A southern classic, this Pimento Cheese Sandwich recipe is quite possibly the easiest comfort food you’ll find! It’s a breeze to throw together and it’s always a hit whether it’s served as a simple lunch or at a party.
Recipe Essentials
All you need is a few simple ingredients to whip up this tasty southern pimento cheese sandwich. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Pimento peppers– A pimento is technically a different type of pepper, but most folks just use roasted red peppers. Chopped pimentos are jarred and found near sandwich condiments while roasted red peppers are also jarred, but found in the International aisle near Italian cuisine.
- Cheddar cheese
- Cream cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Bread
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – I like to use a bit of Kosher salt to help bring out the other flavors of this pimento cheese sandwich.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper are all great additions. Just season to taste. Try adding chopped parsley or other fresh-flavored herbs from your garden.
- Swaps – You can substitute light mayo or plain Greek yogurt for full-fat mayonnaise and use light or reduced-fat cream cheese. You can also substitute other varieties for some or all of the cheddar. Monterey Jack is another popular one to use and one of our favorite restaurant-made variations uses shredded smoked gouda!
- Sauces – You can dip this sandwich into just about anything from ranch dressing to garlic aioli.
- Senses – Rich and creamy, a pimento cheese sandwich oozes with sharp cheddar, tangy peppers, and a hint of spice, all tucked between soft, buttery bread for a smooth, savory bite with a peppery kick.
Make it a Meal
I like to serve my sandwich with a side of fruit or a salad. Coleslaw and potato salad are also popular. Crunchy, salty chips like potato chips or tortilla chips work well, too. You can even add them to the sandwich!
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons pimento peppers , drained and dried, chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 8 slices sandwich bread
Instructions
- Combine the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayo, pimento peppers, garlic powder and salt in a food processor and pulse it several times until a pale pink and fully combined but still chunky.
- Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
- Equally divide the pimento cheese spread between 4 slices of bread and top with additional slice. Here you can add pickles or olives, if desired.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and leave us a comment to let us know how it was!
Video
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
While the sandwich itself shouldn’t be stored for more than a few hours, you can store the pimento cheese in an airtight container in the fridge on its own for up to 1 week. Be mindful that the bread will start to absorb moisture from the spread and the texture of the sandwich will change.
We do not recommend freezing pimento cheese sandwiches. However, you can freeze the pimento cheese itself for up to 3 months, though its texture may not remain the same.
More Southern Classics
Didnt have any cream cheese onhand so used a few wedges of laughing cow, and used mild cheddar cheese instead of sharp…..was so good!!!!
This recipe is def a keeper!!
Yay! We love to hear that and thanks for coming back to let us know!
My husband loves pimento cheese but won’t buy it because of how unhealthy it is and I had no idea how easy it could be to make at home. I used your recipe and used low fat reduced calories options, while not exactly healthy not nearly as bad either. I was worried he wouldn’t like it but he absolutely loved it. Thanks!!!
Awesome! I’m glad we could help you out. I agree, it is delicious, but an “every once and while” type of option.
Can I make this without a food processor?
Sure! Just fine chop it and use a mixer for best results, although it can be done by hand.
I can’t wait to try this since I have never had pimento cheese and your sandwich looks delicious and perfect for a light lunch.
Oh, wow! This not only looks incredible but tastes absolutely unbelievable. I will definitely make it again. My whole family enjoyed it!