Name: Easy Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese (slightly softened); 1 cup mayo; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Frank’s RedHot sauce (use less if using another brand); 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 4 ounces shredded yellow cheddar; 4 ounces shredded white cheddar; 4 ounces roasted piquillo peppers (chopped (about 1/2 cup chopped, or use chopped pimentos)); 1 scallion (green and white parts, thinly sliced (for garnish))

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

This Easy Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe features two types of cheddar in a creamy base, whips up in just 15 minutes, and is a crowd-pleasing appetizer! It’s naturally low carb and keto friendly with just 2g net carbs per 1/4-cup serving. Serve it with crackers or chips, or keep it low carb with veggies like green bell pepper, celery, and broccoli for dipping.

The first time I ever had Pimento Cheese was at Publix when I first moved to Florida for law school years ago.

It was a somewhat gloopy-looking combination of a couple different colors of shredded cheese mixed in with a white-ish sauce, studded with bright red flecks of pepper.

Even though Pimento Cheese isn’t the prettiest thing, I was hooked after just one bite!

I’ve made several homemade Pimento Cheese Dip recipes throughout the years, but this version that I came up with is without a doubt my favorite.

I use a combination of mayo and cream cheese, two kinds of cheddar, piquillo peppers (feel free to use pimentos if you prefer), a little bit of garlic powder, Frank’s RedHot sauce, and fresh lemon juice for flavor.

Try it and see if it becomes a favorite for your family as well! Store-bought Pimento Cheese will become a thing of the past.

In This Article

What Goes Into Pimento Cheese

In its most basic form nowadays, Pimento Cheese is just shredded cheddar, mayo, and pimentos. Several recipes build on that flavor profile, adding things like garlic, onion, or jalapeno.

I’ve also seen things like lemon juice or Worcestershire sauce added.

Some recipes make it an entirely from-scratch affair, calling for homemade mayonnaise and freshly roasted peppers.

According to Serious Eats, when Pimento Cheese first became a thing back in the early 1900’s it was mainly cream cheese and pimentos.

And get this…it’s from New York, not the south (shout-out to my home state for such a delicious invention)! Supposedly, after WWII the south took it and made it their own, and in the process, made it a southern institution.

What is a Pimento and What Does it Taste Like?

A pimento, also called a cherry pepper, is a type of chili pepper. Most pimentos are sweet, but they range in heat with some being moderately spicy.

Pimentos have a more intense flavor and aroma than red bell peppers.

What Are Piquillo Peppers?

Piquillo peppers are a type of chili pepper with little to no heat. I find roasted piquillo peppers to be very sweet and delicious, with a subtle complexity and richness from smoking.

According to Wikipedia, piquillo peppers are traditionally grown in Northern Spain. They’re hand-picked, fire-roasted, peeled, de-seeded, and then packed. Piquillo peppers are about 7 centimeters long and have a beak-like shape.

I find that they have a slightly “meatier” bite to them than other types of roasted peppers.

The Difference Between Pimento and Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Pimento peppers and red bell peppers are different varieties of peppers.

Most pimentos are sweet, but some can be moderately spicy, but all red bell peppers are sweet. Pimentos have a more intense flavor and aroma than red bell peppers. Also, pimentos and red bell peppers are shaped differently, with pimentos having a heart-like shape and a point at the bottom.

Can I Use Pimentos, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, and Piquillo Peppers Interchangeably?

When making this Pimento Cheese Recipe, yes, you can use pimentos, roasted red bell pepper, or piquillo peppers. Each will have slightly different flavor nuances, but overall the dish won’t suffer because of it.

Personally, my favorite in this Pimento Cheese Recipe are piquillo peppers because I love their slightly more intense flavor and richer texture.

Serving Suggestion: Pimento Cheese is delicious served with Savory Keto Biscotti for a low carb appetizer or snack.

How to Use Pimento Cheese Dip

Slather it on a next-level burger
Melt it into an omelet
Make the best mac and cheese of your life
Or for that matter, make it into the best grilled cheese of your life
Make adorable little biscuit sandwiches (insider tip: also add bacon and pickled jalapenos)
Heat it up in a shallow dish in the oven, it’s also a fabulous hot dip

More Delicious Appetizer Recipes to Try:

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on June 8, 2018. I updated it with more information on December 14, 2020.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

[…] Pimento Cheese from An Edible Mosaic […]

Easy Pimento Cheese Dip Recipe