Name: Pimento Cheese Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature); 1/2 cup mayonnaise (plus more for toasting the bread, if desired); 1 tablespoon hot sauce (we used Frank’s red hot); 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon mustard powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 8 ounce jar of diced pimento peppers (drained); 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1/4 cup chives (finely chopped); 12 slices white sandwich bread

Why You’ll Love This

No-bake, chilled recipe. In the heat of summer, the last thing you want is a hot sandwich. This pimento cheese sandwich is a savory, not too heavy, and flavorful option for those sunny days. The chilled cheesy interior will cool you right down! It’s perfect to pack for the pool or a picnic.

Taste of tradition. Pimento cheese is at the heart of Southern cuisine and a staple at Southern gatherings. This sandwich is a nod to that traditional, classic ingredient while giving it a fun way to eat this delicious spread.

Versatile and customizable. This sandwich recipe allows you to craft your own sandwich whether it means adding more spice to the spread or using a different kind of bread. Make this sandwich your own and experiment with all the various ways to make it!

What is pimento cheese?

Contrary to popular belief, pimento cheese is not actually a type of cheese! Pimento cheese is a spread or dip that is traditionally made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and pimento peppers.

What’s in a Pimento Cheese Sandwich?

Cream cheese – make sure this is at room temperature so it’s easier to mix.

Mayonnaise

Hot sauce

Mustard powder

Garlic powder

Salt and pepper

Diced pimento peppers – you can find these jarred and you’ll want to drain them so you won’t have any liquid in the mixture.

Cheddar cheese – shredded and preferably grated yourself, but totally fine to buy the ones in a bag too.

Chives

Thick white sandwich bread – I like to buy a loaf and slice the bread myself to my desired thickness, but there are also some bakeries that have thick bread that is already pre-sliced. Kind of like Texas toast thickness. It just gives the sandwich more volume and oomph. If you’re feeling ambitious, make this honey oatmeal bread to pair with this sandwich. The subtly sweet flavor of the bread is so good with the savory pimento cheese.

pimento cheese spread on slices of bread on a wood cutting board

Recipe Tips

Freshly grate your cheese. If you’re making pimento cheese from scratch, then you’ll want to freshly grate your cheese for the best texture. Pre-shredded cheese often has a coating on it to prevent it from sticking and clumping in the bag. It can be a little off-putting and alter the taste a bit.

Use thick bread. I personally like using thick slices of bread for my pimento cheese sandwiches. It gives it volume and holds everything together slightly better than thin slices of bread. If you can, buy a whole loaf and slice the bread yourself to ensure the desired thickness!

Keep the spread chilled. It’s easier to spread the filling when it’s chilled as opposed to room temperature.

Pimento Cheese Sandwich Variations and Substitutions

Add bacon for a smoky flavor to the pimento cheese spread.

Swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt to keep it lighter and give the recipe more tang.

Splash a little pickle juice or white vinegar if you want additional tang to the pimento cheese.

Experiment with different cheeses such as pepper jack or Colby jack cheese instead of cheddar cheese.

If you can’t find pimento peppers, you can substitute with jarred roasted bell peppers and dice them for a similar flavor profile.

pimento cheese sandwich halves stacked on top of each other on a plate next to ruffled chips

What to Serve with a Pimento Cheese Sandwich

This sandwich is best served with a side of chips or fries. If you’re ambitious, my pickle chips offer a great addition as well. I also enjoy washing this sandwich down with a Gin and Tonic for a refreshing meal!