Jalapeno Pimento Cheese is a creamy cheese spread made with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and pimentos with a touch of spicy peppers. The added freshness from the peppers was just enough to put this appetizer spread above the bar!
I love to use this Jalapeno Pimento Cheese spread to make Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs, Pimento Cheese Burgers, Breakfast Quesadillas and more! It is a great appetizer to set out and serve with crackers and veggies as a dip as well.
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The Origin of Pimento Cheese
I grew up in Northern New York. Up there between the St. Lawrence River and the Adirondack mountains. We had pimento cheese in our house, but it came in a jar labeled Kraft! While it was ok, I really didn't love the processed taste of it and wouldn't eat it.
Before I moved to the south I became interested in making my own cheese spread and would make these Pimento Cheese Tea Sandwiches.
Since moving to the south, and seeing how popular it is here, I became curious about the origins of it. Imagine my surprise when I came across this article that explains that Pimento Cheese actually came from New York!
Add Some Heat To It
For those who frequently visit my websites, you are aware that I really love to add sweet and heat to recipes. This time I decided to add some heat to the the recipe by dicing up a jalapeno and adding it to the mix.
This version was so popular with my son and his family that it was requested I make it again. We enjoyed eating it as a dip for crackers and veggies, spread it on sandwiches, and used it to make breakfast quesadillas!
🥘 Ingredients
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Yellow cheddar cheese, I like to buy the brick cheese and shred it myself. Sharp cheddar works the best for me.
Cream cheese
Mayonnaise, this brand is my go to!
Pimentos, take my word for it, buy more than one jar. Here is a link to purchase if you can't find them in the store (usually in the pickle section)
Garlic
Jalapeno
🔪 Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, mix the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, and pimentos until well combined.
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 1 week (mine never lasts that long!)
💭 Top Tips
- Make sure to mince the onion, garlic, and jalapeno fine. This will make the pieces very small but also will allow the juices to flavor the cheese much better.
- If you don't own a garlic press, try using a microplane zester to mince the garlic.
- Be sure to drain the pimentos well, extra liquid in the cheese spread will make it loose and runny.
📖 Variations
- Try swapping the cheddar cheese for a gruyere, or cheddar-gruyere combination.
- Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of chipotle powder (according to your heat tolerance) to boost the heat factor and give it a smokier flavor.
- Substitute pimento stuffed green olives for a more pickled flavor.
More Appetizer Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp minced onion
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper , diced fine
- 4 ounces pimentos , drained
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, mix the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, and pimentos until well combined.
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