Like the Masters tournament taking place at Augusta National Golf Club this week, pimento cheese is polarizing. You either get it, or you don’t.
For many (myself included), pimento cheese is a beloved Southern tradition, a simple pleasure that still carries a touch of refinement. Others see it as an overly romanticized relic of a bygone era, a vestige of history better left in the past. And some people just hate mayonnaise.
The Masters famously serves its pimento cheese sandwiches for $1.50, a price that appropriately reflects their quality and, in my opinion, should make them immune to criticism. My colleague Ken Sugiura vociferously disagrees.
The actual Augusta National pimento cheese recipe is a secret, but the version published by the ladies of the city’s Junior League is supposed to be close. The recipe in “Par 3 Tea Time at the Masters” is a surprisingly complex take on pimento cheese. It includes two different types of cheddar, some Parmesan and a bit of blue cheese.
I’ve usually subscribed to the no-recipe philosophy when making pimento cheese for tailgates and beach trips over the years; taste-testing the mixture as you make it is half the fun.
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
I like to start with a 1-pound block of the sharpest cheddar I can find. Good homemade pimento cheese must be grated at home since the coating on the pre-grated bagged cheese interferes with the texture of the final product. Add several dollops of mayonnaise (usually Duke’s for me) and a squirt of Dijon mustard with a small jar of drained pimentos. When possible, I like to add a little squeeze of lemon juice and some smoked paprika. Pimento cheese also tends to taste best a day or two after it’s made; time in the fridge helps both the flavor and texture.
Read on for a selection of pimento cheese recipes published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution over the years, including the Masters-adjacent version created by the Junior League of Augusta.
Masters-style Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
A recipe from “Par 3: Tea-Time at the Masters” by the Junior League of Augusta, Georgia.
- 3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounce crumbled blue cheese
- 1 (4-ounce) jar sliced pimentos, drained
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 loaf of white, grocery store soft bread
- Combine cheeses, pimentos, mayo and mustard in a food processor and process until smooth. Cover and chill.
- Spread on bread slices.
Makes at least 10 sandwiches.
High Museum of Art Pimento Cheese Spread
For a taste of the ’90s, try this recipe from the High Museum’s 1992 “Recipe Collection,” submitted by Colonel Alton R. Taylor.
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Durkee Famous Sauce (still available to order online in 2026; copycat recipe available here)
- 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 (4 ounce) jar chopped pimentos, drained
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, Durkee sauce, Grand Marnier, cayenne pepper, and minced garlic until smooth and fully combined.
- Fold in the pimentos and chopped parsley.
- Add the grated cheddar cheese and gently stir until evenly distributed. Be careful not to overmix — you want some of that shredded texture to shine through.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Let come to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.
Makes approximately 4 cups.
Hot and Spicy Pimento Cheese Bake
Turn up the heat with a spicy version of pimento cheese from Southern Living magazine, meant to be shared at a party like fondue.
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 (12-ounce) jar pimentos, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced scallions
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
- 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded
- Cilantro leaves (optional)
- French bread cubes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the first four ingredients in a large bowl; stir in cheeses. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased baking dish.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until dip is golden and bubbly. Garnish with cilantro leaves, if you like. Serve with French bread cubes for dipping.
Makes about two dozen servings.
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