Do you ever struggle with finding healthy, non-processed snacks, especially when you have two growing teenagers (or more) in your house? I am always looking for snack foods that my kids will enjoy. This one hits the mark; not only do the kids love it, but it has also become a favorite evening snack for my hubby! That spells a WIN, WIN, in my book!!
It has quickly become one of our favorite snack foods to have on hand around our place. We enjoy it with crackers as a cream cheese appetizer or snack or as a meal, spread on fresh-baked bread as pimento cheese sandwiches. (It would also be delicious spread on a hamburger.) The best part of this pimento cheese is that it is easy to throw together and makes a large batch that will last so your family can enjoy it for a while.
This southern staple is so much better when you make it homemade vs the store-bought version. Let’s jump into the recipe so that you can give it a try!
Tip: Any sandwich tastes better on freshly baked bread, like this Basic White Bread.
What is Pimento Cheese made of?
Pimento Cheese Spread can be made from various ingredients, from shredded cheese to mayo, and might include spices such as black pepper, green olives, or even pickles. My recipe contains the basic ingredients, which you can see below.
Are Pimentos Spicy?
Pimento Peppers are one of the mildest peppers on the scale. They are in this recipe for their flavor and not for their spiciness. Pimentos are not the same as diced red bell pepper; they are a different kind of pepper altogether.
Ingredients in Homemade Pimento Cheese
Cream Cheese. Cream Cheese can usually be purchased in a bulk 3lb brick which is great if you use a lot of it. You should use softened cream cheese in this recipe.
Pimentos. These can be bought from the store or you can use home-canned if you grow them!
Onion powder and Garlic powder. You could also add a bit of salt or cayenne pepper if you think it needs a little more flavor.
Shredded cheese. I prefer extra-sharp cheddar cheese or medium cheddar but you can use what you have if you want to mix it up. You can use pre-shredded cheese to make the recipe faster or you can shred it yourself.
I love pimento cheese spread. I found it’s best if you grate your own cheese. I also like to add Monterey jack to the Sharp cheese. I took it to work and my coworkers ate most before I could take a break.
As mentioned above, you can also use this spread in a sandwich or any pimento cheese recipes that call for the spread.
You could also place the spread inside sticks of celery or dip red bell peppers or carrots into it for a grain-free, low-carb snack.
Another thing to try is to use this as the filling for your next batch of Deviled Eggs!
Use it as a topping for baked potatoes.
This Cheese Pimento Spread is delicious! It’s so much better & healthier than store-bought. I used a hand mixer instead of a food processor to mix the ingredients, so it is nice & chunky. Thank you for another delicious recipe!
Joy, Little House Living reader
Instructions for Making Pimento Cheese Spread
How to make pimento cheese spread:
I recommend using afood processor for quick, easy blending of the ingredients in this recipe. You can use an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl if you do not have a food processor.
Bring your cream cheese to room temperature and place it in a food processor.
Add in your jar of sliced pimentos (including liquid), onion powder, and garlic powder.
Blend this mixture in your processor until smooth and well blended. It will take a bit to incorporate, but keep mixing until it’s smooth and creamy.
Next, add the shredded cheese and process until the cheese is fully incorporated into the mixture. It is okay to have some texture to your pimento spread, and the shredded cheese will provide that.
That’s it, easy and delicious! Once refrigerated, it will become slightly firmer. It will stay good in the refrigerator for at least a week, possibly longer, but it doesn’t last that long around here!
Want to print this Pimento Cheese Spread Recipe for your Recipe Binder? Grab it below:
How to make a creamy and delicious cheese pimento spread for crackers.
Course
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Keyword
Pimento Cheese Spread
Prep Time10minutes
Total Time10minutes
Servings20servings
Calories52kcal
CreatorJulie
Ingredients
12ouncescream cheese
1jar4 oz. sliced pimientos
1teaspoononion powder
1teaspoongarlic powder
2cupsshredded cheeseI prefer sharp cheddar or medium cheddar
Instructions
Bring your cream cheese to room temperature and place in a food processor.
Add in your jar of sliced pimientos (including liquid), onion powder and garlic powder.
Blend this mixture in your processor until smooth and well blended. It will take a little bit for it to incorporate, but just keep blending until smooth and creamy.
Next, add in the shredded cheese and process until the cheese is fully incorporated into the mixture. It is ok to have some texture to your pimento spread and the shredded cheese will provide that.
That’s it, easy and delicious! Once refrigerated, it will become slightly firmer.
Recipe Notes
It will stay good in the refrigerator for at least a week, possibly longer, but it doesn’t last that long around here!
Add more garlic and onion powder to taste if needed!
Nutrition Facts
Cheese Pimento Spread Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 52Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 190mg8%
Potassium 59mg2%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 0.03g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 86IU2%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 117mg12%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
How to Store Leftover Pimento Cheese Spread
Place any leftover cheese spread that you aren’t eating right away in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy within a week or so of making the spread. Because of the ingredients, this spread does not freeze well.
What kind of crackers will you enjoy this Cheese Pimento Spread on?
Did you make this recipe and enjoy it? Be sure to leave a star rating on the recipe card and to share with your friends on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and through Email using the sharing buttons below.
This Cheese Pimento Spread was originally published on Little House Living in September 2014. It has been updated as of January 2026.
This looks yum. I don’t often buy pimentos, but it sounds yummy in a dip. Perfect for football season. Thanks for stopping by Merry Monday!! Come back next week. Pinning.
Oh how I wish I had seen this last week. I bought pimiento cheese to use on crackers for a party I had. This sounds so much better and I will save this for another party. Thank you!
your recipe sounds awesome but i’d like chunkier version to spread on crackers, can I omit food processor and mix cream cheese til smooth and incorporate remainder of ingred. till mixed?
Thank you so much for posting this recipe for Creamy Cheese Pimento Spread as we cannot buy it here and we love the taste of it. Now we can make it any time we want it.
I love pimento cheese and your spread looks delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Do you have any idea if this is similar to the Kraft product you purchase in a jar?
I have a recipe that uses that specifically and need a substitute. I can no longer find it in stores. Thank you.
I love pimento cheese spread. I found it’s best if you grate your own cheese.
I also like to add Monterey jack to the Sharp cheese. I took it to work and my coworkers ate most before I could take a break.
This Cheese Pimento Spread is delicious! It’s so much better & healthier than store-bought.
I used a hand mixer instead of a food processor to mix the ingredients, so it is nice & chunky.
Thank you for another delicious recipe!
These stars are for so many of the great recipes you share. At 85 battling vertigo for past 10 years spending time upright much less the kitchen is a luxury. So I appreciate your posts and the ease of using your website. Keep on doing your thing. You Rock!
I grew up on Pimento Cheese. But for the first time had it a whipped like spread. They serve with homemade biscut an side honey, Jam. Fell in love, so I will give this recipe a try.
I’ve never used cream cheese in my pimento cheese. I just used shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos, and mayonnaise. It’s really good. I’ll try it with garlic and some onion powder.
This sounds good! We love anything and everything with cheese..I’ll be trying this soon. Thanks!
This looks yum. I don’t often buy pimentos, but it sounds yummy in a dip. Perfect for football season. Thanks for stopping by Merry Monday!! Come back next week. Pinning.
This sounds awesome! Pinning to make on a game day. 😉
I found you on the Project Parade. Thanks for sharing!
This look so yummy and I have not had pimento dip for ages, thank you!
Think I will add some jalapenos… 🙂
This makes wonderful stuffed celery.
Yummy being from Texas my mom made this too…Maybe I will make some soon…
I would like to know what is the brand of cream cheese you use in your pimento cheese?
We use the bulk brand (it’s usually called Smithfields) from Azure Standard.
Oh how I wish I had seen this last week. I bought pimiento cheese to use on crackers for a party I had. This sounds so much better and I will save this for another party. Thank you!
your recipe sounds awesome but i’d like chunkier version to spread on crackers, can I omit food processor and mix cream cheese til smooth and incorporate remainder of ingred. till mixed?
Sure!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe for Creamy Cheese Pimento Spread as we cannot buy it here and we love the taste of it. Now we can make it any time we want it.
I can’t wait to try this on wheat bread as a sandwich!
I toast the bread. Think it’s better that way.
I love pimento cheese and your spread looks delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Yum!
Thanks for the recipe. Will try this week.
Do you have any idea if this is similar to the Kraft product you purchase in a jar?
I have a recipe that uses that specifically and need a substitute. I can no longer find it in stores. Thank you.
Is this recipe similar to the Kraft pimento cheese sold in the small jars?
Yes 🙂 Just a “fresher” tasting version!
I love pimento cheese spread. I found it’s best if you grate your own cheese.
I also like to add Monterey jack to the Sharp cheese. I took it to work and my coworkers ate most before I could take a break.
This Cheese Pimento Spread is delicious! It’s so much better & healthier than store-bought.
I used a hand mixer instead of a food processor to mix the ingredients, so it is nice & chunky.
Thank you for another delicious recipe!
What are the increments of onion powder and garlic powder?
I am guessing the onion and garlic powder are 1 tsp each.
How much onion powder and garlic powder is needed for the recipe. Instructions above say 1 garlic powder and 1 onion powder. Thank you so much!
Both of those ingredients are to taste so you can add as much or as little as you’d like.
These stars are for so many of the great recipes you share. At 85 battling vertigo for past 10 years spending time upright much less the kitchen is a luxury. So I appreciate your posts and the ease of using your website. Keep on doing your thing. You Rock!
How much onion and garlic powder? Recipe says 1 of each. Is that 1 tsp of each?
I assume it’s teaspoons of onion and garlic powder?
I grew up on Pimento Cheese. But for the first time had it a whipped like spread. They serve with homemade biscut an side honey, Jam. Fell in love, so I will give this recipe a try.
what were the amounts for the onion and garlic powders? One what?
Both of those ingredients are “to taste” so you can add as much or as little as you’d like. I’d start with 1/2 teaspoon of each and go up from there.
I’ve never used cream cheese in my pimento cheese. I just used shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos, and mayonnaise. It’s really good. I’ll try it with garlic and some onion powder.
I was copying down this recipe, but the onion and garlic just said 1….I wonder if teaspoon or???
It’s really up to you. I’d start with a teaspoon of each and go up from there if needed.
can this be canned? i am a rebel canner in my heart
I have not tried it, sorry.