Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese ~

A classic staple of Southern gatherings, homemade pimento cheese is easy to make with simple ingredients. Perfect for your next party or picnic!

A Childhood Classic

Pimento cheese will forever remind me of childhood summers in the South. My grandparents had a pool and my dad and I took full advantage of it. I would swim and play all day, only stopping long enough to scarf down lunch. And lunch was always the same.

Pimento cheese sandwiches were the standard midday fare and were served alongside an icy cold can of Tab (do they still make Tab anymore?).  This meal was so routine that my Dad and I used to joke about going to Nana’s house exclusively for those sandwiches.  And while we’re there, maybe we’ll jump in the pool.

What made it humorous for us though was that the sandwiches weren’t even very good. My grandmother wasn’t much of a cook and she relied heavily on the prepackaged section of the supermarket, which didn’t offer anywhere near the same quality of foods back in the 70s and 80s as it does today. Nevertheless, a large plastic tub of mushy, chemical-laden, grocery store pimento cheese was a refrigerator staple in her house. It was bad but we ate it up and that’s exactly what made the joke so funny for us.

Vegan Pimento Cheese Recipe

This vegan recipe, however, is truly delicious. It’s got everything you want in a good Southern pimento cheese: It’s creamy and chunky, rich, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. My dad would be proud of this recipe.

How to Serve Pimento Cheese

This beloved Southern classic can be served in a variety of ways!

• As a dip with celery and crackers
• Smeared on a biscuit
• As cold sandwich filling on soft white bread.
• Or a hot sandwich – pimento grilled cheese sandwiches are so good!
• And if you’ve never tried pimento cheese on a burger, you are missing out, my friend.

Quick Tip for Success

• Homemade pimento cheese comes together in minutes. However, as is frequently the case with chilled dips, it’s best to let this one sit for a few hours, or even overnight in the fridge, giving the flavors time to really develop and shine.

Ingredients for Southern Pimento Cheese

• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups vegan cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
• 4 ounces diced pimento peppers, drained

How to Make Vegan Pimento Cheese

STEP ONE: Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or hand mixer in a medium-size bowl, cream together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and black pepper.

STEP TWO: Add the cheddar cheese, jalapeno pepper, and diced pimento peppers. Mix on low speed just until incorporated.

STEP THREE: Adjust seasoning to taste and serve. If time permits, cover the pimento cheese and refrigerate for at least an hour, and up to overnight.

More Southern Vegan Recipes You’ll Love!

• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash Casserole
• Baked Black-Eyed Pea Dip
• Benedictine Spread
• Red Velvet Cake

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Vegan Pimento Cheese

A rich and flavorful dairy-free version of the Southern classic! Great as a dip, sandwich filling, or smeared on a burger!

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Soup

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: party food, vegan cheese

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time (Optional): 1 hour hour

Servings: 8

Calories: 267kcal

Author: Holly Gray

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Ingredients

• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups vegan cheddar cheese grated
• 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and finely minced
• 4 ounces diced pimento peppers drained

Instructions

• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or hand mixer in a medium-size bowl, cream together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and black pepper.
• Add the cheddar cheese, jalapeno pepper, and diced pimento peppers. Mix on low speed just until incorporated.
• Adjust seasoning to taste and serve. If time permits, cover the pimento cheese and refrigerate for at least an hour, and up to overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 472mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

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