🧀 Southern Comfort in a Bowl – Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese 💛
Ahhh, pimento cheese! Just saying those words brings back sweet, cozy memories of family gatherings and Sunday dinners at Grandma’s house. I can still vividly picture her smiling warmly in the kitchen, stirring that famous batch of creamy, tangy pimento cheese dip, while we kids hovered nearby hoping for early tastes. It was always her go-to dish that disappeared fast from the table every time!
There’s just something deeply comforting about this beloved Southern staple. It’s creamy, cheesy, packed with amazing flavor—basically, happiness in a bowl. Whether served as a dip, spread generously across crackers, or sandwiched between slices of crusty bread, old-fashioned pimento cheese has stood the test of time. Today, I’m beyond thrilled to pass on Grandma’s treasured recipe to you, dear foodie friend.
Ready to whip up some genuine Southern comfort at home? Let’s dive in!
🍽️ A Trip Down Memory Lane – Grandma & Me In the Kitchen
Growing up, the kitchen was always the heart of Grandma’s inviting Southern home. It buzzed with warm laughter, delightful aromas, and most importantly, lots of love. One particular day stood out—an annual neighborhood potluck dinner. Grandma marched proudly from our cozy kitchen, carrying her large ceramic bowl filled heaping with homemade pimento cheese. Of all the delicious comfort food available that night—fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs—her pimento cheese simply vanished first. It became her unforgettable culinary calling card.
I remember standing beside her, beaming proudly while folks lined up for seconds, thirds, and even quizzed Grandma for her secret recipe! She’d just smile humbly, wink playfully at me, and promise it was really “nothing fancy.”
Well, Grandma, I’ve inherited your easy-going ways, but today I’m letting friends in on our family secret. Just don’t tell on me, okay?
🥘 Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Classic Southern Dish:
Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to get started. Trust me; you probably have most of these items in your pantry already!
– 2.5 cups freshly shredded Cheddar Cheese (sharp cheddar for extra zing!)
– ½ cup Mayonnaise (your favorite brand or homemade works great!)
– 4 oz jarred Pimentos, drained thoroughly
– ½ cup Cream Cheese, softened (helps achieve that irresistible creaminess!)
– ¼ teaspoon Salt (adjust more or less to your taste!)
– 1 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
– 1 teaspoon Onion Powder (adds savory, oniony goodness)
– 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder with Parsley (Grandma’s secret dash of magic!)
– ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce (flavor booster!)
– 1 teaspoon Sugar (balances acidity perfectly!)
Yup, that’s it! Simple, right? Just like Grandma promised.
👩🍳 Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Creamy Pimento Cheese Goodness:
This delightful recipe couldn’t be easier—only ten lazy minutes, tops! Here’s exactly what you’ll do:
Step 1: Shred & Prep
Grab a sharp block of cheddar cheese and freshly shred it—pre-packaged shredded cheese is handy but shredding your own adds authentic creaminess! Measuring everything out beforehand really helps, trust me.
Step 2: Mix All Together
Using a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar, creamy mayo, softened cream cheese, and drained diced pimentos. Add salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder with parsley, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar.
Step 3: Stir Until Creamy
Stir everything gently until silky smooth and evenly blended. The cream cheese should meld gracefully into the spread, creating velvety deliciousness everyone adores.
Step 4: Taste & Adjust
Here’s the fun part—gently grab a tasting spoon and adjust seasonings. Love more garlic? Feel free to sprinkle a pinch more. It’s your kitchen masterpiece, after all!
Step 5: Serve & Enjoy!
For immediate serving, spoon into your prettiest bowl (Grandma insisted food tasted better that way!) and surround generously with crackers, vegetable sticks, or even warm biscuits. If you’d like it chilled for firmer texture, simply store it in the fridge covered until serving time.
🥖 Serving Suggestions:
Southern folks know pimento cheese tastes amazing served several delicious and creative ways! Here’s how you can enjoy it like a true Southern chef:
– Dollop generously onto buttery crackers or Ritz—always a crowd favorite!
– Spoon onto celery sticks or crisp veggie rounds—healthy and delightful.
– Spread across soft fluffy white bread sandwiches or toast—Grandma-approved lunch idea that’s comfort food perfection.
– Top juicy burgers with a spoonful for “Southern cheeseburgers” that seriously upgrade your grilling game.
– Fill deviled eggs with pimento cheese mixture—your next potluck showstopper!
🔥 Pro Tips – Taking Your Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese to the Next Level
After years of making Grandma’s recipe, I’ve collected tips to elevate your spread from incredible to legendary:
– Always shred your own cheddar for rich creaminess—prepacked shredded cheese has anti-caking ingredients.
– Use superior, real mayonnaise. Trust me – it makes a big difference.
– Spice lovers, add a few dashes of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for lively Southern heat.
– For unique depth, try a sprinkle of smoked paprika or finely chopped green onion tops.
– Let your pimento cheese chill 1-2 hours before serving to deepen flavors.
⚖️ Nutritional Information (per serving):
– Calories: ~220 kcal
– Carbohydrates: 3g
– Protein: 7g
– Fat: 20g
– Fiber: 0.2g
– Sugar: 1g
🧡 Time to Get Cookin’
I genuinely hope this soulful Southern recipe brings as much joy and warmth to your table as it has to generations of families, including mine. Good comfort cooking should inspire friendships, joy, togetherness…and yep, probably second helpings!
So throw on your apron, grab your mixing bowl, and let’s keep Grandma’s lovely tradition alive together. Pass it around, spread the food love! And hey, if folks line up for thirds like they did at Grandma’s church suppers, you’ve likely mastered the old-fashioned art of unforgettable pimento cheese!
Happy cooking and happy eating!
Warm wishes,
Your Kitchen Buddy ♥️👩🍳
