🧀 Pimento Cheese Per Person Calculator
Calculate exactly how much pimento cheese you need for any gathering
| Occasion | Per Person | 10 Guests | 25 Guests | 50 Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appetizer / Snack | 2 oz (57g) | 1.25 lbs | 3.1 lbs | 6.25 lbs |
| Dip & Crackers | 2.5 oz (71g) | 1.6 lbs | 3.9 lbs | 7.8 lbs |
| Sandwich Filling | 3 oz (85g) | 1.9 lbs | 4.7 lbs | 9.4 lbs |
| Side / Main Dish | 4 oz (113g) | 2.5 lbs | 6.25 lbs | 12.5 lbs |
| Generous Serving | 5 oz (142g) | 3.1 lbs | 7.8 lbs | 15.6 lbs |
| Weight | Approx. Cups | Tablespoons | Approx. Servings (2 oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 lb (227g) | ~1 cup | ~16 tbsp | 4 servings |
| 1 lb (454g) | ~2 cups | ~32 tbsp | 8 servings |
| 1.5 lbs (680g) | ~3 cups | ~48 tbsp | 12 servings |
| 2 lbs (907g) | ~4 cups | ~64 tbsp | 16 servings |
| 3 lbs (1.36 kg) | ~6 cups | ~96 tbsp | 24 servings |
| 5 lbs (2.27 kg) | ~10 cups | ~160 tbsp | 40 servings |
Pimento cheese is a spread that is strongly linked with southern cooking. It is made up of grated cheese, mayo and pimento peppers. One sometimes writes it as pimiento cheese.
Usually one serves this spread on crackers, vegetables or inside sandwiches. Between families, store products and local styles there are many differences in the ingredients.
What Is Pimento Cheese and How to Use It
The base of pimento cheese is really simple. Sharp cheddar cheese is commonly chosen while mayo binds everything. Pimentos simply are red peppers, that give taste, texture and nice color.
Some recipes want to use even sharper cheddar shreds from a food processor. Well grated cheese matters, because in that way much smoother becomes the spread.
Adding cream cheese is very liked. It gives to the mix a tangy flavor and helps the spreading. Not every recipe has cream cheese, even so it well balances the cheddar taste.
To prepare, one mixes first cream cheese with mayo as base, later one adds the sharp cheddar bits and pimentos. An electric blender really helps during this stage.
Unlike many cheese mixes, pimento cheese does not need to cook. That makes it especially simple to quickly prepare. During blending, one should let the spread cool in the refrigerator before serving.
Some say at least ten minutes, while others advise a whole hour.
Spices are the part, where everything becomes intresting. Cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper are commonly added. Jalapenos can be mixed in for extra heat, if one chops them a lot and uses them fairly.
Some versions have pepper, dry mustard or some spicy sauce together with chipotle chili powder. Also sour cream shows up in some recipes, which adds extra cream.
Ways to use pimento cheese go much more further than just crackers. It works well for a grilled cheese sandwich, spread on celery sticks or stuffed in fresh biscuits. One can lay it on top of warm hamburger, mix in deviled eggs or cover toasted bread with cut tomatoes.
A creative idea is to lay it on macaroni with cheese after baking. Even mayo it can replace in tuna salad, to create a pimento cheese tuna mix.
Pimento cheese found its place also in breads. Sourdough rolls filled with it is a really good idea. The red peppers and cheddar go well with the bitter taste of sourdough.
Some bakers lay crunchy cracker toppings on such rolls. Palmetto Cheese is a famous store brand, made in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. One considers it just as good ashomemade southern pimento cheese.
