Spicy jalapeño pimento cheese is a Southern favorite. You will find this southern staple grocery stores all around the South!  Y’all will find us making this spicy pimento cheese recipe year round! We add a little spice to the classic pimento cheese recipe.

Originally Posted May 12, 2022

Modified April 13, 2025

Our Jalapeno pimento cheese recipe made with extra sharp cheese is always a favorite for any party we take it to! The first time you make this wonderful recipe will definately not be your last! Follow our step-by-step instructions, roasting your own red bell pepper, or just using jarred pimentos. And take our advice, and double or triple this recipe, cause you are gonna be hooked!

Although this homemade pimento cheese recipe is a classic southern spread for crackers, it also is incredible as a topping for burgers, biscuits, or melted in a dreamy creamy grilled cheese! This spicy pimento cheese spread will be an easy appetizer for your next party.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Bold & Creamy Flavor – A perfect balance of sharp cheese, spice, and creamy texture.

Versatile – Great as a dip, sandwich spread, burger topping, or even in deviled eggs.

Easy to Make – Simple ingredients come together quickly for a homemade classic.

Ingredients for Spicy Pimento Cheese:

• Roasted Red bell Peppers or Pimentos
  These bring that signature sweet and smoky flavor. Pimentos are traditional, but roasted red pepper adds a deeper, fire-kissed richness.

• Jalapeño peppers
  For the kick. Fresh jalapeños add fresh heat and a pop of brightness that sets this version apart from the classic.

• Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  The key ingredient! It brings a bold, tangy punch and that familiar Southern cheese spread flavor. Do not use pre-shredded cheese as it has stabilizers in it. Get out your good ol’ box grater and shred that cheese!

• Cream Cheese
  Adds creaminess and helps everything bind together. It also mellows the heat just a bit and gives the spread a luxurious texture.

• Mayonnaise
  A Southern classic — it smooths everything out, adds richness, and balances the sharper cheeses and spices.

• Garlic Granules
  A savory base note. Garlic deepens the flavor without overpowering the spread.

• Cayenne Pepper
  The heat booster. A litte spice to wake up the palate and complement the jalapeno pepper. A little bit goes a long way!

• Onion Powder
  Adds a subtle sweetness and savory depth, rounding out the creamy and spicy elements.

• Blackened Seasoning
  The secret weapon — smoky, herby, spicy, and complex. It layers in Cajun-inspired flavor and gives this pimento cheese a distinctive Southern twist.

Watch Dina make this Pimento Cheese!

Instructions:

1. Roast the red bell pepper (if not using jarred):
   Place it directly over a gas flame or under a broiler, turning until charred all over. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes, then peel, deseed, and dice.

2. Mix the base:
   In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to blend.

3. Add the flavor:
   Mix in garlic granules, onion powder, cayenne, and blackened seasoning.

4. Cheese it up:
   Fold in shredded sharp cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños, and red pepper or pimentos.

5. Chill (optional but tasty):
   Let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors meld. But it’s also fantastic right away.

How to Store

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

• Stir before serving if any separation occurs.

• Not recommended for freezing, as dairy-based dips can change texture when thawed.

Tips for the Best Pimento Cheese

• Use fresh-grated cheese for a smoother, creamier texture (pre-shredded has anti-caking agents).

• Adjust spice level by adding more or less jalapeños and hot sauce.

• Let it chill – Allowing it to sit enhances the flavors and makes it easier to spread.

Serving Suggestions

• Classic Dip – Serve with crackers, pretzels, or fresh veggies.

• Southern Pimento Cheese Sandwich – This is a classic sandwich filling! Spread on slices of white bread just like they serve at The Masters!

• Burger Topping – Adds creamy, spicy goodness to any burger.

• Stuffed in Celery Sticks or Mini Peppers – A crunchy, low-carb option.

• Deviled Eggs – Mix some into egg yolks for a spicy twist on deviled eggs.

Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer, pimento cheese

Servings: 22 servings

Calories: 114kcal

Author: Bruce and Dina Miller

Equipment

• Knife
• Cheese grater
• bowl
• Spatula
• Hand Mixer

Ingredients

• 1 large red pepper roasted, peeled and diced, or 1 jar of pimentos, drained
• 2 jalapeños seeded and diced
• 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon garlic granules
• ½ teaspoon cayenne more or less to taste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 ½ teaspoon blackened seasoning

Instructions

Instruction for roasting a red pepper:

• Wash red pepper, and dry. If you have a gas stove, simply lay the pepper over the direct flame, and turn heat to high. Watch carefully and turn every few minutes to get the skin blackened. You may also do this on your grill outside.
  1 large red pepper
• Another method is roast in the oven. Simply turn oven on to 400 degrees and place red pepper on a cookie sheet, and place in oven. Check every 10 minutes, turning, till skin is blistered.
• Once pepper is blackened, place I a glass bowl, and cover with plastic wrap to steam. Allow to steam for at least 5 minutes, but can sit longer, making sure it is cool enough to handle.
• To remove the skin, break open and remove seeds, stem and skin under running water. Pat dry.

Prepare Spicy Pimento Cheese

• Seed and dice the jalapeño. Dice the roasted pepper.
  2 jalapeños
• Shred the cheese. You can use pre-shredded, but we do not recommend it, as it has stabilizers in it.
  10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• Place room temperature cream cheese, mayonnaise, shredded cheese, red and jalapeño peppers, and seasoning into a bowl. Mix slowly using a hand mixer or your hands to incorporate all the flavors.
  8 ounces cream cheese, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon garlic granules, ½ teaspoon cayenne, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 ½ teaspoon blackened seasoning
• Test for seasoning and add additional jalapeño or spices, as needed.
• Store in air tight container in refrigerator up to 4 weeks.

Notes

Be sure to get the pimento cheese out of fridge to soften up before serving. This is great with crackers, or veggies, but also incredible as a good old grilled pimento cheese! And can we talk about how good it is with ham on a biscuit?

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 481IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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