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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

    Published: Mar 21, 2025 · Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    two photo collage with a bowl of pimento cheese and sliced veggies plus a blue mixing bowl with shredded cheese, jalapenos, pimientos, and cottage cheese with text overlay that reads simple, high protein, no mayo pimento cheese.

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese is high-protein with no mayo, cream cheese, or yogurt. Spicy pimento cheese recipe made with jalapenos and cottage cheese.

    close up of a white bowl with jalapeno pimento cheese.
    Jump to:
    • About Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Pimento Cheese
    • Recipe Tips
    • Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Nutrition Benefits
    • What to Serve with Pimento Cheese
    • Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

    About Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

    Pimento cheese is a creamy spread or dip that's made with pimentos (or pimientos) and shredded cheese. It's a southern staple for game days, baby showers, or any gathering.

    Typically, mayo and occasionally cream cheese or sour cream, holds the mixture together.

    Sometimes people try to make it "healthier" by using Greek yogurt, but I don't like the tanginess of the yogurt for pimento cheese.

    That being said, cottage cheese binds together this no mayo pimento cheese.

    This homemade pimento cheese recipe has an extra step of blending the cottage cheese with onion and a little liquid, but it's worth it to get a creamy and flavorful sauce.

    Plus, the cottage cheese base boosts the protein in this pimento cheese dip recipe.

    For extra flavor and a little kick, add jalapeno peppers, but they are optional. I just love a slightly spicy pimento cheese.

    white counter with jalapeno, block of cheddar, jar of pimientos, container of cottage cheese, bottle of cayenne pepper, and a yellow onion.

    Ingredients

    Cheese: Cheddar is typically used for pimento cheese; I like white cheddar, sharp cheddar, or extra sharp cheddar cheese. The block of cheese is highly recommended. Pimento cheese doesn't taste as good when made with pre-shredded cheddar cheese.

    Other types of cheese that work include Monterey Jack, Pepperjack, Colby, and mozzarella (from a block, not from the fresh ball of mozzarella).

    Cottage Cheese: Blended cottage cheese binds the jalapeno pimento cheese recipe together. It is used in place of mayo typically used for pimento cheese.

    Liquid: To help thin the sauce just a little bit, you'll add liquid. You can use water, milk, or the liquid in the pimento jar. That being said, be sure to drain the pimentos well so the pimento cheese isn't runny.

    Jalapeño: For a spicy pimento cheese, add jalapeno. Any spicy pepper will also work well.

    Onion: A little bit of grated or diced onion is added to give it flavor. It's important to measure the onion because too much will overpower the other flavors. Because you add the onion to the food processor, you'll be able to blend it into the sauce to prevent big onion chunks in your pimento cheese spread.

    Cayenne Pepper: If the jalapeno isn't very spicy, you can add a little cayenne pepper for more heat. However, it's optional.

    Pimentos: Diced or sliced pimentos can be used for this healthy pimento cheese. You can find them in the canned veggie aisle of the store, near the jarred olives. They are sometimes labeled "pimiento peppers" in the grocery store.

    Recipe Cost

    • Cheese 16 ounces: $3.98
    • Cottage cheese 6 ounces: $0.65
    • Jalapeno 1 medium: $0.14
    • Onion 3 tablespoons: $0.12
    • Cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon: $0.01
    • Pimentos 4-ounce jar: $1.78

    TOTAL COST: $6.68 or $0.42/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2025)

    Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

    How to Make Pimento Cheese

    Using cottage cheese as a binder, you can easily make this delicious, high protein, no mayo pimento cheese with jalapenos.

    blue mixing bowl full of shredded white cheddar cheese.
    1. Step 1: Grate cheese into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
    red food processor with cottage cheese, diced onion, and pimento liquid.
    1. Step 2: Add cottage cheese, liquid, and diced onion to a mini food processor.
    red mini food processor with blended cottage cheese and a blue spatula.
    1. Step 3: Blend together.
    blue mixing bowl with shredded cheddar cheese, diced pimientos, minced jalapeno peppers, and blended cottage cheese.
    1. Step 4: Pour sauce over the cheese, diced jalapenos, and diced pimentos.
    blue mixing bowl with cottage cheese and blue spatula.
    1. Step 5: Stir it all together.
    bowl of jalapeno pimento cheese next to yellow and red bell peppers plus cucumber slices.
    1. Step 6: Refrigerate for at least an hour. Enjoy!

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Tip

    Use a box grater to shred your cheese. It makes infinitely better pimento cheese over using pre-shredded cheese.

    Recipe Tips

    How to Fix a Mistake

    • Too runny: Add a little extra cottage cheese to the sauce, and blend. This should thicken it. However, if you have already stirred together everything, you can add some more grated cheese or blot it dry with a towel.
    • Too thick: Add a splash of water and stir well.
    • Lacking flavor: Wait to add seasoning until after at least 1 hour after preparing. If needed, add extra spice from diced jalapeños, black pepper, or hot sauce. Or try sprinkling in some garlic powder or onion powder.

    Make-Ahead Ideas

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese is best made ahead of time, so the jalapeno and onion flavors have time to infuse the cheese.

    Storage Suggestions

    Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7-10 days. If you use a softer cheese like Monterey Jack or mozzarella, it will have a higher moisture content, so it will not last as long in the fridge.

    white plate with yellow and red bell pepper slices, cucumber slices, and a bowl of pimento cheese with jalapeno.

    Variations

    Ingredient Options

    Cheese: In place of cheddar, use Monterey Jack, Pepperjack, Colby, or mozzarella (in a block, not fresh form).

    Pimentos: If you can't find pimentos, diced roasted red bell peppers can work in a pinch.

    To decrease spiciness: Use less jalapenos or omit them. Also, skip the additional cayenne pepper.

    Alternative Prep and Cooking

    If you don't have a food processor or blender, you can mash the cottage cheese with a fork and mince the onion. Then stir everything together.

    The texture might be a little chunkier, but it will still be tasty.

    How to Make Allergy-Friendly

    This pimento cheese with jalapeno recipe is naturally gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free.

    Pimento cheese usually has mayo so it is not egg-free. But thanks to the cottage cheese, this no mayo pimento cheese recipe is egg-free.

    It obviously has a lot of dairy, but if you can find a good dairy-free alternative for cottage cheese and shredded cheese, you can try it. However, I have not found any suitable options to recommend.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Pimento Cheese?

    Pimento cheese is a creamy, versatile, and flavorful dip or spread. This beloved appetizer or snack can be enjoyed so many ways, and it's easy to prepare.

    Can you freeze pimento cheese?

    Freezing pimento cheese is not recommended. The cheese does not freeze well and the texture will change undesirably once defrosted.
    However, you can freeze it to add to something later like a casserole.

    Is pimento cheese healthy?

    Depending on how you define healthy, this pimento cheese can be a nutritious option. Most pimento cheese is made with mayo. Yet, this no-mayo pimento cheese is made using cottage cheese to increase the protein.

    Plus, if you're trying to eat more veggies, you can use serve them with this tasty simple jalapeño pimento cheese recipe.yellow bell pepper in a bowl of pimento cheese spread with sliced veggies on a plate.

    Leftover homemade pimento cheese spread can be turned into the filling for the best grilled cheese sandwich. Cut it into small squares as a high-protein topping for easy tomato soup with canned tomatoes.

    two bowls of tomato soup topped with grilled cheese cut into croutons next to a bowl of pimento cheese on a wooden cutting board.

    Nutrition Benefits

    Not only is this creamy pimento cheese delicious, it's also higher in protein and lower in fat than typical pimento cheese recipes. That is thanks to using cottage cheese as the base and no cream cheese or mayonnaise.

    With a few simple ingredients, you get a tasty dip where each serving provides 8 grams of protein, 21% daily value of calcium, 11% of Vitamin C, and 10% of Vitamin A.

    With 8 grams of protein per serving, this is a great recipe for high-protein snack meal prep.

    What to Serve with Pimento Cheese

    There are so many different ways to enjoy pimento cheese.

    Make a quick sandwich on whole wheat bread for a nutritious option, or spread pimento cheese on slices of white bread (crusts removed) for a southern classic party snack of pimento cheese sandwiches.

    It's great to serve on top of a burger.

    Enjoy with butter crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, cucumber slices, celery sticks, and/or wheat crackers like Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

    green napkin under a plate with sliced veggies and a bowl of pimento cheese with jalapenos.

    Serving Tip

    Pimento Cheese is best served at room temperature, so it's easier to spread.

    Final thoughts:

    There's a reason southern pimento cheese is so popular, and this easy pimento cheese recipe has no mayonnaise or cream cheese.

    In my humble opinion, this is the best pimento cheese recipe, and everyone who tries it agrees. The creamy texture and spicy kick from the jalapenos keeps people coming back for more.

    Plus, pimiento cheese is versatile, budget-friendly, and lasts for at least a week in the fridge.

    MORE PIMENTO CHEESE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese from Living Well Kitchen
      Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese
    • Pimento Cheese Cucumber Bites from Living Well Kitchen
      Pimento Cheese Cucumber Bites
    • Pimento Cheese Chicken Salad from Living Well Kitchen
      Pimento Cheese Chicken Salad
    • Pimento Cheese Boats from Living Well Kitchen
      pimento cheese boats
    close up of a white bowl with jalapeno pimento cheese.

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

    Jalapeno Pimento Cheese is high in protein with no mayo or yogurt. Spicy pimento cheese recipe made with jalapenos and cottage cheese.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Resting Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $6.68 or $0.42/serving

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounce cheddar cheese shredded
    • ¾ cup cottage cheese
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 medium jalapeño minced
    • 3 tablespoons onion grated
    • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
    • 4 ounce jar diced pimentos drained

    Instructions

    • Grate the cheese into a large bowl.
      blue mixing bowl full of shredded white cheddar cheese.
    • Meanwhile, blend cottage cheese, onion, and liquid in a food processor or blender until smooth.
      red mini food processor with blended cottage cheese and a blue spatula.
    • Stir blended cottage cheese into grated cheese. Stir in jalapeño, pimentos, and cayenne pepper, if using.
      blue mixing bowl with shredded cheddar cheese, diced pimientos, minced jalapeno peppers, and blended cottage cheese.
    • Cover and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight.
      blue mixing bowl with cottage cheese and blue spatula.
    • Enjoy with sliced veggies or crackers. Keeps in the refrigerator for about 5-7 days.
      bowl of jalapeno pimento cheese next to yellow and red bell peppers plus cucumber slices.

    Notes

    *Makes 4 cups
    *For the liquid, you can use milk, water, or liquid from pimentos.

    What to Use in This Recipe

    red, orange, and green mixing bowls
    Bowl
    Mini Food Processor
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    Meme

    This post was originally published on September 4, 2012. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.


    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Nutrition Facts

    Nutrition Facts
    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
    Serving Size
     
    0.25 cup
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    10
    g
    15
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    38
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    29
    mg
    10
    %
    Sodium
     
    230
    mg
    10
    %
    Potassium
     
    50
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    2
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    0.2
    g
    1
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    8
    g
    16
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    491
    IU
    10
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    9
    mg
    11
    %
    Calcium
     
    208
    mg
    21
    %
    Iron
     
    0.2
    mg
    1
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Carbs in Pimento Cheese

    There are 2 grams of carbohydrates in this Jalapeno Pimento Cheese recipe.

    Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Calories

    In ¼ cup of No Mayo Pimento Cheese, there are 126 calories.


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    Comments

    1. betty hope

      September 13, 2012 at 10:39 am

      Do you also add gluten free recipes? I just found out about you.
      betty hope

      Reply
      • memeinge

        September 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

        I'm so glad you found my blog!!
        I do have a lot of gluten-free recipes; you can find them here: Gluten-free recipes
        Let me know if you need help finding anything else

        Reply
    2. Michelle

      September 13, 2012 at 11:12 am

      Wow, this looks super yummy! I haven't ever made Pimento Cheese but I will now. Thanks for sharing 🙂
      Michelle

      Reply
      • memeinge

        September 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

        Thanks! This was my first time to make pimento cheese, and I will definitely be making it again soon

        Reply
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    Meme holding Watson at a restaurant in san diego.

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    A thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist here to help you enjoy food, make eating easier, and live free of diets & shame.

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