz crackers are popular! We’re gluten-free, so I use Schar brand or FitJoy, which are both gluten-free.
Tortilla Chips. Another delicious option. These add a delicious salty crunch to pair with the creamy dip.
Jicama. Not classic, but if you know, you know! The crispy crunch of jicama is so good here!
Bell Pepper Slices. Another favorite. Some mini bell peppers or sliced red bell peppers complement the pimento cheese so well!
Sandwiches! Use it as a sandwich spread! Pimento cheese sandwiches made from pimento cheese spread between slices of white bread, a layer of pimento cheese spread onto a grilled cheese sandwich…so many options to try!

A cracker dipped into a bowl of homemade pimento cheese

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Pimento Cheese Dip

Use Freshly Grated Cheese! Pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that give it a dry, powdery texture that will give the dip an unpleasant texture. Grating your own cheese won’t take long and makes a BIG difference in both flavor and texture. I pinky promise it’s worth it!

Drain The Pimentos Well! My other trick for the best texture is to drain the pimentos well before adding them to this creamy cheese spread. Any excess liquid can water down the dip and can sometimes cause the pimento cheese to seep or separate. I find you get a creamier texture by draining the pimentos first!

How to Add More Kick. If you like your pimento cheese on the spicy side, you can add 1/2-1 minced jalapeño, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or more hot sauce, to taste.

Extras To Try. For a change of pace, try adding some sliced green onions, chopped green olives, cooked, crumbled bacon, or use a little smoked cheddar mixed in with the sharp cheddar!

More Party Dip Recipes To Try

dipping gluten-free baguette into hot artichoke dip

Gluten-Free Artichoke Dip

homemade salsa in a white bowl next to tortilla chips

Homemade Salsa (with Canned Tomatoes!)

dipping tortilla chips into cheesy gluten-free bean dip

Cheesy Bean Dip

Lemon Hummus

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our pimento cheese recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

Tap to Leave a Review

Pimento Cheese

There's nothing like classic pimento cheese for a party, and it's SO easy to make yourself! Our homemade pimento cheese recipe comes together in minutes from simple ingredients, and has all the classic flavor you love.

Prep Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Print Pin Rate

Servings: heaping cups dip

Ingredients

8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Grated
4 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)*
1/3 cup Mayonnaise (like Duke's or Hellmans)
4 ounces Diced Pimentos (drained)
1/2 teaspoon Hot Sauce (like Tabasco)
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

Combine. In a large bowl, combine cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, drained pimentos, garlic, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
Mix Well. Use a flexible spatula or a hand mixer to blend the pimento cheese together until you reach a creamy, spreadable texture.
Taste & Check. Ideally, you want the dip smooth enough to spread on a cracker. Taste and adjust seasoning, as desired, adding more garlic, salt, pepper, or hot sauce, to taste.
Serve & Store. Enjoy right away with crackers or veggies for dipping, or store in an airtight container in the fridge. up to 1 week.

Notes

If you don’t want to use cream cheese, you can add an extra 2-3 Tablespoons of mayonnaise instead.
Other Ways to Add Heat. To make this dip spicier, you can add 1/2-1 finely minced jalapeño, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or more hot sauce!