Pimento cheese is a tangy, creamy, and cheesy southern staple. There are chunky versions and more spreadable ones. It can be stuffed in celery sticks or spread between two slices of bread for the best grilled cheese you’ve ever had! There are as many recipes for pimento cheese as there are ways to eat it, and our jalapeno pimento cheese is a spicy twist on the southern classic. Set it out for your next party alongside our crab spinach artichoke dip and charcuterie skewers.
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Homemade pimento cheese is easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought.
The complete ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese is the traditional cheese used for pimento cheese. It is usually aged 18-24 months, producing an assertive flavor. You can substitute a medium- or mild-cheddar, but you won’t get the flavor you’d expect from pimento cheese.
- Pimento and Jalapeño Peppers are required ingredients… without them, it wouldn’t be jalapeño pimento cheese. The jarred diced pimentos work great, but you can substitute roasted red peppers for additional smoky flavor. We used a combo of raw and pickled diced jalapeños.
- Whipped Cream Cheese is our cream cheese of choice for this recipe because it has a lighter, airier texture and less fat. You can substitute it with a softened block of cream cheese.
- Mayonnaise adds flavor and creaminess. Most recipes recommend Dukes, but I say to use whatever brand you like.
How to Make Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.
Pro-tip: Let jalapeño pimento cheese chill for at least 2 hours so the flavors can meld together.
1. Shred the Cheese: Use the large holes on a box grater or a food processor with a grating plate for shredding cheddar cheese.
2. Combine the Ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, combine mayonnaise, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Add the whipped cream cheese, diced pimentos, and jalapeños to the mayonnaise, and stir well. Finally, add the shredded cheese and mix everything. A rubber spatula works best, or you can use a hand mixer to combine.
4. Serving: Chill, then serve the jalapeño pimento cheese with crackers, homemade tortilla chips, or as a sandwich using your favorite bread.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Don’t use pre-shredded cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese contains additives like potato starch to prevent clumping, and it doesn’t taste as good.
- In addition to jalapeños, you can add bacon, finely chopped chipotle in adobo, pickle relish, diced olives, or a couple of dashes of hot sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Dip Recipes to Try
Looking for more dip recipes? These are a few of our faves:
- Crab Artichoke Spinach Dip – Made with spinach, artichoke hearts, lump crab meat, and 3 kinds of cheeses, then it’s baked to golden perfection. This crowd-pleasing dip will be gone in minutes!
- Tex-Mex Queso – Creamy melted cheese loaded with roasted chiles and spices – no processed cheese here! Perfect for chips, tacos, or anything that needs a queso upgrade.
- Habanero Mango Salsa – A little sweet, spicy, and perfect as a dip for chips or a topping for tacos, chicken, or fish.
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Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
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Equipment
- 1 Box Grater or Food Processor
- 1 Medium Bowl
Ingredients
- 4 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces whipped cream cheese
- 2 ounces pimentos, diced (or diced red peppers)
- ½ cup pickled jalapeños, diced
Instructions
- Using a box grater (or food processor) grate the cheddar cheese.
- In a medium bowl combine mayonnaise, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
- To the mayonnaise add the whipped cream cheese, pimentos, and jalapeños and mix well.
- Add the shredded cheese and stir well until fully combined.
- Chill before serving.
