Bring a taste of the south to your next party with this warm, creamy, tangy Baked Pimento Cheese Dip. This decadent dip delivers all the flavors you love in a classic pimento cheese, but with a gooey, silky, molten texture.
Pimento cheese is like a warm hug to the soul. Its pure savory flavor and unapologetic celebration of cheese makes this a classic for a reason. While it’s delicious in its traditional cold form spread on a cracker or between two slices of soft white bread, it gets slightly elevated and made a little more special simply by baking it. Who can resist ooey, gooey melty cheese, right?
If you’re looking for an easy to prepare dish to serve up at your holiday parties or on the next game day, this is it. You can serve it up with your favorite butter crackers, celery sticks, or even dive in with a spoon. No judgement!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The ultimate make ahead. This hot pimento cheese dip can be assembled a couple of days in advance and kept covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake it.
- Easy to prepare. Anyone can make this. All you really need to do is mix it together and then bake until bubbly!
- Familiar flavors. The ingredients for this warm pimento cheese don’t stray too far from a more traditional cold pimento cheese, it’s more about switching up the quantities to give you that perfect creamy texture once melted.
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese – This gives the dip a little tang as well as adds to its creamy texture once melted.
- Mayonnaise – Mayo makes this dip creamy and dippable. Here in the south Duke’s Mayonnaise is the only right answer and gives a little extra twang.
- Cheeses – Extra sharp cheddar packs bold, savory flavor while pepper jack cheese melts beautifully and gives that silky texture.
- Diced Pimentos – Mild, sweet, and a little tangy from their brine, these add both flavor and a festive pop of color.
- Jalapeno – Leave the seeds out for just a mild kiss of heat or opt to leave them in for a good kick.
- Green Onions – These add both freshness that cuts through the richness of the dip as well as mild onion flavor.
- Flavor Accents – Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce give a pop of bright umami and balance the rich flavors of the cheeses.
- Spices – Garlic powder adds a savory element while smoked paprika gives a little hint of mystery. You’ll also need a little kosher salt.
Variations and Substitutions
- Switch up the combination of cheeses in this recipe. The pepper jack cheese can be swapped out for Monterey Jack or Colby Jack cheese, or any really good melting cheese. The extra sharp cheddar can be swapped for any of your favorite cheddars or other types of cheese such as smoked Gouda or Gruyere.
- Instead of diced pimentos you can use roasted red bell pepper. Either jarred, or a fresh roasted red bell pepper will work.
- Instead of a fresh jalapeno try pickled jalapenos or even brined pepperoncini peppers.
- Swap out the green onions for a couple of tablespoons of fresh chives for an even more mild onion flavor.
How to Make Baked Pimento Cheese Dip
- Mix together the creamy base. Add the room temperature cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon, Worcestershire, and seasonings to a mixing bowl and using either a spoon or hand mixer, mix to combine and make smooth.
- Add the pimentos, jalapenos, and green onions. Stir until evenly combined.
- Fold in the cheese.
- Spread the dip into a prepared baking dish. Lightly grease a small cast iron skillet or baking dish. Evenly spread the pimento cheese dip.
- Allow the baked pimento cheese to cook until melted, creamy, and slightly bubbly. Bake the warm pimento cheese dip for 20 minutes in a 350-degree oven.
- Garnish the dip and serve it up! Garnish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika and additional green onions and jalapeno slices if desired.
How to Make Baked Pimento Cheese Dip on the Grill
- Preheat your grill or smoker to 350 degrees. If using a charcoal grill bank your charcoal to either side leaving the center as a cooler zone. You can add wood chips to your charcoal if desired to make smoked pimento cheese. For a gas grill only ignite the outer burners.
- Follow the same directions as above to prepare the warm pimento cheese dip.
- Place the baking dish or skillet in the cooler zone of the grill. Allow it to cook for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking.
- Garnish and serve!
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon, spatula, or hand mixer
- 8″ cast iron skillet or small baking dish
Tips From the Beach
- Make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature before you mix it up, so you get a smooth, creamy texture free of lumps.
- For both the best flavor and the best texture hand grate your cheese.
- Have fun experimenting with different combinations of cheeses, but make sure that one of them is a good melty cheese,
- If you make this on a charcoal grill, add a few wood chips to your coals for an additional layer of flavor.
Additional Pimento Cheese Recipes
- Buffalo Pimento Cheese
- Pimento Cheese Chicken Meatballs
- Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese
- Pimento Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
Is baked pimento cheese dip spicy?
This only has mild heat to it. Jarred pimentos are extremely mild and a little sweet. The jalapeno can be deseeded or you can leave the seeds in depending on your preferred heat level. If you absolutely don’t like spice feel free to leave the jalapeno out entirely.
Can I make pimento cheese dip in advance?
You can assemble the dip in its baking dish up to two days in advance. Keep it covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake it.
How long does baked pimento cheese dip last?
It will last up to five days. Cover the baking dish tightly and keep it refrigerated. To reheat it, place it back in the oven on a lower temperature of 325. Bake for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.
Baked Pimento Cheese Dip
Bring a taste of the south to your next party with this warm, creamy, tangy Baked Pimento Cheese Dip.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup extra sharp or sharp cheddar shredded
- 1 cup pepper jack or Monterey Jack shredded
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 4 ounces jars pimentos diced, drained
- 1 jalapeno finely diced, remove seeds for less heat if desired
- 2 green onions chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, plus extra for garnish
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven or grill to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease a small baking dish or cast iron skillet.
- Add the cream cheese, mayo, Dijon, Worcestershire, and seasonings to a bowl and mix until smooth.
- Add the pimentos, green onions, and jalapeno and stir to combine.
- Fold in the shredded cheeses.
- Spread the pimento cheese into the prepared baking dish.
- Allow the dip to bake for 20 minutes or until melted, creamy, and slightly bubbly.
- Garnish with additional smoked paprika, green onions, and jalapenos if desired.
- Serve with your favorite dippers.
Notes
- This recipe can be made on the grill or in the oven. If making this on the grill, prepare your grill for indirect grilling, banking charcoal to either side of the grill and leaving the center as the cooler zone. If using a gas grill only ignite some of the burners, allowing the grill to preheat to 350 degrees. For additional flavor add wood chips to your charcoal.
- You can mix up the combination of cheeses for this pimento cheese dip. Make sure that one of them is a good melting cheese like Monterey Jack or Colby Jack.