Apparently, I’ve been asleep at the wheel. Until recently, I didn’t even know I needed a pimento cheese recipe — and I certainly didn’t expect to fall in love with one. But after the Masters Tournament revived America’s obsession with their famous pimento cheese sandwiches, I finally made a batch… and wondered why I waited so long.
This homemade version tastes better and costs far less than the little deli tubs at the store. With sharp cheddar, creamy mayo, and just the right amount of pimento, you can whip up a generous bowl in minutes.
Cost to Make: About $6.00 per pint
Yield: About 1 pint (≈ 8 sandwich servings)
Cost per Serving: 75¢
Deli Price: $6.99–$8.99 per pint
Bottom line: Homemade saves you about $1–$3 per pint, and you get fresher flavor, no fillers, and the freedom to customize it exactly the way your family likes it.
Here’s the honest truth: you can stir this together in the time it takes to grab your keys. Homemade costs less, tastes better, and you can make it exactly the way your people like it. That’s the beauty of making it yourself. 🧡
When I was growing up, pimento cheese was sold in tiny glass jars. It still is, but today, the price is ridiculous. Mom used to put it in celery sticks for an occasional fancy treat.
Pimento cheese is not just a regional thing, even though it's as Southern as sweet tea and collard greens. There’s something oddly nostalgic about it, even if you didn’t grow up with it—which makes sense because pimento cheese has a story all its own.
You’d think pimento cheese originated in the South, but its earliest versions actually appeared up North in the early 1900s. When cream cheese and imported pimentos hit American grocery shelves, cooks began blending them into spreads for crackers and celery.
Southern cooks — creative as ever — eventually swapped the cream cheese for sharp cheddar, stirred in mayonnaise, and transformed the mixture into the beloved staple we know today. Before long, pimento cheese was showing up at church suppers, bridge clubs, baby showers, family reunions, potlucks, and tailgates across the South.
Pimento cheese is like your favorite old quilt — colorful, comforting, and full of little surprises. It’s creamy, tangy, and just sweet enough from the pimentos, with that sharp cheddar giving it real backbone. Best of all, it’s endlessly versatile: spread it on crackers, tuck it into a sandwich, melt it on a burger, or stuff it into celery sticks like we did in the ’60s. It’s simple, satisfying, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Pimento cheese is a playground for creativity. Some people follow the recipe exactly the first time (my brother comes to mind!), and others jump right in and make it their own. Either approach works. I stick with extra-sharp cheddar because I was “born to be mild,” but you can add pepper jack or a pinch of cayenne if you like more kick. Just be sure to grate your cheese from a block — bagged shreds are coated with anti-caking agents, and they don’t melt or blend as smoothly.
Cream cheese helps stretch the cheddar, making this recipe more budget-friendly without sacrificing flavor. I like adding a little onion and garlic powder, but season it the way you enjoy.
Purists swear by Duke’s mayonnaise for its classic Southern “twang,” but don’t overlook Great Value mayo. In a blind taste test by Southern Living, Great Value actually tied with Duke’s for the top spot among nine brands — impressive for the price.
I make this entire recipe in the food processor — but with one small trick to keep the cheese from losing its texture. First, grate the cheddar in the processor. When it’s shredded, dump it out onto a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper (saves washing an extra bowl).
Next, add the cream cheese, mayo, pimentos, and seasonings to the empty processor bowl. Blend until smooth and well combined.
Then add the shredded cheddar back in and pulse just until everything is mixed. Don’t overdo it — a few short pulses keep the texture perfect.
If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cheese by hand and mix everything in a bowl with a wooden spoon or Danish whisk. Either method works; the processor is simply quicker. It all depends on how you like to do things, but either way, don't forget to put in the love.
Once mixed, spoon it into a covered container and let it chill for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to blend. After that, start spreading, dipping, slathering, and enjoying this Southern classic.
Whether you grew up with pimento cheese or you’re just discovering it, there’s a reason this humble spread has lasted for generations. It brings people together. It invites folks to “sit a while.” It’s casual, comforting, and just a little sassy—much like the women who’ve passed their recipes down through the years.
And if you love cheese as much as I do (I’m convinced it’s one of God’s love languages), here are a few more of our cheesy favorites you might enjoy:
Cheesy Potato Casserole: This is a cheesy potato casserole like the one served in a swanky old-school Nebraska steakhouse. Cottage cheese, sour cream, and cheese make it a delicious, creamy side dish for any meat.
Rosalynn Carter’s Famous Cheese Ring: A delightful throwback recipe from First Lady Rosalyn Carter. This festive cheese ring is a classic savory, sweet, salty treat served with crackers.
Amazing Five-Minute Cheeseball: A quick, tasty cheeseball that comes together easily with pantry staples.
Cheese and Egg Salad Sandwiches—affectionately known around here as “track meet sandwiches". This is not your Joe Average Egg Salad, it's made with sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, poppy seeds, and a zippy mayo and mustard dressing!
This is a wonderful old recipe for pimento cheese you can use as a dip, a cracker spread, or a sandwich filling!
If you liked this pimento cheese recipe, you are my people! If you did, please share it on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter! It would sure tickle me, and I would be ever so grateful!
If you haven't already, please look for me on Facebook and Pinterest, where I will share easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes every week!
If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps my little business. ❤❤
Love GB (Betty Streff)
Real food. Real kitchen. Real easy.
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free gift! A printable sign that would look great in your kitchen, framed above your sink, or just placed anywhere to remind us how lucky we are to have dirty dishes!
Sign up now!