This spicy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese recipe is the perfect dip to serve at your next cocktail party or craft beer tasting.
Popularized in the Southern United States, our spin on the classic Pimento Cheese features spicy Jalapeno Havarti and Pickled Jalapeños.
We love serving our quick & easy Spicy Pimento Cheese recipe on game night, scooped with tortilla chips, crostini, crackers or fresh vegetables like carrot and celery sticks.
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What Is Spicy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese?
Pimento cheese is a spread from the Southern United States that is most popularly made of a variety of cheeses, mayonnaise, and pimientos. The vegetarian dish has been hilariously referred to as the “pâté of the South” and “Carolina caviar.”
Pimento cheese can be served as a spread on crackers or celery, a dip scooped onto tortilla chips, mixed in with mashed yolks for Deviled Eggs, added to grits to make them cheesy, or slathered over hamburgers, hotdogs and sandwiches. We also love to add a few scoops to our Mac & Cheese.
Our Jalapeno Pimento Cheese is inspired by the classic recipe but adds a spicy kick by adding jalapeno havarti and pickled jalapeños.
You May Also Enjoy These Jalapeno Recipes…
- Spicy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
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- White BBQ Turkey Sandwiches with Jalapeno and Pickles
- Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins
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History Of Pimento Cheese
Back in the 1870s, New York farmers started making soft, unripened cheese that eventually evolved into cream cheese.
Around the same time, Spain began exporting canned red peppers or “pimiento” to grocery stores in the United States. The sweet peppers soon caught people’s attention and became a staple in many kitchens across the country.
The two ingredients were brought together in 1908 in a Good Housekeeping recipe which called for “cream cheese, mustard, chives, and minced pimentos.” The combination of cream cheese and pimento was such a hit it started to be mass-produced, primarily in the South.
Soon, Georgia farmers began growing red peppers domestically, roasting them, canning them, and sending out as many as 10 million cans of pimentos a year, spreading the gospel of pimento cheese across North America.
After World War II, home cooks started making homemade pimento cheese, swapping cream cheese for something called hoop cheese and then cheddar and using a generous dollop of mayonnaise to bind it all together. It soon became a staple at church picnics, school potlucks and some the American South’s most iconic restaurants.
Today, as the influence of Mexico continues to help flavour menus in the US, Jalapeno Pimento Cheese is a natural next step in the creamy cheese dips spicy evolution.
Travel to America by Eating Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Dip at Home
I love traveling to America!
As a professional food and travel journalist I’ve had the opportunity to eat my way through award winning restaurants and historic markets across the US.
I’ve forked my way through memorable meals in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and District of Columbia.
What I love most about traveling throughout America is the opportunity to sample unique dishes in each region and city. The Soul Food dishes in New Orleans and Savannah are unique to what you might find on restaurant menus in Portland, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu or Detroit.
Looking to embark on a Spicy Pimento Cheese pilgrimage? Head down South, tasting your way through Soul Food kitchens and popular barbecue restaurants from Texas to Louisiana.
Once back home from a road trip of the American South you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the popular dip and can impress friends and family by making our easy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese recipe!
My Family Loves Jalapeno Pimento Cheese
After eating my way through award winning Soul Food restaurants in Portland, Denver, Scottsdale, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Austin, I came home determined to tantalize my taste buds.
I wanted to share my love of Jalapeno Pimento Cheese with friends and family, by developing an addictive cheesy and spicy dip.
I made the dip at our family cottage in Muskoka on a hot summer day as an afternoon snack. It pairs well with a hoppy craft beer or boozy bourbon craft cocktails.
This easy dip and spread is a tasty way to use up ingredients that are commonly found in your fridge or panty. You can get creative in the kitchen, swapping out Greek yogurt for sour cream, or havarti for mozzarella.
The addictive dip is a real show stopper if you’ve got company coming for dinner. They’re bound to lick the bowl clean!
Pimento Cheese With Jalapeno Recipe Cooking Tips
Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Dip is quick and easy to make at home. Here are some helpful cooking tips to get you started:
- We prepared the dip in a large mixing bowl with a spatula to combine all the ingredients but you can also use a Stand Mixer or Food Processor. Just ensure to pulse lightly so you don’t form a paste.
- To make the dip moderately spicy we like to add a mixture of Old Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeno Havarti. You can use a combination of shredded cheeses so feel free to use a mild cheddar, Monterey Jack, classic Havarti or mozzarella.
- At the grocery store you will likely find pimentos in the US, where in Canada they are labelled as Jarred Roasted Red Peppers.
- Add pickled or fermented jalapeños to the dip to add additional chili flavour and spicy heat.
- You can make homemade mayonnaise or use store bought mayo like Hellemans.
- We like to use Greek yogurt in this recipe but you can substitute with sour cream.
- We like to use Dijon mustard in this dip but you can use honey mustard to add additional sweetness.
- If you want to wow guests you can scoop the finished dip into an oven safe casserole dish, sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake until melted and stringy.
- If you like spicy food feel free to add red pepper flakes or a few dashes of your favourite hot sauce to the Jalapeno Pimento Cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Our Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Dip recipe is the perfect snack or appetizer to serve at a cocktail party, craft beer tasting, birthday party or game night.
We suggest serving this dip in a shallow bowl with a serving spoon so it’s easy to spread or scoop.
We like to serve the dip with tortilla chips, crostini, bagel chips, crackers, and freshly cut vegetables like carrot and celery sticks, broccoli florets, radishes and sliced sweet peppers.
If you have leftover Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Dip store it in your fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
You May Also Enjoy These American Recipes…
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Pasta Shells
- Hawaiian Creamy Coconut Shrimp
- Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger
- Southern Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon
- Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich
- Cilantro Ginger Lime Cajun Shrimp Salad
- Cajun Spicy Chorizo Corn Salad
Health Benefits
Our Jalapeno Pimento Cheese recipe is packed full of wholesome ingredients!
Cheese provides many health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Packed with calcium and friendly probiotic bacteria, sour cream and yogurt help keep your bones strong and your gut healthy. Yogurt may also help reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and some types of cancer.
Peppers are an incredible source of vitamins C and A, which support your skin and immune system. They also provide beneficial carotenoid compounds such as beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
You May Also Enjoy These Dip Recipes…
- Creamy Vegan Garlic Lemon Dill Hummus
- Jajik Middle Eastern Cucumber Yogurt Mint Dip
- Korozott Hungarian Cottage Cheese Spread
- Healthy Vegan Mexican Pepita Pesto
- Mashed Butter Beans Dip
- Mutabbal Vegan Middle Eastern Eggplant Dip
- Mihlama Kuymak Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal
- Lebanese Toum Kebab Shop Garlic Sauce
- Za’atar Butter Bean Dip
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- Guasacaca Sauce Venezuelan Guacamole
- Keto Spinach Dip
- Mexican Queso Recipes
How To Make Spicy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Dip
Spicy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- cheese grater
- French knife
Ingredients
- 8 oz Old Cheddar Cheese
- 8 oz Jalapeno Havarti Cheese
- 10 oz Jarred Roasted Red Peppers or Pimentos drained, diced
- 1/3 cup Pickled Jalapenos chopped
- 1/3 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1/3 cup Cream Cheese
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Shred cheeses and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped roasted red peppers and pickled jalapenos. Mix in mayo, yogurt, cream cheese, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Serve spicy pimento cheese with crackers, sourdough bread, and fresh veggies like carrot and celery sticks.
Nutrition
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