Creative Ways To Use Leftover Pimento Cheese

Pimento cheese is a Southern classic that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a creamy, tangy, and mildly spicy spread made with shredded cheese, chopped pimentos, and mayonnaise. While it is traditionally served as a dip with crackers or vegetables, there are many other ways to use leftover pimento cheese. You can spread it on sandwiches, add it to stuffed vegetables or grilled cheese, or melt it into a cheese sauce for mac and cheese. It can also be used as a topping for casseroles, a filling for chicken sandwiches, or as a base for a summer tart with zucchini, squash, and corn.

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Use it as a dip with crackers or vegetables

Pimento cheese is a versatile Southern classic that can be used as a dip with crackers or vegetables. It is a flavorful, creamy spread that fuses shredded cheese with chopped pimentos and mayonnaise. The tangy, mildly spicy flavor of pimentos pairs well with the sharpness of cheddar, making it a popular addition to many dishes.

When using pimento cheese as a dip, it is recommended to serve it with crackers or vegetables such as carrot and celery sticks. The best crackers to pair with pimento cheese are water crackers or rustic whole wheat flatbread dipped in herbs and flaky salt. Buttery Club crackers and pita chips are also good options due to their neutral flavors. For a simpler option, Saltines can be used to flavor the pimento cheese as long as they are salty.

Pimento cheese can also be served with hollowed-out peppers, such as mini sweet peppers, bell peppers, or jalapeños, on the side. This allows guests to spread the pimento cheese onto the peppers themselves. Olives are another tasty pairing option.

When serving pimento cheese as a dip, it is important to note that it should be refrigerated for at least 2 hours before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the cheese to firm up, resulting in the perfect creamy texture.

Spread it on sandwiches or toast

Pimento cheese is a versatile spread that can be used in a variety of ways, one of the most popular being as a sandwich or toast filling. Its creamy texture and tangy flavour make it a perfect addition to many sandwiches. Here are some ways you can use leftover pimento cheese on sandwiches or toast:

Classic Pimento Cheese Sandwich

Spread the pimento cheese on soft white bread and layer with your favourite sandwich fillings. You can also add sliced cucumber, dill pickles, tomato, sprouts, or arugula for a more substantial sandwich. For a true Southern classic, try it on a buttermilk biscuit with a swipe of pepper jelly.

Pimento Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese to the next level by spreading pimento cheese on the outside of the bread before grilling. This will give your grilled cheese a crispy, cheesy crust. You can also add sliced tomato, bacon, or avocado to your sandwich for extra flavour.

Pimento Chicken Sandwich

Spread pimento cheese on a grilled chicken sandwich instead of a slice of cheese for a Southern twist. The creamy cheese will pair perfectly with the grilled chicken, creating a delicious and flavourful sandwich.

Pimento Breakfast Sandwich

Add a twist to your breakfast sandwich by spreading pimento cheese on toast or an English muffin. Top it with fried eggs, sausage, or bacon for a hearty and indulgent breakfast. You can also add sliced tomato, avocado, or spinach for a more nutritious meal.

Pimento Toast Toppings

Use pimento cheese as a base for your toast toppings. Spread it on a slice of toasted sourdough or whole wheat bread and top with sliced tomatoes, avocado, or arugula. You can also add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning for extra flavour.

Fill stuffed peppers, grilled cheese, or mac and cheese

Fill stuffed peppers

Pimento cheese stuffed mini peppers are a great snack or appetizer. They are easy to make and only require a handful of ingredients. You can use store-bought pimento cheese or make your own at home. To make your own, mix together cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and spices such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. You can also add minced jalapeños for some extra spice.

Once you have your pimento cheese mixture, cut mini sweet peppers in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and ribs. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the pimento mixture into each pepper half and place them on a baking sheet. Top the peppers with shredded cheddar cheese and bake in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the peppers are softened. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving warm.

Grilled cheese

Pimento grilled cheese sandwiches are a popular dish in the South and for good reason. The pimento cheese melts quickly, creating a light and airy sandwich that's deeply satisfying. To make pimento grilled cheese, spread pimento cheese on a slice of bread and sprinkle with green onions. Spread mayonnaise on another slice of bread and place it on top of the sandwich, mayonnaise side up. Cook the sandwich in a skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Mac and cheese

Pimento mac and cheese is a delicious combination of two Southern classics: macaroni and cheese and pimento cheese. To make it, start by cooking the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions. While the pasta cooks, make a white sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat and whisking in flour and milk. Combine the cooked noodles, white sauce, pimento cheese, and shredded cheese in a large mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with more shredded cheese. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.

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Add to a hash brown potato casserole

Pimento cheese is a tangy, creamy cheese spread with pimento peppers. It's a Southern classic and can be used as a dip, spread, or sandwich filling. It can also be used to add flavour and creaminess to stuffed vegetables, mac and cheese, or a hash brown potato casserole.

Here's a recipe for a pimento cheese hash brown potato casserole:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
• 1 (30-ounce) bag frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed and drained
• 15 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 cups Classic Pimiento Cheese
• 1 cup chopped green onion
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned and crumbly, which should take about 8 minutes. Drain well.
• In a large bowl, stir together the sausage and hash browns.
• In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream until smooth. Then, stir in the Classic Pimiento Cheese, green onion, chiles, salt, and pepper until well combined.
• Stir the hash brown mixture into the egg mixture until well combined.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with Cheddar.
• Bake until golden brown and bubbly, which should take 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let the casserole stand for 15 minutes before serving.

This recipe serves 8 to 10 people and is a great way to use up leftover pimento cheese. You can also add some sliced kielbasa or sausage, along with some scrambled eggs, to make it into a breakfast casserole.

Freeze it for later

If you have leftover pimento cheese, you can freeze it for later use, but be aware that it won't taste the same as fresh pimento cheese. The cheese will become grainy and separate after freezing due to the dairy and mayonnaise in the pimento cheese.

To freeze pimento cheese, store it in an airtight container and place it in the freezer. It can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready to use it, thaw the pimento cheese in the refrigerator.

Since the texture of the pimento cheese will be different after freezing, it's best to use it in a recipe rather than as a dip or spread on its own. Try using it in macaroni and cheese, a potato hash brown casserole, or grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also add it to stuffed peppers or use it as a filling for vegetables.

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