Pimento Cheese is one of my favorite treats! I make my version a light pimento cheese using greek yogurt instead of mayo.
Hi everyone,
I've had a long standing love affair with Pimento Cheese. My very southern grandmother Bea would keep the creamy spread in her fridge and make grilled cheese sandwiches with it. After grilling she'd pull open the slices to reveal the creamy melted cheese and put huge slice of Tennessee tomato in the middle. When I stopped eating meat in High School, she decided this was the perfect meal for me and she made it often. You can imagine my cheese loving heart had no complaints about that!
Yes, it takes just as good as it sounds.
My Bea kept a pre-packaged version of Pimento Cheese but as I got older I figured out how easy it was to make my own! A bit later as I was starting to learn to eat healthier I started to swap out the traditional recipes mayonnaise with greek yogurt. The result is my tried and true Light Pimento Cheese recipe. I've been making this recipe for years.
For those of you not from the south or unfamiliar with this delicacy, it's basically shredded sharp cheddar cheese with added pimento peppers from the jar. It's traditionally made creamy by none other than Duke's mayonnaise... but as I mentioned I wanted to make my version a big better for you.
After some experimentation I've figured the best ratio is half plain greek yogurt and half olive oil based mayo. The proportions keep the traditional full flavor while still adds the nutrition of the greek yogurt. Honestly you'd probably never realize a swap was made.
You can also sub out all the mayo for greek yogurt but expect the taste to be slightly different. Either way is still good!
Serve my light Pimento Cheese at a party with vegetables and crackers like shown or use it to make a sandwich. It's also a brilliant topping on a homemade veggie burger.
Or you can keep is super southern and copy my grandmother's grilled cheese and tomato idea. It's downright delicious!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
Light Pimento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup plain 0% greek yogurt *
- ¼ cup light olive oil based mayonnaise *
- 4 ounce jar chopped pimentos, drained
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Notes
Nutrition
Like this Light Pimento Cheese recipe? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board!
This 2013 recipe got a makeover in September 2017! This is what it used to look like.
Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I'm sharing the first part of my series on my trip to Alaska.
Your turn!
Do you know about the wonders of pimento cheese?
I’m linking up my Light Pimento Cheese recipe with: Meatless Monday, Meatless Monday, Full Plate Thursday, Foodie Friday, and the Weekend Potluck. Thanks so much ladies for the link up parties!
Patty says
My husband and I both enjoyed this pimento cheese! Great flavor and texture!
Miz Helen says
We are a Pimento Cheese family and always have a homemade Pimento Cheese Spread in the refrigerator. Your recipe looks awesome and I will sure give it a try for a lighter spread. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,we are so happy to have you join us. Have a wonderful week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Marina @ Happy Healing says
AH this looks sooo yummy! Thanks for sharing - definitely need to try this!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says
I haven't had pimiento cheese in ages. This looks perfect to make for my next book club though. Thanks for sharing.
Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says
I love having grilled cheese and this would definitely make it a little healthier! Thank you for sharing!
Lean Lena says
That looks super yummy! I have never had pimento cheese ever in my life 🙂 I will have to try this!
Thanks so much for linking up with Tasty Tuesday 🙂
JulieWunder says
I think you will like it!
Tina Muir says
Looks like we were both thinking about comfort foods today. This sounds delicious Julie! Yum! You should be proud of where you come from, and good for you for sharing 🙂 Thanks for joining us, I always love seeing your smiling face online 🙂
Farrah says
I don't think I've ever tried pimento cheese! :O I'm not generally a fan of mayo, but this looks like it'd be awesome as a dip for vegetable chips! 😀
JulieWunder says
Yes! It's not very mayo-y at all. It is one of my favorites.
Cassandra @PoweredByBling says
I have always loved pimento cheese, but never made it myself. I'm going to try this recipe for some pre-made snacks next week.
JulieWunder says
This one is soooo good! Way better than those containers in the deli isle.
Heather @Fit n Cookies says
Mmm! I only ever had this for the first time last year. I missed out for so many years! I love this is lightened up, but I have never seen pimentos in the store. I"ll have to look for them.
Jessie says
I've actually never tried Southern Pimento Cheese before. Kind of shocking considering a good portion of my family lives in the South.
Emilie says
I have never had pimento cheese! It looks really good so I'm saving this to make for my boyfriend & sister's combined birthday party next month! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Elaine Orr says
Sounds sooo good and the mater makes it better I bet. I look forward to your post everyday and am excited about this one. Glad you are well and happy. Lived near you at the Forest when you were just getting started and girl look at you now. You go girl
Jessica @Myhealthypassion.com says
YUM! I def try this at my next party!!! 🙂
Jaime says
I had to smile at your reference to skinny and southern. 🙂 I need to try this recipe!
Chaitali says
Yum, this sounds great! I love pimento cheese but never made it at home because I assumed it had to be pretty unhealthy. Nice to know that's not true.
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I have been waiting for this recipe!! : ) I cannot wait to try it. I love some good pimento cheese!
JulieWunder says
Me too!!!! It is my favorite.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
I've never had anything like this! Looks intriguing
JulieWunder says
Hahaaa!!!! I forget just how southern pimento cheese is. Pimentos are basically peppers. They are found with the jarred stuff like roasted red peppers. In my store it is near the canned vegetables.
They are already chopped and add a lot of flavor.
Unless you HATE mayo, I think you will like it... especially since I made this one with only half mayo.
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
I'm not sure I even know what a pimento is?!
JulieWunder says
They are basically peppers in a jar. They had a lot of flavor to the cheese mix. They are near the jarred stuff like roasted red peppers. In my store it is near the canned vegetables. Southern grocery stores sell a premixed version of this in the deli, but the homemade is in a different class.
As I told Deborah, unless you hate mayo.... you will like this 🙂
Paula says
Cant wait to try this one of my favorite sandwiches!!
Thanks fir sharing your recipes & adventures!
Still miss you on the news & weather on WLOS
but so glad you are still here im WNC!
Blessings to you
JulieWunder says
Thanks Paula! I am so glad I am here too 🙂 I love it here. God bless!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
AND I love you. When we were in Charleston we went to Husk's bar and got their pimento cheese crostinis. DIE.
JulieWunder says
I knew my former Atlanta girl would be all about this!!! Husk is amazing!
Blane Sherer says
I have always enjoyed my mom's homemade pimento cheese.I have never particularly liked any store bought brand or any restaurant version of pimento cheese. Your's seems like it would be worth a try.
JulieWunder says
Homemade is much better than the store stuff