Homemade pimento cheese with a smoky twist and a spicy kick is perfect for snacks and sandwiches on its own. Use it in any recipe that calls for pimento cheese as an ingredient, and take your dish up a notch or two.
Homemade pimento cheese was a staple in our house when I was growing up – especially in the summertime. Mama made the traditional type with just a little mayo, salt and pepper, and a good dash of apple cider vinegar.
Over the years when I’ve heard people say they don’t like pimento cheese I could never understand. But then, one day I got a taste of that stuff in a tub that was sold in groceries back in the 60’s and 70’s. That’s when I got it. If that’s all you’ve ever had, do yourself a favor and try the real thing.
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Simply spread it on a cracker or a crostini and you’ve got the snack perfect to go with a cold beer or a tall glass of iced tea. Add it to a buffet in an elegant dish surrounded with vegetables and water biscuits and our Spicy and Smoky Pimento Cheese is special enough for any occasion.
Pimento Cheese as an ingredient in other recipes
We have several recipes right here on Biscuits and Burlap that call for pimento cheese. If there’s no time to make homemade we do love small batch Proper Pepper made right here in Georgia, but sold all over. If you don’t find it in your local store, ask for it!
But, when we have just the few minutes it takes we do love to make it at home. Make a double batch to snack on and then use the rest in recipes like Burger Sliders Stuffed With Pimento Cheese or our Pimento Cheese Ball. Instead of the gouda in Gouda Grits with Cajun Spice try stirring in a couple of big spoonfuls of Spicy and Smoky Pimento Cheese.
And best of all is our sandwich, The Spicy Southerner! It combines our Fried Green Tomatoes, Bacon Jam and Pimento Cheese for a little bit of heaven on two slices of bread!
The spiciness can be toned down a bit
I know what some of you are thinking…. I just can’t take it that spicy. Now you know that here at B&B we love spicy foods. And, this pimento cheese packs a pretty good punch. If you like a kick, but not too much, here are a couple of suggestions: Leave out the additional diced pickled jalapeno peppers. If you do that, add an extra teaspoon of cider vinegar. You could also leave out the cayenne pepper, but we do think cheddar and cayenne are a magical combination.
Have you ever had cheese straws and loved them? They almost always have a tad of cayenne, and our recipe is no exception. You can get to it by clicking here.
Don’t leave out the smoky Tabasco, because that’s a key ingredient in giving our pimento cheese it’s smokiness. The same goes for the smoked paprika, and it doesn’t add any heat anyway.
It goes without saying that Pimento Cheese is the ultimate southern recipe. If that rings true with you, you’ll have an interest in Southern Food Then and Now.
Spicy & Smoky Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces freshly grated Pepper Jack cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup mayonaisse
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6-8 slices pickled jalapeno slices diced finely
- 2 ounce jar diced pimentos
- 1/2-1 teaspoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients together except jalapeno slices and pimentoes until well blended.
- Add jalapeno slices and pimentoes and stir gently.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours and preferably overnight to blend flavors.
We just know y’all are going to love this recipe as much as we do. Be sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook when you make it. That makes our day! Heck, it makes our week!
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I just LOVE Pimento Cheese! This turned out absolutely divine and will my go-to recipe in the future… I loved all of the flavors! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Oh, thank you so much, Angela! I’m positive you’re going to love it!
I recently discovered homemade pimento cheese and I also wonder why people ever buy it in the store because it taste so different. Excited to try your smoky pimento cheese recipe.
Thanks, Kelly. Hope you enjoy!
Where has this been all of my life?! I love all things spicy and this looks like perfection.
Awwww, thanks Jen! We love it too.
This is a huge hit at parties! Always the first appetizer to go. Everyone loves it.
Wait until you try our spicy, smoky version! It will go even faster!
Mmm love that you combined 3 different cheeses (my weakness!). Sounds amazing. Will definitely try this one.
It’s a good one. Hope you love it, Rosa!
I first tried Pimento cheese when I had it atop a hamburger in a little store front restaurant in Virginia . It was love at first bite to say the least! When I saw all the preservatives in store bought I knew I had to make my own. I concocted my own recipe and will try yours … love the idea of the smoked paprika and pepper jack cheese.. Mine is somewhat different in texture as I have not added cream cheese but certainly not opposed to that addition. I grate white and extra sharp yellow cheddar plus my secret ingredient which I make everyone guess what it is. By the way.. I grew up in Brooklyn NY and we Yankees can certainly enjoy Southern recipes which I love !! Thanks for a different twist on a great recipe. My Pimento cheese deprivation is finally over!
Your message made me smile, Doris. There are certainly lots of good versions of pimento cheese out there, and yours sounds wonderful too. I have a dear friend here in Georgia who grew up in the Bronx and she has become quite the pimento cheese lover herself.
Hi Pam!
I got my cheeses today and will make over the weekend. Hope you and yours have a great weekend and I will surely let you know how it turns out. Blessings.
Hi Doris, I bet your pimento cheese tured out to be great. Hope everyone loved it.