The bold flavors of the gameday favorite collide with a true taste of the south in this creamy, tangy, savory Buffalo Pimento Cheese. Spread it on a cracker, scoop it up with celery sticks, or just shovel it with a spoon because this easy, cheesy appetizer will be an instant hit at any party.
It’s no secret how much the south loves its pimento cheese. We take it seriously, to the point it’s the base for the official sandwich of the Masters. While the classic flavors are perfect on their own this humble spread is the perfect canvas to play around with. From Pimento Cheese Macaroni Salad and Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese to this sassy rendition with the kick of buffalo sauce and tangy, funky bite of blue cheese, it’s the ideal dish for any occasion. Even just a Tuesday, just because.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Process – There is absolutely no actually cooking required to make this buffalo blue pimento cheese. If you can grate cheese, you’ve got this. It’s all just about the assembly and giving it a little time to hang out in the refrigerator for all of the flavors to get happy.
- Minimal Ingredients – Just like this pimento cheese recipe is easy to make, it’s also easy to shop for. You probably even have some of the ingredients in your pantry like mayo and hot sauce.
- Customizable – I get it, not everyone loves the zesty bite of blue cheese. This recipe is completely customizable to not only the cheeses you love and prefer, but also the spice level. Have fun making it your own.
Ingredients
- Creamy Base – Cream cheese gives this buffalo pimento cheese spread its thick, luscious texture while mayonnaise keeps it silky and creamy. Make sure to use a high-quality mayo. We love Duke’s for that twang factor here in the south.
- Cheeses – Medium cheddar cheese allows other flavors like blue cheese and the hot sauce to shine. Extra sharp cheddar adds a bold, savory element while blue cheese brings a bright pop of flavor. Take the time and grate your cheese from the block as well as crumble the blue cheese yourself. This will not only give you the best flavor but also texture.
- Pimentos – These mild peppers are lightly sweet and a little acid. They add both color and texture in addition to flavor.
- Hot Sauce – For that classic buffalo flavor we all crave, reach for the bottle of Frank’s. You’ll want the hot sauce, not the buffalo sauce for this recipe.
- Flavor Accents – Celery adds freshness and crunch while driving home the classic flavors of buffalo wings. Green onions add delicate onion flavor that cuts through the richness of the cheeses while Worcestershire sauce adds umami. Garlic powder adds another savory element.
How to Make Buffalo Pimento Cheese
- Prepare your mise en place. Let the cream cheese come to room temperature. Drain the pimentos well and chop your vegetables. Grate your cheeses using the largest hole on your grater.
- Mix together the creamy base. Use a spoon to break up the cream cheese, stirring to make it creamy. Add the mayonnaise and stir until it’s completely combined and smooth.
- Stir in the pimentos, celery, and green onions. Add the buffalo sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and blue cheese as well and give everything a good stir.
- Fold in the cheeses. Use a spatula to fold in the cheddar cheeses. The mixture will be thick.
- Allow the blue cheese pimento cheese to refrigerate. Transfer your buffalo blue pimento cheese to an airtight container and allow it to refrigerate for at least an hour. This will let the flavors come together and develop as well as allow the cream cheese base to thicken up.
Variations & Substitutions
- Swap the jar of diced pimentos for a diced roasted red bell pepper. You can use either a freshly roasted red bell pepper or a jarred one. This will give you a smoky element.
- Not a fan of blue cheese? It’s okay. Leave the blue cheese out. You will want to swap the amounts of the medium cheddar and extra sharp cheddar.
- Use all of one kind of cheddar. Or mix up your cheese combinations. Gouda is delicious in this.
- Want this buffalo pimento cheese spicier? Add either a finely diced jalapeno pepper or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix.
- Replace the green onions with finely minced sweet onion. You will need a tablespoon.
Serving Suggestions
- Crackers. Butter crackers and saltines are the classic choice.
- Top off a burger.
- Spread on bread for a pimento cheese sandwich.
- Serve with vegetables such as sliced cucumber, celery, or carrots.
- Stuff cocktail tomatoes.
- Make a pimento cheese grilled cheese.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Tips From the Beach
- Take the time to hand grate your cheese. Bagged cheese has a coating on to prevent it from sticking together that will give the pimento cheese a slightly grainy texture as well as not give you the freshest flavor.
- Some recipes will have you use a mixer. Save the dishes and just reach for a spoon and spatula. Using a mixer breaks up the cheese and changes the texture of the spread.
- This dip thickens up as it refrigerates because of the cream cheese base. You can let it sit out and come more to room temperature before serving if desired to allow it to spread easier.
- Make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature and softened before mixing up this pimento cheese spread.
- Many of the ingredients have salt already in them including the cheeses. Taste your pimento cheese before you add any additional salt.
Is buffalo pimento cheese spicy?
No. There is so much cheese in this recipe that it balances out any heat from the hot sauce. If you want this spicier you can either add a diced jalapeno or cayenne pepper in addition to the hot sauce.
How long does buffalo pimento cheese last?
This dairy based spread needs to be kept refrigerated in an airtight container when it’s not being served. It will last for up to five days.
Buffalo Pimento Cheese
The bold flavors of the gameday favorite collide with a true taste of the south in this creamy, tangy, savory Buffalo Pimento Cheese.
- Prep Time: 10
- Chilling Time: 60
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stirring
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise such as Duke’s
- 1/8 cup Frank’s hot sauce
- 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled, plus extra for serving
- 4 ounces diced pimentos, drained
- 2 tablespoons celery, finely diced
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces medium cheddar, grated
- 4 ounces extra sharp cheddar, grated
Instructions
- Allow your cream cheese to fully come to room temperature and soften. Add it to a bowl and use a spoon to stir it and break it up.
- Add the mayo and stir to fully combine, making sure it is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
- Add the pimentos, celery, and green onions to the bowl along with the blue cheese and stir to combine.
- Add both cheddar cheeses to the bowl and use a spatula to fold it in.
- Allow the buffalo pimento cheese to refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Garnish with additional blue cheese and green onions if desired.
Notes
- You can replace the jarred diced pimentos with a diced roasted red bell pepper. Use either a freshly roasted red bell pepper or jarred.
- You don’t have to add the blue cheese if you don’t like it. For the best flavor swap the amounts of the medium and extra sharp cheddars, making the extra sharp cheddar the more dominant flavor.
- You can use all one type of cheddar if desired or a combination of your favorite cheeses.
- Make sure to hand grate your cheeses for the best texture and flavor.